Asian-Style Baby Carriers

Hold the carrier with the "outside" facing toward you and upside down (as if it were an apron).

Wrap the waist straps around your waist and tie in a firm, tight knot behind your back.

Pick up your child and hold him or her against your chest, with his or her legs wrapped around you at the level of the waist strap.

IMPORTANT!!! You must continue supporting the child with your arm(s) until you finish step 5.

Infant Variation:

For a younger child whose legs and hips are too small to wrap around you, keep the legs tucked in, "froggy style", against your belly.

Continuing to support your child with your arm, draw the carrier body up and over the child, and throw one carrier strap over each shoulder. Check the child's legs to make sure the feet are out of the carrier, not trapped within. The arm supporting your child should be outside of the carrier.

Infant Variation:

The child's legs should remain tucked against you, inside the carrier.

Continuing to support the child with your arm, reach behind your back with one hand and grasp the strap hanging over the opposite shoulder. Draw it around to the front over the child's legs Now switch arms and draw the other strap around to the other side. The straps should now form an "X" across your back.

Wrap the straps over the child's thighs, around below the child's bottom, and tie in the center, "under" the child's bottom. The strap should be pulled firm and tied in a tight knot.

Infant Variation:

For a young or small child, you may instead bring the straps around your ribs and tie directly behind the child's back (but this is not comfortable for the child once he or she gets heavier).