Can I wear my 10 week old on my back?

[GoGoGirl]

Lucy is 10 weeks old, and I really want to start wearing her on my back. It would be nice to actually get a chance to cook a meal one of these days So how do people wear little babies on their backs?

I usually wear Lucy in a Moby. I absolutely love it for wearing her in front, but I hear that it's not safe for back carries. We also have an Ergo with the infant insert. I haven't worn it yet, though...I don't think I'll like the back-packy look/feel of it. I'm making a Mobyish wrap out of crinkle cotton, would that work for a back carry?

And if anyone has any tips, tricks, or youtube tutorials for back carries, I would really appreciate them!

[Devaskyla]

You can totally wear her on your back

Strechy carriers definitely aren't safe for back carries. I have a frirnd who makes her own wraps. I think she has several that are crinkle cotton & she usually rucks her kiddo, so should be safe for you to use for back carries.

Definitely practice over a soft surface (bed, couch) &/or with a spotter until you're comfortable. Pick one carry & practice until you're good with it, then try another.

secured high back carry:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zEpAOgYnqM
variation tibetan ruck:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA_IX...eature=related
nb back wrap cross: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sezEZykNNAk
nb ruck:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE4eP...eature=related
another ruck: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRy353K4Rbw

[Quirky]

I have a Lucy, too! Although she's a great big walking talking 19 month old, not a snuggly little baby any more. Sigh.

My fave for a high back carry with a little baby is a tall-bodied mei tai such as a Kozy. I learned to do the newborn high back carry from the instructions on the Kozy's site. I found it easier than messing with all the fabric on a wrap, personally.

[baturay]

Oh, I love woven wraps for back carries. I had my littlest one on my back week 1 and it's been such a blessing and so convenient to be able to carry him on my back and then be able to give my full front to my other little ones. He usually naps on my back and when he's fed and ready to sleep, he's as happy as can be back there. And then with that same wrap, I can also carry him comfortably on my hip, my front and do different carries with it too. So, really versatile and learning to wrap was one of the best things I ever did.

[GoGoGirl]

Thanks for the help, gals! And Quirky, it makes me to think that my Lucy will be grown up soon too!

I tried the newborn bwcc and the newborn ruck from the wrapyourbaby youtube videos, but it didn't work too well. My husband FREAKED OUT, and now whenever he sees me practicing, he tells Lucy, "Oh look, Mama is learning how to drop you!" I'm not, I'm really not! I either practice with a stuffed animal, or with Lucy and DH there to spot.

But anyway, here's my new question. Lucy doesn't seem to like her legs smushed up and tucked into the wrap. Can I do a ruck with her legs out, like in the last video Devaskyla linked to? Is she old enough for that? She weighs 13 pounds, and has good head control (if that matters).

[baturay]

You can if she's a big baby, otherwise it'd be hard for her to spread out her legs like that and also it'd be hard for you to get the crosses under her bum correctly if she's small. I'd try BWCC and that way she can have her legs straight if she wants, but still enclosed by the wrap. Can you post a picture of her on your back with her legs out?

[Adasmommy]

Legs out is okay as soon as your little one is comfy with it. As Giselle pointed out, you don't want to stretch her legs uncomfortably. You can also have one leg tucked in, and one out--maybe she'd like that better.

Since the wrapyourbaby videos are mine ( ), let me know if there's something I showed on there that was hard to follow safely so I know what to focus on the next time I make one!

[Adasmommy]

In both of those videos (rucksack and bwcc), I think that Serena had her legs wrapped around me, with the wrap covering them--you can see what I mean best in the bwcc video.

She was only 4 weeks, but 14 lbs, and her legs just didn't want to froggy either. She would fall asleep like that and was obviously comfortable.

[GoGoGirl]

Oh Adasmommy, your videos are super helpful! And I love the one where you start with your baby on the turtle It's just a learning curve for me--this is my first time using a woven wrap, and my first time doing a back carry, so there's a lot to try to figure out at once.

I'll try again, with Lucy's legs around me, to see if we're comfortable like that. And if it's not working, I'll try to put up some pictures for everyone's advice!

Thanks again for the tips :

[Adasmommy]

Did anyone mention that you could practice with a bag of flour or a sack of potatoes (or something heavy like that) until you get the hang of it--then switch to the apple of your eye?

Glad to know the videos aren't misleading! Good luck!