While all stretchy wrap manuals and video tutorials always show tying the wrap first and then picking up baby, it is actually possible to tie a stretchy wrap without putting baby down first if they are already in your arms.
It is of course faster to just pop them down for a few seconds while you tie (and I am sure this is why all the manuals show this method!), but it can be really really inconvenient if say
- Your baby has reflux and popping them down even for just a few seconds will cause a whole world of pain and discomfort for them
- Your baby just fell asleep in your arms and you know the second you pop them down that will be game over for that nap
- They are just really really sad and need the comfort of your arms right now
And I am sure a great many other reasons! Feeling like you might need to put baby down can be an real obstacle to using a carrier - leaving you sitting on the sofa while your baby snoozes for 90 minutes wishing you'd got the wrap on before they fell asleep so you could go to the toilet, get a cup of tea and do all those other things you quite wanted to do during this nap.
So know how to put a wrap on around a baby already in your arms is definitely a life skill! Here is how to do it;
The key is to take your time! It won't be as fast as tying it without baby in your arms, so just relax and take the time you need to sway/bounce/rock baby as you gentle move the fabric and tighten it up around them. Then celebrate regaining your arms by making yourself a well deserved celebratory cup of tea!
-Madeleine
PS the Stretchy wrap shown in the video is the beautifully soft Izmi Baby Bamboo wrap which you can purchase through our webshop here.