Search
Wednesday, January 07, 2009 ..:: Make a Carrier » Use What You Have ::.. Register  Login
Site Navigation

 Happy Baby Minimize
      

   Minimize
Necessity is the Mother of Invention.
    

 Improvised Carriers Minimize
An African, Malaysian, Indonesian mama
"I bet I can use my skirt to hold my baby."

A Mayan, Quechuan, Welsh, Native American mama

"I bet I can use my shawl to hold my baby."

A Korean, Japanese, African mama
"I bet I can use this blanket to hold my baby."

A Japanese mama
"I bet I can use my kimono sash to hold my baby."
    

 What Can You Do with a Simple Piece of Cloth? Minimize
    

 Do I need a special kind of cloth to carry my baby? Minimize
No, although some fabrics work better than others. In general, cotton will breathe better and slip less than blends and synthetics. Knit fabrics (t-shirts. for example, are a knit) stretch in all directions and work best for small babies. Woven fabrics (sheets and tablecloths, for example) usually stretch only on the diagonal and offer more support for heavy babies. There can be huge differences in the amount of give from one fabric to another and you'll need to find the right balance of support and comfort for you. Most people have good results with cotton gauze. Stretch twills can be easier to find in the winter and also work well.

But you can start babywearing without a trip to the fabric store. Look in your linen closest: an old sheet or tablecloth may work for you. If the cloth you've chosen is too wide (much wider than 45" at the most) it may be difficult to manage, especially making a knot. If you are willing to part with the sheet or tablecloth, you might want to tear it lengthwise (a width of 22-30" works well). You might also have a solution in your closet. Sarongs used as bathingsuit coverups work well for one shoulder carries or shoulderless (African style) back carries, but may need frequent adjustments if the fabric is a little slippery.

There are, of course, specialty wraps available, and they can be a worthwhile investment. For a fairly low price (about $30) you can buy a beautiful, comfortable wrap from a WAHM. The most expensive commercial wraps are specially woven to provide a great combination of strength and give. But, there's no reason to put off wearing your baby until you can afford a $100 wrap. There's nothing you can do with the specialty fabrics that you can't improvise with a long enough piece of cotton gauze. With even basic sewing skills, you can make the only wrap you'll ever need. (I said "need," not "want.") With no sewing skills you can still make a serviceable sling, as the hemmed edges have no function other than asthetics.

~Caren Pita
    

 What ELSE can you do? Minimize
    

 Got $5 & 5 mins?
Make a Carrier!
    

 Shop Minimize

      

 More Help Minimize
    

 Pretty Pareos Minimize


    

 Astounding Minimize
"It is astounding that a 1000 generations of knowledge and experience can be wiped out by a single generation of ignorance."
~~ S. M. Richards
    

 Report a Problem Minimize

Broken link? Missing image? Misspelled word? Inadequate instructions? Please email maintenance@wearyourbaby.org. I cannot respond to every email, but I do appreciate your help. I will email you back if I can.  Thanks, Tracy Dower
    

 You are a Master Babywearer Minimize
In China, it is said that "A master is anyone who knows more than you do." So, you are all master babywearers compared with most of the moms in the world. You do NOT need to know everything there is to know about babywearing -- if you know even ONE carry with even ONE type of carrier, you are in possession of knowledge other moms desperately want -- even if they do not yet know they want it. ;-D Therefore, you should all feel confident enough to teach others! So, pick a public place, pick a day of the week, and start sharing your skills with other families! Then, list yourself here.
      

Copyright 2006 The Mamatoto Project   Terms Of Use  Privacy Statement