Dai Nyia Hmong Baby Carrier
I asked what carriers you wanted to learn more about and you answered! (The survey is still open if you haven’t filled it out.) This was one of those carriers. Read on to learn about what I think of the Dai Nyia Hmong Baby Carrier.
For Christmas, I was the lucky recipient of a Dai Nyia Hmong Baby Carrier. I loved the beautiful embroidery when I saw it online and loved it even more in person. A Hmong Baby Carrier is a type of Asian-style carrier worn by the Hmong people (a highland ethnic minority that live throughout Southeast Asia.) It is basically a panel of material with 2 squares of beautiful embroidery stitched on and 2 straps on the top.
Primarily, it is used as a back carrier, but I wear it on my front as well. To wear baby on your front, it is similar to the way you would put on a Mei Tai except you don’t have the extra set of straps. Not having those extra straps makes it a slight balancing act (similar to an Onbuhimo), but with practice it starts to come easily.
Putting baby on your back can be done three different ways. You can lay your baby down on the carrier while making sure the straps are under their arms. Then you use whichever method you prefer (I am most comfortable with the Superman Toss) to actually get them back there. Dai Nyia has created videos and pictures to show the process of securing baby on your front and back and from different starting points. I found it very helpful! If you order a carrier from them, they include a CD with all of this information as well.
The Hmong Baby Carrier is similar functionally to a narrow blanket Podegi. The difference is that the embroidered squares make a Hmong a bit stiffer. I love the uniqueness of this carrier and the embroidery, I think, really sets it apart. It is comfortable and the first carrier I really felt the comfortable doing a back carry in. I liked feeling like Jude was secure under those straps when I was first learning to put him on my back. Another thing that is really nice about this carrier is you can fold it up pretty compact so I have been able to store it in my diaper bag normally with no problem as long as I don’t already have it stuffed full.
Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post. The Dai Nyia Hmong Baby Carrier was purchased as a gift for me by my husband. I only review products that I either have purchased myself and love or products I have been given a chance to review by the company that I believe are products my readers would benefit from.