Interested in making your own baby carrier to wear your baby with? Not sure where to start? Completely overwhelmed? You’re in the right place. Start here!
What do you want to make?
Read about the different styles of baby carriers using this website’s dropdown menu. Every style has its own pros and cons. Get an idea of what style of carrier will work best for you. There is no one “best” kind of carrier.
Read through a few tutorials.
Each carrier style page has at least one (oftentime several) tutorials. Read through a few to see what you are getting yourself into. Oftentimes there are some tutorials that are simpler to sew, and others with more features.
Buy safe materials.
You’ll likely need some new needles for your sewing machine, polyester thread, and safe fabric. Read through the page on choosing safe fabric, and check out some of our specific fabric selections to make it easier. Check out our page on suggestions on where to buy fabric.
Depending on what style of carrier you make, you may need some other hardware as well, such as rings or buckles.
Sew!
Read through some of the basic rules of construction before you start. Use any full size sewing machine, a new needle, and good quality thread. Join our Facebook Group for support as you sew your first carrier!
Learn to use it safely!
Always follow the general rules for safe babywearing. Check to see if there is a babywearing group near you so you can learn from an in-person babywearing educator.
Here are a few resources to look at to find local meet-ups:
- Carry Me Away “Find a Babywearing Group”
- Wrap Your Baby “Find your local babywearing group” (searchable!)
- Wrapping Rachel “Find a babywearing group or educator near you!”
If not, join an online global babywearing group to ask for help online, or a group that specializes in the carrier style you made such as a woven wrap technique group. Post pictures or videos of yourself using the carrier and ask for ways to improve. A baby carrier should be comfortable! If it’s not, always assume that a technique tweak is in order before assuming the carrier style itself simply doesn’t work for you.