Rucksack Carry crossed over chest

Most back carries with a wrap will have either rucksack straps (the wrap comes straight down from your shoulder and goes underneath the same arm like a backpack–or vice versa, from under one arm to over the same shoulder) or are crossed across the chest so the wrap goes from over one shoulder to under the opposite arm.

A lot of people like rucksack straps because it saves having to find a way to spread the wrap across your chest without looking funny.  A lot of people like rucksack straps because they’re cooler, and use a little less fabric.

Some people don’t like rucksack straps because they pinch, or cut off circulation, or feel like they’re going to slip off your shoulders.  It varies by individual.

If you are not comfortable with rucksack straps, do the same carry but cross over your breasts instead of doing rucksack straps.  If your wrap is long enough, you can also tie tibetan to pull the straps together in the center and relieve any pressure or prevent slippage.

Conversely, if you do not care for a cross in the front, you can still do your favorite, traditionally crossed, carry, but use rucksack straps instead of a cross.

Today I took advantage of the versatility of a wrap to switch from rucksack straps to crossed in front.  Belle was asleep in a short Double Hammock Carry (tied under the bum) and after a while my arms started to feel tingly, even though I am usually completely comfortable with rucksack straps.  I switched to crossed and she stayed up there for another hour.

Double Hammock Carry crossed over chest

Back Wrap Cross Carry with rucksack straps

I don’t know if I would even bother if I didn’t have a blog to keep up…I have never found hip carries to be as easy, comfy, or convenient as front and back carries.  I’ll try to make myself do hip carries until I love them!

When Ada was little, the hip cross carry was about the only one in the running.  Since then, some new inventions have become popular.  This one is a variation of the Poppins Hip Carry.   The Poppins Carry can be tied under the bottom with a shorter wrap, or have a second rebozo layer over the baby with a longer wrap.  With an even longer wrap, you might do what I did: I have one rebozo layer, then took my long wrap ends and reinforced it with a cross over the back and  between the legs, and tied behind.

Reinforced Poppins Hip Carry with Blue Indio Didymos Wrap

It worked well enough, but I didn’t care for the way the straps seem to frame one boob.  It doesn’t seem to be a good look (and the drunken look on my face doesn’t help).

Later I tried it in a tummy to tummy position.  Same carry, but she’s in front of me now instead of on my hip.  This seems to resolve the lopsided look.

Reinforced Poppins Carry (tummy2tummy) with my 4 month old

Side view of the Reinforced Poppins Carry

The twist side view of the Reinforced Poppins Carry

The wrap spread across my back in a Poppins Carry

Verdict?  It was fine.  Spreading the wrap across the torso is kind of silly, though, because the wrap is bunched up from under baby’s legs as it comes around your torso, and the spreading isn’t going to be tight and supportive as it is with the standard double hammock where the wrap comes around your torso above baby’s legs and is already spread wide and flat.

I didn’t find it uncomfortable or saggy with my little baby, but I doubt it would hold up for long with a bigger child.

The front of the modified Double Hammock Carry tied with a half knot.

You can see that the wrap crosses between her legs like a Back Wrap Cross Carry.

The wrap comes from under her leg to spread out over my chest.