Carry of the Month (COTM) is an ongoing feature for the BWIP blog and Facebook group. Each month one of the Volunteer Babywearing Educators (VBEs) will choose a wrap carry or carrier to showcase and write a blog post with instructions or videos. At our monthly meetings throughout the valley, we will designate time to demonstrate the carry or carrier in person and answer your questions. Feel free to join in on the fun! Post pictures of you trying out the COTM in the Facebook group or email us your entry. Check out the bottom of this post for the prize raffled off for participation this month!
This month's carry is an awesome basic for your arsenal of wrap carries, a carry that every wrapper should, at least, attempt to master; the Rucksack.
I once heard a veteran babywearing educator say that if you taught someone to Ruck they could master any carry. The key skills you learn with this carry are: making a seat, tightening the slack out of each rail and through the middle of the wrap, taming a full width of wrap as they pass over your shoulders. and various tie-offs.
I once heard a veteran babywearing educator say that if you taught someone to Ruck they could master any carry. The key skills you learn with this carry are: making a seat, tightening the slack out of each rail and through the middle of the wrap, taming a full width of wrap as they pass over your shoulders. and various tie-offs.
Demonstrating for us this month is our very own Tanya Higgins with her son. Tanya has come on as a VBE in the last few months and serves as the secretary for our chapter. We are very happy to have her as part of our team! If you see her at the East Valley and Central meetings she may give you an in-person demo. They are using one of our library carriers, a size 7 Didymos Natty Silk Prima which has been dyed. Depending on the size of your child and your size this carry can be done with a wrap sized anywhere from 3-7.
Begin by finding the middle of your wrap, the wrap is centered on baby's back for this carry. Put baby up on your back with your preferred method.
Take the top rails and pin them under your chin, this keeps baby snug on your back so that you can use both hands to make a seat.
Pull down on the bottom rail, than make a scooping motion with both hands to pull the rail up and between you and baby.
Gather both sides of the wrap into your hands and pull to tighten. You can also tuck one side in between your knees to work with the other side by itself. A good trick is to tighten "strand-by-strand" pulling every few inches across the width of the wrap to tighten out any slack. Use that motion on each side.
When the wrap is comfortably snug, pass the ends under your arms and behind you and baby.
Under baby's bum, cross the ends to form an X. They should go over his legs and then under his legs on the opposite side.
Bring the tails back to the front and tie off.
In the simplest version of this carry you can tie off in a double or square knot in front of you. There are a few other options for tying off.
This is an example of "tying Tibetan style"
After you bring the ends around to your front, instead of tying in a knot at your waist, tuck one rail between your knees.
Working with the other end, bring it up diagonally across your chest, pass it under the shoulder from the inside to the outside.
Tuck that end between your legs and repeat the process with the opposite end.
Bring it up diagonally across your chest, through the shoulder from inside to outside.
Now, both ends will be coming through the shoulder straps. Pull on the ends to tighten out any slack.
Bring them together and tie at your chest. This will take some of the pressure off your shoulders and keep the wrap in place. You can also spread the passes across your chest out so that they lay flat.
The next variation is a "knotless Tibetan tie-off" it's very similar to the tie off shown above but doesn't require a knot at all to stay in place.
In the same manner as above, tuck one end between your knees and work with the other end. Bring it up diagonally across your chest. This time, pass the end from the outside through to the inside.
Then, bring the end under the pass across your chest.
Repeat the process with the other end which was secured between your knees. The tension of the passes keeps the tails in place without a knot. Be sure that your carry is snug through each pass, if it's loose or sagging the ends have more of a chance to creep out. Pull on the ends to tighten any slack out and you are ready to roll!
For this carry I'm going to include two videos for you, both by BabywearingFaith because she's an excellent instructor! One video shows a toddler and a few tips for keep a nice deep seat and in the other Faith demonstrates with a doll showing how the carry would look with a smaller baby:
June's COTM prize a beautiful Risaroo Wovens Kerrington Tote!
To enter to win, simply post a photo of you trying out a Rucksack on the COTM thread in our Facebook group, if you're not on Facebook email your entry to us at PhoenixBabywearers@gmail.com.
At the end of the month we will draw a winner. To earn additional entries, you can post a new picture of you trying it out every day.
At the end of the month we will draw a winner. To earn additional entries, you can post a new picture of you trying it out every day.
(Valid only for Arizona residents. Winner is responsible for pick up or any shipping costs.)
Ruck it up!
Rachael Bender
Advanced Babywearing Educator. Education Officer for Babywearing International of Phoenix
Disclaimer: Any tutorials or advice given on this blog by Babywearing International of Phoenix or representatives of BWI of Phoenix are to be used at your own risk. Please use caution when attempting any of the carries highlighted on this blog and using any of the carriers discussed on this blog.
Some of the information or advice may put some users of this site at risk due to health issues, physical limitations, or misuse. If you or your child have health issues or physical limitations, please discuss the appropriateness of the carry or carrier with your health care practitioner. BWI of Phoenix cannot be held accountable for any injuries sustained by the reader when attempting these carries or using these carriers.
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