Wearing on the Back

botanicalbliss · September 2013

How the heck do you get baby back there? What age can you typically start this? Any links to good instructions?

blu-eyedwife · September 2013

What carrier are you using? We back carry with the Ergo and the Babyhawk. Frankly, I find the Babyhawk to be much easier to do a back carry with because of the straps - you lift them over your shoulder instead of trying to get your arm through a strap like in the Ergo, which makes me feel like I have control over the baby on my back the entire time.

We didn't start doing a back carry until he was at least 6 months, possibly older, but even now my guy loves front carry, so there wasn't a huge push to do it. I know others have started much younger.

For a while, until I was comfortable, I put him on my back with a spotter - DH. DH would hold him in place while I worked the carrier around him. As I got more confident, DH would just stand there in case the little guy slipped. Then I was okay doing it on my own. It does get easier as the get older, because they understand the process and don't try to roll off.

pixieprincss · September 2013

What kind of carrier do you have? How old is your baby? The answer to your questions will vary based on that. For example, I had DS2 on my back in a woven wrap at 3 days. With a woven wrap (this is different than a stretchy wrap, like a Moby which should not be used for back carriers), there is no minimum age, it depends on the wearer's comfort and skill level. With DS1, I started getting him on my back using a hip scoot at 3 months old in a small-bodied mei tai, but I wasn't comfortable doing it anywhere but over my bed until he was 6 months old. With a soft-structured carrier, the start is more fluid. 4-6 months is reasonable, but it depends on how big baby is in relation to the body of the carrier and how well baby is able to support his trunk. I might put a 4 month-old tripod sitter in a Beco (tends to fit babies sooner than, say, an Ergo) on my back.

As for physically getting baby on: use a spotter, work over a bed or couch. My favorite method is to set baby on my hip and scoot him under my arm and onto my back, essentially passing him from one arm to the other behind my back. There are loads of You Tube videos. Anything from Babywearing Faith, Squishy Mama, or Wrap You Baby are especially solid. Also, see if you have a babywearing group in your area. Nothing beats hands-on help!

nosoup4u · September 2013

I always loved Beco for back carries, bc the baby sits in a separate pouch, so they are strapped in when you are getting them in your back. I started back carries around 7-9 mos with my kids.

Emerald27 · September 2013

I posted a video in the maya vs ergo thread a few down that shows how u get DS on my back in a ssc or mei tai.

I cross my arms and pick DS up under his elbows, and uncross my arms while lifting him around over my head. I lean over so that he can lay on my back, supported by my hands, then I gently scoot him down until his butt touches the top of the carrier.

With one hand supporting him, I use the other hand to fold up the carrier over his body, then slip each arm into the straps. Click, and we're off!

TiffanyBerry · September 2013

When DD could sorta sit up mostly on her own, then I started back carries in my Pikkolo.

pixieprincss · September 2013

nosoup4u said:

I always loved Beco for back carries, bc the baby sits in a separate pouch, so they are strapped in when you are getting them in your back. I started back carries around 7-9 mos with my kids.

For what it's worth: the Beco Butterfly model is discontinued. The other Beco models do not do have the internal harness.

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