COTW #34 - Front Wrap Cross Carry

by Aline Kelly

Front Wrap Cross Carry (FWCC) is a often the very first front carry that new wrappers learn. It is a multi-pass carry that is tied using a stretchy wrap or a long woven wrap, usually around a size 6.  It consists of one horizontal pass and two cross passes, making it secure and comfortable for feisty toddlers and snuggly newborns alike. 

 

General Instructions (this is one variation): 

- Place the middle marker of your wrap on the middle of your chest. 

- Take one side of your wrap under your arm, up diagonally across your back, and over your opposite shoulder. 

- Repeat on the other side. 

- Make sure the fabric stays smooth, flat, and doesn't twist anywhere. Both tails should now be hanging over the front of your shoulders. 

- Place baby into the horizontal pass on your front. Create a nice seat by tucking as much fabric as possible between your bodies. Make sure baby is supported from knee to knee.  

- Take one tail, spread it diagonally across baby's back and bum, and tuck it under his opposite knee to create a cross pass. Repeat on the other side. 

- Tighten your rails to get any remaining loose bits out. 

- Tie behind your back in a double knot. If slack remains you can bring your tails around and tie in front under baby's bum. 

- Spread your back passes evenly across your back. 

Photo instructions:

http://www.wrapyourbaby.com/frontwrapcrosscarry.htm (WrapYourBaby)

Video Instructions: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwwgMqZip-s (tooralei) Newborn

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dORbWkAt1Js (WrapYourBaby) Newborn, wrapped while holding baby, nursing, froggy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RHyUi3OOb0 (BecomingMamas) - Older baby (10 months)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6WnV2Ihw-k (Wrapping Rachel) - Toddler/Preschooler, finishing variations

Variations and Tips:

- Newborns may have their legs froggied (drawn up beside their torso in a bent position). If you do frog legs make sure baby's weight is on their bum, not on their feet. Also make sure that baby is being wrapped in a natural position for them and their joints are not being strained in any way. 

- Cross passes may be bunched around the sides of baby's body instead of spread. This can be useful in warmer weather and is a bit quicker to tie. 

- You can pre-tie the entire carry and pop the baby in, making sure their legs are properly situated in the cross passes. Tighten up and tie off. 

- To tighten your horizontal pass it is helpful to pull your tails diagonally and up like a cheerleader pull. 

- The typical stretchy wrap carry is a variation of the FWCC called the Pocket Wrap Cross Carry (PWCC). Instructions are similar, except when your tails come over your shoulders you would tuck them under the horizontal pass before proceeding. This makes it so that the horizontal pass will end up over the cross passes when the carry is finished (instead of under them as with the FWCC). Photo instructions and tips for PWCC: http://www.wrapyourbaby.com/pocketwrapcrosscarry.htm