Wrap Your Baby - How to get a baby on your back

The most often asked question about back carries goes something like this: "You must need help to get her up there, right?" Nope! There are several methods for putting a baby on your back to wrap up in a back carry. Any of these methods can be used for any back carry. When learning to put a baby on your back, always have another person there to help, wrap baby over a soft surface, kneel on the floor, or take other necessary precautions until you are capable of doing it safely on your own. Remember to support a newborn baby's head at all times.

BABY LYING/SITTING ON WRAP

Until I get pictures of this, visit this page for photo instructions of laying a baby on a couch or bed and sitting in front of baby to get baby on your back: baby lying on couch link

OVER THE SHOULDER (Santa Toss)

Over Shoulder, step 1
Step 1. Put the center of the wrap at baby's back and bring the sides around baby on either side.
Young babies can be laid on top of the wrap for this, or your baby can be seated on your hip when you place the fabric around them. For a toddler, have the wrap under baby's arms; for a baby needing head support, the top of the wrap should come over baby's shoulders high enough to support the back of baby's head, as with the LYING ON WRAP method.

Step 2. Bring the two sides of the wrap together in front of baby, gather the ends tightly and hold in one hand. I usually put baby over my right shoulder, so I hold the wrap in my left hand. Over Shoulder, step 2

Over Shoulder, step 3 Step 3. Holding both ends of the wrap in your left hand, put your right hand between baby's legs to pick her up by baby's bottom.

Step 4. Rotate baby around with your right hand on baby's bottom, to place baby gently on your right shoulder. Over Shoulder, step 4

This is how it should look from the side.

Over Shoulder, step 5 Step 5. Bend over so that your back makes a surface for baby to lie on while you do your wrapping. Holding the two wrap ends securely, remove your hand from under baby so that both of your hands are now holding the wrap which is supporting baby on your shoulder.

Step 6. Take one end of the wrap in each hand. Bring your left hand over your head with the left end of the wrap. Over Shoulder, step 6

Over Shoulder, step 7 Step 7. You should have one end of the wrap over each shoulder. From here you can spread the fabric over baby (make sure the bottom is well under baby's bottom, and the top is high on baby's back) and do a rucksack carry, or other carry with the fabric coming over your shoulders.

Step 8. To move the fabric under your arms for a back wrap cross carry or other such carry, hold baby's back with your left hand, and quickly move your right arm out from under the fabric on the right to come out on top. Then hold baby with your right hand and bring your left arm up through the fabric on the left. Over Shoulder, step 8

Over Shoulder, step 9 Step 9. While holding baby with one hand, spread the fabric over baby. The bottom edge of the wrap should come under baby's bottom to baby's bent knees, and the top high on baby's back--armpit or shoulder/head level.

Now you are ready to wrap baby up! Over Shoulder, ready to wrap!

THE HIP SCOOT

	Step 1. Hold baby on your hip.
Step 2. Spread wrap around baby's back, while on your hip.
	Step 3. To scoot baby on your back from the right hip, put your right arm in front of baby, holding baby backwards, and scoot baby towards your back. Your left arm is behind your back to help hold baby once baby is back there.
Step 4. Position baby higher or lower on your back as desired with a hand under baby's bottom.
	Step 5. Spread the fabric over baby. Keep holding baby until you have the fabric tightly around baby and are sure it is secure. Note: you can hipscoot a newborn baby as well. Instead of starting on your hip, the newborn will be cuddled on your chest. Put your right (or left) arm around baby and smoothly move him around your entire torso to your back, with that arm around him the whole time. Now place the middle of the wrap over baby already on your back. It may help to have the wrap slung low on your back before you begin, or with the center of the wrap tucked into your waist band so that you can pull it out and over baby with one arm while holding baby with the other. Baby comes down the same way baby went up, though the fabric will be around baby when you pull baby back around to the front.

OVER THE HEAD FLIP

Until I get my own pictures, visit this link for pictures of flipping a baby onto your back over your head/shoulder: over the head link

OVER THE SHOULDER TWIST

Over the Shoulder Twist, step 1
Step 1. Have your toddler stand in front of you, facing you, and place the wrap across toddler's shoulders, with the center at toddler's back.

Step 2. Take hold of your toddler's right arm with your right hand, and left arm with your left hand so that your left arm is crossed over your right arm. Place your fingers under toddler's arms and your thumbs holding the wrap on the top of your toddler's arms. Over the Shoulder Twist, step 2

Step 3. Lift toddler up by your grip on the arms, and around your right shoulder, twisting toddler around so that toddler's front is towards your back.

Step 4. Set toddler high on your back. Bend over to create a surface for toddler to lie on. Over the Shoulder Twist, step 4

Step 5. Keeping a hold on toddler with one hand, feel to make sure that the wrap is well spread. You are ready to wrap toddler up!

OVER THE HEAD

Over the Head, step 1
Step 1. Find the center of the wrap and place it at your back, bringing the sides around your waist so that the wrap is resting on your backside (you can tuck the middle into a waist band to keep it in place).

Step 2. With your toddler standing in front of you, facing away from you, put your hands on your toddler's torso beneath the arms. Over the Head, step 2

Over the Head, step 3 Step 3. Lift baby straight up in front of you as if to put baby on your shoulders.

Step 4. Lift baby over your head and shoulders with baby's legs hanging down your back. Over the Head, step 4

Over the Head, step 5 Step 5. Place baby high on your back. Bend over to give baby a surface to lie on. Reach down for the wrap that is draped over you (it should be lower than baby). Keep a hold on baby with at least one hand/arm.

Step 6. Holding the top edge of the wrap, pull the wrap up over baby's back so that the bottom of the wrap remains lower than baby's back (should come down to baby's knees) and the upper edge is high on baby's back or covering baby's arms and shoulders. Proceed with your wrapping! Over the Head, step 6

FRONT TO BACK

Front to Back, step 1
Step 1. Start with baby wrapped up in a front wrap cross carry.

Step 2. Hold on to baby with your left arm. Find the cross coming over your right shoulder and slide it off your shoulder, bringing your right arm out from under the fabric. Front to Back, step 2

Front to Back, step 3 Step 3. Bring your right arm entirely out of the cross and let the cross hang down around your side.

Step 4. Hold baby with your right arm and bring your left arm up from under the left cross. Front to Back, step 4

Front to Back, step 5 Step 5. With all the fabric of the wrap around your middle, use both hands to start to slide baby around (I slide baby around my right side) to your back.

Step 6. Keep sliding baby around towards your back . . . Front to Back, step 6

Front to Back, step 7 Step 7. Keep sliding until baby is about centered on your back. Your torso will be twisted around because your right arm is still behind baby.

Step 8. Hold baby with that right hand, and move your left hand around to your back on your left side so that you can hold baby with your left arm behind you, and bring your right arm up over baby and around to the front of you. Front to Back, step 8

Front to Back, step 9 Step 9. Find the cross that is now in front of you on your right side, and stick your right arm down through the cross.

Step 10. Pull the cross up over your right shoulder. Front to Back, step 10

Front to Back, step 11 Step 11. Now find the cross that should go over your left shoulder and put your left arm down through that cross. Pull it up on your left shoulder.

Step 12. Adjust the crosses to sit comfortably on your shoulders and accross your front. Front to Back, step 12

Front to Back, step 13 Step 13. Untie the knot at your front and pull on the two ends to tighten baby up on your back. Baby should sit high and close against you,.

Step 14. Retie the knot at your waist. Front to Back, step 14

Front to Back--done! Now you have a back wrap cross carry! Check that the crosses are well spread on baby's back and that baby is otherwise secure--check in a mirror.