HOW TO

We know you are excited to receive your carrier, but before you get going it is important to make sure that you are prepared to wear your baby safely, and know how to take care of the product. This page covers safe babywearing, how to care for your carrier, as well as a couple of basic carries for you to learn.

Safe Babywearing: Visible and kissable

Face in view at all times
High and upright
Chin up
Supported back and snug
Close enough to kiss

YOUR CHILD’S SAFETY IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

Ankalia Textiles cannot be held responsible or liable for any accidents that could occur as a result of the misuse of carrier. We pride ourselves in helping our customers, so please, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact us.

Safety Tips

Always make sure your baby is tied or buckled securely and tight to your body. This is for your comfort and so your baby cannot slip out of the carry. Always make sure your baby can breathe freely. Check frequently that the carried child’s airways are free and that their chin has not slumped to their chest. Newborns lack the muscle control to free restricted airways so turning your newborns head to the side will encourage them to face this way when sleeping. Remember to provide good back and neck support.
Inspect your carrier regularly to ensure it is structurally sound. Check the fabric for any tears that could have occurred. If you notice any damage stop using immediately and contact us for advice. We do not recommend carrying your baby in a cradle position because it can be difficult to position baby which makes it difficult to see and kiss your baby.
Be aware of your body heat when using a carrier - you may require fewer layers as you are sharing body heat with your child. The Australian summer can be harsh so we suggest a single layered carry with your child in a singlet and nappy. Even a cool flannel on your chest while your baby sleeps can help to cool you down.
Please use common sense and caution when cooking or near open flames, or drinking your latte. Also be aware of what your child can reach for. We recommend that any exercise while babywearing is again done with caution and common sense. Base jumping isn’t recommended but we do love Kangaroo training.

Care Instructions

Our wraps and converted carrriers are made from all natural fibres and, with few exceptions, are as easy to care for as your regular household laundry.

Firstly, you must look over your wrap before washing for the first time. We ask you to look for any weaving flaws that we may have missed along the way. If you are un happy with your carrier then please contact us.

Your wrap will arrive to you in what is called “loom state”. Therefore, it is very important that you wash and iron your wrap before use. This sets the weave, removes any residue and will fluff up your wrap to make it soft and smooshy.

Wash your 100% cotton wraps first in one cold wash on a medium spin, and on gentle cycle for subsequent washing. We do not recommend the use of colour catchers with any textiles. Tumble dry on low. Ironing is strongly encouraged to prevent premature wear at the rails and other highly creased areas. It is normal for your wrap to shrink in the first wash. We have taken into account shrinkage when we have cut and hemmed our wraps.

Ring Slings should be covered with a piece of cloth or sock. This not only protects the rings but also your washing machine.

Go & Swift Buckle Carrier

Available in two sizes, standard and Toddler-Preschooler, the Swift grows with your baby. Featuring sturdy button snaps on the waist to cinch and extend as needed, we’ve designed the Swift to be highly adjustable ensuring the perfect fit for you every time.

Use the button snaps to cinch in the waist or bring it further out. The knee padding should reach knee to knee on your baby.
Take one end of each of the buckles in one hand and centre the belt at your hips.
Bring the buckles around to your lower back, pulling the buckles through the webbing to lengthen if needed, and clip into place. Tighten the belt by pulling each side of the webbing evenly. Your Ankalia Up should be snug enough that it stays in place, but not so tight that you aren’t comfortable.
Loosen the shoulder straps by pulling the webbing through the buckles. Ensure the shoulder straps are buckled with the male and female ends attached. Loosen the Personal Fit Adjusters at the top of the shoulder strap.
Pick up your baby and hold him against your body with his legs at your sides and his bottom at the top of the carrier belt.
Hold him firmly in one arm while placing your other arm through the shoulder strap and bringing the body of the carrier up and over your child.
Keeping one arm on your baby at all times, switch the arm supporting him and place your other arm through the shoulder strap.
Buckle the strap behind your shoulders.
Tighten if needed.
Pull down on the body panel cinchers to adjust the height of the panel. The fabric should concertina neatly near the arm straps.
Pull forward on the arm strap webbing to bring baby close and comfortable to your chest.
Adjust the Personal Fit Adjusters, by pulling down, for a secure and comfortable fit.
Use the hood to act as a sun shield. Make sure you always check on your baby and allow air flow.

Front Wrap Cross Carry

We have used the models base size for the purposes of demonstrating this basic carry. An excellent beginner carry when starting to learn to use woven wraps. This style of carry is suitable for a newborn through to toddler or older child.

Find the centre of the wrap. This is easily identified by the bird tag, known as the middle marker.
Holding just the top edge (rail), bring the right side of the wrap under your arm and across your back to the opposite shoulder.
Take the top rail of the other side of the wrap in your hand, making sure you don't twist the fabric. Bring around to your opposite shoulder.
Pull on both tails of the wrap to take out any slack within the wrap. This will make the tightening quicker and easier once baby is in place.
Check that the wrap forms a cross on your back and the fabric lays flat and is spread widely. It should not be twisted.
Now it's time to pick up your baby.
Slide one hand up under the wrap.
Guide your baby’s body through until his legs come through the bottom.
Settle him into position
Ensure the wrap is spread across his body, reaching from his shoulders to his knees, with his legs spread comfortably around you.ALWAYS KEEP ONE HAND ON YOUR BABY AS YOU’RE SECURING HIM IN THE CARRIER.
To tighten the wrap around your baby, focus pulling on the top rail as snugly as possible.
Then pull the rest of the fabric tightly until your baby feels secured in the wrap.
Concentrate on working from the top rail, middle of the wrap and then the bottom rail.
Once your wrap is well tightened, you can then pull both rails to remove any extra slack.
Place the tails down either side of your baby’s body.
Cross them under his bottom then bring the tails of the wrap under your baby’s legs and behind your body.
Tie a double knot at your lower back.
Your baby is now secure, visable and kissable.

Ring Sling

A versatile carrier that makes for quick ups and downs like school runs, ducking into the shops or to settle a little one that needs some comfort.

To thread your ring sling, begin by placing the end with the rings over one shoulder.
Gather the fabric of the tail end in your hand and bring it through both rings.
Bring the fabric over the top ring, then through the bottom ring. Make sure the top rail and bottom rail are sitting neatly on the outside of the rings.
Pull the tail end of the fabric down to create the pouch for your baby.
Pick up your baby and hold him up at your shoulder. Bring one hand up underneath the pouch of the ring sling and use it to guide your baby down into the sling.
Position your baby on the gathered fabric to make the M position.
Keep one hand on your baby to support him while you position his knees above his bottom and pull the fabric of the sling up to the base of his neck.
Pull the bottom rail up between you and your baby to create a seat.
Pull the top rail to tighten the sling. It is important to pull in the direction the fabric is going so your rings stay in the one spot.
Tighten “strand by strand” by working along the width of the tail to pull any excess fabric through the rings until your baby feels supported entirely by the sling.
Lastly pull down on the bottom rail. Not too tight or you baby will lose the M position and 'pop their seat'
Baby is high, supported and close enough to kiss.

Ankalia Up - Infant Settings

The Ankalia Up Full Buckle Carrier is designed to fit your child through several stages. Use the infant adjuster with your child from 3.5kg/7.7lb.Ensure that your child’s head and face are always well above the top of the body of the carrier

A. Infant adjuster B. Anchor loops
Place the infant adjuster (A) label side up on a fl at surface. Place the Ankalia Up over the top (right side up)
Thread one anchor loop over the infant adjuster.
Do the same with the other anchor loop on the other side of the infant adjuster.
Anchor loops onto the waist band.Take bottom two anchor loops and thread though each side.
When infant adjuster and anchor loops are in place, the Ankalia Up should look like this, ready to adjust.
Draw the infant adjuster around the body panel and then fasten the buckle by clicking together.
Adjust to desired width to suit your baby’s size so that baby has support from one knee pit to the other

Take one end of each of the buckles in one hand and centre the belt at your hips.
Bring the buckles around to your lower back, pulling the buckles through the webbing to lengthen if needed, and clip into place.
Tighten the belt by pulling each side of the webbing evenly. Your Ankalia Up should be snug enough that it stays in place, but not so tight that you aren’t comfortable.
Loosen the shoulder straps by pulling the webbing through the buckles. Ensure the shoulder straps are buckled with the male and female ends attached. Loosen the Personal Fit Adjusters at the top of the shoulder strap.
Pick up your baby and hold him against your body with his legs at your sides and his bottom at the top of the carrier belt.
Hold him fi rmly in one arm while placing your other arm through the shoulder strap and bringing the body of the carrier up and over your child.
Keeping one arm on your baby at all times, switch the arm supporting him and place your other arm through the shoulder strap.
Tighten both shoulder straps until your baby is held in place comfortably by the carrier.
Buckle the strap behind your shoulders.
Adjust the shoulder straps until your baby feels snug against your body and is well supported by the carrier.
Adjust the Personal Fit Adjusters for a secure and comfortable fi t.