Today, we’re getting serious again. There’s not much more serious than discussing how to survive a nuclear war (except on this blog). Next week, we’ll talk about discussing a post apocalyptic war-zone, which is quite a different kettle of fish carrier stash.

In order to survive a nuclear war, babywearer-style, it’s quite simple. You need a bomb-proof carrier. Certain wraps have that reputation, as do certain ring slings and mei tais. Check your favourite babywearing forum for suggestions.

Once you have enough bomb-proof carriers for the entire family, you need to consider your options. This is a good occasion to justify a large, albeit simple, stash.

You may like to build a bomb-shelter out of your bomb-proof carriers. A simple wrap tent will be able to cover a reasonable number of people and supplies, however beware of fall out concerns. The wrap may be bomb-proof, but is it rated for radiation? You may like to take some precautionary measures, such as removing the casings from all the microwaves in the neighbourhood and using those to line your bomb-proof tent.

If mei tais are more your thing, you may wish to tie one onto each member of the family to act as body armour in the event of a bomb-strike. Ring slings have the dual advantage of not only providing protection from falling ordinance, but the rings can also be used as pulleys for post-apocalypse reconstruction- more on that next time.

Above all, do not panic. A babywearer is always prepared for any emergency, so keep that bomb-proof carrier within arm’s reach and when the time comes, remember to be creative!

What’s your favourite bomb-proof carrier? What’s it lived through? Leave a comment and let us know!

You need to learn how to do a rebozo carry and then all sorts of items suddenly become baby carriers! Scarves, shawls,  sheets, tablecloths- the possibilities are endless.

An awesome, detailed tutorial on the rebozo and slip knot is here. Nat has put it together for you all and it’s definitely worth a look! Even if you’ve been short wrap challenged up until now, this is the tutorial that will make it for you. If Nat can teach me to rebozo carry, then she can teach anyone

Are you a fan of the rebozo? Leave a comment and let us know!

It’s probably time for an update on my high needs cherub. As I blogged about awhile ago, I’ve been spending the last couple of weeks wearing her as consistently as possible and as often as practicable. The theory was that it would offer her enough security to help her move through this permanent state of mindblowing neediness stage.  She’s been worn daily, coslept and breastfed on demand since birth, but something told me that perhaps it wasn’t enough physical attachment to me for this child to be fully secure. So I stepped it up.

It’s working. I think.

She’s not a suddenly altered personality, she’s still (very much) a high needs kiddo, but something tells me we’re on the way up. We’ve also been working on helping her trust her Dad to put her (gently) to sleep and she’s turned a corner there too. It may not have anything to do with babywearing,  it may be the natural shift in her development. At least it’s made me feel like I was doing something to help! She’s still anxious if I am around, but not actively engaged with her, but babywearing helps with that one way or another.

She’s 11 months old and the smiles I catch in the mirror as we pass by (or stop and make faces) make me want to wear her forever. I think we’ll keep this up. Just in case.

What worked for your high needs baby? Leave a comment and let us know.

Choosing the right soft structured carrier can be pretty difficult with all the features available. Borrowing or trying one on at a slingmeet is the best way to go, but if that’s not possible or your not sure what you want, then this resource is a great start to comparing a large number of well-known SSCs by weight limit, type and feature.

Do you own a SSC? What’s your favourite feature? What is it you like about them? Leave a comment and let us know!

Welcome to the WOE Ruck (Wrap Once Every Day). Here are Jess’ tips, tricks and internet picks. As always, you can join in the chatter, get some help or admire the wraps, wrappers and wrappees here.

Instructions:

• Picture tute here.
• Video tutes here and here.
• Paulus video tute showing sandwiching of the shoulders here.

Tips and Tricks:

• When wrapping a small baby, align the top of their shoulders to the top rail of the wrap
• Tuck the bottom rail under the child’s butt to make a “pouch” for them to sit into, if possible try to get that fabric up under their needs
• I find it easier to cross the straps at the back together at the same time in one fluid motion
• Focus less on the bottom rail and more on the top - but don’t obsess, it will not be perfect the first few times!
• Don’t forget that final “hop” at the end before you tie in front to get rid of the slack and make it a nice firm carry.
• For smaller bubs who are still “froggied” you can just keep their feet in ala SHBC and wrap over them by first creating a small pocket for the feet by folding up the bottom rail.

Paulus’ tips for a consistently comfortable shoulder  (see Paulus’ video linked above):

• Basically you focus on one shoulder at a time (put the other tail between your legs), get that top rail (one closest to your neck) taut by tucking it under your chin (or use your teeth ;)), and then flip/fold the bottom/outer rail in half from your arm up to the top rail near your neck.
• If you find it still too wide on your shoulder, do another outer to inner fold (so you essentially fold it into quarter length - or four neatly folded layers of wrap on your shoulder).
• An optional step after this is to do a outer-to-inner twist of the tail down  near your armpit to ‘lock’ the shoulder folds.
• Then take the tail back around to the other side as normal, tuck under legs, and repeat with the other shoulder.

Thanks to Jess (and Paulus) for introducing one of my favourite carries for newborns through to preschoolers! Do you use the ruck or are you “ruck challenged”? What helped the ruck “click” for you? Leave a comment and let us know!