You've Got a Baby on Your Back!

Happy Sunday, Midland's Babywearers!

Chris, cold weather babywearing

I am so happy to see the sun shining today. I do not know about all of you, but I'm ready for spring. The winter weather has been cold and relentless. The bright spot out of it though, has been the formation and growth of this group.
When a handful of us started this new group in January, we had no idea how large and successful we would become in such a short amount of time. And it could not have been done without all of you. It has become of utmost importance to us that everyone in the group be seen as valuable, with experience and knowledge to share. As admins of the group, we are not without these qualities, but it would do a disservice to the group as a whole if we did not encourage and celebrate the many years of experience and wealth of knowledge that the community as a whole possesses, and willing shares on a daily basis. The community's welcoming and friendly attitude, and eager sharing of each of your babywearing journeys is what makes the group as a whole a wonderful place. So thank you, for all that you do and are, for making Babywearers of the Midlands great! Let's keep up the good work!

The last couple of weeks we've focused on, in our Carries of the Week, Mei Tai carriers and the Ruck Sack Carry (done with  a woven wrap). In that vein, we thought it might be timely to discuss that mother of all questions: "How do I get a baby on my back?" And "when can I do that?" We'll break it down for you, carrier by carrier.


Carrying a baby on your back is probably the most rewarding part of babywearing. You can get so
much done with baby back there! If you are wearing an ergonomic carrier that's right for you and baby, you can wear baby on your back for a long time without back pain or discomfort. There is a reason nearly all the photos of indigenous people babywearing have the baby on their back. It's comfortable, convenient, and yes, anybody can do it.

You've Got a Baby on Your Back! (how'd you do that?!)

Soft Structured Carrier (SSC)

Jessica, wearing daughter in a Tula

In an SSC, like an Ergo, Boba, or Kinderpack, you typically carry baby a bit lower on your back, given that most people wear the waist band at their waist or hips. Back carrying in an SSC, given that baby is lower on your back and that you can not really keep as close an eye on baby's position and breathing as closely as you would in a front carry (when baby is lower), and that young babies without head control cannot maintain the C shape of their spine when sitting lower on your back (look back at our Ergonomics of Babywearing blog post in early February), is not recommended until baby gains good head control. Most people start using an SSC on their back when baby is at least four to six months old. Baby needs to have good head control, and it is best if they can eat least do a supportive sit before you start, since their backs need to begin to have developed the lumbar curve.

Katrina, wearing son in a Kinderpack

There are a few methods that are commonly used to get baby on your back in an SSC.
One which many people feel comfortable with, since it feels very secure for both you and baby, is to put the SSC on as you would for a front carry, with the waist band slightly loose, set baby in the seat, hold the arm straps tight and slide the baby around to your back as you slip your arms into the straps. Video HERE (for some reason, embedding videos is not working today)

 

Another method which mirrors how you get a baby on your back in other carriers, is the Santa Toss, where the carrier is held over a sitting baby's back as you swing baby (and carrier) on to your back like a Santa Sack. Video (by our own Ashleigh) is HERE.

One other common way to get a baby on your back in an SSC is the Hip Scoot Method, I find this method best used for older babies and toddlers that can hold on to you and cling a bit. Watch HERE and HERE

 

To get baby down, simply reverse the process you did to get baby up, making sure to keep at least one hand on baby at all times. Sometimes I sit down on the couch and unbuckle baby there. There are also ways to get baby up in an SSC from a seated position, like a couch or the back seat of a car you can find on YouTube. I really recommend practicing doing it another way, because it is inevitable that you will one day be away from the couch, car, bench or chair and want to get baby on your back.

Mei Tai

A Mei Tai is similar to an SSC, except that instead of buckles, you have straps that tie to secure baby to your body. A mei tai can be worn comfortably a bit higher on your back, where the baby's head is behind your neck and you can feel baby breathe. Since baby can be worn higher, some parents start wearing baby on their back in a mei tai a little younger than they would an SSC. The methods used to get baby on your back in a Mei Tai are very similar to what we see with SSC, including the Santa Toss method and Hip Scoot methods. You'll notice in these videos that babies tend to be worn higher on their parents' backs than in an SSC, which is why some choose this sort of carrier for back carries with younger babies.


Hip Scoot: HERE
Small baby, high back carry: HERE
Santa Toss: HERE

 

Woven Wrap

Katrina, daughter is 8 weeks

Katrina, son is 1 month

A woven wrap, which is basically a long piece of woven cloth, offers the most variation on how and when a baby can be worn on your back safely. With a woven wrap, you can position baby high enough that you can monitor their breathing and maintain the C shape of their spine, making this the only carrier in which it is safe to carry a newborn on your back. As baby gets older and larger, you tend to adjust them so that they are lower on your back, although generally, they tend to be higher than they would be in an SSC.  Always, when beginning practicing back carries with a woven wrap, have a soft surface like a bed or couch nearby, and a mirror to check baby and wrap placement. Even better is spotter who is an experienced wrapper. Some parents chose to practice with a stuffed animal or doll before trying with their baby. Also helpful: food bribes for older babies to keep them still while you are learning, or some parents offer a toy or their phone to play with. It's best to choose a time when baby is well-rested, fed and generally happy before practicing. If your baby tends to spit up, you may want to let baby's tummy settle, or place a burp rag at your neck before getting baby on your back, as the adjusting and tightening of the woven wrap often results in burps and more spit up.

Getting a newborn on your back using the Santa Toss: HERE

 



 The Superman (with pants-tucking seat creating trick!): HERE

The Hip Scoot, best for older babies/toddlers: HERE

 

 



As you can see, the methods for getting baby on your back no matter what carrier you are using are very similar. Try and see what works for you. Already wearing a baby on your back? Great! If we didn't cover the method you use, and it's something you love, come joint the conversation on our Facebook Page and share it with us. This is by no means a comprehensive list. It's a place to get started. We can't wait to see the results! We can almost guarantee you'll love having a baby on your back.

 

 

 



Melissa

We have some exciting meeting topics coming up! Our March meetings (Saturday, March 8th at 10 a.m and Thursday, March 27th at 10 am) will cover Babywearing on a Budget. Come learn ways to find inexpensive, awesome carriers and learn a little about making your own. In April we will cover Daddy Babywearing at our Saturday Meeting and Warm Weather babywearing at the Thursday meeting.