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Minimonkey Twin Carrier in the Spotlight

tandem mini monkey minimonkey twin carrier ergonomic newborn baby sling
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Minimonkey Twin Carrier in the Spotlight

tandem mini monkey minimonkey twin carrier ergonomic newborn baby sling
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Introducing the MiniMonkey TWIN carrier

The MiniMonkey is a twin carrier like no other. This carrier can support ergonomic positioning from newborn all the way up to 12kg each! This means it has longevity as it grows with your children. 

You can also use the carrier with one baby at a time as well as in a tandem carry. The Minimonkey TWIN is a ‘hip-healthy product’, certified by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute.

 

MiniMonkey TWIN carrier: features and functionality

mini monkey minimonkey twin carrier ergonomic newborn baby sling

Supporting your babies: optimal positioning for development

Each carrying pocket has a fabric lip to bring your babies’ knees up above their bottoms. This diagram shows the physiological ‘M’ position. Knees raised above bottom is ideal for hip development and for ensuring  natural curvature of the spine.

The accompanying pelvic tilt encourages their spines to curve towards the adult carrying. The fabric of the carrying pocket smoothly supports their backs and bring their heads to rest on your chest. The top section that supports the neck is softly padded. You can tighten this using the buckle and fabric strap to give the right amount of support to each child.

This diagram shows the physiological 'M' position. Knees raised above bottom is ideal for hip development and for ensuring natural curvature of the spine.
older baby spine position in sling
Natural curvature of the spine when knees are raised, pelvis is tucked and back is smoothly and snugly supported.

Using the MiniMonkey TWIN carrier

Getting two babies into anything can be a challenge, whether it is clean clothes, a car, or a specially designed twin sling. Here are our top tips for getting it right!

Preparation

Carrying position: the waistband

mini monkey minimonkey twin carrier ergonomic newborn baby sling
The MiniMonkey waistband: carrying pockets attach to the waistband by fabric loop.

Tightening the straps

Ask for help to correctly tighten the cross on your back the first times you use your MiniMonkey TWIN.
It can be tricky to tighten something behind you. 

However, once you have correctly tightened the cross at the back it shouldn’t need adjustment for each use until you change how you are positioning the pockets on the waistband, or the  waistband height. The cross at the back holds your babies’ weight into your body.  You want it to be comfortably snug. 

If there is slack, the weight of the babies pulls away from you. Your shoulders and back ache because your babies’ weight pulls away from your centre of gravity. 

Tightening the back of the carrier is also the main way to size the pouch. Excess pouch fabric can be drawn around to your back.

Getting the babies in the MiniMonkey TWIN

Put baby in on your weaker side first.

If you have an arm or side you find harder to manouvre a baby with, do that one first.
If you find it trickier to put a baby in your left hand side then do that one first. This means when you are doing the trickiest bit, putting in the second twin, you're using your better side.

It is also worth putting in your most awkward, or currently crying baby first. This may help them to settle sooner, and hopefully allows you to be manoeuvring a calm baby into the second pocket.

Gather the pouch

Gather the pouch down to a bunched pass. Ensure you can easily get your hand through either side of the loop

Guide legs into place

Reaching up through the pouch from underneath guide each leg in turn through the pouch. Stop when the bunched fabric is behind the knee, as shown here.

Repeat

Repeat for each leg.

Lower bottom

Lower bottom so it sits below the knees leaving the pocket bunched in the knees. DO NOT try to slide your baby down into a loose pouch of fabric. If you're familiar with ring sling the principle is the same.

Raise pocket carefully

Keeping your hand of the side on which you have positioned the baby under their bottom to ensure excess fabric remains in the knees use your other hand to grips the padded top of the pocket. Slowly draw this up your baby's back stopping when you reach their neck (lower if they have head control but now lower than armpits).
Alt the excess fabric should remain bunched in the knee pits.

Removing slack

Tighten the side of the cross at your back that relates to the side you have put your baby in. If baby is on the left, adjust the right hand strap. Holding the top of the pocket nearest your armpit smooth any slack around to the cross on your front. Tuck the slack under the cross and fasten the tighten the buckle to secure the top of the pocket in place.

Repeat process on other side

Now for the tricky bit. To put in the second baby the process is the same, but you are now reaching over or around your first baby.

Getting comfy

Use the wrap style shoulder straps to cup your shoulders. This moves weight away from your neck prevents the straps from creeping towards your neck.

Using in tandem mode

tandem mini monkey minimonkey twin carrier ergonomic newborn baby sling

This video demonstrates using the MiniMonkey TWIN carrier for two babies:

Assess for safety and comfort

  • Are the babies at a good height? Are they away from loose clothing, your breasts or anything that might cause a smothering risk?
    • If the babies are too low, position the waistband higher, retighten the back cross and try again.
  • Are they slumping or is their chin collapsing towards their chest?
    • Slumping is a safety risk as it can compromise their airways. Use the adjustment at the back to get the carrier tighter. If it isn’t possible to tighten the MiniMonkey Twin enough to avoid slumping at present then wait until they are a little bigger before trying it again.
  • Is the sling supporting their weight? Do you feel able to let go of them? If they move away from you when you let go then try to tighten the MiniMonkey Twin a little more.
  • Do you feel able to stand comfortably in your natural standing position without shoulder, or back pain?
    • Discomfort in the shoulders and back are often caused by the carrier not being tight enough. This bit may take a bit of trial and error and help from someone to do fine adjustments to the back cross. Once it is comfy, you shouldn’t need to loosen the back between uses.
  • Do your babies seem happy and comfortable?

Our “Carrying safety” article will help you recognise the key safety considerations

You may find our article “Does my sling fit OK?”  helpful for becoming confident at assessing fit and safety.

With these Tips and Tricks you have a great chance of getting you and your twins comfy in the MiniMonkey TWIN carrier, but if you are struggling, get in touch, we may be able to offer you advice by email, phone or Facebook message. Or we can book you a Zoom consultation or fit check.

How can I try the MiniMonkey TWIN carrier?

We have  several of the MiniMonkey TWIN carrier available to hire  from our online sling library.

 We offer both ‘Try before you buy’ and payment plans on MiniMonkey TWIN carriers in our shop.

Useful links

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