How to create a baby carrier: 12 easy ideas to make
One of the most heartfelt needs of mothers with small children is to be able to hold or carry children with them and have their hands free . Babywearing , or “wearing children” helps a lot in this.
In fact, it is nothing new that carrying babies with elastic bands, mei tai or baby carriers offers benefits that are not only practical but also affective/emotional, both for the children and for the parents. have tried them.
Types of baby carriers
On the market there are baby carriers for all tastes and for all needs . They differ from each other not only in the shape and materials but also in the age groups for which they are more suitable.
To find your way between rigid and elastic bands, pouch or ring bands, or between mei tai and fanny packs, I recommend reading the post Carrying babies in slings: why? that our Francesca – a great supporter of babywearing – wrote some time ago.
In the meantime, I went online to search for DIY ideas to create a baby sling. In fact, for those who don’t know or want to save money, by choosing the right types of fabrics and materials, you can easily sew bands and mei tai even at home. However, choosing the right fabric is essential.
12 ideas to create a baby sling
How to create a long baby carrier
Baby slings are long strips of fabric (stiff if made of cotton, elastic if made of knit or jersey) that allow you to carry the baby in different positions depending on how the sling is tied. They are useful, enveloping, particularly suitable for carrying newborns, even perhaps a little laborious to wear.
Making one is extremely easy because in some cases it’s really just a matter of cutting a long length of fabric. The more willing ones will still be able to finish the sling in the best possible way and customize the baby carrier in several ways.
For example, you can make an all jersey band (photo 2), an all jersey band (photo 3) with applications that help identify the center of the band, or to make the baby carrier prettier and more durable, you can sew to the wrap a patterned fabric reinforcement (photo 1) or a panel of fabric at the exact point that supports the child (photo 4).
How to create baby ring slings
Bands with rings are also useful for carrying children , which are nothing more than bands of fabric to be worn over the shoulder held by two rings where the fabric is passed through. The band opens and closes and supports the baby in many positions.
To create this type of band you need a sewing machine, a medium-length strip of fabric and two large rings that can be bought in haberdashery or brico centers. Here are three helpful tutorials to follow:
- how to make a pleated ring sling
- how to make a crease-free ring sling
- video tutorial for ring sling
How to make a pouch band
The pouch band is a ring-shaped baby carrier that can be worn over the shoulder. It’s really very practical because it doesn’t tie or knot but is simply worn.
To make this type of band you don’t need to be an expert in sewing but just have a sewing machine and know how to do simple straight seams. In this case I found a useful video tutorial to follow.
How to do a Mei Tai
The mei tai is a baby carrier that is halfway between a sling and a baby carrier. This is why it is highly appreciated by mothers because it is practical, wears quickly and can be worn in various positions.
It is made from a central rectangle of fabric that supports the child and four bands of fabric, two longer and two shorter (to be tied around the parent’s waist).
Making it yourself is not difficult, just have a sewing machine and choose the right fabric.
I found four very similar tutorials , but each one different in shape, material and type of explanations
- How to Sew Jemie’s Mei Tai with Well Detailed Designs
- How to sew Claudia’s mei tai with explanations and drawings in Italian
- How to sew mei tai by Francesca tutorial with photos
- How to sew mei dai by Serena tutorial with photos
After this nice roundup of tutorials to create a baby sling , I’m (almost) sure that if babywearing had intrigued you before, now it tempts you a lot. Real?
Then good job!
Kathryn Barlow is an OB/GYN doctor, which is the medical specialty that deals with the care of women's reproductive health, including pregnancy and childbirth.
Obstetricians provide care to women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, while gynecologists focus on the health of the female reproductive system, including the ovaries, uterus, vagina, and breasts. OB/GYN doctors are trained to provide medical and surgical care for a wide range of conditions related to women's reproductive health.