Woven Wrap Passes - Babywearing Terms

Wrap Passes

When I first started wrapping, learning the names of all the passes was incredibly helpful for me. Some wrappers couldn't care less what each pass is called, and that's totally fine! I just felt more in control being able to put a label on what I was doing. Knowing the terms also enables one to learn new carries via written tutorials.

The purple Tekhni Persephone Napa is demonstrating the passes here, while the light yellow Tekhni Petradi Ghee is simply supporting my wrappee.

Once you've learned about the passes, take our Buzzfeed Quiz to test your knowledge! https://www.buzzfeed.com/amywrapsbabies/what-pass-is-that-name-the-woven-wrap-passes-for-2guxc?utm_term=.ajypxpp7zk#.klO60661P2

Image of a white woman with her back to the camera, standing inside facing wood louvered doors. She is wearing her white toddler daughter on her back in a light yellow woven wrap Tekhni Petradi Ghee. She is using a purple woven wrap Tekhni Persephone Napa to demonstrate a pass that is spread to both shoulders and goes from baby's neck to knees and bum.

Ruck or Kangaroo Pass

Structure: The wrap goes over one shoulder, across the wrappee's back from the top rail at shoulders to the bottom rail under bum, and over the wearer's opposite shoulder. It should support the wrappee from knee-to-knee. It looks the same in front carries as it does in back carries (although in front carries there are usually shoulder flips to keep the top rail from digging into the wearer's neck).
Pros: Great for leaners (those wrappees that push against you and try to lean backward).
Cons: Not as great for seat poppers (those that straighten their legs to slip through their seat) because the passes go over the wrappee's legs leaving only the seat for support (which is totally adequate for non-poppers).

Sling Pass*

Structure: The wrap goes over one shoulder, across the wrappee's back from the top rail at shoulders to the bottom rail under bum, and under the wearer's opposite shoulder/arm. It should support the wrappee from knee-to-knee. It looks the same in front carries as it does in back carries.
Pros: It's a fairly solid pass for leaners as long as the top rail is high,
Cons: Not great for seat poppers (those that straighten their legs) because the passes go over the wrappee's legs leaving only the hammock-like seat for support (which is totally adequate for non-poppers).

Two images of a white woman with her back to the camera, standing inside facing wood louvered doors. She is wearing her white toddler daughter on her back in a light yellow woven wrap Tekhni Petradi Ghee. She is using a purple woven wrap Tekhni Persephone Napa to demonstrate a pass that is spread over one shoulder to under baby's opposite knee.

Cross Pass

Structure: The wrap goes over one shoulder, across the wrappee's back from the top rail at shoulders to the bottom rail under bum, and ends up under the wrappee's knee. It should support the wrappee from knee-to-knee. It looks the same in front carries as it does in back carries, although on the front the pass could be bunched (see examples of bunched passes below) like in Front Wrap Cross Carry.
Pros: Helps prevent seat-popping from leg-straightening.
Cons: Not great for leaners (those that lean back) because one side is so low. Should be coupled with at least one more pass to close up the open side.

Wiggleproof Pass
Once tied, a Wiggleproof Pass looks the same as a Cross Pass. Instead of starting at the wearer's shoulder, a Wiggleproof pass starts under the wrappee's knee, comes up across the wrappee's back, and ends over the wearer's shoulder.

Horizontal/Torso Pass

Structure: The wrap goes under one arm, across the wrappee's back from the top rail at mid-back to the bottom rail under bum, and ends up under the wearer's opposite arm. It should support the wrappee from knee-to-knee. It looks the same in front carries as it does in back carries, although if the pass goes across the wearer's front in a back carry it is called a Chest Pass, like in a Double Hammock.
More info: A horizontal pass is always a supporting pass, coupled with other passes that help with leaning and/or seat popping. The only exception would be a Torso Carry and that should only be used it your wrappee is developmentally ready (ie has excellent torso control).

Reinforcing Cross Pass

Structure: The wrap goes under one arm, across the wrappee's back from the top rail at mid-back to the bottom rail under bum, and ends up under the wrappee's knee. It should support the wrappee from knee-to-knee. It looks the same in front carries as it does in back carries.
More info: A reinforcing cross pass is always a supporting pass, coupled with other passes that help with leaning and/or seat popping. This is a great pass for seat poppers when coupled with another cross pass.

Bunched Horizontal Pass

Structure: The wrap is bunched up (make sure it isn't twisted) and spans from over the wrappee's knee, under bum, to end up over the wrappee's opposite knee. It should support the wrappee from knee-to-knee. It looks the same in front carries as it does in back carries.
More info: A bunched cross pass is always a supporting pass, typically used as one of the last passes of a carry.

Bunched Cross Pass

Structure: The wrap is bunched up (make sure it isn't twisted) and spans from over the wrappee's knee, under bum, to end up under the wrappee's opposite knee. It should support the wrappee from knee-to-knee. It looks the same in front carries as it does in back carries.
More info: A bunched cross pass is always a supporting pass, typically used as one of the last passes of a carry. It is often (but not always) coupled with a second bunched cross pass running in the opposite direction (so under the wrappee's opposite knee).

Need something that isn't listed? Let me know and I'll send it to you and probably add it here too! Contact me at [email protected].