WRAP - Rucksack Carry w/ Tibetan finish
As with any new carry, it is good to practice with a fed, dry, happy baby.
Back carries are only recommended with a woven wrap.
Back wrapping is not dangerous in itself, but it obviously requires a little more concentration and practice than front carries. Be sensible, take it slowly and carefully. Don't get discouraged if at first you don't succeed - just try again, you'll get it!
When you first start, we recommend practicing kneeling down on a soft surface for your peace of mind. Have a 'spotter' there just in case.
This carry is suitable for babies with good head control, from approx. 4 months onwards. Although very experienced wrappers can do a high ruck carry from NB+, I recommend you wait until you are happy with their head control.
Note: Rucksack carries are usually done with a shorter wrap. I have done it with a long wrap because I only have long wraps and wanted to show it can be done. But if you are lucky enough to have a short wrap, by all means do this carry, just skip the Tibetan tie at the end, and tie it around your waist.
Step One
Lay baby on the middle of the wrap, then gather it around her, making sure it is well up under her armpits. Hold the wrap snugly bunched around baby - you will be picking her up using this.
Step Two
Pick baby up VERY carefully and securely, holding the wrap in your right hand and supporting baby in your left hand.
Step Four
Keeping a hand on baby perched on your shoulder, carefully take the wrap in your left hand, ready to bring the left end over to your left shoulder.
Step Three
Carefully hoist baby up over your right shoulder in a fluid motion, keeping a good hold of the wrap in your right hand.
Step Five
Holding baby with your right hand, bring the left wrap wide up and over your head, to rest on your left shoulder.
Step Six
Pull both ends tight, so there's no slack around baby, especially at the top edge.
Step Seven
If you like, you can fold the shoulders. Clamp each 'free' wrap end between your knees while you fold the other shoulder, so the edges are facing inwards.
Step Eight
Clamp both ends between your knees. Now tuck the lower rail (edge) as far up underneath baby's bottom as you can, from knee to knee. This is perhaps the most important feature of a Rucksack carry. You are creating a nice deep pocket for baby to sit in. If it is too shallow, baby's bum may pop out the bottom!
Step Nine
Bring each wrap end over your shoulder, and round to the back - over each leg, and through under the opposite foot. This will be comfortable for baby because they are sitting bum down knees up, so it's just holding them in place.
(ok ok I know baby is a little crooked, lol. Ideally the bottom rail would be straight, and right up to that knee. Lil blighter wriggled as I was tying)
Step Ten
Do a little jump-and-pull, to get any remaining slack out of the wrap. If you have a short wrap you may choose to stop here, and tie it at your waist.
Tibetan Finish 1
Bring each end up the side, and through the opposite shoulder strap. Clamp the spare end between your knees.
Tibetan Finish 2
Tie the ends securely at your chest, in a square knot. If you prefer not to have the tails flapping at your front, you can tuck them back down the sides again after knotting. Notice how the wrap is snugly supporting baby right up her back, there are no loose parts.
Positioning legs
Push baby's feet and knees up, and encourage her bottom down into the 'seat' of the rucksack. You may like to reach behind and tuck the lower rail a bit further up between you and baby, to make a deeper seat for her and reduce the risk of 'butt poppage'.
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