About Kozy Carriers : East Coast Family Market, The East Coast Source for Family Living

A little note to thank Kozy Carrier for letting me use the information from their site. I decided not to re create the wheel, Kelly and her family has done such a great job describing the Kozy and how to wear it, I felt I could not change any information.

Anything you ever wanted to know about the Kozy Carrier

Designed and owned by a work at home mom, the Kozy Carrier is a modern version of the Asian Mei Tai, otherwise known as an Asian Baby Carrier (ABC). With wide padded shoulder straps , a padded curved head support , and sturdy durable fabrics , the Kozy was designed for the comfort of not only you but your child as well. And with its generous sized body, it not only supports your child throughout their legs, bum and back, but it is made to grow with your child. It can be used from birth through toddlerhood and beyond . . . making the Kozy a GREAT value.

With the Kozy you can wear your little one on your back , on your front facing in or out , or even on your hip . You can even breastfeed your little one in the Kozy in the front facing in position. And because of its versatility, the Kozy can be worn comfortably when pregnant .

THE KOZY DESIGN
The Kozy is a modern version of the Asian Mei Tai. I have added things to it to add in stability and comfort but have been very cautious to keep the design true to the style . . . simple, compact, and comfy .

The design itself is amazingly simple. It's a rectangle of fabric with 4 fabric straps. You just tie it on. The short straps tie around your waist. The long (65") padded straps go over your shoulders or cross on your chest and then tie in the back or wrap around to tie in front. There are no buckles or gadgets to fool with.

Its 'simplicity' is what allows it to be so versatile. It will fit a huge range of body types and sizes and can be worn with a baby from the day they are born till well into their toddler years!!

The Kozy has extra features that add to comfort without sacrificing the simple design. There is light padding in the wide straps and a lightly padded curved top to provide head support . We use extremely durable and strong fabrics which give the body the stability it needs to carry heavier weights comfortably. All standard Kozys come with a FREE generous sized canvas tote bag , A secret pocket is included on the end of one of the straps, big enough to hold credit cards or money. The Kozy can also be worn reversible or you can get an optional pocket or XL straps (80" top; 40" bottom) if needed.

If you have a child who doesn't like being confined in the fabric and wants more freedom with their arms out, simply fold up the bottom to make the body shorter. This is also great for those hot days!!

How to use your Kozy

The first thing I want to say is that keeping your baby safe is your responsibility . By reading and using these instructions you are agreeing to this. I will provide you with some pictures and suggestions for ways you can wear your Kozy and how to get your little one in there snugly. These instructions work because I have personally tried them all myself. However, it is your responsibility to use them with caution and to take extra measures to ensure that they are safe when putting them in and wearing them in any baby sling.

I recommend you have another person handy when trying the Kozy for the first time. If that is not possible then standing next to a sofa or table might give you a bit of extra support. A wall mirror is also handy when needing to see behind your back. These things are however not necessary and you might find their suggestion even a bit silly once you get the hang of putting your baby on.

Some Things to Remember

Is putting on the Kozy easy? Yes!! For some they get it the first time with no help. Others need more practice, but before long you will find you can do it in seconds no problem. Before putting baby in the first time make sure s/he is fed, changed and happy. Some babies protest to being worn on the back at first so I suggest a nice walk outside.

The straps can go either over baby's shoulders or under his arms. Some little ones really protest to the straps going over their arms and they prefer more freedom. They will need to be positioned higher in the fabric for the straps to be under the arms (this can be done by folding the bottom up ) . My daughter loves being covered in fabric as you will see in most of the pictures on this site (if I position her arms out she is always trying to put them in ;-) Having the straps positioned over his shoulders will not only hold him more securely (and provide head support) but will also be more comfortable for you as he is being held closer to your body. Should you desire baby higher in the fabric and are having trouble getting him there, try folding or rolling the bottom up a bit before tying the waist straps on. You may also need/want to fold up the bottom to wear a newborn.

The Kozy was made to be worn snugly. The straps should be pulled and tied firmly. Don't be afraid to make it tight. A loose carrier will leave baby hanging too low and will not hold him firmly. This will also result in discomfort for you. The higher and tighter the carrier is the more comfortable it will be.

How the Kozy Works

Your Kozy consists of two shorter straps that go around your waist and two longer straps that go over your shoulders and cross in the back (for front carry) or go under your arms OR cross in the front (for back carry).

If your carrier has a pocket this will be on the outside with the smooth fabric facing baby. If your carrier is one color then placing the stitching inside (facing baby's back) is more aesthetically pleasing. If your carrier is reversible then you choose which side you want to be more visible.
How you choose to tie the straps is up to you. I recommend a square knot because it will not accidentally come undone like a bow will. However, a bow is easier to untie. I do not however recommend tying the shoulder straps in a bow when you have baby on your back simply because they are not visible to you at the time and you may not know should they accidentally come untied. Safety is always most important.

Once you get the feel of the Kozy you will find that you can place baby lower in the fabric to provide better head support, or higher to allow him to reach his hands out to play with toys etc. The curved head support can also be folded down when not needed to allow baby a better view.

For further instructions on wearing your Kozy and for additional information, you can visit the Kozy Carrier website.

About Kozy Carriers

Anything you ever wanted to know about the Kozy Carrier