This carry distributes most of your baby's weight to your torso and lower body.

Torso Carry With Shoulder Support

First place baby on your back and pull the blanket straight - see the rucksack carry instructions  for how to do this.

Cross the straps with a half knot.

Toss one strap over your shoulder (or for a torso carry simply  bring the straps back behind) then cross over over or over under your baby's legs and tuck the strap between your knees, then repeat for the other side. Check your baby has a good seat (straps under knees and knees higher than bum).

Back view - straps crossed over then over baby's legs again. (Ideally the blanket should be more centred than in the photo).

Back view - straps crossed over then under baby's legs.

Here are some quick instructions for the podaegi.  I will add more instructions soon.

Rucksack Carry

Lay the podaegi on a flat surface such as a sofa or bed.  Place your baby on top of the podaegi centred in the middle of the headrest with the headrest under their armpits. Alternatively if you don't have a soft surface handy you can wrap the podaegi around your baby. (The blanket should be centred more than it is in the photo).

Lift your baby over your shoulder holding the straps tightly so your baby is safely supported.

Separate the shoulder straps - make sure you are holding the straps or your baby at all times.

Pull the blanket straight.  Hold the straps between your knees.

If you want your baby to be arms in lift the straps one at a time over your child's arm.

Hold one strap between your knees.  Bring the other stap over one leg, then under or over the opposite leg.  Repeat for the other side.  Tie in front or if the straps are too long bring it back behind and then in front. Check your baby has a good seat (staps under knees and knees higher than bum).

I have been having fun experimenting with podaegi's lately.  The podaegi is a type of baby carrier which originated in Korea.  It has two long straps and a long blanket.  The straps are the part of the carrier that holds the child's weight so the blanket can be of lighter materials than a mei tai which is nice for summer. Pods can be used in a front carry from birth and a back carry from when your baby has good head control (around 3-4 months).  Podaegis can be made with two types of straps - straight or angled.  Angled strapped podaegi are used for front carrying and for a rucksack style high back carry.  I decided to make a straight strapped podaegi to try first as this type can aslo be used for a low back carry or torso carry.

I really liked the pod in a front carry.  I was surprised at how comfortable it was.  My son liked it too -  the first time I tried out this carry my son fell straight to sleep!

Here is the pod in a rucksack carry.  It was more comfortable than I anticipated as I thought the straight straps might not pull my son in close enough to me - but I found it quite good and my son enjoyed looking over my shoulder.

The third carry I tried was a torso carry with shoulder support.  The first time I tried it it wasn't tied quite right so I found it uncomfortable but the second time I tried it I loved it.  It is a very comfortable carry if you have picky shoulders as very little of my son's weight was on my shoulders - I felt the weight more across my torso and lower body.  It felt like my son was sitting on my bum! - different than what I'm used to but really comfy.