Traveling Wraps: What’s That?

Not long into my babywearing journey I was scrolling through Facebook one day and I came across something new and just way to cool to pass. Traveling wrap groups! I was so intrigued I had to see what this was about. Ever since I tell everyone I can, well if they are interested, and I get asked all the time, “What is a travelling wrap group?” So that is where the idea for this blog post came to be.

First, you make a feedback link inside the group. Feedback is simply a picture of your choosing where people can write what their experience with you that way others will know to trust you or not.

Second, you pick one of your wraps or carriers out that you feel comfortable with sending to other moms you don’t know. You post a picture of it and all the important information like: fiber, value because each host mails it to the next with insurance for the full value, how many hosts, length of travel which is usually one week per host, etc. Moms will comment on it if they are interested in hosting it for you. They will each provide a link to their feedback so you can decide if you would like to work with them or not.  Once you pick out the hosts you make an event page inside the group where the hosts can post tracking information and pictures as it is traveling.  Once you decide what order the travel will go on you simply mail it to the first home then it will go from home to home until it arrives back with you.  Other ways you can send wraps travelling is through round robins where a set number of people all send a wrap out and everyone in that group gets to have someone’s wrap for the full travel period. You can also temporarily trade with just one person.

Third, once you send something travelling you get to start hosting some awesome wraps and carriers.

Travelling may be fun but I need to be honest at the same time. Costs: I have always paid between $6-$19 per wrap to mail it to the next hosts so you can do the math $6-$19 X 40. Sometimes I really miss my wrap while it is away from home, I mean really miss it. The entire system works on trust. I have been blessed by working with some amazing moms, but I have heard a few but not many horror stories.

Groups I am a member of and you should join me: Wrap Wanderlust, Churny Mama’s Traveling Wraps, Motherhood of the Traveling Wraps, and Traveling Woven Wraps.

What have I hosted and sent traveling? I’m so glad you asked J I’ll start with my travelers.

1.       Girasol Double Rainbow visited 5 mamas

2.       Tukula Ring Sling visited 3 mamas

3.       Kinderpack visited 4 mamas

4.       Girasol Tenango visited 12 mamas

5.       Girasol Flamenco visited 3 mamas

6.       Girasol Double Rainbow ring sling visited 5 mamas

7.       Tula visited 2 mamas

8.       Kokadi Love In Your Heart visited 2 mamas

9.       Oscha Nova Roses just started its journey to visit 4 mamas

And the ones I have hosted in the order I hosted them:

1.       Pavo Cheetah Wild

2.       Tekhni Eco

3.       Natibaby Feathers

4.       Girasol Marley wcrs

5.       Didymos Ellipsen with silk

6.       Toddler Tula “Prepster”

7.       Natibaby Shiny Sky

8.       Storch Leo

9.       Obimama Mei Tai

10.   Pavo Hearts

11.   Pavo Spice

12.   Natibaby Brezo

13.   Firespiral Seafoam

14.   Dream Carriers Thread wcfb

15.   Oscha Knots

16.   Tula full conversion Girasol

17.   Didymos Alpaca Gold

18.   Tekhni Portico

19.   Natural Hemp India

20.   Didymos Indo wcrs
 

     21.   Kokadi Ahoi

22.   Didymos Cleo

23.   Oscha Okinami Blue Ice

24.   Girasol Dark Rainbow wchb

25.   Hoptye Pune

26.   Plume Handwoven

27.   Ovolo Fletching Wagtail

28.   Tekhni Olympus Tidepool

29.   Kokadi Eisvogel wcrs

30.   Girasol Symphuo

31.   Tekhni Ceres Raspberry

So you’ve seen my list. What is on your wish list to try?

My name is Mandi Pitts. I am a mom to two beautiful girls. I have a home daycare where I get to practice wrapping plenty of adorable babies. Even though I started late I love Babywearing! #wearallthebabies In my spare time I like to go to paint classes where there is no way you can mess up. On the weekends you can usually find our family camping, swimming, and riding our wave runners on the beautiful shores of Lake Eufaula.

 

CoTW - RRRR (Reinforced Rear Ruck Rebozo; A.K.A. Pirate Carry)

  RRRR! 

 

 

This week’s carry is another back carry. This is best done with a short wrap (size 2 or 3) but I am doing it with a long 3 (almost a 4) and finishing with a candy-cane chest belt. You can use up to a size 5 and incorporate a chest belt tie off. You could even use a size 6 and finish with a tibetan tie. Even if you only have a size 5 or 6 wrap, practice this carry and allow the tails to hang long. It is often easier to practice “shortie” carries with a longer wrap to begin with. This carry is a ruck variation tied at the shoulder that includes a horizontal pass spread over the child (rather than a bunched pass like in a more traditional ruck).

I couldn’t find a picture tutorial for this specific ruck variation so i’m going to include more detailed written instructions:

1 - Place the middle marker of the wrap on your chest and bring it around to your back. Where the wrap touches your spine is the spot you should center your baby (this carry starts off center)

2 - Once your baby is on your back, start with a rebozo pass with the shorter tail coming under your arm. The middle marker should be hanging over your other shoulder and will line up under your chest if you pull the tail across your body.

3 - Take the tail coming over your shoulder (the long side) under that same arm and across the baby’s back and bum straight across under the opposite arm.

4 - Now you have one tail over your shoulder and one tail under that same shoulder. You can either tie at shoulder, do a candy cane, tibetan, or other finish variation.

 

Video Tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkLtoOvg_Jo

 

Variation (Candy-Cane chest belt): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqt6JTLIFBQ

 

This is a fun, quick carry, that is great for a shorty wrap that can be stashed in a diaper bag. I often use this when I want a little more stability than a quick ruck tied under bum (RUB). I find I can’t tolerate any carry that relies solely on my shoulders for too terribly long. But for a quick run into the grocery store or farmer’s market, this is a great carry.

 

Please leave a suggestion for a carry you would like to see done as the CotW next week!

Tiffany Johnson is a breastfeeding, baby wearing, co-sleeping, attachment parenting mama to three beautiful children. She is currently taking a leave of absence from her busy career as an estate planning attorney to focus on her home and family. In her spare time she loves crafting, reading a good book, red wine, all things geeky, and loving on her babies.