Using a rebozo

Slinging Saan was, we believe, one of the best things we have done as parents. It allowed us to meet her needs (for closeness, holding, and nursing) while meeting our own (for eating, shopping, doing laundry, getting out of the house, etc!), thus allowing us to feel like normal, healthy people in addition to good parents (something we learned slowly---it doesn't have to be an either-or proposition!).

When Saan was born, however, we had a Baby Bjorn (mostly harmless but pretty uncomfortable for parent and baby, not to mention bulky and of limited usefulness) and a big pile of padding that masqueraded as a sling (sigh...). Naively, I believed that modern technology and progress must have created a better baby carrier than the traditional carriers used by generations of peoples across the world. I was surprised to discover that the most comfortable, versatile, useful, and altogether appealing carrier around (well, in my humble opinion!) is a big piece of cloth! "Sash" or rebozo carriers are used in many, many different cultures in many, many different ways.


Saan in our rebozo.

This particular rebozo (made by Ellaroo) was hand-woven in Guatemala. Jovan and I find the fabric absolutely lovely and feel so chic walking down the street wrapped up in it! Also, Saan is quite smitten with it (and has been since she was about four months old, when we got ours) and it is now one of her favorite toys: she drags it behind her around the house and wraps it around herself like a little mummy. We know it comes with pretty limited instructions, though, and we really had to learn to use it on our own, so we did up a page of our own instructions that we hope helps you figure it out quickly, gives you a good idea of its flexibility and range, and maybe even inspires you to make up your own ties and carries!

Terminology

Rails

In most carries, the rebozo forms a sort of pouch that the baby rests in. There are two horizontal edges of fabric that make up the pouch; the "inner rail" is the top edge of fabric that comes between the parent and baby, and the "outer rail" is the top edge of the fabric on the other side of the baby, away from the parent.


Here my top hand is holding the inner rail and my bottom hand is holding the outer rail.

Knot

In (almost!) every carry, the sling is held together by a knot. A plain old knot will do fine (tho I'd not recommend any sort of bow or loop knot that can come untied with a single pull (at least not with a baby with wandering hands!)), but a sailor's knot is very handy, since it allows you to adjust the length of the sling without untying and retying it. This is especially handy for breastfeeding and for sharing a sling between two different-size people.

Tying a Sailor's Knot

Here is a photo illustration of how I tie a sailor's knot.


First cross the horizontal strap over the vertical strap.


Then pass it back under the vertical strap and up towards your opposite shoulder.


Cross it down over itself.


Then pass it back under the vertical strap.


And then back over the vertical strap and through the loop you've just made. Yay! You're done!


To tighten the sailor's knot, pull on the vertical strap and its tail.


To loosen it, pull on the loop. Adjust by sliding the knot up and down the vertical strap.

This all probably sounds very complicated, but it takes me all of 5 seconds to tie the rebozo on with a sailor's knot, and it's really handy to be able to adjust it (I suck at getting the pouch the right size from the beginning!). The fabric of the Ellaroo rebozo is "grippy" enough that this is a very secure knot. It doesn't work well on very "slippery" fabrics, though.

Carry

A "carry" is a way of positioning a baby within a sling. For example, in a cradle carry, the baby is lying (nearly) horizontally, while in a tummy-to-tummy carry, the baby is upright with her tummy to yours.

Tie

A "tie" is a way to fasten the rebozo to the parent. A particular tie can be used for many different carries, and vice versa. You may find one tie style more comfortable, easier to tie, easier to adjust, or easier to get the baby in, but the baby will probably find them equivalent if you are using the same carry.

Front and hip carries

Front and hip carries are ways of wearing the sling that position the baby on the parent's front or hip. We generally prefer these, since they allow us to monitor and interact with Saan the most. This easy interaction has been one of our favorite things about wearing Saan in slings.

One-shoulder carries

These are the quickest on-and-off (and in-and-out) of any of the carries and, as far as we're concerned, are really the "workhorses" of the bunch---we use them CONSTANTLY. They are also probably best for very young babies, since it is easy to fully support the baby's body with the fabric. On the other hand, they do not distribute the baby's weight quite as well as the two-shoulder carries, and so are probably not as suited for long-term carries of a heavy baby or toddler (not that we don't often use them this way, though...!).

A note about comfort (yours, not the baby's!): it may take you some practice before your ties are routinely comfortable and secure, and even more time before you always get them the right size on the first try. If you find the fabric is hurting your shoulder, make sure it is well spread over your shoulder and upper arm and that it isn't twisted on your back. This will distribute the baby's weight over the largest possible surface area. It's actually possible to spread this particular rebozo so that it covers nearly all of your back and your whole shoulder and upper arm. This isn't particularly good for arm mobility, but it's GREAT for comfort. Find your own balance.

If you find there's a "pressure point" on your shoulder, try to spread the fabric in that area a little better---it may just be a bunched up bit of fabric. Make sure the sling isn't riding up your neck and that the baby isn't riding too low on your body---she should be between your chest and bellybutton---much lower than that and your back will get really tired.

Pouch tie

This is probably the simplest and easiest to get right (comfortable (for you) and secure (for baby)) of all the ties.


First, fold the rebozo in half length-wise (so you are left with a long, narrow piece of fabric).


Hold the fabric across your back with then fold down and drape one end over your shoulder. Bring the other end around the other side of your body. Make sure the fabric is not twisted and is spread well across your back; this helps distribute the baby's weight well.


Tie the two ends in front of you, just below your shoulder.


Make sure to tie the rails of the fabric somewhat tighter than the fold---this makes a secure pouch for the baby.

You will probably have to experiment a little bit to figure out how big to make the pouch, but tighter is generally better (easier on your back, more secure for the baby). I find that when I pull all the fabric of a comfortable tie down, it doesn't usually go much past my belly button. A good rule of thumb is that the baby should ride somewhere between your breasts (or chest, if you're a man!) and belly button. When you wear the baby in this (and any other) one-shoulder tie, make sure the sling "caps" your shoulder and upper arm and doesn't ride up towards your neck---that will get uncomfortable really fast!

There are LOTS of ways to carry a baby in this tie. Here are some.

Cradle carry

The cradle carry is best for most little babies, since they are fully reclined. It is also the best way to breastfeed, and can also be used for breastfeeding toddlers (I know this for a fact!), though you may find you need more room in the sling for breastfeeding (this is where an adjustable knot comes in handy---just loosen it a bit, slide the knot down, and tighten it back up---ta da!). You can position the baby's head towards the knot or away from the knot, but will find that in either case it is best if the baby is on a diagonal to the sling fabric, with her head towards the outer rail and her feet towards the inner rail. This will keep her from being "all scrunched up" and will also allow her to see the world around her (since the fabric isn't over her face).


To get the baby in, hold her up on your shoulder and slide her butt down onto the sling. Spread the pouch open around her, tucking her feet inside, and lay her down into it. Make sure the inner rail is pulled up between you and the baby. Many thanks to Saan for lending us her favorite doll Anna for this demonstration!


The baby can lie with her head on the opposite side from the knot...


...Or with her head on the same side as the knot. And more thanks to Saan for lending us her lion for these last two pictures, since she is now too big herself to demonstrate the cradle carry.

nursing

T2T (tummy to tummy)

A lot of little babies don't like being held in a reclined position, however, so you may find the t2t position to be more comfortable. You will probably find that you need a tighter pouch for t2t carries than for cradle carries. For a little baby, it is probably better to tuck her feet inside the pouch either folded under or in front of her, but a larger baby or toddler's legs can be left outside the pouch. To get the baby in, hold her up on your shoulder and lower her butt down onto the sling. Spread the pouch up under her. The inner rail should go either completely over her legs and up between the two of you or well up under her knees so it is supporting her entire butt and thighs. Pull the outer rail up over her back. For a little baby, you may want to pull it up over her head to keep her head steady. Older babies and toddlers will probably want their arms out.


We often use the t2t carry with Saan. Sometimes we tuck Anna in with her as well, which makes life easier on me---Anna can come with us everywhere we go, and I don't have to worry about whether and where she's been dropped.

Hip carry


A variation on t2t that's most suitable for older babies and toddlers (3 or 4 months +, I'd think)---simply carry the baby on your hip instead of your front. This puts more of the weight of the baby on your hip (rather than your shoulder) and gives the baby a more exciting view---she can see what's coming and going, and can always take a break from the action by resting her head on you.

Buddha carry

This is a good way to give a little baby a good view of the world. You may find that this position puts a little more stress on your back since the baby's center of gravity is farther from you. You will also find that older babies and toddlers are too large to be held in this position.


Here is Anna demonstrating the buddha carry for me.

To put your baby in a buddha carry, hold her in front of you, facing away from you. Lower the baby into the pouch, crossing her legs in front of her. Make sure that the inner rail is pulled up between you and the baby and that the outer rail is pulled up well in front of her. You may find that you prefer the outer rail tighter for this carry or that you prefer the middle (non-rail) part of the pouch to be larger. If so, just keep that in mind when you tie the knot and adjust your tying appropriately.

Other one-shoulder ties

Both of the following ties can be used for the same carries as the pouch tie; some people just prefer one over the other. I think the pouch tie is easiest to get right, but sometimes use the others for one reason or another.

Adjustable rail tie

Some people prefer not to fold the sling before tying it---they feel that this gives them more individual control over the tightness of each rail and of the middle of the sling. Perhaps it also stays capped on your shoulder (not sliding up towards your neck) better? This is tied and worn just like the pouch tie, but the full width of the fabric is spread over your shoulder and across your back, and you have to spend a little more effort finding the appropriate tightness for the rails.

back (tying) of adj rail tie

front (tying) of adj rail tie

s in adj rail tie

Knot in back

Still others not only do not fold the sling before tying it, but prefer to wear the knot on their back (usually just behind their shoulder) and sometimes flip the shoulder of the sling over, which has the effect of tightening the inner and outer rails. This is nice for making a headrest for a cradle-carried baby, but I generally find this carry less comfortable since not only is the baby's weight spread less uniformly over my back, but there's a big knot back there!

s in KIB tie

anna cradled in KIB

Cradle cross


Instead of tying the sling at (or behind!) your shoulder, you can put it on by draping it (folded or not---take your pick (if folded, keep the fold towards the outer edge of your shoulder) over your shoulder and bringing the front and back tails towards the opposite hip.


Cross them with the back tail over the front one. Bring them back around to the other hip and tie. This is a nice way to distribute some of the weight of the baby to your hips, but I find it more difficult to get the inner- and outer-rail tension adjusted correctly.


Here is Anna held in the cradle cross position.

Hip cross

The same tie can be used for a toddler hip carry, and I find this to be the most comfortable way to wear the rebozo. It's possible to tie it without the baby in it (as shown above), but when I do that I find it's very hard to get it comfortable. I find it easy and super, super comfortable to tie it on around Saan. This carry is very "poppable" and is GREAT for nursing---I just loosen the knot a bit and let out some slack to lower Saan down a few inches and pull the fabric high up her back---totally hands-free nursing! Yahoo!


Begin as with the cradle cross carry, with the rebozo draped over one shoulder. I prefer to leave more "tail" in the front---this allows me to tie the knot in the front rather than trying to reach around and tie it in the back or on my side.


Pick up the baby and hold her on your hip where you'll want her to rest when the tie is finished. Wrap the back tail of the rebozo behind your back and then across the baby's back.


Wrap the tail tightly around her, spread well across her back and under her butt, and tuck it under her leg. Believe it or not, the pressure of her leg will hold it there while you finish the rest of the tying.


Now pull the front tail of the rebozo tightly across you and over the baby's back (spread well across her back and under her butt) and tuck it under her other leg.


Tie the ends in a knot.


You may want to spread the fabric "crosses" more across the baby's back.


I really find this super-comfy and can wear it for several hours. (Saan seems to like it, too!) Allowing the fabric to drape down my arm seems to spread the weight better, but when I need to use my arm more, I either tie it so that the fabric rests mostly on top of my shoulder or just scoot the fabric up there for a moment while I'm reaching for something (and then spread it back down).

Alternatively, you could put her inside the entire "X". This is not quite as secure underneath (since there isn't fabric going under her legs), but I find it stays up higher on the baby's back when she's into "arching", and thus supports her a little better.

Two-shoulder front carries

Good for longer walks.

Kangaroo carry

The standout two-shoulder carry, in my opinion, and an excellent way to get skin-to-skin time with a newborn.


Drape the sling in front of you, with one tail going back over each shoulder.

Place the baby into the pouch made by the fabric in front of you and tighten the inner and outer rails using the tails.


Either cross the tails behind you or bring them directly back under your armpits.


Then bring the tails in front of you and tie under baby's bottom. Tuck a young baby's legs in either under or in front of her and bring the inner rail up a bit between the two of you. Leave an older baby's legs out but make sure that the fabric is pulled up well over her bottom and up to the backs of her knees. If you have enough fabric left over, many people find it more comfortable, instead of tying the sling under the baby's butt, to simply cross the ends under her butt and bring them behind your back to tie, since this helps distribute the weight to your hips.


Kangaroo Saan.

Front podaegi

This carry is based on a traditional Korean baby carrier. I haven't found it as secure or comfortable as the kangaroo carry, but it's very fast to tie and is also cooler in the summer (since the fabric isn't spread out). The key to this tie seems to be getting it tight enough. Wad the sling up lengthwise. Bring it behind the baby and pass it around her back, high up under her armpits. Bring each tail under your own armpits and up over your shoulders, then tie under baby's bottom.

front podaegi

Back carries

Lots of folks find these much more comfortable than front carries and do them from early infancy on. We have found front carries to be, in general, easier, more comfortable, more secure, and more fun, but there is certainly a time and place for back carries. We find them especially good in the summer (no coats to deal with!) or when the baby needs to be held and you also need to be doing something she shouldn't be in the middle of (cooking, dishes, etc).

Getting your baby on your back

Easiest with assistance! But when assistance is not available, there are several fairly failsafe methods. When doing any of them, though, try to stay low to the ground and near some nice soft surface (like a bed), just in case!

The simplest way to get an older baby on your back is simply to hold the baby on your hip and slide her around under your armpit to your back. This is a little tricky with a floppy little baby though. Another relatively easy method is to spread the sling out on a bed or chair and lay the baby inside it. Then lean back over the baby, grab hold of each end of the sling and pull tightly to hold the baby to your back as you lean forward to do the tying. This method can be modified for an older baby by draping the sling over a chair and sitting the baby up in it. If you're feeling adventuresome, a really quite easy and secure (but scary sounding) way of doing it is to place your baby in the sling and hold the two ends quite tightly so your baby is completely bundled within the sling and then swing her gently onto your back.

Here are some pictures of me using the latter method to get Saan up on my back.


Wrap the rebozo around the baby, covering her from shoulders to knees (if it's a little baby, cover her head, too).


Hold the rebozo with two hands. This looks strange, but is really very secure. Saan thinks it's hilarious.


Gently swing the baby around onto your back, keeping the tails of the rebozo in front of you.


Bring the left tail (in the case of this picture) over your head to the other side of your body. Hold the tails taut; this keeps your baby pressed safely to your back.

One-shoulder back carry

The back rebozo carry is the most common carry (that I am aware of! hah!) in South and Central America and is quite comfortable and very secure, though it takes a bit of practice to figure out how to get it just right. With your baby on your back, spread the fabric of the sling across the baby's back, over one of your shoulders, and under the other armpit. For a very little (or sleepy) baby, completely cover the baby's head with the part of the sling going over your shoulder. Bring the other end of the sling under your opposite armpit and tie tightly just in front of your shoulder. Make sure before you tie the knot to pull the rails extra tight, especially the bottom (inner) rail. Make very sure that the fabric completely covers the baby's bottom and goes all the way out to the backs of her knees.

saan rebozo back carry

Two-shoulder back carries

Rucksack carry

This is the back equivalent of the kangaroo carry. And is a very quick and comfortable carry---it's our favorite of the back carries.


With the baby on your back, drape the fabric over both of you. Make sure the top of the fabric comes all the way up your baby's back and that the bottom completely covers her butt and comes all the way out to the backs of her knees. Bring both ends of the fabric over your shoulders.


Tighten both the inner and outer rails well and either bring the tails right back under your armpits or cross them in front of you before bringing them back under the baby's bottom.


If you're skinny enough, you can cross them behind the baby and tie them in front of you. I am not this skinny, so i tie under Saan's bottom. By tying the sling tighter, it is possible to get quite a high back carry with the rucksack tie, giving your baby a wonderful over-the-shoulder view of the world around her.

Strap carry

The fastest carry of all, hands down. Also quite appropriate for little babies, and for curious older babies, as this gives them a good view of the world. I don't find it as comfortable as rucksack, but I do find it more secure, as Saan has, at times, had a tendency to try to pull the rucksack fabric over her head. I think she's playing hide-and-seek, but I wouldn't like to see her hide-and-seek herself right out of the sling!


With your baby high on your back, wad the sling up lengthwise and bring it behind her back and under each armpit.


Now bring each end over your shoulder and either cross them (I find this a little choking, but some people like it) or bring them straight back under your armpits and tie under baby's butt (or, if you'd like (and are skinny enough!), cross the ends under baby's butt and tie in front.

The secret of this tie is to have the baby high on your back and to tie the sling TIGHTLY. This way the baby isn't suspended from her armpits but is held to you by the tension in the sling pressing her to your back. Try giving a little hop while pulling on the tails. Trust me, you won't squish the baby! If you're worried about a particularly active baby slipping her arms under the straps (and thus working her way out of the carry), you can wrap the sling around her front and cross it behind her back and then proceed with the rest of the tie as usual.

Back podaegi carry

Just like the front carry, and similar to the strap carry, though I've not found it as fast or secure. With your baby on your back, wad up the sling lengthwise. Bring it across your baby's back, high up on her back and then under her armpits. Pass it under your armpits and either cross it on your chest or bring it straight up and back over your shoulders. Tie tightly under her bottom.

saan back podaegi

Traditionally, Korean women did this carry without using the shoulders at all. After they passed the sling under their arms, they simply crossed it over their breasts and brought it back under their arms to tie under the baby's bottom. Lots of people swear by torso carries like this, but they've never seemed particularly comfortable to me. Perhaps they're best for very busty women??

saan torso podaegi

Stylin' mama


This rebozo is an all-purpose tool! In addition to being fabulous baby slings, rebozos are used as shawls, scarves, to help a laboring mother during childbirth, as "leashes" or shopping cart seatbelts for wayward toddlers, as light blankets and playthings... The list goes on. We hope you find lots and lots of uses for yours.

For more ways to wear your baby, check out Mamatoto and The Babywearer. For more information on rebozos and their use in childbirth and traditional societies, check out the Rebozo Way Project. For more information on this particular rebozo, check out Ellaroo (the rebozo shown on this page is a rebozo-length wraparound in the fabric Ysabel).

Happy baby wearing!