Welcome Packet Magic

Welcome Packet 1. About Magic City Slingers, including Meeting Guidelines 2. Library Policies 3. Benefits of Babywearing 4. Safety and Best Practices 5. Correct Positioning for the Comfort and Safety of Your Newborn (article by M’Liss Stelzer) 6. Pouch Slings 7. Ring Slings 7a. Kangaroo Care with a Ring Sling (from Peppermint) 8. Carriers With Straps 8a. How To Fold a Mei Tai Securely 9. Simple Pieces of Cloth 9a. Kangaroo Care with a Wrap (from Peppermint)

1. General Info and Meetings About Magic City Slingers Magic City Slingers is an all-volunteer, nonprofit association promoting the use of soft baby carriers, a practice sometimes called “babywearing,” in the in Birmingham, Alabama, metro area. Our website, at www.magiccityslingers.com, has information about our group and our meetings as well as useful links. Membership and Library Magic City Slingers has a lending library of high quality slings, and members can borrow carriers to try. Membership dues are $20; renewing members receive a 25% discount for subsequent years. For more information, please read the library guidelines in the next section. Meeting Information Magic City Slingers meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m. Shades Valley Community Church in West Homewood. Meetings are free and open to any parent or caregiver interested in learning more about babywearing. The following guidelines apply: A. Sign-In Sheet and Waiver: For record-keeping purposes as well as for the protection of the group and the leaders, all meeting attendees must sign in. The sign-in sheet includes a liability waiver, and by signing in, you agree to that waiver. One of the privileges of membership is express sign-in; members who have completed and signed the current membership application and agreement may sign in by simply initialing the express sign-in sheet. B. Safety: You are responsible for your safety and the safety of your children. To promote an atmosphere of safety, unassisted back carries are not allowed at meetings. If you want to do a back carry, you must have a spotter that you trust. One reason for this is that there is no mirror readily available. Even experienced babywearers must enlist a trusted spotter when performing a back carry. Please read the safety information in this packet. C. Topics and Meeting Order: At a typical meeting, members spend the first part of the meeting returning any library slings they borrowed and helping newcomers by showing them different slings. There will then

be a “circle” time during which we introduce ourselves, followed by a discussion/demonstration on a particular topic. After the topical discussion, the group typically breaks into smaller groups, with leaders and experienced members helping others with particular types of carriers. Other events and activities In addition to monthly meetings, MCS sometimes has social or recreational events. For example, we have taken a guided tour of the Birmimingham Museum of Art, we’ve hiked and picnicked at Ruffner Mountain Nature Center, and we’ve strolled at area botanical gardens. We have a new partnership with another local nonprofit organization, Fresh Air Family, which is coordinating quarterly guided tours of local outdoor attractions, including the University of Montevallo’s Ebeneezer Swamp and Hoover’s Aldridge Gardens. We also do outreach projects, including speaking and demonstrating for other local organizations. And sometimes we gather to work on group projects such as our upcoming handbook or the Fox 6 news story. Google Calendar To keep up with all MCS meetings and events, check our Google Calendar. The calendar is displayed on our website, www.magiccityslingers.com, on the “meetings” page. There is also a link to the calendar, along with information about how to subscribe to the calendar (so that your personal Google calendar will automatically be updated with MCS events), on the calendar page of our blog, which is located at magiccityslingers.wordpress.com/about/calendar/. Google Group We use the Google Group to email meeting announcements, reminders, calls to action and information about official MCS business, as well as for babywearing related discussion. Anyone who attends a meeting and provides her email address is added to the Google Group; Google Group members may change their group settings or withdraw from the Google Group at any time.

3. Checkout is for one month only. If you cannot return the item at the next month’s meeting, please return it to a leader in person or by mail. You can make arrangements to return an item by mail or in person to the leader nearest you by emailing [email protected]. To return a carrier by mail, please use Priority Mail with delivery confirmation. To purchase and print a Priority Mail label and get free delivery confirmation service conveniently on the internet, go to www.usps.com. You will need to know the weight of the package, and you will need to have a credit card for payment.

2. Do not expose a carrier to tobacco smoke or tobacco smoke residue. Do not use a carrier where people are smoking, and do not store a carrier in a place where there is tobacco smoke residue, such as in a car where someone smokes.

1. You assume the responsibility for safely using all carriers and for inspecting the stitching and fabric on all carriers to satisfy yourself that the carrier is sound and suitable for use with your child, and you assume the risk of using a carrier. Each time you borrow a carrier, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless Magic City Slingers, its leaders and members (the “Releasees”), for any harm that may result to you or your child from the use of the carrier, including any harm allegedly resulting from the Releasees’ instruction or alleged failure to instruct.

Magic City Slingers has a library of baby carriers and babywearing educational materials for members to borrow. The following policies apply:

9. Violation of these policies may result in termination of a member’s borrowing privileges without a refund of dues.

8. Please treat the carriers with respect. If you ruin a carrier, you are responsible for paying the actual replacement cost of the carrier, including shipping. Using fabric softener or bleach on a wrap will be considered ruin. The leaders in their sole discretion will determine whether a carrier is ruined.

7. Never ever ever use fabric softener, bleach, or detergents with perfumes when laundering a carrier. Unless otherwise instructed, you may launder all carriers in cold water on the gentle cycle and air dry them. If you have questions about laundering a carrier, contact a leader by email at [email protected], or call Susie at 933-2987.

6. Please return all carriers in such a condition that they are ready for the next person to check out. This means the carrier should be reasonably clean and neatly folded. This does not mean you necessarily have to wash the carrier. If it is not dirty, you do not have to wash it. If it is dirty, please wash it. If a carrier is obviously dirty, or is wadded up and generally not in ready-for-checkout condition, there is a $3 cleaning fee.

5. In general, you may check out one carrier per month. If you would like to check out a second carrier, you may do so at the discretion of the leaders, but only after all other library checkout has been completed at that meeting.

4. . There is a $1 per day late fee for any carrier that is more than a week overdue.

3. Benefits of Babywearing These days, places to put your baby abound. Beyond the old standbys of cribs and high chairs, parents can now purchase a bouncer seat, infant swing, playpen, activity mat, Exercauser, jumper, Bumbo sitter, and a stroller system with the removable infant car seat. So do you truly need a baby carrier? Or is it just one more thing to buy, right up there with the wipes warmer? After all, in your grandmother's day, experts warned against holding a baby between feedings. Today, though, medical professionals agree that infants thrive through touch. Holding your baby is an obvious way to meet this need. While the resurgence in baby carrying is a fairly recent development in Europe and North America, baby carrying is an everyday practice among most of the world's population. You could even say that the carrier is the world's first baby gear: mothers have been using them for thousands of years, carrying their children in animal skins before cloth was available. Here's a closer look at the benefits: • At six weeks, the peak of infant fussiness, babies who are frequently carried than babies of the same age who are carried less often.1 Furthermore, babies who cry less in the first year of life also cry less in the second. • Holding a baby and adrenaline in his blood stream. In fact, carriers are sometimes included in the treatment for infants who were exposed to drugs in utero, to reduce irritability. • Babies carried throughout the day have optimal opportunity to . They encounter adults and observe facial expressions at eye level. They witness interactions without the stress of being at the center of attention themselves. • Carrying a baby through stimulation of the vestibular system. After years observing a "babywearing" tribe in South America, anthropologist Jean Liedloff con-

cludes that frequently-held babies grow into more agile adults who experience less vertigo.2 • Regularly-carried babies at a faster rate for sitting, standing, and walking. •Frequently-held babies .3 Studies of full-term infants in orphanages and pre-term babies in hospitals have shown a positive correlation between how often (or rarely) a baby is touched and how quickly (or slowly) a baby grows. • Pre-term babies who are frequently held have .4 • Low-birthweight babies who are held often on average than other low-birthweight babies.5 • Carrying a baby helps . The studies of Drs. William Mason and Gershon Berkson revealed that monkeys given a

• Mothers whose babies cry less have been shown to develop in their par7 enting skills. • When a baby cries less often, this means , who experiences a physiological response (including a surge in heart rate and increased blood flow to her breasts) at the sound of her baby's cry. • Well-designed carriers so that heavy babies are easier to hold. • Physical closeness assists the process. • Carrying your child might allow you to , since most babies sleep well when held. • Carriers provide an . • Keeping baby close in a carrier your baby. • Holding your baby allows for a . Curbs pose no obstacle, and you can easily traverse terrain like stairs or trails that would be difficult to impossible with a stroller. • Using a baby carrier . You don't have to juggle the baby or a stroller at places like the bank or drug store. You can even use a carrier when grocery shopping to give you more space in the cart and protect your child from germs. The best perk? Preventing public meltdowns! Held children are happy children.

"swinging" cloth mother surrogate had fewer social abnormalities than those monkeys given a stationary cloth mother surrogate. • Keeping an infant physically close between baby and caregiver. Though it was once believed that too frequent contact between an infant and his mother would "spoil the child," the studies of John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth showed that an infant who is "securely attached" to his primary caregiver is more likely to have healthy relationships with others as an older child and adult. The studies of Harry Harlow showed that social mammals bond through touch even more than through feeding.6 • Regularly-held babies . • Holding a baby in the upright position . It limits the amount of acid able to travel up the esophagus and cause pain. Works Cited • Carrying your child gives her a . Rather than facing the ceiling, the 1 Urs Hunzkiker, MD, and Ronald Barr, MD, "Increased Carrying Reduces Infant Crying: A Randomized Controlled Trial." Pediatrics: same walls, or even the hood of their stroller, the Vol. 77 No.5, pp. 641-648, May 1986. baby sees what you see. Imagine the difference 2Jean Liedloff, The Continuum Concept. Perseus Books, 1977. 3 Marie Blois, MD, Babywearing: The Benefits and Beauty of this this makes for a trip to the zoo! Ancient Tradition. Pharmasoft Publishing, March 2005. • Being held helps a baby to 4 Diane Ackerman, Ph.D, A Natural History of the Senses. Random . It's also a gentle way to House, Inc., 1990. Nathalie Charpak, Juan G. Ruiz-Peláez, Zita Figueroa de C, MD, help newborns organize sleep patterns, learning 5and Yves Charpak, "Kangaroo Mother Versus Traditional Care for to distinguish day sleep (sounds, light, and mo- Newborn Infants <2000 Grams: A Randomized, Controlled Trial." Pediatrics: Vol. 100 No. 4 , pp. 682-688, October 4, 1997. tion) from night sleep (quiet, dark, and still). • . With the help of a good carrier, you can take care of older children and do chores without frequent interruptions from an anxious or distressed infant.

6 For a physiological perspective of this issue, see Allan N. Schore, Ph.D, "Effects of a Secure Attachment on Right Brain Development." Infant Mental Health Journal: Vol. 22, Issue 1-2, pp. 7-66, January 25, 2001. 7 Lewis A Leavett, "Mother's Sensitivity to Infant Signals." Pediatrics: Vol. 102 No. 5 Supplement, pp. 1247-1249, November 1998.

4. Safety and Best Practices When done properly, carrying a baby in a soft baby carrier can be safer than carrying a baby in your arms. Your carrier doesn't have muscles that become fatigued, and your carrier doesn't have arms that reflexively reach out to balance you or catch you when you fall. But, as with anything concerning babies, good safety practices are of paramount importance. Whatever carrier you choose, learn to use it properly, and always keep safety in mind. Pay particular attention to the guidelines concerning babies' positioning in carriers that you will find throughout this book. Your baby's safety is your responsibility.

Baby carriers allow parents to be hands free to do other things ... but you must always remain active in caring for your child. No baby carrier can assure that your baby always has an open airway; that's your job. •

Positional Asphyxia occurs when a baby is placed or held in such a way that his airway is closed because of his position. Obviously, this can be fatal. Although it is very rare, positional asphyxia can occur and has occurred in infant car seat carriers as well as in baby slings. Always be sure your baby can breathe. See the section on Correct Newborn Positioning for more information about how to carry a newborn, including how to provide good back support to keep them from slumping into a dangerous position.

to check on her. Always make sure your baby has plenty of airflow. Check on her frequently.

Do not any activity that subjects your baby to shaking or bouncing motion, such as jogging, running, or jumping on a trampoline. "This motion can do damage to the baby's neck, spine This rule applies to babies and/or brain," explains the American Chiropracbeing held in arms, in baby carriers, in infant car tic Association. seats, or in any other kind of seat or situation. This position can restrict the baby's ability to breathe. Newborns lack the muscle control to Soft baby carriers provide none of the protecopen their airways. Always check to be sure that tion that car seats provide. your baby’s airway is not bent or restricted, and monitor their breathing. Newborns need good back support in carriers For example, frame backpacks (which we do so that they don't slump into the chin-to-chest not cover in this book)can be useful for hiking position. There are guidelines for how to give them this support in the how-to sections for each with older babies and toddlers but are not appropriate for babies who cannot sit unassisted for kind of carrier. extended periods of time. Front packs (which we Covering a baby's head and also do not cover in this book) usually have a face can cause her to "rebreathe" the same air, weight range of 8 to 20 pounds; smaller babies which is a very dangerous situation. Also, cover- may slip out of the carrier, and larger babies will ing her head and face keeps you from being able almost certainly cause back discomfort for the person using the carrier.

Check the fabric, seams, and any buckles or other fasteners. Do this every time you use it to avoid complacency. How would you feel if the pilot on your next flight didn't do his pre-flight check? Do not use a carrier unless it is structurally sound. by using reflective surfaces such as car or store windows as mirrors, by double checking the baby's position with your hands, or by enlisting the help of another set of eyes.

For example, your risk of falling increases when you climb a ladder, ride a horse, ride a bicycle, or go skating. Your risk of falling also increases on slippery surfaces like the ones you encounter when you go bowling, sailing, or spelunking. When a baby is in his mother's womb, he has built-in protection, but a baby in arms or in a carrier does not have that protection. Avoid walking on icy surfaces. Whenever a handrail is available, use it. Be extra careful on steps and stairs. Avoid wearing things like high heels, long pants legs, thong sandals, or anything else that increases your risk of tripping.

Baby carriers do not provide hearing protection, eye protection, protection from projectiles such as rocks flung from a lawn mower, protection from fumes or dust such as occur during lawn mowing and some household cleaning tasks, or protection from impacts such as falling from a bicycle or a horse. Little limbs and heads may need sun protection. Don't dress your baby too warmly in the summer, and don't use a baby carrier under circumstances that cause the baby to suffer heat stress. Don't let your baby get too cold in the winter. (There are some excellent coats and ponchos designed espe-

Baby carriers provide parents and caregivers with tremendous freedom, but that freedom is not absolute. On this page, we’ve gathered a lot of “common sense” precautions. Go ahead and read them! The section was, after all, compiled by babywearing geeks in consultation with other babywearing geeks. Sometimes we hear about odd mishaps, like the baby who grabbed a can of paint at a hardware store and spilled it all over, well, everything. The baby was not harmed, but still, we warn you so you won’t let it happen to you! cially for use with baby carriers, and you can also improvise or make your own.) When carrying your baby, use extra caution negotiating revolving doors, turnstiles, sharp corners, and tight doorways (including those on public transportation). You need more personal space now to negotiate your safe passage when carrying your baby. In particular, be aware that a baby on your back can reach things you can't see. Think twice before using a baby carrier in a hardware store, for example. Some carriers have pockets to hold keys, wallets, and other items, but don't put loose items in the carrier with your baby that can be choking hazards, that can poke your baby, or that can cover your baby's face. It is common to have tired muscles after carrying your baby for awhile; however, if carrying your baby with a certain carrier or in a certain position causes you , stop. Get professional help if you need it. Babywearing is supposed to be comfortable; pain is a certain sign that something is wrong. Either the carrier isn’t a good fit, the baby is too heavy, you’re not doing a technique correctly, or a combination of these factors.

Carrying a baby in arms or in a carrier is a task for a who can assess risk in a mature way. Here are some things to consider about specific activities. . Carrying a baby while cooking subjects the baby to an enhanced risk of burns. A baby in arms or in a carrier is at stovetop height, and burns can occur. Reaching into a hot oven while carrying a baby similarly puts the baby at risk for burns. While it might seem more secure to use a baby carrier to board a small boat than to carry a baby in arms, the safer practice is to have the baby wear a personal flotation device. Personal flotation devices are generally not compatible with baby carriers. Moreover, if you fell into the water, having your baby securely held to your body by a baby carrier would be a grave danger.

Most people easily learn front or hip carries, but when learning these carries you should still support your baby with your arm until you are confident that your baby is securely held in the carrier. Back carries are more challenging, but the reward is tremendous liberation and, for heavier babies and toddlers, greater comfort for the person carrying the child. These guidelines apply to all carries but are particularly important when learning back carries: 1. Practice with a doll or stuffed animal first. Understanding the instructions with your mind is just the first step; your body needs to understand them as well. Doing a few "dry runs" will help you build the muscle memory for doing a particular carry. 2. It is best to try a new carry with your baby when you are both well rested and generally content. 3. Use a spotter ... but only another adult who accepts the responsibility of keeping your baby from falling. The spotter must be able to catch the baby at any instant if he or she should start to fall. 4. Use a mirror to check your work.

Watch out for the unseated baby!

This photo illustrates a danger when performing back carries, particularly with soft structured carriers or mei tais. The baby is not seated in the carrier; instead, she’s seated on top of the carrier body. Seated this way, a baby can easily fall out of the carrier. This problem is most likely to happen when you place the baby on your back and then attempt (but fail) to lift the carrier over the baby’s body. This mom is an expert and could tell by feel that the baby wasn’t seated properly, so she got this photo to help other babywearers. Not everyone can tell by feel that the baby isn’t properly seated. Use a mirror or other reflective surface, and/or feel with your hands to assure that the body of the carrier covers the baby’s back. 5. Start low. Most carries can be accomplished while sitting on the floor or bed. As you build muscle memory and confidence, you can move up, next lifting your baby onto your body from a bed or chair.

5

M’Liss Stelzer R.N. & edited by Holly McCroskey

September 2006

Often parents assume that if the baby has difficulty breathing he will fuss or cry. The majority of infants will protest if they are struggling to breathe; however newborns, babies born prematurely or infants with low tone or developmental delays may not communicate their distress. When placing a newborn in a carrier it is important to make sure the infant is positioned properly. Baby should not be curled tight chin to chest because this position partially closes baby’s airway. (With correct positioning there should always be at least one finger’s width of space under baby’s chin.) Sling fabric should not be draped across baby’s face. For slings made from thin, airy fabrics please check the airflow of the fabric by placing it over your own nose and mouth. No matter how breathable the fabric looks, if it is difficult for you to breathe through the fabric it will be difficult for baby as well. Baby should not be rolled so that his face is pressed tightly against the parent’s body. Position baby’s face upward when he or she is not actively nursing and when nursing ensure that baby’s nose is not blocked. An infant should be repositioned if he is having any sign of respiratory difficulty. Symptoms include: rapid or labored breathing, grunting or sighing with every breath and/or restlessness. The positioning recommendations in this article are for infants 0 to 4 months of age or until baby achieves good neck and head control. Once baby has good head control the neck muscles are generally strengthened sufficiently to support baby’s airway, even if baby becomes slightly curled or slumped in a baby carrier (or car seat, swing, bouncer etc.). However, please use common sense and monitor your baby frequently no matter his age and weight.

CRADLE HOLD POUCHES AND CLOSED TAIL SLINGS The amount of modification necessary, in order to position the infant correctly in the pouch, will depend on the depth of the pouch used as well as the size of the baby. Usually once baby weighs between 8 and 12 pounds modifications are no longer necessary. Pulling more fabric against the parent’s chest and/or moving the pouch seam slightly behind baby’s back can change the depth of the pouch.

Equal amount of fabric is in front and in back of baby and his bum is centered on the pouch seam.

Fabric in back of baby is pulled high on mom’s chest and the pouch seam is centered on baby’s lower back.

If necessary a thin, folded receiving blanket can be used to raise baby higher in a pouch or closed tail sling. The blanket is placed behind baby’s back but not behind baby’s head. To keep baby centered on the folded blanket it is often easier to spread out a receiving blanket, place the second folded blanket on top and then center baby on the folded blanket. Pick baby up placing baby and blankets into the sling.

For a deep pouch, and/or when placing a tiny newborn in a sling, a support pillow or folded towel may be necessary. The pillow or towel should be placed behind baby’s head and back. To make a pillow using a towel first fold the towel then roll each end tightly toward the middle. The towel should measure approximately 12” long and 6” wide. (Instructions on how to roll a bath towel can also be found at www.newnativebaby.com.) The depth of the pouch and/or the size of the baby will determine whether a bath towel or hand towel should be used.

Pouch too big for mom and no support pillow under baby.

Smaller size pouch and support pillow is under baby.

OPEN-TAILED RING SLINGS One of the most common mistakes new moms make with ring slings is to try to put the baby in parallel to the rails. Which ends up basically folding the baby in half.

To correctly position an infant in an open tailed sling start with the baby in more of a tummy-to-tummy position, with trunk perpendicular to the rails, and then slide baby down into the sling by lowering his upper body sideways. Baby's body should lie diagonally across the width of the sling, with head nearer the outer rail and legs nearer the inner rail. This allows the baby's body to stretch out more, keeps the outer rail from flopping over the baby's face, and makes it easier to tighten the sling properly without completely altering the baby's position. If the baby is too “deep” in the sling pull on the tail of the sling, concentrating on the middle, until the pouch is the right depth to raise and straighten baby. (It will probably take some practice to determine the right height and depth.)

Although it may not always be a totally hands-free position for the wearer, another position to try is to place baby with his head facing away from the rings.

Because premature infants have such low tone and extremely poor head control, it is important that a supportive surface be used in the sling. A folded and rolled hand towel, bath towel or the New Native support pillow should be used until baby has better tone (once baby isn’t as floppy).

TUMMY -TO -TUMMY RING SLINGS To keep baby upright and supported against the parent’s chest tighten the top and bottom rails as well as the middle of the sling. The top rail is used to support baby’s neck and head.

MEI TAIS The baby should be snug and supported in the carrier. To do this, pull gently, but firmly, on the shoulder straps until the slack is taken up and the body of the mei tai is snug against baby’s back. The shoulder straps should then be brought around and tied securely behind baby’s back. If there is enough length the straps can be crossed, brought around the parent’s back and tied.

Mei tai was not tied tight enough, baby started to slump and his body dropped deeper into the carrier body.

Baby properly supported by the carrier body and shoulder straps tied firmly across baby’s back.

WRAPS It is very easy to tie a wrap incorrectly so there is not enough support on the baby’s back.

A good test is to wrap and then press a hand against baby’s back. If baby moves closer (her tummy is moved against your tummy and she uncurls some) then the wrap isn’t supporting baby’s back enough. The wrap should then be retied so that baby is in an upright/straight position instead of curled.

(Thank you to Maya Wrap and New Native for funding, the many vendors and individuals for contributing carriers and donations, as well as all the mothers and their babies for their participation.)

6. Pouch Slings Simply a tube of fabric with a curved seam, a pouch sling offers simplicity and versatility in a compact package. Because there’s nothing to tie or buckle -- indeed, nothing to adjust but the fabric around the baby’s body -- pouch slings are extremely popular for their ease of use. They work from birth through toddlerhood and can be used to carry a baby in several positions, from the cradle carry to the back carry. Pouch slings are one-shoulder carriers. It is possible to use two pouches together for twoshoulder comfort; however, we prefer other carriers for that purpose. Pouches come in two varieties: fitted and adjustable. Fitted pouches are sized to the adult carrying the baby, and a good fit is essential for the comfort and safety of the adult and baby. Fitted pouches are sleek and extremely compact, making them favorites for stashing in diaper bags, purses, and glove compartments for an

always on-the-ready carrier. They come in a wide variety of fashion fabrics, and some parents like to have a few different colors and prints for the same reason they like having a few different pair of shoes. The biggest downside of a fitted pouch is that finding the right fit can be frustrating when purchasing by mail order or when purchasing while pregnant. Sizing charts are approximate. If you can, try before you buy. If you can’t, measure yourself carefully according to the manufacturer’s instructions. One way to eliminate (or at least minimize) the sizing concern is by purchasing an adjustable pouch. The size of an adjustable pouch can be changed with snaps, zippers, or other means. Adjustability also allows two people to share a pouch. The downside of an adjustable pouch is that whatever the means of adjustment is, it will add bulk to the sling, making it less sleek and compact than a fitted pouch.

7. Ring Slings When many people hear the term “baby sling,” they think of a ring sling. In its simplest form, a ring sling is a shawl with two rings attached to one end. The other end of the shawl is threaded through the rings like you would thread a belt through a double ring closure. You can pull the fabric through the rings to tighten and adjust the sling, but when you let go of the fabric, the weight of the baby and the bulk of the fabric in the rings lock the fabric in place for a secure hold. Thus, the rings take the place of a knot, and many people find a sling easier to adjust by means of rings than by means of a knot. As with any sling, the long edges are known as “rails,” and the end that hangs down is known as a “tail.” There are many variations on the ring sling theme. Some have padded rails and shoulders, and some have no padding at all. The way the fabric is folded (or not folded) where it is attached to rings is called its “shoulder style,” and little differences in folding (or not) can make attach two rings to an end, and do nothing else, big differences in wearing. you end up with an unpadded, open-tail ring sling. If, however, you take the tail and fold it on A defining feature of a ring sling is whether the itself over and over, then stitch it in place so that tail is “open” or “closed.” If you take a shawl, it becomes a thick strap, you have a closed-tail sling. Rayner Garner takes credit for inventing the ring sling in 1981; his baby sling had a closed tail and was eventually developed into the Over The Shoulder Baby Holder, with thick padding in the rails and a padded pillow for the shoulder. Susan Gmeiner introduced the simpler, sleeker Maya Wrap ring sling in the early 1990s; the original Maya Wrap is unpadded and has an open tail. Slings with open tails are fully adjustable for a custom fit; the top and bottom rails can be adjusted separately for a more secure hold of the baby, especially in upright positions. Slings with closed tails can be adjusted, but only within the range allowable by the strap portion of the closed tail; thus, some closed-tail ring slings are simply too big for some people, a problem that is unheard of with open-tail slings.

8. Carriers With Straps Many people find that carriers with straps allow them to comfortably distribute a baby's weight to both shoulders, as well as the back and hips, and also are the easiest way to carry a baby on their backs. Carriers with straps come in different configurations: Front packs are widely available at discount and department stores. They typically distribute the baby's weight entirely to the adult's upper back and shoulders and thus have low weight limits. They also do not allow for a newborn to be carried in the cradle position and do not allow for a baby to be carried on the adult's hip or back. Finally, most front packs support the baby by his or her crotch and do not provide for carrying the baby in a seated position, which is considered by many experts to be better for a baby's spine and hip development (and also more comfortable) than a position in which the baby's legs dangle without support. Because of these limitations on their utility, many people find front packs unsatisfactory. Therefore, despite their wide availability, we do not focus on front packs in our group. A mei tai (pronounced “may tie”) is a traditional Chinese baby carrier made of a square (or rectangular, or slightly contoured) body with two shoulder straps and two waist straps. Traditionally, mei tais were used as back carriers only, and the carrier was fastened by twisting the straps together on one's front and then tucking them in for security. The traditional design has been the subject of a great deal of innovation since 2003, when Kelley Mason introduced the Kozy Carrier, an American version with long, well-padded shoulder straps, meant to be tied instead of twisted and tucked. The Westernized mei tai caught on quickly, and there are now more variations on this general style than we could possibly list: some have wide, unpadded straps; some have square bodies with flip-up hoods; some have "sleeping hoods" that the adult can lift and fasten to support a

sleeping baby's head; some are made of fine silk and wool; some are made of Solarveil (a strong, breatheable, mesh fabric that offers sun protection) ... the variations seem endless. Unfortunately, the popularity of this seemingly simple style of carrier has been accompanied by some hobby sewers manufacturing and marketing inexpensive mei tais that fall far below the quality standards set by the leading manufacturers. Many experienced babywearers avoid buying mei tais through auction sites or from hobbyists, although certainly there are some hobbyists who manufacture excellent carriers. Soft structured carriers have padded waist belts and shoulder straps that fasten by buckling. They can be used to carry a baby on an adult's front, hip, or back. Generally, they distribute the baby's weight to the adult's hips more than any other style of carrier. They are particularly popular for babies big enough to hold up their heads and to wrap their legs around the adult carrying them, although special inserts are available to make these carriers suitable for use with newborns.

8a. How to Fold a Mei Tai Securely Anita, one of the leaders of a babywearing group in Los Angeles, developed this method for folding a mei tai into a secure bundle. We share it because it

helps preserve and protect our valuable carriers. In particular, it keeps the straps from getting annoying and unsightly vertical creases in them from being hap-

hazardly twisted around the mei tai. Also, it’s a nifty way to keep a mei tai handy in the car without getting it crumpled. Give it a try!

1. This is an AngelPack from 2. Fold it in half, with shoulder 3. Fold the shoulder straps into our library, laid out more or less strap to shoulder strap and a neat pile on the body of the flat. Any mei tai will do. waist strap to waist strap. carrier.

4. Starting with the end closest 5. Fold the waist straps down 6. Roll the waist straps around to the shoulder straps, roll the onto the body, then at a right the body, then tuck the ends. mei tai into a tight bundle. angle. 7. Now you have a secure bundle! The straps are flat and not creased vertically. And your toddler will find it a bit more challenging to make a mess of your mei tai.

9. Simple Pieces of Cloth Sometimes, simpler is better. Carrying babies in shawls and other unstructured, simple pieces of cloth is an ancient and beautiful practice, and one that remains almost universal in some cultures. For example, in Kenya, almost all babies and toddlers are carried on their caregivers’ backs in simple cloths or kangas, which, to Western eyes, look rather like small tablecloths.1 As baby carriers, simple pieces of cloth have the advantage of maximum versatility. They can be tied different ways for different situations, and they are infinitely adjustable to fit every body type. Some carrying cloths make great picnic blankets or beach coverups, and some picnic blankets and beach coverups make great carrying cloths. In fact, many common household textiles, such as bed sheets, tablecloths, curtains and beach towels make quite serviceable baby carriers. Different dimensions and fabrics distinguish different types of carrying cloths. A wraparound sling, or , is a long strip of cloth. A wrap is typically 4½ to 6 yards long and 20 to 40 inches wide. Many people find that wraps are the most comfortable baby carriers available; the baby’s weight is the carrier’s body for maximum weight distribution.

small babies, and their stretch makes them easy to use. Wraps are ridiculously easy and inexpensive to make yourself. A is typically 6 to 9 feet long and around 30 inches wide. Mexican rebozos are examples of shawls commonly used for carrying babies. Many beautiful shawls not made or marketed for baby carrying nevertheless make excellent carriers. Some, such as pashmina wool shawls, are too slippery to make good carriers. A twin sheet folded in half lengthwise makes a serviceable shawl for practice or in a pinch. Other dimensions of cloth work, too. An extralong shawl or extra-short wrap is ideal for certain carries, including the strap carry and the rucksack carry. Pareos that are shorter and wider than a typical shawl are commonly used as torso carriers (that is, “strapless” carriers that wrap around the adult’s torso). A beach towel works well for torso carries, and knowing how to carry a baby in a beach towel is an excellent skill to have on a trip to the beach, amusement park, or anywhere you or someone else unexpectedly needs to carry a baby or toddler. A good carrying cloth will have enough texture to hold a knot, and there should be some friction between the cloth and your baby’s clothing. As examples, most inexpensive bed sheets have plenty of texture, as does silk dupioni, cotton knit jersey, cotton interlock, and of course, Germanstyle woven wraps have enough texture to hold a knot and hold a baby in place.

Wraps are made of woven fabric or stretchy knit fabric and are generally referred to as or Several companies, many of them German, weave and market wraps of exceptional strength that have a bit of diagonal stretch because of the way they are woven; these wraps are sometimes referred to as “GermanRegardless of what kind of carrying cloth you style woven” wraps, and they are highly prized have, the edges of the long sides are referred to carriers whether they are new or, better yet, used as , and any end that hangs down is called a and “broken in.” Stretchy wraps, on the other . hand, are especially cuddly for newborns and