COTW #48 - Giselle's Back Carry

by Aline Kelly

 

 

Giselle's Back Carry is an invention of babywearer Giselle Baturay of Granola Babies, and combines concepts of different carries that she liked into one comprehensive carry. The end result has reinforced passes over baby's bum, a pass under each knee (making it good for wigglers and kickers), and ruck straps in the front. You will need a mid-length woven wrap.

 

General instructions:

- Get baby onto your back and create a seat. One tail comes over your shoulder, the other comes under the opposite arm. 

- Taking the tail coming over your shoulder, bring it around back, over the first knee, spread it over baby's back and bum, and tuck it under the second leg. 

- Using the other tail, flip it up over your same shoulder, spread it across baby's back and bum, and tuck it under the opposite leg. 

- Tie in front or tie an alternate finish of your liking. 

 

Video instructions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiSR_Z-pkcs (Giselle Baturay)

COTW #47 - Norwegian Wiggleproof Back Carry

by Aline Kelly

Norwegian Wiggleproof Back Carry is a doppelganger for the Double Hammock. It has a spread chest pass and looks nearly identical, but has different back passes and can be tied with a shorter wrap. This carry is also very similar to Jordan's Back Carry but may be more supportive due to the addition of the chest support. You will need a mid-length woven wrap. 

 

General instructions:

- With your wrap centered, get baby onto your back and create a nice seat. One pass comes over your shoulder, the other comes under your opposite arm. 

- Take the tail coming over your shoulder, tuck it back under baby's knee, spread it across his bum and back, and bring it up over your opposite shoulder, creating a cross pass. Secure this tail. 

- With the tail coming under your arm, spread it across your chest, bring it around back and OVER baby's first knee, across his bum, and over the second knee to create a horizontal pass. 

- Tie at shoulder, tie a candy cane chest belt, or do a knotless finish (see video below for demos). 

 

Variations: 

- You can tuck the final pass under baby's second knee if you'd like a bit more symmetry in the knees. 

- Passes can be tied in reverse order if preferred (ie start with the chest pass). 

Video instructions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj6TMjJuepg (Kateness23)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u4ZL_vipGs (WearingRawAndPure)

Finishing options: 

http://youtu.be/1O8Zn1WKhBA?t=2m24s (BabywearingFaith) 

COTW #46 - Front Double Hammock

by Aline Kelly

Front Double Hammock (FDH) is a carry that is almost identical to the Front Cross Carry, the only variation between them being how baby is positioned into the pre-tied passes. Some find Front Double Hammock to be the more supportive of the two because of extra layers over baby and greater ability to spread the fabric. You can tie this carry with a size 4 or 5 woven wrap.

General Instructions:
- Center the middle marker of your wrap on the middle of your lower back.
- Bring each tail around to the front and up over the opposite shoulder, creating an X in the front of your body.
- Cross the tails in the back, creating an X in the back, and tie a loose knot at your belt buckle area in front.
- Situate baby into the inner layer of your X on the front. As opposed to the FCC where you would situate one leg into each pass, with the FDH both of baby's legs go into the inner pass. The result is baby's bum is supported by two rebozo passes. If it helps, keep baby's legs together when getting him into position.
- Once baby is situated, move his legs into the spread position with knees above bum, and create a nice seat from knee to knee. Spread the passes over baby's back.
- Take time to tighten all your passes, remove excess slack, and tighten your knot. Spread your back passes for extra comfort.
- Tie under bum or do leg passes and tie behind your back.

Video Instructions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCLWJaVT6h0 (MyFluffBaby)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZFIL4gOa-A (aporteedebisousvideo)- silent demo

(Almost) Everything You Wanted To Know About Dipping, But Were Afraid To Ask!

by Tami Grosset

You may have heard the term 'dip' or 'dipping' on babywearing forums and you may have wondered what you're missing out on. Perhaps its a special way to carry your bub or maybe a new SSC?

Nope! Its a fantastic way to buy a hard to find wrap or exclusive, high end carrier with out breaking the bank or winning the lottery. It is in fact its own lottery. Here's how it works...

First you need to find a dip. Dippers are secretive for a good reason. Even though its a simple online raffle it is actually gambling. Gambling is against the rules of Paypal and dipping relies on Paypal accounts to keep it simple and easy for buyers and sellers alike. If you're keen to find a dipping club you need to approach, via PM, some other mamas in your preferred babywearing group. To protect any and all dipping clubs I will not be naming any or providing any links to any in this post, and any links and names listed in comments will be removed.

When a dip takes place the seller first has to decide a total price that she would like to get. Lets say she is selling an Uppymama and she'd like $1500 for it. She then has to decide how many dips (or raffle tickets) she'd like to sell. In this example we'll say she wants to offer 150 dips, which would have to be sold at $10 each for her to get the full $1500 value.

In most Dipping Clubs admins will check the value of the wrap for sale and ensure that it is being sold for a fair total price. An admin will usually work with the seller to ensure the process is fair and unbiased.

Once the value of the item is verified and the price is set the dips will be offered to dipping club members. Members will be allowed to buy as many dips as they like for $10 each (or whichever the dip price is set). An online form is created and members are invited to complete one form for each dip they wish to purchase. When all the dips are accounted for the seller posts their Paypal details and dippers have an agreed amount of time (usually 24 hours) to pay for their dips.

When all the dips are paid for the dipping club admin uses random.org to find a winner. Each dip ticket has a number allotted to it. To ensure fairness the running of the random.org selection is video taped and time stamped and the clip is posted online for all dipper to see. When the random.org selects a number, the dipper with that number wins the wrap!

In fact everyone wins! The seller wins as she has got her $1500. The winner wins as she has got an Uppymama valued at $1500 for just $10 and everyone else wins because they had fun and only spent $10 each.

Dipping started when hard to find and high end wraps became so highly priced it became hard for owners (who had paid after retail price) to resell their beauties. Dipping is a great way for many people, even those with limited budgets, to win a highly priced and exclusive carrier. Some clubs have also started putting less expensive, more available wraps up for dipping to enable even more people to enjoy the love of wrapping and wearing.

If you know of a dipping club please only share it with super special people who will enjoy sharing in this exciting and  special game, and to protect the dippers in the club.

COTW #45 - Taiwanese Carry

by Aline Kelly

Taiwanese Carry is a carry with many twists, turns, and passes. There's no confusing it with any other carry - it is one of a kind and easily identifiable. Although unique, it is not often seen (usually just in a "Let's learn Taiwanese Carry" context), and opinions are generally split as to the attractiveness of the pattern it creates on the wearer's front. It uses a long woven wrap, usually a size 6 or 7. 

 

The supposed "real" Taiwanese Carry consists of three twists on the wearer's front. However, the popular internet version is a simplified one with two twists. Although we'll link to a tutorial for the long version, this COTW will focus on the shorter, two-twist version. 

General instructions:

- This carry begins off-centre. Drap your wrap over your shoulder until it hangs to approximately your hip or upper leg. Where the wrap crosses your back is where you will center baby. 

- Get baby on your back and create a good seat. The short end of the wrap comes over your shoulder, the long end comes under the opposite arm. Pin the vertical tail between your knees to maintain tension. 

- For reference, the short tail stays exactly where it is for the entire duration - the long end does 100% of the wrapping. 

- Create a twist in front - Bring the long tail under the short one, then back over it so it goes back the way it came. 

- Flip this tail over your shoulder, spread it across baby's back and bum, and tuck it OVER the opposite knee (rebozo pass). 

- Create another twist in the front.

- Bring the tail across baby's back and bum, staying over both knees (horizontal pass), and tie in front. 

- Spread wrap over your chest and shoulders as is comfortable.

Variations:

- You can opt to tuck passes under baby's knees instead of over to create a more wiggleproof carry. 

- If you're cutting it close on length, you can bunch the last pass instead of spreading it to save a few inches. 

Photo instructions:

http://www.thebabywearer.com/forum/showthread.php?13318-Taiwanese-carry&p=129565#post129565 (login required) - Long, 3-twist version.

Video instructions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmVEgtU1-W8 (WrappingRachel)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMtGbEHCJzw (wrapababy)

Shorty version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBz2yXXf-j8 (Briannaborntobeworn) - Size 3 wrap.

One-shouldered version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIY6VmYf7ZA (Briannaborntobeworn)

COTW #44 - Double Hammock Rebozo

by Aline Kelly

Double Hammock Rebozo is a shortened, one-shoulder version of the classic Double Hammock carry, and is usually tied with a size 2 or 3 woven wrap. It is appreciated as a good supportive carry for toddlers, although some babywearers note that baby will often sit a bit lower on the back than with most typical back carries. 

 

General instructions:

- The carry starts off-center. Drape the wrap over your shoulder so it hangs to around your waist. Where the wrap crosses your spine is where you will center your baby. 

- Get baby on your back using your preferred method and create a deep seat from knee to knee. The short tail stays over your shoulder, the long tail comes under your opposite arm. 

- Securing the vertical tail, spread the other tail wide across your chest, under your arm, spread it across baby's back and bum, and bring it back under the original arm. You will have created a chest pass in the front and a horizontal pass in the back. Note that all these passes go OVER baby's legs.  

- Take a minute or two here to work all the extra slack out of your passes. Tighten strand by strand, pull your tails, and generally make sure there aren't any loose bits. It can help to pull the tails up and out in a cheerleader pull to make sure they spread nicely over baby's back. 

- Bring your tails together in front of your chest and tie a square knot or a slipknot where it's comfortable.

- Spread the wrap over your chest and shoulder as preferred. 

Video instructions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqPtxhWWryY (Jennifer MacNeil, with very special guest star F)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Hsrgq9ipIo (carrythem)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyHskW3gl6g (tooralei)