Vintage Baby Carriers

7/13/2018

Some vintage baby carriers from the past 100 years or so. These baby carriers were not as common and not always as ergonomic as the carriers in use today but there were certainly quite a variety! There were rigid structured carriers , improvised carriers, tandem carriers, hip seats, and soft structured carriers.

Structured carriers

I came across lots of photos of carriers which look like little chairs and one which looks a little like a traditional cradleboard. Wearing baby on the back facing out seemed quite popular! Framed back packs were around too (at least from the 1960's).

Baby carrier 1945

A man feeds a piece of a doughnut an infant in a baby carrier at the Hog Farm Collective commune, , New Mexico, October 1, 1969.

Backpacks and Improvised Carriers

Some caregivers didn't even use a baby carrier just improvised with what they had - for example just popping baby in their bag or back pack.

Improvised baby carrier - 1926

Tandem Carriers

Some carriers needed two people to use and some were not worn on the parent's body at all.

Baby carrier for couples - Jack Milford - 1937

Welsh Family waiting for visiting King George V 1935

Hip Seats

Hip carriers seemed to be popular with a few brands available although they don't look particularly comfortable with their narrow shoulder straps. DIY patterns are found for these carriers too. There was at least one pattern available through a popular commercial pattern company and I found another which was available through mail order.

Cradleseat hip carrier (manufactured in London)

Christmas shopping - December 1968

Hip seat pattern 1970's

Bild-It-Yourself Club hip seat pattern.

Soft Carriers

There were also soft carriers similar to the narrow based carriers still sometimes found today and some with a more ergonomic wider seat. The Snugli was also around (the earlier versions are actually more ergonomic than later designs with their wide seat, comfortably padded shoulder straps and waist belt). The nursing mother's association (now the Australian Breastfeeding Association) were producing their Meh Tai carrier from the 1960's.

Narrow based carrier.

The Snugli was invented by an American nurse, patented in 1969. It had padded adjustable shoulder straps, a waist band and an internal infant harness and could also be used for older babies without using the harness. There are some great detailed pictures in this link here https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/599372091/vintage-soft-blue-cotton-corduroy-snugli?show_sold_out_detail=1

Soft Carrier (possibly DIY) from the Selma to Montgomery March 1965

Nursing Mother's meh tai 1960's

Do It Yourself

Sewing magazines and books also obsessionally offered DIY baby carrier patterns - some look quite comfortable like this meh dai like pattern from 1977.