Accessories for Structured Carriers

Ways to dress up a carrier! Most of these work well with most buckle carriers, meh dais, and onbuhimos. Some are brand-specific, but may give you some ideas for how to adapt the method for your carrier. Feel free to suggest additions in our Facebook group!

Keep in mind that while you will want to pay attention to making sure your fabric is not treated or coated (since it will be in contact with baby), accessories are not weight bearing and therefore you don't have to worry about the weight of the fabric used. This is a great place for quilter's cotton, flannel, repurposed bedsheets, etc!

Slip Covers

• Beco Gemini
• KJAJ Mommy & Me Reversible Tula Cover
• Barefoot & Pregnant No-Sew Tula Slipcover (Frozen Edition!)
• Pitcher Family Adventures Tula Cover
• Made with love Ergo Slip Cover
• Drafting a slipcover pattern for SSC or Meh Dai (includes hood info too!)
• How to make a reversible meh dai slipcover

For cold-weather and wet-weather cover options, click here!

Protip: a 5T sized t-shirt will fit over most soft structured carriers and meh dais for an easy, no-sew slipcover! Similarly, a 5T sized hoodie can be used to add warmth (and a hood!) to a carrier in winter, or a rain coat to protect baby and carrier in the rain. For costumes and some other applications, a size Large dog outfit/costume will fit over most structured carriers as well.

Suck Pads & Drool Bibs

• Katie's KPs Corner Suck Pads (the printable "Tula" pattern is universal & fit most SSCs and meh dais; the Kinderpack pattern is for wider straps)
• Katie's KPs "Easy Peasy" Straight Suck Pads (universal; fit most SSCs)
• Square Peg Farm Lillebaby Drool Bib/Headrest Cover
• Katie's KPs Drool Pads tips & tricks (not a full tutorial; just troubleshooting)
• Lillebaby Drool Bib (reversible)
• Ergo Drool Bib Tutorial & Video

Choosing fabric for suck pads

Most suck pads are three layers thick: the decorative layer, an interior (absorbent) layer, and a back layer. For the decorative layer, quilter's cotton or flannel is a popular choice.
If the suck pads are simply for decorative purposes and your baby is not a chewer, the interior layer can be omitted, but to actually absorb moisture, good options are flannel, microfiber (the kind used for cloth diaper liners), cut up receiving blankets, or even thin terry cloth. Keep in mind that terry cloth (wash cloths) can be a beast to sew with.
For the back layer, you can do a different pattern of quilter's cotton or flannel to make your suck pads reversible, or if you have a very heavy drooler, you can even use a water resistent backing like PUL to protect the carrier.

Hoods

• V-Style Tula Hood
• Katie's KPs Flat Tula Hood
• Katie's KPs Hoodie Hood for Infant or Toddler Tula

Et cetera

• "The Extender" SewToot Padded Waist Webbing Cover (covers raw webbing SSC waistband to prevent "muffin top" and digging)
• "Sailor Bow Tutorial" (this style of bow works great for the end of reach straps)
• Underarm SSC Pads
• Katie's KPs Simple Reach Straps
• Katie's KPs Embroidered Reach Straps
• Fine and Fair Blog: Narrow Based Carrier to Ergonomic Carrier Scarf Hack
• How to Attach KAMsnaps (great for a removable hood or suck pads)
• SSC Leg Extenders (specifically Ergo, snap on extensions to widen a body panel for a long legged child)

Alyssa Leonard - 2016-07-16