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Welcome to wiki.BabywearingDIY.com!

While there are hundreds of excellent babywearing options available commercially, there are many reasons to Do It Yourself. Whether it’s from a budget standpoint, designing the “perfect” carrier, or simply a love of sewing, DIY is a great option!

Join us on Facebook to ask questions, make suggestions and enjoy other people’s creations as well as sharing your own!

Safety Reminder: While we have done our best to compile the clearest, most thorough database of DIY Babywearing safety information, you are liable for whatever you create. We endeavor to give the clearest instructions and always err far on the side of caution, but it is up to you to make and use your carrier safely. Be sure to inspect your DIY carriers thoroughly before every use, and do not use a carrier you do not feel confident in. It is always a good idea to learn to use your carrier with the help of an official BWI Group. Search their website to find a local group. If there are no groups local to you, you can also join a group on Facebook, whether it is a nearby BWI Group or a global group like Everyday Babywearing, and post a picture for a “fit check.” Be sure to always follow the TICKS rules for safe babywearing.

While we try to make sure all outside links are to reputable sources, we cannot be held liable for information from outside links and tutorials.

Beginners, Start Here

*1) Choose What To Make* Different Types of Baby Carriers
What can I make without a Sewing Machine?
*2) Read Through A Few Tutorials* See the bottom of the home page for tutorials
*3) Buy Safe Materials* Four Rules of Fabric Selection
Rings for sling rings, onbuhimos, and more
Where to buy materials in your country
*4) Review Safety Tips* General Construction & Sewing Safety Info
*5) Sew!* Join our Facebook Group for support as you sew your first carrier!
*6) Learn to use it* TICKS Rules for Safe Babywearing
Find linked "how to wear" video tutorials on the Carrier Types page under each related carrier style!
Find your local BWI chapter so you can get hands on help
Join a global babywearing group to ask for help online

General Babywearing Information & FAQ

TICKS Rules for Safe Babywearing Basic babywearing safety rules - memorize before wearing!
Can I wear baby on my back? General safety standards for back carrying with each type of carrier.
Abbreviations & Lingo Common abbreviations and shorthand used in babywearing and DIY.
Accurate Terminology
(and why it's important)

Why we are specific with the language we use regarding:

  • Rebozo
  • Kanga
  • Meh dai/Bei dai
  • Onbuhimo
  • Podaegi/Nyia
  • The Didymos Prima
Woven Wrap Carries by Size
  • Explanation of "base" and sizing
  • How/where to learn to wrap
  • Front/Hip Carries by size
  • Back Carries by size
  • Tandem Carries

Different Types of Baby Carriers & Carrier Comparisons

The Different Types of Carriers
  • All the major carrier types & descriptions
  • Pictures of variations
  • What ages they are ideal for
  • Advantages/Disadvantages of each
  • Instructional videos for wearing
Carrier Comparisons

Fabric, Materials & Construction

Safe Fabric for Wraps, Slings or Other Carriers
  • 4 Rules of Fabric Selection
  • Specific Fabric Suggestions
  • Printable Shopping Guide
Safe Fabric for Water Use Selecting an appropriate mesh for a water ring sling or wrap.
Sling rings Selecting safe and appropriate rings for:
  • Ring Slings
  • Onbuhimos
  • Ring-waist meh dais
  • etc

Including:

  • Where to buy
  • What size you need
  • Safe substitutions
Can My Fabric Stretch? Appropriate stretch for wraps and slings
Where to buy babywearing materials

Sources for various countries to buy:

  • Fabric
  • Sling rings
  • Buckles and webbing
General Construction and Sewing Safety Info
  • Reinforcement stitches
  • What kind of thread to use
  • X Boxes
  • Number of body panels needed
  • Where it is safe to hand sew
Carrier Widths/Lengths
  • Ring Slings
  • Woven Wraps
  • Stretchy Wraps
  • Pouch slings
  • Meh Dai (straps and body panel sizes)
  • Onbuhimos (straps and body panel sizes)
Tapering a Wrap How to taper a woven wrap

Dyeing Baby Carriers

Dye Safety
  • Safe Dyes for Baby Carriers
  • Unsafe Dyes to Avoid
  • Safety Equipment Needed
  • Bleaching & Stripping
  • Info on using natural dyes
Scouring Osnaburg A deep cleaning technique necessary for unprocessed fabric like osnaburg.
Stripping Color How to safely remove color from a wrap.
Soda Ash
  • What is soda ash?
  • Why do I need it?
  • Can I make it?
  • How much should I use?
Color Theory How colors combine when dyeing and how to predict what color you might end up with.
Tutorials
  • Vat dye
  • Grad Dye
  • Low Immersion Dye
  • Ice Dye
  • Resist Dye
  • Shaving Cream/Marble Dye
  • Painting with Thickened Dyes

Misc FAQs

Tablecloth Babywearing
  • What Tablecloths to Use
  • What You Can Make
  • How to Seam Tablecloths for a long wrap
Selling DIY Carriers
  • Short answer: in the USA, no.
No Sewing Machine?
  • What carriers you can DIY without a sewing machine
Outside Resources
  • Related Facebook Groups
  • Where to ask off-topic questions
  • Recommended Websites

Tutorials and Patterns

Wraps and Slings
Asian Style Baby Carriers
Full Buckle Carriers
Other Carriers
Other Tutorials

Doll Carriers for Children

Dressing up Structured Carriers

  • Suck Pads
  • Drool Bibs
  • Hoods
  • Reach Straps
  • Decorative Slipcovers
  • Recovering/Permanent Slipcovers

Accessories for Weather

  • Warm slipcovers
  • Babywearing Blankets
  • Babywearing Jackets
  • Babywearing Ponchos

Other Babywearing Accessories

  • Diaper bags and purses
  • Dressing up a ring sling
  • DIY Weighted Babywearing Doll
  • Narrow to Ergonomic SSC Hack
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Topic revision: r80 - 2017-07-10 - AlyssaLeonard
 
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