Monday, July 11, 2016

COTM: Onbuhimo (Onbu) July 2016

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!
Image of fair complected woman with dark hair and red lipstick smiling at the camera as she wears her fair skin brown haired toddler in a purple rainbow handwoven Onbuhimo on her back
Volunteer Babywearing Educator Lizz Witt wearing her toddler in a standard size Onbu

The Carry of the Month for July is the Onbuhimo demonstrated by Liz Witt, Volunteer Babywearing Educator for the Babywearing International of Phoenix Chapter. 

The Onbuhimo is a traditional Japanese style carrier that has been worn since the Kamakura Period in Japan.  Traditionally babies were carried high on the backs of their caregivers in an Obi belt.  Later back support was added for the baby and the Onbuhimo came into use.  The word Onbuhimo is derived from two Japanese words, Onbuhimo describing the act of carrying a baby on the back, and Himo, meaning long strap or rope.  This is a description of the components of the modern day carrier.  In Japan and western babywearing the addition of the ring and buckle waist have added ease of use to the carrier for the wearer.  

The Onbuhimo is available as a ring waist with wrap style straps from the shoulders, padded shoulders with webbing and buckles, and as a reverse with rings at the shoulders and wrap straps at the waist.  Despite the number of options, the Onbuhimo is worn as a front carry or more traditionally as a back carry.  The carries are high, at the center of mass of the wearer, using the strength of the back of the wearer and abdominal core muscles to sustain the carry.  As with any panel style carrier the baby being worn should be sitting unassisted before attempting any back carries.  Liz will be demonstrating wearing a buckle style Onbuhimo.

Completing the Carry

Back Carry with Superman Toss
Before you begin loosen both straps on your carrier extending the webbing as far as it can go.  If present, adjust your personal fit adjusters (PFAs) to your comfort level.

Image of fair skin woman adjusting the personal fit adjuster on purple rainbow handwoven Onbuhimo strap

Adjust your chest clip low to sit across the top of your chest.
Image of fair skin woman adjusting the chest clip height on purple rainbow handwoven Onbuhimo strap


Place baby's legs in the loops created by the shoulder straps.
Image of fair skin woman guiding fair skin baby's legs into the shoulder straps of purple rainbow handwoven Onbu


The shoulder straps should be placed under bay's arms or over the shoulders.
Image of hands of fair skin woman placing shoulder straps of purple rainbow Onbu under the arms of fair skin brown haired toddler

Holding the shoulder straps in your hands cross your arms one over the other.  The arm in the direction you are swinging baby onto your back should be crossed on the top of the other arm.  Here Liz is swinging over her right shoulder so her right arm is over her left.
Image of fair skin, dark haired woman with arms crossed holding shoulder straps and toddler's shoulders

In one swift motion lift baby up and over your shoulder to your back.
Image of fair skin dark haired woman in motion of completing superman toss of toddler in an Onbu

Place your arms into the shoulder straps one at a time, holding baby with one hand as you do.
Image from behind as woman slides her arm into the shoulder strap with one arm as she holds baby's arm with her other hand


Buckle your chest clip.
Image of fair skin dark haired woman holding webbing of chest clip on Onbu in one hand as she tightens


Tighten the webbing on the shoulder straps.
Image of woman pulling against the webbing on shoulder strap to tighten


Adjust the seat so that baby is sitting in the center of the carrier.
Image from behind as woman tucks and centers baby in the seat of the purple Onbu

Completed Back Carry View of Front:
Image from the side of fair skin momma smiling at the camera wearing fair skin brown haired toddler in a purple rainbow handwoven Onbu in a back carry

 Completed Carry Back View:
Image of fair skin toddler in a purple rainbow handwoven Onbuhimo in a back carry. Toddler is pointing into the distance

Completed Carry Side view:
Close up image of side view of completed back carry in purple rainbow Onbu showing the seat depth just about one inch above baby's legs

Back Carry with Hip Scoot
Loosen the webbing on your shoulder straps and chest clip.

Image of fair skin woman holding shoulder strap in one hand and webbing in the other as she loosens the strap

Place your baby's legs into the loops for the shoulder straps.
Image of fair skin dark haired woman placing toddler's legs into shoulder straps of purple rainbow Onbu

Place your baby on your hip.
Image of fair skin dark haired woman with toddler in a purple rainbow onbu sitting on her hip

Slide your baby to your back holding one hand on the back and switching hands halfway.
Image of fair skin woman with dark hair sliding toddler in purple rainbow onbu from her hip to her back

Holding baby with one hand slide your arms into the shoulder straps.
Woman is seen sliding her arms into shoulder straps of purple onbu with toddler on her back

Buckle your chest clip and tighten.
Woman is seen snapping the chest clip into place with toddler on her back in an Onbu

 Tighten your shoulder straps
Woman is seen tightening the shoulder harness on Onbu with toddler on her back

 Check and adjust baby's seat to make sure they are centered.
Woman is seen tucking and centering baby in the seat of the purple onbu



That's it!  You have completed a back carry in an Onbuhimo.
Image of fair skin woman with dark hair wearing toddler in a purple onbuhimo with rainbow stripes

Front Carry in an Onbuhimo
Loosen the shoulder straps and adjust the PFAs as needed.
close up image of fair skin woman adjusting the shoulder straps of the Onbu carrier

 Adjust your chest clip up high on the shoulders
Close up image os fair skin woman adjusting the chest clip up high on the shoulder straps

Place baby's legs in the shoulder straps.
Woman is seen guiding toddler's legs into the Onbu carrier

Pick baby up and place high on your chest.
Woman is seen placing baby up high on her chest to start face carry

Holding baby with one hand, slide your arms into the shoulder harness.
Woman is seen holding baby's bottom with one hand as she slides the other arm into the shoulder straps

Trace the shoulder harness up with each hand to the chest clip.
Image of woman buckling chest clip behind her back with her elbows high in the air
Buckle the chest clip and tighten
close up image of the back of the neck of a fair skin woman with dark hair showing a clipped and tightened chest clip of an Onbu carrier
Tighten the shoulder straps and adjust baby's seat as needed
Image is a close up where woman is seen pulling down on the webbing in the shoulder harness of an onbu carrier worn in front

 Congratulations on a successful Front Carry in an Onbuhimo
Image of fair skin woman with dark hair kissing fair skin brown haired toddler worn in a front carry in a purple onbu with rainbow stripes


Here is a video tutorial, with closed captions, by Advanced Babywearing Educator Lauren Maynard from babywearing International of Phoenix showing front carry in an Onbuhimo with a small baby in a ring waist wrap strap Onbuhimo:



Another tutorial, with closed captions, by Advanced Babywearing Educator Lauren Maynard from babywearing International of Phoenix showing a back carry with a toddler using a superman toss in an Onbuhimo with ring waist and wrap straps:


The prize for the Carry of the Month this July is a wrap scrap keychain with images to follow shortly.  To enter to win, simply post a photo of you trying out SSC Hip Carry 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.

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 Volunteer Babywearing Educator in Training 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.







 March 2017 Note: This post has been edited.  This carrier style name used to be incorrectly shortened to Onbu.  We are using the correct terminology now as recommended by the statement at #NotYourPodBuTai.  You can read the statement here and Babywearing International's statement in support of this statement here.  
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Wednesday, June 8, 2016

COTM: Hip Carry in a Soft Structured Carrier (SSC) June 2016

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!
White woman with long dark hair wears white, blond haired toddler in a orange and white chevron print soft structured carrier. Baby is worn on her hip.
Master Babywearing Educator TaiLeah Madill shows us a Hip Carry in Beco Toddler Soft Structured Carrier

The Carry of the Month for June is Hip Carry in Beco Toddler Soft Structured Carrier demonstrated by TaiLeah Madill, Master Babywearing Educator for the Babywearing International of Phoenix Chapter. 

 The Hip Carry in a Soft Structured Carrier (SSC) is a great transition from Front Carry to Back Carry.  A position on the hip allows baby to see out at a view of the surrounding world while maintaining that close security in a front carry.  The Hip Carry is a position that works well for upright breastfeeding or bottle feeding.  Before getting started on the hip carry check with the manufacturers instructions that arrived with your carrier.  If your instructions are lost check the manufacturer's website for digital copies of the instruction manual for your carrier.  

 An SSC with straight straps and buckles at the shoulder harness are usually suited for hip carry.  The straps are worn crossed at the back of the wearer and in a one shouldered and less often, two shouldered version.  Babies in a hip carry should be able to sit assisted and be of a size where the infant insert is no longer needed for the SSC.  There is alot of choice for soft structured carriers and the Volunteer Babywearing Educators in the BWI Phoenix Chapter love to help get the best fit in your carrier.  Ask your questions in our Facebook Discussion Group or in person at one of our five monthly babywearing meetings.  Check the banner in the discussion group for the dates and times of the meetings.

Completing the Carry

Before you begin unbuckle both straps on your carrier and extend the webbing as far as it can go.  The Soft Structured Carrier hip carry starts off center with just the waistband of the SSC on the hip where baby will sit.  Bring the webbing around and buckle the carrier.  The waistband should sit at or just above your natural waist which is near the belly button.

White woman with long brown hair is shown buckling a soft structured carrier at her hip. The carrier rests on her left hip and she is buckling the carrier on her opposite hip.

Pull the webbing tight to secure the carrier waistband.  Make sure the carrier waistband is level and parallel to the ground for optimal comfort.
White woman with long brown hair is seen wearing the soft structured carrier on her left hip and pulling the webbing tight on her right hip.

Bring the shoulder strap and buckle it on the opposite side.  Here TaiLeah is wearing her baby on her left hip so she is buckling the right shoulder strap into the left buckle.
White woman with long brown hair is showing the right shoulder strap and left buckle where she will snap into place.

Pass your arm through the shoulder strap and bring the panel up in front to make ready for baby.

Position your baby on your shoulder in a burping height.
Image shows a white woman with brown hair lifting her white, blond haired toddler onto her shoulder at a burping height

Guide your baby's feet, one at a time, into the carrier.
Momma is guiding her baby's leg into the right side of the carrierImage shows Momma guiding her baby's legs into the left side of the carrier

Bring the panel up over baby's back reaching at least under the shoulders.
The wearer is seen pulling the panel of the carrier up over her baby's back

Keeping one hand on your baby, reach around behind you, bringing the shoulder strap across your back to the other side.
Momma is seen from the back reaching behind her with one hand to grab the shoulder strap

Snap the shoulder strap into the buckle and tighten the webbing.
Momma is seen buckling the shoulder strap into the buckle on the carrier, baby is braced by her other arm across the back

Adjust the seat so that baby is sitting in the center of the carrier.
Image shows Momma gently lifting baby to center her in the seat of the carrier

Tighten all the webbing for the shoulder straps to ensure they are secure yet comfortable.
Momma is seen pulling gently on the shoulder strap webbing to tighten the carry

Adjust the shoulder strap on your shoulder for your comfort.
The wearer is seen gently pulling the shoulder strap to the side, away from her neck

This is your completed Hip Carry in a Soft Structured Carrier.  Make sure baby is high enough to kiss without great effort.
Image shows a white momma, smiling at the camera wearing her blond haired toddler in a blue soft structured carrier with a white and orange zig-zag print panel

The waistband of the carry should be level with the hips and baby's bum supported above the waistband.
Close up image of baby's seat showing the waistband level with the wearer's hips and baby's bum well supported above the waistband

A view of the back of the Hip Carry showing the straps crossed and the one shouldered version of the hip carry according to this manufacturer's instructions.
Back image of the wearer showing one shoulder strap at a diagonal across her back, the other shoulder strap across her waist, and the waistband straps at her hips.


Here is a video tutorial, with closed captions, by Wrapping Rachel showing hip carry with a small baby and how to get baby down:



Another great tutorial with voice over, no captions showing a hip carry with a toddler in a Soft Structured Carrier by the Babywearing International of Hampton Roads:


 The prize for the Carry of the Month this June is a wrap scrap bracelet with images to follow shortly.  To enter to win, simply post a photo of you trying out SSC Hip Carry 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.

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 Volunteer Babywearing Educator in Training 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.
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