Anyone Use an African Lesso?

[Whistler]

African Lesso: http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e5a1605d68.jpg

Me (terrible pic): http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...n/DSC01113.jpg

I have used this with both of my babies. I was taught how to use it by a friend from Ghana. Having them on my back takes all the pressure off my upper back and it is so comfortable. The babies think they are being held but in reality they are out of the way to do housework or dishes or take a walk. I found it more comfy than the snugli/bjorn or sling.

It's odd, with all the babywearing craze, I have almost never seen this in the States.

[littlemizflava]

i use it and do it done it with both of mine dd6.5 and ds still do sometimes at 2.5
about your pic i think......baby is to low should be on your waist and tighter...

[Whistler]

Originally Posted by littlemizflava

about your pic i think......baby is to low should be on your waist and tighter...

Uhm, thanks, I think? That was years ago with DD and I could not get a pic of myself unless she was a little loose. She kind of liked it a little looser, too. But, like I said, terrible pic. The top one is how it is supposed to be done. Glad to hear someone else uses it

[Sheryl1678]

I have never heard of these! I am always learning new things here. And your pic is lovely, your baby looks so content.

[countrygirl28]

I've never personally had any experience with these, but I periodically get my hair braided at an African shop and the women there (from Ghana and Senegal, mostly, I think) typically wear their babies like that. The babies seem really comfortable and content. Sometimes their little feet stick out on the sides, and it's so cute!

[quantumleap]

We have a couple (my family lives in Central Africa), but haven't used them yet. I know that babes get tossed back there from near day one, but I've been afraid of the lack of head suport while dd is so small/young.
When I was taught how to use/tie one of these, I was in my late teens and was actually taught by a friends' daughter. She was not quite three. I knew about 20 words in her dialect. She knew one word in one of my languages. You can perhaps picture how this went down. Three year olds don't really know/see how to knot the things, which is really the only hard part. Thankfully, I convinced her to let me try with her doll before letting her climb on my back!
Oh, another aside, my little brother once sounded a little flabbergasted to see a woman breastfeeding her babe. My mom was totally appalled that he felt the need to comment at all (he nursed until past three, so not a foreign concept). His response was, "No, Mom, the baby is *on her back*!!"

[KristyDi]

I've heard them called kangas (looks like the same thing from your pics). I have one. I've used it with dd several times. My dad brought it to me from Tanzania when he went years before I even had a baby. It's bright blue and yellow and I really liked it when dd was smaller. But now that she's heavier I can't get her to stay high enough to be comfortable for me. She droops over my butt. I'd like to figure it out, but I've kinda given up and use mostly my MeiTai or my Beco.

Any tips on getting her tighter without cutting of circulation to my boobs?

[littlemizflava]

off to do step by step pics will be back later to post how to do it

[MoonStarFalling]

I've always heard it called a kanga but same basic carrier. I made my own out of some pretty tye dye fabric. I also used an Indonesian selendang (same thing only a bit smaller) for the torso carry. It's my favorite for housework.

[sapphire_chan]

How big are these? I don't have a much money but I've got a ton of fabric.

[Whistler]

Originally Posted by selkat

We have a couple (my family lives in Central Africa), but haven't used them yet. I know that babes get tossed back there from near day one, but I've been afraid of the lack of head support while dd is so small/young.

My friend from Ghana who taught me to do it said you can do it as soon as the cord falls off when the baby is a couple of weeks old.

For head support, I guess you don't need to worry about it if it's tied tight enough.

When she did it, she did not tie it in front but tucked it in so it didn't cut off circulation to your boobs. When I do it my cloth is so much slipperier I have to tie and and it's not as comfy but it is more secure.

When the babies are bigger, it feels good to me to tie it so they sit right on my butt like a piggy-back ride, then there is little pull from the front. I don't know if that is "right" but it sure is comfy!

Sapphire_chan, I used a 45" wide piece that was 2 yd long. But it was a little on the big side so I had a lot of extra fabric in the knots. I'd start with that and then go smaller until you feel comfortable with how it fits.

[ElaynesMom]

I've done this with a beach towel.

I've heard them called kangas as well. I looked it up and one measurement was 38 inches tall and 60 long. I may get one for the summer.

[lifeguard]

Instructions please!

[geiamama]

Originally Posted by selkat

I know that babes get tossed back there from near day one, but I've been afraid of the lack of head suport while dd is so small/young.

I was the same. I have a very long wrap that I use to carry my DD like that but with the long ends wrapped back round and under her legs for extra support. She loves it back there and will often fall asleep (I can only tell when I can feel the little puddle of drool) but I only started carrying her that way after she could hold her own head up.

No-one around here carries their babies so they think I'm odd anyway but they practically had a fit when they saw me getting her back there. They soon shut up when we had teachers from the African school my son's school is twinned with. We had a traditional dance afternoon with the children and I took DD along. The teachers were even more "rough" putting her on (they weren't really but that's what the mothers said to me when I was scooting her backwards from my hip) and were dancing whilst wearing her. She adored every minute of it and all you could hear were her shrieks of laughter inamongst the drums.