How To WearThe instructions may seem complicated at first, but don't worry! Just a little practice makes perfect. Try out the tying methods in front of a mirror with a doll until you feel confident and then move on to a live subject. Have another adult help you at first if you feel unsure when placing your baby in the carrier. After a few days, putting the carrier on will become second nature. Always inspect your carrier for signs of wear or damage and never use a carrier that is in any way compromised. The Catbird Baby ABC will support a child until he or she weighs approximately 35-40 lbs. Always make sure to tie your knots securely and exercise care in placing the child in and removing him or her from the carrier. We are not responsible for injuries incurred due to misuse.
Downloadable Wearing Instruction for the Pikkolo:
 
- Tie carrier around waist behind you with the fabric that you want to face out against your legs.
- Pick up and hold baby tummy to tummy with his or her legs on either side of your waist. (If baby is still very small, you can also bring legs up in a "froggy" position.)
- Bring carrier body up between baby's legs and bring straps up over your shoulders, making sure that the straps are laying flat against you. Cross straps in an X against your back.
- Bring straps back around to the front of your body. You may bring them underneath baby's legs (at the knees) or over baby's thighs. Both are secure. Use whichever method you and your baby find most comfortable.
- Tie in a double knot underneath baby's bottom or behind baby's back. (Tying behind baby's back works best when the baby is still very light.)
Note: The baby's arms may be in or out of the carrier. For smaller babies with less upper body control, inside the carrier (and poking out the sides under the straps) is preferable. For older/bigger babies who want more freedom of movement, having the straps under the armpits is fine. To shorten the carrier body, simply fold at the bottom before tying on.
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When you are first learning to tie baby on your back, you may wish to use a bed, couch, or chair. - Lay carrier out flat on bed, or up against the seat and back of a couch or chair (bottom half on the seat, top half against the back).
- Position baby in the carrier as you want him or her to be (arms in or out, legs ABOVE waist straps).
- Sit yourself in front of baby and make sure his or her legs are around your waist and the waist straps are underneath baby's legs.
- Tie the waist straps in front of you, then lean back and take shoulder straps into your hands and pull them up and over in front of you as you stand up.
- Gently pull on them to bring baby close to your back and then bring straps in front of you and down over the shoulders and arms like a backpack.
- Bring the straps back behind you and tie in a double knot beneath baby's bottom. To get baby out of the back carry, simply lie down on a bed or back against the couch or chair back and then slip the shoulder straps off. Untie waist straps.
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Once you are completely comfortable with the tying methods and your baby has good upper body control, you may also do the back carry without using a bed or couch.
- Tie carrier around waist in front with fabric you want to face out against your backside.
- Pick baby up and place on hip.
- Carefully swing baby around to your back, positioning him or her in the center of the carrier body. If you position baby on your right hip and swing him or her around, you will want to keep your left arm around him while bringing your right arm up and over his or her head. If you position baby on your left hip to swing him or her around, keep your right arm around baby and bring left arm up and over baby's head. Keep one hand on baby at all times.
- Bring body of carrier up behind baby's back and then bring straps into both hands. Take a moment here to gently tug on the straps to make sure that baby is positioned as deeply in seat of carrier body as possible.
- Bring the straps over your shoulders. Baby's arms may be in (under straps, poking out sides) or out (straps go underneath baby's armpits).
- Bring straps down over your shoulders like a backpack and then take them back behind you.
- Tie in a double knot beneath baby's bottom. To get an older (able to stand securely) baby out of the back carry, in addition to sitting down on a bed, couch, or chair, you can place one arm firmly against baby's back behind you, slip opposite shoulder strap off and then switch to opposite arm and slip other shoulder strap off. Carefully let one side of carrier body fall down and then using opposite hand to support baby, let other side fall and replace arm against baby's back. Now that baby is free of the carrier body, you can use both your hands under his or her armpits to gently lower him or her to a standing position on the ground behind you.
Variations:
Once you become more experienced in using an Asian-style carrier, you will probably find small variations on these tying methods that work for you. I have recommended using the shoulder straps "backpack style" for the back carry; you may also cross them in an X over your chest (most women don't feel comfortable doing this or may want to try it only above the breasts.) You can also carry baby higher on your back by tying the waist straps above the chest instead of at the waist. This is a variation that is useful for pregnant women. Pregnant women may also tie the waist straps securely beneath the abdomen.
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- This tying method is pretty much the same as the front carry, just shifted to your right or left side.
- Tie carrier behind you at the waist off to either your right or left side with the fabric you want to face out against your legs.
- Position the baby on your hip with his or her legs around your waist.
- Bring carrier body up between baby's legs and then cross then straps behind your back in an X.
- Bring the straps back around to the front of your body. Bring straps either over baby's thighs or under baby's knees and tie under his or her bottom.
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- Tie carrier around waist behind you with the fabric that you want to face out against your legs.
- Pick up and hold baby tummy to tummy with his or her legs curled up in a "froggy" position.
- Tie the shoulder strap across the middle of the carrier body. This closes off the sides of the mei tai. The baby's arms should be either entirely inside the carrier or only out above the shoulder straps.
- Ensure proper head positioning with newborns. Use a folded-up receiving blanket behind the head if necessary. Note that the baby's head in the picture is turned to one side, is upright, and his nose is clear of any obstruction. Grunting or fussing sounds may indicate head positioning problems; always check for proper head positioning once your newborn is placed inside the carrier.
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- Use the enclosed side-release buckle/webbing strap to cinch the side loops of the carrier.
- Turn the bottom of the carrier body up over the buckle and strap. If you make sure the webbing trails off to the side, above the waist strap, you will be able to tighten it further even after you are wearing the carrier with the child in it.
- Tie carrier around your waist in a secure double knot behind you.
- Pick up child and put his or her back against your chest. Pull the carrier body up between the child's legs.
- Take the shoulder straps up in front of you and over the child's shoulders and then up over your own shoulders.
- Cross the straps behind the back in an X and bring back around to the front. Tie in a double knot securely in the middle of the carrier body.
- Alternately, you may bring the shoulder straps beneath the child's shoulders for a taller child or one who doesn't wish to have his arms confined.
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