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Woven Wrap Carries

Be sure to expand each of the sections below to learn more!

Explanation of Wrap Sizes and "Base Size"

The length of wrap you and your baby personally need to do full length carries, like the standard beginner carry Front Wrap Cross Carry, is considered one's "base size." Different methods of tying a wrap are called different "carries" and the size of wrap each carry needs is referred to as the size in relation to how much bigger or smaller than one's "base size" is needed. So, the short version of Front Wrap Cross Carry that ties under baby's bum typically uses a wrap two sizes smaller than your base size, and is therefore referred to as a "base-2" (or "base minus two") sized carry.

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"

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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

One great 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, although it is best to do so with the guidance of an educator since there are plenty of videos online that show poor technique or even risky methods without any kind of disclaimers. Expand the section below with information on how to practice.


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If you are learning on your own, practice with a mirror, a spotter, and over a soft surface. Never let go of your baby until they are fully secured by the wrap, and never leave your wrap tails unsecured while wrapping. 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. The latter group has an album of specific wrapping techniques and an album of carries, starting with beginner carries.

It can also help to practice with a weighted demo doll, or anything else weighted, like a sack of potatoes or a heavy purse. Weight is more important than realistic limbs in a "practice baby." The other key when practicing is to get all of the passes memorized so you can practice with baby without watching a video. Then take videos of yourself wrapping the carry and watch them back. You'll be surprised how many problems you can self diagnose in a video that you won't notice while wrapping in front of a mirror!

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.)

Expand the section below for an explanation of different pass types and what they are and aren't good for.


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,
FALL RISK if not combined with a sling or ruck pass in the opposite direction.

wovenwrappasses5.jpg

Abbreviation: RCP
Purpose: leg-straightener-proof,
FALL RISK if not combined with a sling or ruck pass in the opposite direction.

wovenwrappasses8.jpg

Abbreviation: TP
Purpose: symmetrical weight distribution, lower weight distribution, removes pressure from shoulders.

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

It is typically safest to 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.

Expand to see list.


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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?
Anne's Knotless Front Pocket Double Cross Carry   Base+1    
Pocket Wrap Cross Carry Tied at the Shoulder PWCC TAS Base+1   Yes
         
Front Wrap Cross Carry FWCC Base Good First Carry Partially
Front Wrap Cross Carry with Pond Finish   Base Yes Partially
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
Anne's Front Carry (Anne's FWCC)   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    
Front Pocket Double Cross Carry   Base    
Anne's Unicorn Front Carry   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    
         
Front Wrap Cross Carry Tied Under Bum FWCC TUB Base - 2 Good First Carry  
Short Front Wrap Cross Carry Tied at Shoulder   Base - 2    
Short Anne's Front Carry   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   Partially
Semi-Pocket Wrap Cross Carry Semi-PWCC Base - 2 Yes Yes
Robin's Hip Carry RHC Base - 2   Partially

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

Back Carries

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.


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It is good to start by learning a Rucksack Back Carry to master the basics of getting baby on your back, seat making, and tightening, but Half Jordan's Back Carry and Secure High Back Carry are also popular early carries.

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 (AKA Double Poppins Back Carry)   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 arms-in 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 (Original Christina's Variation)   Base Chest belt, chest passes SP, LP, CP Straighteners, Toddlers
Ruckless Bikini Carry for Leaners   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 HP, CP, CP  
Christina's Ruckless   Base - 1 Chest belt, waist belt SP, RP, CP  
Double Hammock Tied at Shoulder DH TAS Base - 1 Chest pass SP, SP, BHP  
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 CP, CP, HP  
Russian Jordan's Back Carry starting with Coolest Hip Carry   Base - 1 Waist belt CP, CP, HP  
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 RP, BLP, BLP  
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 RP, BRLP, BRLP  
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 RP, BLP, BLP  
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 RP, HP  
Reinforced Ruck   Base - 2 Waist belt RP, LP, LP  
Autumn's Reinforced Rucksack   Base - 2 Waist belt 2  
Short Ruckless Bikini Carry   Base - 2 Chest passes SP, SP  
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 HP, HP  
Five Point Harness Back Carry (AKA Eyelet Knotless Back Carry or Short Hannah's Eyelet Back Carry)   Base - 2 Chest Passes SP, SP  
Half Taiwanese Back Carry (AKA Short Taiwanese Back Carry)   Base - 2 Half chest pass SP, CP  
           
Double Hammock Double Rings DHDR Base - 3 Chest belt SP, SP  
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 SP, HP  
Double Sling Back Carry (FKA Double Rebozo) DS Base - 3 Optional chest belt SP, SP  
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 RP, HP  
Shepherd's Back Carry   Base - 3 Chest belt SP, SP  

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

Tandem Carries

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.

Expand for a list of carries.

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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

Return to Main - DIY Babywearing on Facebook - TICKS Rules for Safe Babywearing - 4 Rules for Safe Fabric Selection

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