Learning to Back Carry!
Welcome to the world of Back Wearing with a Woven Wrap! If you have not read the articles on Safety, Postioning and How to know when you are ready to back carry, please read these articles first!
Back wearing can open the doors to so many possibilities and options for both you and baby! It can truly change your life as in many circumstances, the wearer can be hands free!
When you are ready to learn how to back carry with a wrap, ensure that you are completely comfortable with front wearing, baby is sitting up fully unassisted and you have practiced first with a doll or stuffed animal. Practice is highly advised as back wearing is different than front wearing. You will have gained a wrapping skill set from your experience with front wearing, but with back wearing, there is a bit of the same and a bit of different skill level involved. In addition, your body may not be used to the different movements you are required to do with back wearing such as reaching behind you and manuevering your shoulders and arms in different positions that are not commonly used in daily life. Once you are ready for baby to go on to your back, ensure you have a spotter while you learn with baby.
What every back carry starts with!
Putting Baby on your back! Before learning how to back carry with a woven wrap, you should be comfortable with putting baby on your back. Practice putting your baby on your back and when you are ready, you can start back wrapping! Learn more about the different options of how to put baby on your back!
Exploring the Rucksack, Back Wrap Cross Carry & the Secure High Back Carry
These are three of the most common back carries to learn when first starting to back wrap. The have either a simple execution or have an element that provides security to new wearers.
The Rucksack Carry
The rucksack carry has many variations of finishes/ties offs in addition to the option of re-enforcing passes. However, the basic Rucksack Tied in Front is the simplest form of this carry and can be as easy as 1-2-3! It can be a fairly simple execution with minimal steps involved. This carry can be done with a base size wrap but you will more than likely have to tie around your waist an extra time or tie tibetan. If tying in front, you will more than likely need a wrap size base -2.
The Rucksack as Easy as 1-2-3!
- Once baby is positioned on your back with the wrap over baby’s back, bring the both sides of the fabric up and over each of your shoulders. Tighten the top of the fabric so that baby is pinned to you securely, smooth out the fabric from baby’s neck down to knee to knee and make a seat for baby.
- Working with one side of the fabric over your shoulder at a time, tighten and bring each “tail” of fabric from over your arm to back under your arm, over baby’s first leg (knee-pit), across bum and under second leg which forms a cross or “x” under baby’s bum.
- Tighten again and tie off in front!
Need more details? The Rucksack Breakdown!
- Baby will be on your back in your method of choice that is suitable for the age and physical development of your baby. Wrap will be centred on baby’s back, covering baby’s back (either from base of neck or under their arms but we recommend starting to learn this carry with the fabric to the neck) down to the back of baby’s knees. Wrap ends (sometimes referred to as tails) come up and over your shoulders. This is referred to as a ruck pass.
- Adjust baby’s positioning if needed! The top of the fabric going over baby’s shoulders and over your shoulders should be aligned. The top of the fabric is referred to as the top rail and should be at your shoulder level aligned with the top rail going over baby’s shoulders. This top rail should be snug. If there is too much loose fabric (also known as slack), this could cause baby to lean backwards, slump or re-position. It could also cause pulling on your shoulders.
- Hold the top of the fabric coming over your shoulders tightly with one hand or using your chin to hold taunt. This action will securely pin baby to you while you execute the remainder steps of the carry. Remember to always be working with one hand on baby and one hand working with the wrap.
- Reach behind and smooth out the fabric from baby’s neck down to knee to knee and make a seat for baby.
- Now it is time to tighten each side at a time!
- Working with one side of the fabric over your shoulder at a time, tighten and bring each “tail” of fabric from over your arm to back under your arm, over baby’s first leg (knee-pit), across bum and under second leg which forms a cross or “x” under baby’s bum.
- Some people like to sandwich the fabric over the shoulders before tightening. However, feel free to bunch the fabric over the shoulders if you prefer then tighten. Whichever method you prefer, remember to tighten one side at a time.
- While tightening one side, hold the other wrap end between your knees or under your chin to keep it as taunt as possible. Tightening can be done strand by strand but the key is to ensure the top third of the wrap is nice and snug. Do not tighten the bottom third of the wrap. It will be held secure by subsequent passes of fabric.
- Sandwiching consists of taking the side of the fabric that is on the outside of your shoulder (the bottom rail) and bringing it underneath the fabric to fold and meet up with the side of the fabric closest to your neck (the top rail). Once this is done, tighten the top third strand by strand.
- Sandwiching is preferred by many because it creates a natural inward flow for the entire bottom rail from where you have sandwiched on the shoulder to under baby’s bum. This creates a shallow pocket for baby to be encompassed and sit in. It also assists in reducing the likelihood of baby “popping” his seat which is where the initial ruck pass of fabric starts rolling up from baby’s knees and bum and up his back.
- Let’s get moving! Now that we are adjusted and tightened, move each wrap end that comes over each shoulder to pass under the same shoulder so that it is now moving in a backwards C flow. Work with one side at a time with the side you are not working with pinned between your legs or under your chin to hold it taunt while you continue to work with the other side. It also helps so that the fabric doesn’t flow away from you.
- The fabric passing from under each arm is then bunched over the back of baby’s first knee, under and across baby’s bum and then under baby’s opposite leg. The fabric then flows forward to the front of your waist. Sometimes, the weight and size of an older child will pin the fabric so it remains taunt. However, You may want to pin the wrap end between your knees or under your chin to hold it taunt while you work with the other side.
- Repeat on the opposite side. The finished result will be a bunched re-enforced pass creating a cross under baby’s bum that also pins the ruck pass fabric.
- Once both tails of fabric are in the front, stand up straight holding onto both ends of the wrap and tie off with a double knot! Some people like to do a little bounce once they stand up to put baby into an ergonomic “M” seat. It does not need to be a deep seat. A shallow seat is fine as long as the knees are higher than the bum. You may use your arm under baby’s bum to “arm shelf” a seat or you may gently place your hand under baby’s feet and raise upwards a bit.
Back Wrap Cross Carry (BWCC) & Secure High Back Carry (SHBC)
These carries have more steps involved in the execution than a ruck but have an element of securing baby to you before executing the majority of the steps which gives many new back wrappers a sense of security and confidence they need when first learning. Some people just love these multi pass carries! It is all personal preference!
So which one? BWCC or SHBC?
Good question! It boils down to personal preference so we recommend trying both and deciding which one you like better! Both carries in the variations we will discuss, involve a half chest belt to secure baby to you before executing the carry. The BWCC has the wrap on each side going across baby and travelling under your arms to form a chest belt. Therefore baby does seem to sit a bit lower than in a SHBC where one side of the wrap is over one of your shoulders and the other is under one of your shoulders to then join in a chest belt. Therefore, baby will sit up a bit higher to accommodate the tail that goes over one of the shoulders.
Back Wrap Cross Carry – BWCC
- Baby will be on your back in your method of choice that is suitable for the age and physical development of your baby. Wrap will be centred on baby’s back, covering baby’s back (either from base of neck or under their arms) to the back of their knees. Wrap ends (sometimes referred to as tails) come under your shoulders and around to the front which is called a horizontal torso pass. Remember to always be working with one hand on baby and one hand working with the wrap.
- Once the ends of the wrap (sometimes referred to as tails) are around your torso, ensure the fabric is held nice and snug around baby and tie a single knot on your chest (above your breasts). Baby will be held secure to your body and hands may be free to execute the remainder of the carry. However, we still recommend that after you tie the knot, one hand goes back to being on baby and one hand works one side of each of the wrap at a time.
- Reaching behind you, smooth out the fabric from baby’s neck to their knees. Ensure all excess fabric is at the bottom of the wrap versus the top or the body of the wrap. Make a seat for baby. Ensure baby’s knees are higher than bum. You may use your arm under baby’s bum to “arm shelf” a seat or you may reach behind and gently place your hand under baby’s feet and raise upwards a bit.
- If you feel that there is some slack at this point, bring any slack forward towards your chest belt, loosen the knot, tighten the fabric and re-knot.
- Now to execute the multi passes of the carry! Start with the tail of fabric that corresponds with the side you want to work with first. Bring the tail of the fabric up and over your shoulder. As you are bringing it over your shoulder, there will be a little dexterity and flexibility involved. This may seem awkward at first but before you realize, your body will have muscle memory and you will be able to do this step with ease and fluidity of movement. The fabric will then be spread downwards across baby’s back, across the back of baby’s knee, across bum and then under the opposite leg in a cross pass. Repeat for the opposite side. You will have a cross or “X” formed at baby’s seat.
- Bring the two ends of fabric (tails) around to the front of your natural waist and tie off in a double knot i! If you find that baby is a bit too low or there is just that little bit of tightening needed, before tying off, try a little bounce while you pull the two tails outward with a gentle tug. This usually raises baby a bit higher and tightens that last remaining slack!
- If you feel that the chest belt is too comfortable, you can adjust the position by gently pulling it down or moving it up. Some people spread the chest belt so that it cups the breasts as an option. Also, some people spread the fabric on the shoulder so that it cups the shoulders, whereas others leave it bunched and resting on top of the shoulders.
Secure High Back Carry – SHBC
- Baby will be on your back in your method of choice that is suitable for the age and physical development of your baby. Wrap will be centred on baby’s back, covering baby’s back (either from base of neck or under their arms) to the back of their knees. One wrap end (sometimes referred to as tails) will come over one shoulder and one wrap end will come under your shoulder towards your the front of your body which is called a traditional carry pass. Remember to always be working with one hand on baby and one hand working with the wrap.
- Once the ends of the wrap (sometimes referred to as tails) are around your torso to the front, ensure the fabric is held nice and snug around baby and tie a single knot on your chest (above your breasts). Baby will be held secure to your body and hands may be free to execute the remainder of the carry. However, we still recommend that after you tie the knot, one hand goes back to being on baby and one hand works one side of each of the wrap at a time.
- Reaching behind you, smooth out the fabric from baby’s neck to their knees. Ensure all excess fabric is at the bottom of the wrap versus the top or the body of the wrap. Make a seat for baby. Ensure baby’s knees are higher than bum. You may use your arm under baby’s bum to “arm shelf” a seat or you may reach behind and gently place your hand under baby’s feet and raise upwards a bit.
- If you feel that there is some slack at this point, bring any slack forward towards your chest belt, loosen the knot, tighten the fabric and re-knot.
- Now to execute the multi passes of the carry! Start with the tail of fabric that came from under your shoulder and armpit. Bring the tail of the fabric up and over your shoulder. As you are bringing it over your shoulder, there will be a little dexterity and flexibility involved. This may seem awkward at first but before you realize, your body will have muscle memory and you will be able to do this step with ease and fluidity of movement. The fabric will then be spread downwards across baby’s back, across the back of baby’s knee, across bum and then under the opposite leg. Next you will take the fabric that originated over your shoulder and bring the tail of the fabric under your shoulder and armpit to your back. Here you have a choice to bunch it across the back of baby’s knee, across bum and then under the opposite leg or to spread it out across baby’s back before bringing down to lie from kneepit to bum. With either method, the result will be a cross or “X” formed at baby’s seat.
- Bring the two ends of fabric (tails) around to the front of your natural waist and tie off in a double knot i! If you find that baby is a bit too low or there is just that little bit of tightening needed, before tying off, try a little bounce while you pull the two tails outward with a gentle tug. This usually raises baby a bit higher and tightens that last remaining slack!
- If you feel that the chest belt is too comfortable, you can adjust the position by gently pulling it down or moving it up. Some people spread the chest belt so that it cups the breasts as an option. Also, some people spread the fabric on the shoulder so that it cups the shoulders, whereas others leave it bunched and resting on top of the shoulders.