CARRY OF THE MONTH; May 2016: Front Reinforced Torso Sling (FRTS)

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!

Front Reinforced Torso Rebozo (FRTR) by VBE Renee Hiller and her toddler in Little Frog Tanzanite in a size 4 (Base -2)

The Carry of the Month for May is Front Reinforced Torso Sling (FRTS) demonstrated by Renee Hiller, Volunteer Babywearing Educator for a year now at the West Valley Meeting. The Front Reinforced Torso Sling is a single shouldered front carry featuring a slipknot.  A one shouldered carry the front reinforced torso Sling distributes the weight of your baby across your chest, back, and shoulder. This carry has two torso passes across baby and the slipknot allows the carry to be pre-tied and tightened once baby is placed in the pouch. Tying a slipknot is an easy task and Renee does an excellent job of walking us through it.  This carry is best as a base -2 or larger length woven wrap and the slipknot allows quick adjustment for upright breastfeeding in the wrap. Depending on the build of the wearer and the size of the child being worn, a woven wrap or stretch hybrid sized four and up are good lengths for this carry.

Completing the Carry

Front Reinforced Torso Sling starts off center with just enough tail to reach the top of your hip.

The wrap passes at a diagonal across your back and around to the front.  The next step is to pass the wrap across your chest for a torso pass.

Bring the wrap around your back again and to your shoulder to hold your place.

Make a pouch in the torso pass for your baby.

Position your baby on your shoulder in a burping height.

Guide your baby's feet into the pouch and bring the wrap up baby's back.

Now make a seat, tucking the wrap under baby's bum to rest between you and baby at least to baby's belly button for a deep seat.

Tighten the wrap strand by strand to remove the slack from the wrap.

Strand by strand tighten the other tail of the wrap to remove any slack.

Pass the long tail under your arm and around baby's back.

Now for the slipknot.  The tail over your shoulder will be the stationary tail and the tail over baby's back will be your working tail.  Hold the stationary tail in your non-dominant hand, your hand and arm will be a pivot point.  

The first step is to pass the working tail over the top of the stationary tail.

The working tail now passes under the stationary tail.

The working tail now comes over the top of the other then down.

Next pass the working tail under the stationary tail leaving a small loop in the tail where your hand is located.

Pass the working tail to your other hand and through the loop.

Tighten the knot by pulling down on the stationary tail and across your body with the other tail.

You can slide the slipknot up by holding the stationary tail and pushing against the knot with your other hand.

The slipknot allows strand by strand tightening through the stationary tail.  Holding the knot in one hand you can pull strand by strand against the stationary tail.

The last step is to spread the second torso pass over baby's back and tuck knee to knee for a second seat.

Congratulations!  You have successfully completed a Front Reinforced Torso Sling (FRTS)

Front View: Front Reinforced Torso Sling (FRTS)

Back view of the carry:

Here is a video tutorial for tying a slipknot by Wrapping Rachel:



Front Reinforced Torso Rebozo with a Newborn

The prize for the Carry of the Month this May is a Nerissa Furoshiki Square from Wrapsody (Wrapsody Baby)  What can you do with a Furoshiki square?  Everything from an impromptu shoulder bag to creative gift wrap.

To enter to win, simply post a photo of you trying out Front Reinforced Torso Sling on the COTM thread in our Facebook group, if you're not on Facebook email your entry to us at PhoenixBabywearers@gmail.com.

(Valid only for Arizona residents. Winner is responsible for pick up or any shipping costs.)

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.


***Edited to update to reflect more inclusive and accurate terms. This carry was formerly known as a Front Reinforced Torso Rebozo (FRTR) carry. For more info on why there was a shift in terminology, click here.***

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.

Our contributing author this month is LaKeta Kemp. LaKeta is a Babywearing Ambassador with the Babywearing International of Phoenix. She is passionate about safe babywearing and tandem babywearing. Look for LaKeta and her twins at East Valley Meetings.