The Mom: Informed: Baby wearing in different cultures!!!

Monday, December 20, 2010

Baby wearing in different cultures!!!

Babywearing in many cultures: Were I could I found locals in videos.

Modern carriers have a lot more belts and buckles but aren't better than the traditionals. I've used the kanga style (really its just a large piece of thin cloth -- a sarong!) It really is as easy as it looks. I used a small sarong I had lying around. It is cheap, versatile, easy on/off, and is very secure. I think it is great for when you need to put the baby on and off multiple times for pottying or different household tasks, etc. The Rebozos and other wraps are definitely very secure and warm. I found it invaluable in the winter when we were traveling -- and people are not inclined to touch your baby if its secure in a wrap. The mei tai (other aisan baby carriers such as an onbuhimo is similar except it uses rings, narrow or wide podaegis, and hmongs also follow the same principle except they have only 2 straps not four) is somewhere between a wrap and a kanga as far as ease. I like it on a shopping trip. Extra security with the ties and not as warm as the moby, but warmer than a thin 100% cotton kanga (I got mine for $20-25 on Amazon/Ebay). Indonesian Selendangs ($20 at HUGS -- its a good cause -- http://yuki-michelle.com/hugs/slings.html) are beautiful and are garmets like kangas and sarongs-- not as wide as kangas but longer, and much shorter than the moby so quicker to use. Hot slings and ring slings are based on traditional selendangs/rebozos in hip carry position -- the rings take the place of the slip knot in a ring sling; the pouch in a modern hot sling takes the place of the knots/rings by permanent sewing into shape.

Really, all the old styles are very practical for the places they come from! A simple cloth, towel, or beach towel and even an old sheet works fine so you don't necessarily have to spend money. Look at the videos under "babywearing for free" at the end. In a real evacuation type emergency even pants and shirts can be used. Proper positioning is important.
Read: Frog_Flex_When_Carrying_baby_not_Crotch_Dangle

Africa (using a simple piece of cloth SPOC)

Ghana (SPOC)

African Torso Carry (Kanga)

South Africa (Watutu/ Kanga) Woman Explains

Africa (Even a wee child can do it!)

Peru (Manta)

Peru 2 (Manta)

Honduras

Indonesia (Selendang) Traditional Tie (can also be worn knotted like a rebozo or ring sling)

Indonesia (selendang) Torso Carry

Alaska (inuit Amauti)

Onbuhimo (japan)

mei tai (china)

Podaegi (korea)

Narrow Podaegi (Korea)

Rebozo (Mexico) Torso Carry

Rebozo (Mexico)

More from squishymama1 above demonsrating an impressive collection of numerous baby carriers from traditional to modern in different configurations and carrys. . http://www.youtube.com/user/SquishyMommy1#p/u/31/fAQNo_GKGIQ

Rebozo (hip carry no knot)

Welsh Nursing Shawl

(begins around 4:10)

Nursing Shawl Intructions

http://parentsvillage.blogspot.com/2009/09/instructions-for-using-nursing-shawl.html

AI Cradleboard (probably the only traditional carrier that is bad for the baby's back and hips. Babies should not be swaddled or strapped flat, nor crotch dangled as in modern bjorns and outfacing carriers) Read: Frog_Flex_When_Carrying_baby_not_Crotch_Dangle

3:30

Tibetan Rucksack and High back Carries

Other:

Chunei /double hammock back carry Newborn

Chunei /double hammock back carry

Two Babies One Wrap!

Babywearing for Free

Towel kanga/kitenge/watatu style (torso carry)

A sheet sling (selendang / ring sling style)

If you want to get a bit fancy you can sew your own ring sling, or not sew use the fabric as is for a wrap.

Like the Wrap but don't want to fuss with tying? The K'tan is a modern no tie carrier that is a wrap sewn permanently into position. It is easy to put on, but lack the versatility of a wrap which is an issue with modern carriers that take quickess over long term adjustablility.