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Woven Wrap Carries

Explanation of Wrap Sizes and "Base Size"


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With a few exceptions, almost any size wearer can use any size wrap. What changes is what you can do with each size. The first step is to determine your "Base Size." For most people, this is the size needed to comfortably do a Front Wrap Cross Carry and tie off in the back with a double knot. (If your wrap is tapered, this means tying without tying in the tapers.) For most wearers, this will be between a size 5 and 7, but it could be as short as a 4 and as long as a size 9 or longer. The most important thing is to find a wrap that works for you! A "base size" wrap is considered the standard size for a beginner to learn on, but if you end up with a wrap that is shorter or longer than your base size, don't panic! You can still use it; you'll just do different carries.

While this can vary based on bust size, height, wrapping skill, wrap thickness and grippiness, child's age/size, etc, a very general guideline uses what size unisex t-shirt you most comfortably fit into. For most medium-sized women, a 6 is a great place to start. If you are in between base sizes, it is better to work with a size up while learning. As you learn to tighten more efficiently, you will be able to do more with shorter wraps and you may find your "base" size changes to a smaller size.

Unisex T-shirt Size: XSmall, Small Medium, Large Large-2X 2X-3X
Likely Base Size: 5 6 7 8
*Actual Wrap Length:* 4.2m - 165" 4.6m - 181" 5.2m - 205" 5.6m - 220"
Woven wrap carries are then categorized based on what size is needed in relation to your base size. If someone who is a base 6 can do a carry in a size 4 wrap, it is considered a "Base -2" carry (6 - 2 = 4) which means that someone whose base size is a 7 would probably need a size 5 wrap to do the same carry, but someone whose base size is a 5 might be able to do it with a 3.

If you aren't sure what size your wrap is, you can measure the length of one long rail:

Woven Wrap SizingMetersInchesYards
Width 0.7m-0.8m 26"-32" 0.7y-0.9y
Size 1 2.0m 79" 2.2y
Size 2 2.5m 98" 2.9y
Size 3 3.1m 122" 3.4y
Size 4 3.7m 146" 4.0y
Size 5 4.2m 165" 4.6y
Size 6 4.6 181" 5.0y
Size 7 5.2m 205" 5.7y
Size 8 5.6m 220" 6.1y
Size 9 6.3m 248" 6.9y

If you aren't sure what your base is and only have one wrap to work with, you can use a couple different "standard" carries to judge.

If you can do this carry

without tying in the tips

or leaving excessively long tails...

Then your wrap is this size...

And you should be able to do

most of these size carries.

Front Wrap Cross Carry

Tied behind your back with a double knot

Base AKA "Full size" Base, Base-1, Base-2

Front Wrap Cross Carry tied under baby's bum

or a

Rucksack Back Carry tied in front

Base-2, AKA "Midsize" Base-2, Base-3

Semi Front Wrap Cross Carry

Tied with a slipknot at the shoulder

Base-3, AKA "Shorty" Base-3, Base-4, Base-5

Traditional Sling Carry

Tied with a slipknot at the shoulder

Base-5 Base-5, Base-6

Where and How to Learn


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The best way to learn, if possible, is in person at your local babywearing group with the hands-on assistance of a babywearing educator. In reality, though, you may or may not have access to such a group. It is possible to learn without such help by watching YouTube videos.

If you are learning on your own, practice with a mirror, a spotter, and over a soft surface. It is always best to check with an educator with some selfies or a video to make sure you aren't missing anything important and to receive helpful tips. You can ask in a local BWI group's Facebook group, a global babywearing group like Everyday Babywearing, or a wrap-specific group like Geeky Wrappers.

Great YouTube channels for woven wrap carries:

Why are there so many carries? What are the different passes for?


The different carries are made up of different combinations of "passes" - that is, ways to pass the wrap over baby's back from one side of the wearer to the other. On top of that, the way the wrap is passed over the back of the body (for a front carry) or the front of the body (for a back carry) changes where the weight is distributed. Different carries can be good for distributing the weight higher or lower based on the wearer's comfort, wearing baby higher or lower based on baby's age and preference, and may have more or fewer passes (fewer passes typically being better for a small baby and more being more supportive for a toddler.)

A summary of the most common types of passes:

wovenwrappasses.jpg

Abbreviation: RP
Purpose: symmetrical weight distribution,
lean-proof, able to keep baby extremely high

wovenwrappasses2.jpg

Abbreviation: SP
Purpose: lean-proof

wovenwrappasses3.jpg

Abbreviation: RSP
Purpose: lean-proof

wovenwrappasses4.jpg

Abbreviation: CP
Purpose: leg-straightener-proof

wovenwrappasses5.jpg

Abbreviation: RCP
Purpose: leg-straightener-proof

wovenwrappasses8.jpg

Abbreviation: TP
Purpose: symmetrical weight distribution

wovenwrappasses6.jpg

Abbreviation: LP
Purpose: leg-straightener-proof

wovenwrappasses7.jpg

Abbreviation: RLP
Purpose: leg-straightener-proof

wovenwrappasses9.jpg

Abbreviation: B___ (Ex, BLP, BCP)

Front & Hip Carries


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Always master several front and hip carries before moving on to back carries. The carries marked as "good first carries" are the best place to start, depending on your wrap size, and will work with newborns or toddlers.

Protip: Once you've learned the basics, I find that Kangaroo or Reinforced Kangaroo are great carries to learn leading up to back carries, as they will teach some of the same seat-making tips that you will use for your first back carries.

Carry Name Short Size Beginner Friendly? Pre-tied/poppable?
Front Wrap Cross Carry FWCC Base Good First Carry  
Front Cross Carry FCC Base Yes Yes
Semi Front Wrap Cross Carry with Poppins Finish   Base    
Front Double Hammock FDH Base    
Pocket Wrap Cross Carry PWCC Base Yes Yes
Pocket Wrap Cross Carry Tied at the Shoulder PWCC TAS Base   Yes
Reinforced Kangaroo   Base Yes  
Popparoo   Base    
Hip Wrap Cross Carry HWCC Base    
Reinforced Robin's Hip Carry   Base    
Front Torso Carry (Pond Finish)   Base    

Forward Facing Pocket Wrap Cross Carry

*Forward facing should be reserved for babies with good trunk and neck control

  Base    

Forward Facing Front Wrap Cross Carry ("chair" variation)

*Forward facing should be reserved for babies with good trunk and neck control

  Base    

Forward Facing "Chair Carry"

*Forward facing should be reserved for babies with good trunk and neck control

  Base    
         
Front Wrap Cross Carry Tied at Shoulder FWCC TAS Base - 1    
Anne's Front Wrap Cross Carry   Base - 1 Yes  
         
Front Wrap Cross Carry Tied Under Bum FWCC TUB Base - 2 Good First Carry  
Short Front Wrap Cross Carry Tied at Shoulder   Base - 2    
Front Reinforced Torso Sling or Hip Reinforced Torso Sling (FKA Front Reinforced Torso Rebozo) FRTS (FKA FRTR) Base - 2 Yes Yes
Short Cross Carry SCC Base - 2   Yes
Short Cross Carry with Ring   Base - 2    
Inside Out Front Pirate Carry IOFP Base - 2   Yes
Front Torso Carry   Base - 2    
Hip Cross Carry HCC Base - 2   Yes
Coolest Hip Cross Carry CHCC Base - 2   Yes
Reverse/Inside Out Coolest Hip Cross Carry RCHCC, IO CHCC Base - 2   Yes
Hip Kangaroo   Base - 2    
Semi-Pocket Wrap Cross Carry Semi-PWCC Base - 2 Yes Yes
Robin's Hip Carry RHC Base - 2    

Forward Facing Robin's Hip Carry

*Forward facing should be reserved for babies with good trunk and neck control

  Base - 2    
Robins Hip Carry with Ring   Base - 2    
         
Half Front Wrap Cross Carry HFWCC Base - 3 Yes  
Semi Front Wrap Cross Carry Semi-FWCC Base - 3 Good First Carry  
Semi Front Wrap Cross Carry with a Poppins Finish   Base - 3    
Kangaroo   Base - 3    
Poppins Hip Carry   Base - 3    
         
No No No Hip Carry   Base - 4    
         
Traditional Sling Carry (FKA Rebozo Carry) TSC Base - 5 Good First Carry Yes
No-Sew Ring Sling   Base - 5 Yes Yes

Back Carries


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Do not attempt back carries with a woven wrap until you are proficient at several front carries and understand making a deep seat and strand-by-strand tightening. While back carries can safetly be done with newborns by experienced wrappers, it is best for first-time-wrappers to wait until their child has strong trunk control before attempting. Begin by practicing with a mirror and a spotter over a soft surface like a bed.

Good starter back carries include Rucksack Back Carry, Half Jordan's Back Carry and Secure High Back Carry.

Carry Name Abbreviation Size Needed Front Support Back Passes Good for:
Taiwanese Carry   Base + 1 Chest passes SP, SP, TP Leaners, Toddlers
Torso Double Hammock Torso DH Base + 1 Chest belt SP, SP Toddlers
Wiggleproof Back Carry WP Base + 1 Waist belt RP, RCP, RCP Straighteners, Leaners, Toddlers
Hannah's Eyelet Back Carry (FKA Double Poppins)   Base + 1 Chest passes, waist belt SP, SP, BLP, BLP Leaners, Toddlers
Jorien's Ringless Mermaid Back Carry   Base +1 Chest passes, waist belt SP, TP, CP, BTP  
           
Double Hammock DH Base/Base+1 Chest pass, waist belt SP, RSP Leaners, Toddlers
Double Hammock Sweeheart   Base/Base+1 Chest pass, waist belt SP, RSP Leaners, Toddlers
Double Sling Shoulder to Shoulder DS S2S Base/Base+1 Chest belt, waist belt SP, SP Leaners, Toddlers
Half Jordan's Shoulder to Shoulder (Cross Sling Shoulder to Shoulder) HJBC S2S or CS S2S Base/Base+1 Chest belt, waist belt SP, CP Leaners, Straighteners, Toddlers
Back Wrap Cross Carry BWCC Base Chest belt, waist belt TP, CP, CP Beginners, Straighteners, Toddlers
Back Wrap Cross Carry Sweatheart   Base Chest passes, waist belt TP, RCP, RCP Straighteners, Toddlers
Back Cross Carry (NOT leanproof, only appropriate for trustworthy toddlers and experienced wrappers. Click here for more info.) BCC Base Chest belt, waist belt CP, RCP, LP, LP Straighteners, Toddlers
Rucksack Tied Tibetan RTT Base Chest passes RP, BLP, BLP Beginners, Leaners
Charlie's Cross Carry CCC Base Chest belt, waist belt LP, RCP, SP Straighteners, Leaners, Toddlers
Double Hammock Wiggleproof DH WP Base Chest Pass SP, RCP Straighteners, Leaners, Toddlers
Mermaid Carry   Base Chest passes TP, SP, SP Leaners, Toddlers
Ring Jordan's Back Carry   Base Chest passes SP, CP, LP Straighteners, Leaners, Toddlers
Torso Wrap Cross Carry   Base Chest belts TP, LP, LP Toddlers
Ruckless Bikini Carry   Base Chest belt, chest passes SP, SP, HP Leaners, Toddlers
Faux-Onbuhimo Back Carry   Base Chest belt RP, CP, CP Straighteners
Xena's Ruckless Carry   Base Chest passes RP, LP, LP Toddlers, Straighteners
Scarf Carry AKA Back Cross Carry Shoulder to Shoulder
(NOT leanproof, only appropriate for trustworthy toddlers and experienced wrappers. Click here for more info.)
  Base Chest belt CP, CP Straighteners
Ruck with a Lacuna Lexi Twist   Base Chest passes RP, TP, BTP  
Jessica's Double Sling Bow Finish   Base Chest Passes CP, TP, CP or SP, TP, SP  
Rainbow's Back Carry   Base Chest belt, waist belt SP, SP, RCP Leaners, Straighteners, Toddlers
Silas's Twist Back Carry   Base Chest passes, optional waist belt SP, CP, LP Leaners, Straighteners, Toddleers
           
Back Wrap Cross Carry with Ruck Straps   Base - 1 Waist belt 3  
Christina's Ruckless   Base - 1 Chest belt, waist belt 3  
Double Hammock Tied at Shoulder DH TAS Base - 1 Chest pass 2  
Double Hammock Shoulder to Shoulder DH S2S Base - 1 Chest pass, chest belt 3  
Double Hammock Rapids Variation   Base - 1 Chest pass    
Russian Jordan's Back Carry (FKA Ellevill Jordan's Back Carry)   Base - 1 Waist belt 3  
Russian Jordan's Back Carry starting with Coolest Hip Carry   Base - 1 Waist belt 3  
Poppins Back Carry   Base - 1 Partial chest pass, waist belt 1  
Maxine's Back Carry AKA Max's Back Carry   Base - 1 Waist belt, optional chest belt 2  
Norwegian Wiggleproof   Base - 1 Chest pass, optional chest belt 3  
Rucksack Tied Knotless Tibetan   Base - 1 Chest passes 1  
Rucksack with waistbelt & chestbelt   Base - 1 Waist belt, chest belt 1  
Secure High Back Carry   Base - 1 Waist belt, chest belt 2  
Wendy's Double Hammock   Base - 1 Chest pass, optional chest belt 3  
Miriam's Cross Carry   Base - 1 Waist belt, optional chest belt 3  
Miriam's Cross Carry Shoulder to Shoulder   Base - 1 Waist belt, chest belt 3  
Giselle's Back Carry with Waist Belt & Chest Belt GBC with WB & CB Base - 1 Waist belt, chest belt 3  
Strangleproof Ruck   Base - 1 Chest passes 1  
Kelly's Frankencarry (AKA Christina's Ruckless With Double Rings Finish)   Base - 1 Wasit belt, chest belt 2  
           
Rucksack Back Carry tied in front   Base - 2 Waist belt 1  
Jordan's Back Carry JBC Base - 2 Waist belt 3  
Giselle's Back Carry GBC Base - 2 Waist belt 3  
Twisted Pirate   Base - 2 Chest passes 2  
Reinforced Ruck   Base - 2 Waist belt 3  
Autumn's Reinforced Rucksack   Base - 2 Waist belt 2  
Short Ruckless Bikini Carry   Base - 2 Chest passes 2  
Xena's Back Wrap Cross Carry XBWCC Base - 2 Chest passes 3  
Double Hammock Torso with Brittany's Rose Finish   Base - 2 Chest pass, chest belt 2  
Five Point Harness Back Carry (AKA Hannahs Eyelet Knotless Back Carry or Short Hannah's Eyelet Back Carry)   Base - 2 Chest Passes    
           
Double Hammock Double Rings DHDR Base - 3 Chest belt 2  
Half Jordan's Back Carry HJBC Base - 3 Optional chest belt 2  
Flipless/Symmetrical Half Jordan's Back Carry   Base - 3 Optional chest belt 2  
Wiggleproof Half Jordan's Back Carry (Kristi's Wiggleproof)   Base - 3 Optional chest belt 2  

Back Reinforced Torso Sling

(AKA Semi Double Hammock,FKA Double Hammock Rebozo)

BRTS Base - 3 Chest belt 2  
Double Sling Back Carry (FKA Double Rebozo) DS Base - 3 Optional chest belt 2  
Knotless Ruck   Base - 3 Chest belt 1  
Lola's Back Carry   Base - 3 Chest belt 2  

Reinforced Rear Ruck

(AKA Pirate Carry, FKA Reinforced Rear Rebozo Rucksack)

RRR Base - 3 Optional chest belt 2  
Shepherd's Back Carry   Base - 3 Chest belt 2  

         
Ruck Tied Under Bum RTUB Base - 4 none 1  
Ruck Tied at Shoulder RTAS Base - 4 Optional chest belt 1  
Short Back Cross Carry (NOT leanproof, only appropriate for trustworthy toddlers and experienced wrappers. Click here for more info.) SBCC Base - 4 Optional chest belt 2  
Strap Carry   Base - 4 varies varies  
           
Traditional Back Carry (FKA Rebozo Back Carry) TBC Base - 5 Chest cross pass 1  
           
Torso Carry TC Base - 6 Chest pass 1  

Tandem Carries


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Wearing two babies at the same time can be a game changer for parents with multiple children, especially twins. Be sure to master wrapping one child at a time before attempting to wrap them both, however.

In general, carries with both babies on the front will be easier with twins or babies of equal size. Carries that have one on the front and one on the back can be done with children of different ages.

Carry Name/Combo Wrap Size Needed Babies' Position
Amanda's Tandem Hip Carry Base + 1 Front/Front
Miranda's Tandem Hip Carry Base + 1 Front/Front
Jasmine's Tandem Hip Carry Base + 1 Front/Front
Double Horizontal Pass FWCC Base + 1 Front/Front
Pocket Wrap Cross Carry with twins Base Front/Front
FWCC Variation Base Front/Front

   
Ruck Tied Tibetan/FCC
Base + 1 Back/Front
DHDR/FCC Base + 1 Back/Front
HJBC/FCC Base Back/Front
RRR/FCC Base - 2 Back/Front
SBCC/FCC Base - 2 Back/Front

If you are wondering what happened to the terms "Rebozo Carry" or "Rebozo pass" and why some carries' names and acronyms have changed, click here.

For a great video on nursing-friendly carries, click here.

-- Alyssa Leonard - 2016-08-16

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