From Rebozos to Ring Slings - Traditional Babywearing in Latin America
A long piece of fabric with safety-tested aluminum rings sewn into one end. Typically used for front or hip carries.
THE SHORT VERSION
- Ancient Roots & Hispanic Heritage Month: Some modern baby carriers are inspired by traditional babywearing in Latin America.
- The Andean Manta: Indigenous peoples in the Andes traditionally use a manta baby carrier or lliclla, which have been shown to help infants adapt to high altitudes.
- The Mesoamerican Rebozo: A rebozo is a versatile Mexican baby carrier that is still used today for babywearing, but also as clothing, during pregnancy, and as a blanket.
- Evolution to Ring Slings: Understanding rebozo vs ring sling differences can teach us how modern carriers can be traced back to traditional baby carriers and indigenous babywearing practices.
Table of Contents
Traditional Babywearing in Latin America
Let's first explore the indigenous practices and traditional babywearing in Latin America.
Andean Traditions: The Manta Baby Carrier
In Peru and other Andean countries in South America, indigenous babywearing includes the use of a lliclla or manta baby carrier. This square piece of fabric, sometimes woven from alpaca wool, can be worn as a cape or shawl around a woman’s shoulders and pinned in place in the front. It can also be used to carry objects such as wood, food, textiles, and other goods. But, most importantly for our purposes, it can be used for babywearing. Babies can be worn in a supportive back carry with the manta tied in front. In some cultures, babies are swaddled in layers of clothing and blankets before being worn. A study by Tronick et al. (1994) detailed these practices of creating a microenvironment for the baby while babywearing in the manta, allowing an infant to adapt more quickly and safely to their high altitude world.
Mesoamerican Roots: The Rebozo Baby Carrier
In Mexico and other parts of Mesoamerica, a rebozo baby carrier is most commonly used for babywearing. This traditional Mexican baby carrier is a rectangular piece of fabric woven from cotton. Much like the manta, a rebozo can be worn throughout a person’s life for many different uses. It can be worn as a shawl, used to bind a pregnant belly, utilized during childbirth to support a birthing person’s changing positions, and folded into a blanket once baby is born. When used for babywearing, the rebozo is draped diagonally across the wearer’s body and tied in a knot at one shoulder. The baby can then be placed in the pouch for either a front carry or an ergonomic hip carry. Alternatively, the rebozo can be tied around the baby and caregiver for a supportive back carry.
From Traditional Babywearing in Latin America to Modern Baby Carriers
The rich cultural history of traditional babywearing in Latin America can be seen in the designs of some modern baby carriers. While the manta is closest to the modern woven wrap, hope&plum’s ring sling (and all ring slings for that matter) can be traced back to the rebozo. The biggest difference when comparing a rebozo vs ring sling is the fastening method. Rather than a knot, ring slings have a pair of aluminum rings sewn into one end of a piece of long, basically rectangular fabric. Baby is then placed into the pouch, which can then be adjusted for a snug and safe fit. Check out our step-by-step visual instructions for how to use your ring sling or our full ring sling safety guide if you have more questions!
Traditional and Modern Baby Carrier Comparison
| Feature | Manta (Lliclla) | Rebozo | Ring sling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Region | Peru and other Andean countries in South America | Mexico and other parts of Mesoamerica | Worldwide in modern caregiving cultures |
| Fabric | A square piece of woven fabric, sometimes from alpaca wool | A rectangular piece of woven cotton fabric | A long piece of fabric with rings sewn into one side (check out hope&plum's fabric guide for brand specifics) |
| How it's secured | Tied in front | Draped diagonally across the wearer's body and tied in a knot at one shoulder | Safety-tested aluminum rings sewn into one end; adjusted for a snug fit |
| Carry positions | Back | Front, hip, or back | Typically front or hip |
| Other uses | Worn as a cape or shawl; used to carry wood, food, textiles, and other goods | Worn as a shawl, used to bind a pregnant belly, support during childbirth, and folded into a blanket | No typical other uses |
Traditional Babywearing in Latin America FAQ
What is a rebozo?
A rebozo (pronounced ray-BOH-so) is a traditional baby carrier from Mexico and other places in Mesoamerica. It is a rectangular piece of woven cotton fabric. In addition to babywearing, it's used as a shawl, during pregnancy and childbirth, and as a baby blanket.
What is a manta?
A manta (pronounced MAHN-tah) is a traditional baby carrier from the indigenous communities in the Andes mountains. It is a square piece of woven fabric, sometimes made from alpaca wool. In addition to babywearing, it's used as a shawl or to carry objects (other than babies!). In some cultures, it's known by the Quechuan word lliclla (pronounced YEE-KYAH).
What is the main difference between a rebozo vs ring sling?
The main difference is how these carriers are fastened to the caregiver's body. A rebozo is tied in a knot at the shoulder, while a ring sling's fabric is secured between two rings sewn into one end.
Is Babywearing a modern parenting trend?
No! Babywearing is a traditional caregiving practice that has a rich history around the world dating back thousands of years. Modern baby carriers and the practice of babywearing in general are reflections of that rich history, not new inventions.
What are some other traditional baby carriers from around the world?
Almost every indigenous culture has their own babywearing tradition! Indigenous Peoples in Northern America most commonly used cradle boards, meh dais were popular in China, European cultures had a variety of baby carriers, and different groups in Africa had their own babywearing traditions.
Are modern ring slings safe?
Yes! hope&plum in particular is a modern brand that puts safety and comfort at the forefront of all their designs, ring slings included! Read more about ring sling safety in our full guide.
References
Cultural babywearing - traditional baby carriers. (2013, February 12). Wrap Your Baby. https://wrapyourbaby.com/cultural-babywearing/
Threads of Peru. (2017). Traditional andean clothing. Threads of Peru. https://threadsofperu.com/pages/traditional-andean-clothng
Tronick, E. Z., Thomas, R. B., & Godas, M. D. (1994). The manta pouch: A regulatory system for peruvian infants at high altitude. Children’s Environments, 11(2), 142–146. https://www.jstor.org/stable/41514922
Wishingrad, B. (2024). What is a rebozo baby carrier? Nurturingacrosscultures.org. https://nurturingacrosscultures.org/us/articles/64-what-is-a-rebozo-baby-carrier.html
Meet the Author
Jenn Tolisano
Jenn Tolisano is hope&plum's Director of Community Education & Content. She has been a babywearing educator for over ten years. Working as a high school teacher before entering the world of motherhood, she has brought her passion for education to all things baby carriers. Babywearing has been such an essential parenting tool in her household that she wants to spread the babywearing love to all families. Jenn believes that every caregiver deserves to have a baby carrier they love and feel comfortable and confident in. She hopes that her fit checks and blog-writing with hope&plum help to achieve that goal!
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