earth huggy baby carrier
instructions for wearing
as with any baby carrying device, please use common sense, and always be safety conscious when taking baby in and out of any carrier. if something doesn’t feel right, change what you are doing- babywearing should be comfortable for both parent and baby. using another person, a mirror, having cushions or soft furniture directly underneath you while loading/unloading is a good idea until you are very comfortable with using the earth huggy carrier! always be sure baby’s weight is securely supported by the carrier and transition slowly before removing the support given by your arms. read instructions carefully, and feel free to contact earth.huggy@gmail.com with any questions!
front carry position
In this position, baby should ride facing you, close in to your front, with bottom nestled snugly into the “pocket” of the carrier, so that the weight is distributed more onto your hips and legs than your shoulders.
1. Buckle the waist belt in place, so that the buckle is at the small of your back, and the body of the carrier hangs down in front. Adjust it to be snug around your hips- this will aid in transferring the most weight to your legs, rather than keeping strain on your shoulders.
2. Pick baby up and give baby a kiss. Hold baby close to you, with legs spread to the sides, and hold baby securely with one hand while using the other hand to pull the carrier up onto baby’s back. Legs should extend from either side.
3. a. Option one- back-pack strap version. Use one hand to bring one of the shoulder straps around your shoulder, then switch hands, holding baby with the opposite hand, while you bring the opposite shoulder strap into place. Being sure that baby’s weight is supported, reach behind your back and secure the chest buckle (called chest buckle due to its location during the back carry). It may be possible to fasten the chest clip in front of you, then lift it over your head, before tightening it and the shoulder straps to be snug- if it is difficult to reach around your back, you can try this, or try version two of the front carry with criss-crossed straps.
3. b. Option two- criss-cross strap version. Use one hand to bring one of the un-clipped shoulder straps over your shoulder, and around to the opposite side clip on the body of the carrier. Clip! Then supporting baby with that hand, use the opposite hand to fasten the other shoulder strap in the same manner, to its opposite side buckle.
4. Adjust shoulder straps to preferred snugness level.
note: the front carry can be modified for infants who are not yet ready to hold up their head- use a folded-up blanket underneath the baby, and lay them into the carrier in “cradle” position. You may want to secure the straps as described above, or you may wish to secure them prior to laying baby into the carrier.
back carry position
In this position, baby should ride facing you, close in to your back, again with bottom nestled snugly into the “pocket” of the carrier, so that the weight is distributed more onto your hips and legs than your shoulders. It is possible to load baby into the carrier with straps already fastened, or to use a method similar to the front carry, by piggy-backing baby onto your back and then pulling the carrier into place and following the above instructions. Practice while sitting on a bed or sofa the first few times as you gain confidence in using this carrying position. Babies tend to become very familiar with the steps in the babywearing routine, and will learn how to “help” get into their carriers as they get older.
in back carry position, you again have two options for the strap configuration: backpack style, or criss-crossed. Try out different ways until you find what is most comfortable for you. Different configurations work for different body types, and size of your child may also be a factor (you may change your style as your child grows). This is the beauty of such a versatile carrier!
using the head support
After baby falls asleep in the carrier, you may want to slide the head support (soft, knit, breathable fabric) up onto baby’s head to offer stability. While not in use, the head support can be “scrunched” down out of the way, or removed from the carrier entirely. Some babies even like the head support while awake, while others will not even tolerate it while sleeping- again, use your best judgment with your own child.
washing
earth huggy baby carriers are machine washable and dryable, though frequent washing is discouraged as it adds wear and tear. use gentle wash and dry cycles (line dry, even better!) and gentle earth-friendly detergents. the head support can be removed from the carrier entirely, and washed separately, as it may encounter more drool and food than the rest of the carrier, and can stand up to more frequent washings.
features
- babywearing for newborn thru the end of babywearing stage
- carry on front or back
- easy-to-use buckles for quick loading and unloading
- machine wash and dry
- handmade in oregon by an earth hugging mama
- organic cotton material, padding and thread used for all except the black nylon webbing straps and plastic buckles.
