Instructions for Use

Front Wrap Cross Carry Instructions

Instructions written by Rachel Boarman, Certified Babywearing Consultant
Photography by Stavish Stills Photography

Step 1:

To begin, locate the middle marker tag in the center of your wrap.

Place the middle marker at the center of your chest.

Step 2:

Holding the middle marker in the center of your chest with your left hand, use your right hand to reach behind you for the top edge of the left side of the wrap.

Bring the wrap under your left arm, across your back, and over your right shoulder so that it spreads out wide across your back without bunching or twisting.

Step 3:

Repeat step two on the other side.

Holding the middle marker in place with your right hand, use your left hand to reach behind you for the top edge of the right side of the wrap.

Bring the wrap under your right arm, across your back, and over your left shoulder so that it spreads out wide across your back without bunching or twisting.

Step 4:

Now, you have an X of fabric over your back.

In the front, you have a horizontal piece of fabric and two hanging tails.

Neatly bunch the horizontal part into a tube of fabric.

Now you are ready to pick up your baby.

Step 5:

Hold your baby on your shoulder as if you are going to burp the baby.

Reach one hand under the bunched tube of fabric and guide baby’s legs through the tube.

Step 6:

Keeping one hand on baby, seat baby on this tube of fabric.

Take a moment to position the baby comfortably.

Baby should be positioned high on your body so that you can easily kiss the top of baby’s head.

Baby’s legs should be in a spread squat position with knees higher than bottom.

The tube of wrap fabric should extend from one knee to the other knee.

Step 7:

Once baby is properly positioned, find the top edge of the fabric and pull it up to spread the wrap over baby’s back.

If baby prefers to be arms in, the wrap should go to the nape of baby’s neck.

If the baby prefers to be arms out, the wrap should go up to baby’s shoulders.

Step 8:

Check that the bottom edge of the fabric goes from knee to knee on the baby and that baby’s knees are slightly higher than baby’s bottom.

The bottom edge of the wrap should make a straight line from knee to knee between you and baby.

Now baby is properly positioned and you are ready to tighten the wrap.

Step 9:

Keeping your left hand on the baby’s back, use your right hand to find the top edge of the fabric on your right shoulder.

The top edge will be the edge closest to your neck.

Lift your left elbow out to the side to allow the wrap to tighten easily.

Holding the first few inches of the top edge of the wrap, pull up at a diagonal.

You should feel the wrap tightening near baby’s upper back on the left side.

Once the top edge of the wrap is tight, find the middle of the width of the wrap and pull that upward to tighten.

You should feel this tighten around the baby’s lower back on the left side.

Finally, pull upward on the bottom edge of the wrap, which is the part on the outside of your shoulder.

This will tighten the fabric between you and baby.

Once you feel that this side is evenly tightened, place the wrap comfortably on your shoulder.

Step 10:

Repeat step 9 on the other side.

With your right hand, support your baby and hold the side of the wrap that you just tightened.

Use your left hand to find the top edge of the wrap on your left shoulder.

The top edge will be the edge closest to your neck.

Lift your right elbow out to the side to allow the wrap to tighten easily.

Holding the first few inches of the top edge of the wrap, pull up at a diagonal.

You should feel the wrap tightening along the baby’s upper back on the right side.

Next, find the middle of the width of the wrap and pull upward to tighten.

Finally, pull upward on the bottom edge of the wrap.

Once you feel that this side is evenly tightened, place the wrap comfortably on your shoulder.

Step 11:

Bring both tails straight down along baby’s sides as if framing baby’s body.

The tails should come to the bend of baby’s knees.

Step 12:

Cross the tails under baby’s bottom.

Step 13:

Bring both tails under baby’s knees.

The left tail should now come down along the baby’s left side.

It should go over baby’s left knee and under baby’s right knee.

The right tail should come down along baby’s right side.

It should go over baby’s right knee and under baby’s left knee.

Step 14:

Tie a double knot in back.

Step 15 (optional):

If you choose, you can spread out one or both of the cross passes (the fabric that goes under one knee).

When you spread the cross pass, bring it from knee to knee on baby and spread it high on baby’s back.

 

Check Your Carry

Can you fit two fingers under baby’s chin? Baby’s chin should never be pressed against baby’s chest. If baby’s chin is down, gently reposition baby so that you can fit two fingers under baby’s chin.

Can you see baby’s entire face? It is important to keep your baby’s face clear from fabric. If baby falls asleep, position baby’s face toward one side so that baby’s nose and mouth are not pressed against you. To keep the fabric away from baby’s face while baby’s sleeps, you may choose to keep one side of the wrap bunched. If you would prefer to have both passes spread, cap the shoulder by pulling the top edge of the fabric away from your neck and over your shoulder. This will keep fabric away from baby’s face.

Is baby snug? If you press against baby’s back and baby moves closer to you, then the wrap is too loose. Untie and re-tighten until baby is well supported and snug.

Can you easily (without bending down or straining) kiss the top of baby’s head? If not, then baby is too low. If baby is too low, reposition baby higher on your body. Baby’s head should be at the top of your chest, where you can easily kiss baby.

 

Many thanks to Rachel Boarman, Certified Babywearing Consultant, for writing these instructions and overseeing the photoshoot for this tutorial.