|
|
|
|
|
|
Happy Baby |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Alone? |
|
|
Can you use a wrap when you are by yourself? Even back carries?
Most definitely!!!!
It
will take a little practice but soon it will become second nature.
Start at home with someone to "spot" you. Once you are confident with
your abilities then venture out.
~Shannon Velloza
|
|
|
|
|
What IS a Wrap? |
|
|
For the purposes of this website, I consider a wrap to be a long piece of cloth (between 9 and 18 feet long, and between 20 and 45 inches wide) which is used to carry a baby.   For the most versatility and comfort, I recommend a woven wrap that is 12 to 15 feet long and 25 to 30 inches wide. The average mother (somewhere around 5 1/2 feet tall and dress size 8 to 14) will be able to do nearly all of the wrap carries with a wrap that is 12 feet long. The Front Wrap Cross and Back Wrap Cross carries require more cloth than the other carries. For those, a mother on the larger end of average would nee at least five yards. With practice, you will have less slack inthe cloth. So, after some time you will need less cloth to do the same carries than you needed before.
|
|
|
|
What Can You Do with a Wrap? |
|
|
Most Popular Technique:
The Front Wrap Cross
| Try these great techniques, too!
Back Wrap Cross - No Chest Belt
Back Wrap Cross - With Chest Belt
Newborn Back Carry
Nurse a Medium Baby Hands-Free
Nurse a Newborn Hands-Free
Nurse a Toddler Hands Free
Rucksack Back Carry
Tibetan Back Carry |
|
|
|
|
Hot? |
|
|
I have used wraps exclusively since I ditched my ring sling in 1990. I
have lived in Florida (hot, humid), the Mississippi Gulf Coast (100%
humidty, 90 F degrees plus weather for 9 months of the year), and Texas
(record breaking hot for 6 months of the year, super sticky too). I
find the wraps to be quite comfortable. I always use a lightweight
cotton. If you look at the clothing of Texas outdoor construction
workers, or desert nomads for that matter, you'll see that they cover
their heads and arms. When the sun is shining down on you hard, it's
cooler being covered with cloth (made from natural fibers), than
uncovered.
~Tracy Dower
|
|
|
|
Why a wrap when there are so many carriers available? |
|
|
 |
Ring slings are great, and some of the structured carriers are good too. One
warning: there is some concern that carriers with a narrow crotch which leave
the baby's legs to dangle can be damaging to little spines. Many of the widely
available structured carriers are of this type, so please examine the carrier
you choose carefully and do some research.
Carrying your baby is so beneficial to you and your child that the carrier that
you like to use is the best carrier for you. However, there are a few features
of the SPOC (simple piece of cloth) that make it a useful tool, even if you
already have and like another sling.
|
|
1) Easy to improvise. Once you learn a couple of basic
carries, you will never get caught without a sling so long as you can find a
length of fabric. Carry your baby on your back using a sweater, tie on a
toddler using a scarf, nurse hands-free using a generously-sized baby blanket.
2) Affordable. For as little as $1/yard you can make a great
wrap. $5-15 is all it takes to make a 5 yard wrap (which most people find is
long enough to do all the carries on this site), and if the fabric is wide
enough to cut in half lengthwise, you may get two slings for that price. For as
little as $30, you can buy one ready-made. If you'd like something more
expensive, don't worry. Hemp silk wraps are available for $200.
3) Easy laundering. No special care is needed (beyond
appropriate care for the fabric you choose), and because there are no rings, no
buckles, and no padding or layers, it will dry quickly (even on a clothesline)
and won't ding up the washer or dryer.
4) Two shoulder carries. For many, this is the big selling
point. Ring slings are great for babies, but some parents feel a bit lopsided
if they wear the baby in a sling for an extended time. With a long wrap, you
can distribute the weight to both shoulders and also your waist.
5) One size fits most. Ring slings can usually be shared
between several people, unless they are very different in size, but it's much
harder to share pouches and more structured carriers requiring adjustment of
buckles. Howver, the wrap that fits you can almost certainly work for your
husband, sister, dad, babysitter, or anyone else who takes care of the baby.
Perhaps four yards is enough for you to do the wrap cross carry, but not your
husband. No problem! He can use the same wrap to do a hip cross carry, or a one
shoulder carry, or a strap carry. With a wrap carrier handy, he'll have no
excuse to leave you holding the baby. Unless of course you buy a pink wrap with
lace ruffles on the end. Then you are on your own. :P
6) Easy to make. Sewing a ring sling isn't hard, but sewing a
wrap is ridiculously easy. In fact, you don't even need to sew it at all. Check
out our section on making your own wrap.
~Caren Pita |
|
|
|
|
A Few Options |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Got $5 & 5 mins?
Make a Carrier! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shop |
|
|
|
|
|
|
More Help |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Report a Problem |
|
|
Broken link? Missing image? Misspelled word? Inadequate instructions? Please email maintenance@wearyourbaby.org. I cannot respond to every email, but I do appreciate your help. I will email you back if I can. Thanks, Tracy Dower
|
|
|
|
You are a Master Babywearer |
|
|
In China, it is said that "A master is anyone who knows more than you do." So, you are all master babywearers compared with most of the moms in the world. You do NOT need to know everything there is to know about babywearing -- if you know even ONE carry with even ONE type of carrier, you are in possession of knowledge other moms desperately want -- even if they do not yet know they want it. ;-D Therefore, you should all feel confident enough to teach others! So, pick a public place, pick a day of the week, and start sharing your skills with other families! Then, list yourself here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|