What is an Onbuhimo?
An onbuhimo is a baby carrier without a waistband. They originally came from Japan.
Why should I consider an Onbuhimo?
We adore Onbuhimos! The lack of waist band makes an onbuhimo one of the quickest and easiest carriers to get on and off.
Onbuhimos are small so good for people who are carrying children in hot climates or just overheat easily. Onbuhimos are fantastic for quick up and downs with a toddler.
An onbuhimo can be a great option for pregnant Mums or anyone else who doesn’t like pressure on their stomach. Onbuhimos can be used with another carrier to carry more than one child at a time. They can also be really useful for people with mobility problems in their shoulders as there is only one type of movement needed to secure them.
Onbuhimos usually fold up small when not is use and are often affordable too.
What are the downsides to Onbuhimos?
Depending on the size of the Onbuhimo, they may not be suitable for younger babies. Care must be taken to ensure the Onbuhimo fits the child so that there is not a risk that they will fall out of the side opening. We do not recommend you use an Onbuhimo with a child who does not yet have full head control. They are usually recommended from 6 months onwards once a child is sitting independently or with minimal support.
Hourglass shaped onbuhimos are adaptable to different sized children to a degree, but generally if you have two different aged children, they will need different sized onbuhimos.
All of your child’s weight is supported by your shoulders. Some people do not like the feeling of weight distribution with an Onbuhimo.
What types of Onbuhimo are there?
The are three main types of Onbuhimo –
Buckle Onbuhimo – has padded straps at the top of the carrier with one half of a buckle attached to each shoulder strap. It has webbing and the other half of the buckle at the bottom of the Onbuhimo. Buckle Onbuhimos often comes with a chest belt clip.
Loop Onbuhimo – has fabric loops at the bottom and wrap straps at the top of the Onbuhimo. The wrap straps are threaded through the loops and secured with a knot.
Ring Onbuhimo – has rings at the bottom and wrap straps at the top of the Onbuhimo. The wrap straps are threaded through the rings to secure them.
It is personal preference as to which you would prefer.
How do I wear an Onbuhimo?
You can wear your child in an Onbuhimo on your front facing towards you or on your back.
This video from Lenny Lamb demonstrates a back carry with an Onbuhimo.
How do I make sure we are safe when using an Onbuhimo?
It is very important to wear your child high in a onbuhimo so that there is not too much pressure on your child’s neck. If you wear your child too low, the pressure on the neck increases. As a rule of thumb, it’s best to wear your child high enough so that they can look over your shoulder while in a back carry or close enough to kiss in a front carry.
What features are available in an Onbuhimo?
Onbuhimos can be made from classic cotton canvas or from more mouldable but more expensive woven wrap material.
The shoulder straps can differ a lot on different onbuhimos – they can be wide/narrow, padded/not padded/part padded, wrap strap style/cotton and more.
Some Onbuhimos are shaped in a sort of hour glass so that you they can fit a wider variety of sizes of children. Depending on which part of the Onbuhimo your child’s bottom rests on, it will be narrower or wider and so is adaptable.
Some Onbuhimos have leg padding for your child’s comfort. Some have a hood.
Where can I try an Onbuhimo?
If you’re not yet sure if an Onbuhimo is right for you and want to try before you buy – take a look at our Onbuhimos available for hire.
Where can I find out more?
We love onbuhimos and would love to hear what you think too. You can get in touch with any questions you have at care@itsaslingthing.co.uk. Happy slinging!
With thanks to Jago and Lula for use of their photos.
