Chinese-style baby carriers (孭带) in Hong Kong

Submitted by David on Sun, 08/27/2017 - 13:00

I've looked at this photo many times over the last few months, as it's one that's going into the Gwulo book. It got me thinking about how the cloth baby carrier has gone in and out of fashion.

Baby carrier on back

 

The photo above was taken in 1954. I also found one in my collection that looks older, I guess taken sometime where in the 1920s - 1940s.

Woman with baby in carrier

 

The carrier has a very simple design: just a square of material with a strap at each corner, often with embroidery to add some colour. You can see some stitching on the carrier in the photo above.

Embroidery on baby carrier

 

We can get a better idea of the design of the carrier and their decorations in these next two photos. Each shows a carrier that was made in the 1940s.

O. Baby sling.jpg
Baby sling, by Geoff Emerson

 

Z6. Chris Potter with his baby sling from camp.jpg
Chris Potter with his baby sling from camp, by Geoff Emerson

 

 

They're unusual in that they were made to carry western children. Indeed Chris Potter, holding the blue carrier above, was carried in it when he was a young boy!

I say it's unusual, because photos we have of western children from around that time usually show the child in a pram.

1930's Kowloon Park
1930's Kowloon Park, by Bails

 

But of course the early 1940s in Hong Kong were anything but usual, with Hong Kong occupied by the Japanese, and most of the western families interned in Stanley Camp. There the usefulness of the Chinese baby carrier, plus the fact it didn't need a lot of resources to make, overcame any prejudices the internees may have felt about wearing them.

Here's a sketch drawn in Stanley Camp showing Chris in his carrier, being carried by his mother.

Z8. A J Savitsky sketch of the baby sling in use.jpg
A J Savitsky's sketch of the baby sling in use, by Geoff Emerson

 

After the end of the war, the internees returned to their prams, but the carriers remained as popular as ever with local mothers. Andrew Suddaby caught two travelling in convoy in the late 1950s.

New Territories. Tai Po Market Fu Shin street
New Territories. Tai Po Market Fu Shin street, by Andrew Suddaby

 

There's only room for one child in the carrier, so how did the mother manage if she had two babies born in close succession? If they were her first two children, that must have been quite a headache. But families were larger then, so before long there would be an older brother or sister who could take over carrying the young child. Andrew's photos have a couple of examples:

Cheung Chau
Cheung Chau, by Andrew Suddaby

 

Aberdeen, children on quay
Aberdeen, children on quay, by Andrew Suddaby

 

The carriers were still popular in the 1960s and 70s, when Harry took these photos:

Boat Children - Sok Kwu Wan
Boat Children - Sok Kwu Wan, by harryhktc

 

Fisher-folk Children Sha Tau Kok -1960's
Fisher-folk Children Sha Tau Kok -1960's, by harryhktc

 

This type of cloth carrier is much less popular today, so we don't see them as often. And I've tried to remember if I've ever seen a child wearing one to carry another child, but I don't think I have. Although that style of carrier has gone out of fashion in Hong Kong, the idea of carrying a child close to the body has become more popular in overseas markets. You'll find modern carriers, with high-tech materials and ergonomic claims, in all the baby goods shops.

When each of our daughters were young, I carried them around strapped to my chest in a modern carrier made by Baby Bjorn. A bit sweaty in the Hong Kong summer, but a lot more convenient than trying to navigate a pram or stroller through the crowded streets.

We'll finish with photos of two carriers that deserve an award. First the award for most ornately decorated:

Hakka Woman and Child - Tai Po - late 1960's
Hakka Woman and Child - Tai Po - late 1960's, by harryhktc

 

And finally the award for the person most in need of a handkerchief:

Child carrying their sibling in baby carrier

 


If you've got any memories of carrying or being carried in one of these, or any good photos showing the carriers, please let us know in the comments below.

Regards, David

PS The Chinese name for this type of carrier is 孭带, which in Cantonese sounds something like 'mair dai'. 'mair' means to carry something on your shoulders, and 'dai' is the word for a belt.

Corrections:

  • 28 Aug 2017: The first version of this read: "The Chinese name for this type of carrier is 背带, which in Cantonese sounds something like 'mair dai'. 'mair' means to carry something on your back..." Thanks to Winnie for explaining that the Chinese characters should be 孭帶. not 背帶, and that 孭 means carrying on shoulders. I've updated the text.

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Comments

These can still be purchased (new) in the Yau Ma Tei street market - I bought one there last year for my little one, for about HK$80. It is embroidered with the 'Double Happiness' characters.  

I asked my sister Carolyn if she knew anything about this in our family. She is six years and two months older than me, and was born in 1926. Probably in my birth year that started in late Sept. 1932, she carried me in one! Our parents did not let her do it very much. Here is part of her note:

"Yes, I had a meh dai (in Yeung Kong dialect) for my big doll, Perika, which was almost as big as I was when I received her as a present from our parents when I was 3 or 4.  I think I carried you around a little bit, but you were a big baby and I don't think our parents really trusted me not to do something stupid.  Mother never used one.  I think I remember they thought it might injure your neck."

Carolyn is 91 now and has noticed that fact, but is doing marvelously for her age. My brother is only 90 and ditto. I have to myself smile when remembering so many infants so fast asleep with their heads almost straight down connected to upright bodies by bent necks. Wishing I were that flexible.

Regards, Don Ady

My mother-in-law calls these "Bei dai" which is 背帶. She was still using one to carry my daughter on her back (whilst cooking!!) well into her 70s. Actually, she is a Hakka lady and the pronunciation of 背 sounds more like "bee".

Chinese-style baby carriers.  Photographer Harrison Forman, photo taken 1956 (estimated considering the newly built shed up the alley, Shek Kip Mei shanty town.  Photo source: UWM Libraries - http://collections.lib.uwm.edu/digital/collection/agsphoto/id/23295/rec/13

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