Your base size minus three can be a really versatile wrap size! This size does wonderfully with hip carries, one shouldered front carries, and two layer back carries. Here are some carries you can try!
Slip Knots
The key to loving a short wrap is learning to tie a slipknot. So we’ll start off with a slip knot tutorial!
This video shows how to tie a slipknot:
This video includes tips for adjusting and tightening your slipknot:
Front Carries
Short Cross Carry with a Sling ring (SCC)
This is a nice poppable front carry if you have a sling ring handy. You can do short cross carry without a sling ring too, but it tends to take up a little more length than a base minus 3 for most people. This video is by Wrapping my Heart:
Carries that Can be Front or Hip Carries
Traditional Sling Carry
Traditional Sling Carry is an awesome front or hip carry that can be done with a wrap that is your base size minus 3, 4, or 5. With a base size minus 3 wrap you’ll have longer tails, but this carry is great to pretie and just pop baby in and out of. This video shows it with a newborn, but it’s an awesome carry from birth-toddlerhood.
Semi-Front Wrap Cross Carry (Semi-FWCC)
This one is a tad more comfy than traditional sling carry because it has a nice waistbelt. It can be done as a hip or front carry and is really easy to nurse in.
Front (or Hip) Reinforced Torso Sling (FRTS/HRTS)
This one is very similar to Semi-FWCC, except that it has two sling passes. This can be done as front carry or a hip carry.
I also have a photo-tutorial here.
Hip Kangaroo
Hip Kangaroo is a comfy hip carry that is tied around baby. This carry can also be done as a front carry.
Back Carries
Short Ruck Tied at the Shoulder (short RTAS)
This carry is just like Ruck tied under the bum, but tied at the shoulder.
Reinforced Rear Ruck
This ruck variation is just like short ruck tied at the shoulder, but with a spread horizontal pass instead of a bunched pass. Sometimes people call this the pirate carry because of the R’s in the name. (arrr) 😉
Double Sling
This back carry has two sling passes. The video explains how to do the shoulder flip, which is a little tricky and is used in the next few carries. If shoulder flips give you trouble, I also have a shoulder flip photo-tutorial that might help.
Half Jordan’s Back Carry (Half-JBC)
Half JBC is just like double sling except instead of two sling passes, there’s one sling pass and then a cross pass. This is a nice one for babies who are squirmy because the sling pass protects against leaning and the cross pass protects against leg straightening.
Wiggleproof Half Jordan’s Back Carry
This variation on Half JBC has a sling pass and then a wiggle proof cross pass. Wiggle proof cross passes are passes that are wrapped from under baby’s leg and then spread over baby’s back. This type of pass ends up looking just like a regular cross pass, but has the advantage of lifting the carry a bit higher. It also doesn’t require learning to do a shoulder flip, which can be easier. Some people prefer this variation on Half JBC:
Double Hammock Sling (also called Back Reinforced Torso Sling)
This is a short one shouldered variation on double hammock. Sometimes it’s also called back reinforced torso sling or rear reinforced torso sling. I find it works best with bigger babies and toddlers, but is really comfy and pretty. This video is by Tandem Trouble:
Short Double Hammock Freshwater
This is comfortable short double hammock variation that ties with a sling ring. This video is by the Britt Brown Marsh Blog.
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Base Size minus 3 wraps are so versatile! There are tons of things you can do. You can probably also do many of the base size minus two carries without too much extra wrap length.
Have fun playing with your short wrap!
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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