Mama By Design

Someone asked me once if there was some way to roll up the Calyx into a more compact bundle, like a hip pack, when not in use. I decided to play with that today, and discovered something interesting. Apparently not only is it possible to make a tight little roll, it can also be used as a hip seat for tigers! (I tried it on myself with my 3yo, too)

It would be hard to explain what I did to get there. Basically, I undid the shoulder straps and adjusted the webbing out to the end, opened up the seat, folded the shoulder straps so that the clips were sticking out at the sides a little, then rolled it up tightly, folding the seat over the roll, and clipping the seat clips around the outside. In the process I discovered that you don’t want to clip the seat clips with one of them upside down, they are next to impossible to undo again. After that, I wrapped the webbing end of the shoulder straps around the whole bundle and then clipped them to the clips on the strap that I left sticking out the sides. I managed to do this so that I could turn the whole thing over and put it on upside down, so that the tiger child could sit on the part of the bundle that has the seat flapped over (it was stronger that way. I realize that this explanation is really difficult to follow. Here are some pictures, which I hope are helpful. I encourage you to play with it yourself, just don’t clip the clips upside down!

Functionally speaking, I don’t think a roll like this makes as good of a hip carrier as a ring sling or pouch. You still have to hold on with your arm. What is nice about it is that it keeps you from having to stick your hip out to the side to bear the weight, so it is easier on your back.

My 8 year old daughter Ana and her squirrel baby have graciously consented to assist us in learning the back carry. Please keep in mind that the MBD was designed to be used by adults, who are generally larger in stature than 8 year olds, to carry real babies, who’s legs are generally longer than 3 inches and who lack long fluffy tails. The images are thumbnailed, so click them to see bigger ones.

	1. As Ana will be putting on the carrier on over her left shoulder, we have unbuckled the right shoulder strap, and adjusted the clip toward the end of the webbing.
	2. Here she demonstrates the wrong way to open the sternum strap clip.   If you do it like this,  it will break. You have to squeeze it in the middle at the same time as you lift up on the thumb tab. Then it will be easy,  I promise.
	3. Open the carrier, and lay your baby so the roundest part of the rump is about 3 inches above the bottom of the panel. This allows it to shape around the curve, providing a little seat. What happens if you don’t have a convenient soft chair, bed, or couch to use? You will put your knee up on a step, a chair, or the doorframe of your car. Lay the carrier out on your leg and have your baby straddle both leg and carrier.
	4. Fold the harness and waistband up over your baby’s tummy. Keep in mind that a real baby has legs which will be sticking out from under the waistband in this position.
	5. Here, Ana has picked up the shoulder straps in her right hand, arranging the right strap over the back of her hand so she can keep track of it.
	6. Next, supporting with her left hand under the baby, she lifts baby and carrier to her left shoulder.
	7. Once baby is on your shoulder, stick your left arm though the left strap. Grab that right strap in your right hand, and bring it over your head to the right shoulder.
	8. Once you clip the sternum strap, your baby is supported by the carrier.
	9. Grab your right shoulder strap clips, and clip them. Pull down to adjust. Adjust waist belt by pulling on both ends of the webbing.