What can you do with a wrap that is one size shorter than your base size? All of the carries listed here would be great options if you have a wrap just slightly shorter than your base size. A base size wrap is typically the size needed to do a double hammock or front wrap cross carry.
Front Carry
Reinforced Kangaroo Carry
Reinforced Kangaroo is a comfortable and cozy variation on Kangaroo carry where you spread the passes over baby and tie in the back.
Burp Hold in Hip Kangaroo
This carry is a lovely variation on hip kangaroo where you position baby in a burp hold. This carry is my favorite with a newborn who is gassy or fussy or just likes to be held looking over the shoulder. You can tie this carry as a hip carry, burp carry, or front carry. This video shows how to do it as a burp carry and then transition into a front carry when baby falls asleep.
Hip Carry
Reinforced Robin’s Hip Carry
Robin’s hip carry can be done as a carry with a base minus one wrap. Usually this carry is done with a base minus 2 or even 3 wrap, but with a longer wrap you can tie in the back to use up a bit more length. This video is by Tandem Babywearing.
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Back Carries
Back Wrap Cross Carry with Ruck Straps
This variation of Back Wrap Cross Carry has Ruck Straps, which some people prefer over crossing the straps in the front. This can also be comfortable tied tibetan, but the tibetan tie takes a tad more length. Fun story . . . . This was the carry I tried to learn first when I was first starting to back wrap. I would absolutely not recommend learning this as a first carry! It has two shoulder flips, which are super hard to do. It is a wonderful carry though, quick and comfortable once you master the tricky shoulder flip. This video by Tandem Trouble teaches the carry beautifully.
Double Hammock Tied at the Shoulder
This is a short variation on Double Hammock which ties at the shoulder. This can be very comfortable while pregnant because there is no waist belt. It’s also an easier carry for tucking a sleeping baby’s head because you can untie the knot at the shoulder and use one sling pass to secure baby’s head.
Double Hammock Tied under the Bum
This is a short variation on Double Hammock where you simply tie under the baby’s bum instead of tying in front. The video here is a double hammock video and she ties in front. To tie under the bum, just tie under your baby’s bum instead of bringing the tails around to tie in front.
Double Sling Shoulder to Shoulder Tied under the Bum
This is a short variation on Double sling shoulder to shoulder where you tie under the baby’s bum rather than tying in front. I don’t have video of this carry tied under the baby’s bottom. This video shows the full variation (tied in front), but with a shorter wrap, you can tie your double knot just under baby’s bottom instead of tying in front. You take the wrap tails over both legs and tie a knot just under baby’s bottom.
Ruck Tied Tibetan
Ruck Tied Tibetan is a comfortable variation on a rucksack carry where you create a comfortable chestbelt with the tails. There are many ways to tie tibetan.
Reinforced Ruck
Reinforced Ruck is a variation on Ruck tied in Front where you create reinforcing cross passes rather than bunched cross passes. This can add extra support for a bigger baby or toddler. With a Base minus one, you may also be able to tie tibetan with a reinforced ruck, but many people need a base size to tie tibetan.
With your base minus one wrap, you could also do most of the base size minus two carries without too much tail.
If you have a thin wrap or a young baby, you might also find you can do some of the base size carries.
The Full Series of Carries by Size
Base Size minus 4
Base Size minus 3
Base Size minus 2
Base Size Minus 1
Base Size
Base Size plus 1
Reblogged and edited with permission from Patuxent Babywearing.
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