Thank you Tula Baby Carriers!!

Babywearing International of Cleveland is overwhelmed with the generosity that Tula Baby Carriers has shown to us this week!  And what perfect timing being that it is International Babywearing Week! To include all of our members in the excitement Erin Fabian, our President, recorded a Facebook Live of the BIG Unboxing and boy was it FUN! We wanted to share it here as well for all of you that may not be in Facebook or if you just wish to watch it over and over again (because seriously how adorable is Erin's daughter Alisz?) and see the awesomeness to your hearts content.

You saw that right, Tula donated to us EIGHT carriers- 4 baby sized, 3 toddler sized, and one ring sling plus FOUR infant inserts!  Now each one of our Lending Libraries will have a Tula in each size and an insert (which is a hot commodity)!

These six carriers will be making it into our Lending Libraries :

Baby Size

 From left to right: Bliss, Montana Sunset and Betty

Toddler

From left to right: Trendsetter, Shenandoah, and Trillion 

In celebration of International Babywearing Week, Babywearing International of Cleveland is excited to offer a Tula Coast Seafarer Soft Structured Carrier (Standard Size) and a Petit Love Fraise Wrap Conversion Ring Sling (size L/XL) for raffle. Funds from this raffle will go towards the purchase of new carriers for current and future lending libraries!

From left to right: Coast Seafarer Soft Structured Carrier, Petite Love Fraise Ring Sling

Each raffle ticket you purchase will get you one entry into our drawing for a Tula Coast Seafarer Soft Structured Carrier or a Petite Love Fraise Wrap Conversion Ring Sling. Tickets cost $10 each (winner will be responsible to arrange for pick-up at a BWI of CLE meeting, or pay for shipping).

To enter the giveaway for Coast Seafarer Soft Structured Carrier please click HERE.

To enter the giveaway for Petite Love Fraise Wrap Conversion Ring Sling please click HERE.


Thank you Tula Baby Carriers from the bottom of our heart, our members are going to fill these carrier with so much love #IBWwithTula. Happy International Babywearing Week!

Thank you West of the Fourth Weaving

We would like to offer a heartfelt Thank You to West4thWraps for this stunning woven wrap they have graciously donated to our Chapter! "Tribute" made her debut partying at a Mardi Gras Shindig and will making its way to one of our Lending Libraries soon! Be sure to come to our Potluck Picnic on October 8th for IBW to play with her and give her a whirl!

#bwicleveland #wovenwrap #bwiofclelendinglibrary

Summer Babywearing Olympic Games!

Welcome to the First Summer Babywearing Olympic Games!

Games will start on Friday, August 5th and there will be 5 medal competitions, plus a grand prize. Each competition will last for 3 days. To enter, you'll need to take a photo or video that fits with the theme of the competition and post it to our Facebook Group with the appropriate hashtag. To win, you need people to like your photo! The most likes for each contest takes the gold, second is silver, and third is bronze. Pictures must be received by midnight on the last day of the contest. By entering this contest and submitting your photos, you agree to allow BWI of Cleveland to share your photos on our chapter blog.

Prizes will be awarded for gold, silver, and bronze for each event. Prizes must be claimed by September 31, 2016 and have no cash value. Prizes may be transferred, but are only good for BWI of Cleveland and may not be applied to any other BWI chapter. Prizes may not be combined. (If you win twice, you can give away or forfeit the lesser prize, and the next photo in line will be moved up.) You may enter each contest with as many photos as you'd like. At the end of the Games, all of the gold medalists from each event will be entered in a Grand Prize contest, for an even bigger prize!

Here's the event schedule:
August 5th through August 7th - Summer Wearing Games: Photos of you enjoying the summer while babywearing! ‪#‎summerwearinggames‬

August 8th through August 10th - Red, White, and Blue: Show your USA pride while wearing ‪#‎babywearingUSA‬

August 11th through August 13th- Overcoming Obstacles: What babywearing obstacles have you had to overcome? ‪#‎babywearingforthewin

August 14th through August 16th - Relay Race: Share photos of your child being worn by different friends and family members! #babywearingrelay

August 17th through August 19th - Babywearing Quadrathlon: Share photos of yourself wearing each of the 4 main types of carriers - buckle carrier, mei tai, ring sling, and wrap! #bwquadrathlon

August 21st - Grand Prize Contest

Good luck everyone and Happy Babywearing!  Let the Games BEGIN!

#lendinglibrarylove: Woven Wrap Blends and Brands

Cotton, linen, hemp… Didymos, Girasol, Natibaby…When it comes to woven wrap blends and brands the choices can be overwhelming. Maybe you are even asking yourself- “what IS a woven wrap?” Stay tuned as Babywearing International of Cleveland dives head first into the pool of woven wraps!!

So, what IS a woven wrap? As defined by Babywearing International “Wraps are the most traditional and simple of all carriers. They come in a variety of lengths and fabrics such as cotton, linen, wool, and other fabrics. Wraps can be used to carry an infant, toddler, or child in a variety of positions including front, hip, and back carries. Wraps are infinitely adjustable to meet the specific needs of the individual wearer. Learning to wrap may seem intimidating at first but can be mastered with practice. The beautiful fabrics used in many wraps make them an aesthetically pleasing style of baby carrier. Their lack of hardware makes them ideal for snuggling newborns but wraps are wonderful for babies and toddlers of any age.” When it comes to woven wraps-the possibilities are virtually endless. Many different carries can be accomplished based on the child’s development. And while we are going to be concentrating mostly on machine woven wraps-keep in mind that there are also handwoven wraps out there (and much like machine woven-many different fibers and aesthetics are available).

Source

Now that we know what a woven wrap IS-let’s talk about what they are made out of. Cotton, linen, hemp, and wool are fibers that can be found, as well as many others. Not only can a wrap be made of a single fiber type, blends of fiber types can be found too. Take a look at the infographic below for details on the individual fibers.

While there are many different fiber types and the choices may seem overwhelming, use the above infographic and the needs of the child and caregiver to help determine what best fits their needs!

We know what a woven wrap IS, we just learned about the different fibers, now let’s talk about different brands of woven wraps. We will concentrate on looking at some of the wrap brands that can be found in the Lending Library of BWI of CLE but there are SO MANY out there!! Look on the far right side of this page for “Our favorite places to shop for babycarriers” which links up many different places you can go to browse and purchase!

Woven Wrap Brands

Didymos: German company that was originated in 1972 they offer machine woven single fiber options (i.e. cotton), as well as fiber blends (i.e. cotton/hemp).

left: Didymos Day Owls-50% Cotton, 50% Hemp (Elyria Library)

right: Didymos  Indio Sunshine- 60% Organic Cotton, 40% Hemp (Fairview Park)

Girasol: 100% cotton wraps handwoven in Guatemala

left: Girasol Cosmic Rainbow- 100% Cotton (Solon)

right: Girasol Phoenix-100% Cotton (Wickliffe)

Natibaby: Machine woven wraps from Poland. They offer 100% cotton wraps, as well as fiber blends.

left: Natibaby Henna Flowers-30% Hemp, 70% Cotton (North Royalton)
right: Natibaby Cogs Princely (dyed)- 70% cotton, 30% tussah silk (Elyria)

While this list of woven wrap fibers and brands is not exhaustive it is a good starting point! Please remember that BWI of CLE is always here to answer any questions you have and we look forward to chatting with you in the future!

Would you like to learn more about woven wraps? Check out our Pinterest or join us at a monthly meeting! Want to see everything in our lending library? Check out our current inventory!!

Written by Nichole Hoven, the Financial Coordinator and a VBE with BWI of Cleveland.  She is mom to Lucas, wife to Ian, and full time engineer at a University.  She became interested in Babywearing while pregnant with her son and started out with a Boba stretch wrap, and an Ergo SSC.  Not being 100% sure on how to use the Ergo with a newborn led her to an internet search for a local Babywearing group. She found the Cleveland chapter and as they say, “the rest is history”. Her current favorite way to carry her son is using a woven wrap. She volunteers at the Elyria meeting and wherever else help is needed and her schedule permits.

Get On Base, or What Size Woven Wrap Should I Buy?

from left to right:
Double Hammock Double Rings Base -4, Front Wrap Cross Carry Base size 6, Double Hammock with a Candy Cane Chest Belt Base -1

The world of wrapping is overwhelming to enter for several reasons. Using a woven wrap is a challenging physical skill that takes practice to acquire. Wraps are expensive. Wrappers speak their own language full of arcane acronyms and confusing shorthand, and before you know that language, you feel like an outsider. And it’s difficult to even figure out what wrap to buy in the first place because there are so many variables from blend to brand to color to used vs. new to length. And all of those are tied into the mysterious jargon and secret code besides. I want to help you with that last bit, deciding what size you need and introducing you to the language we use to talk about sizes, but let me say from the outset that this is going to be long. Really long, like a long, long wrap.


Wraps range from size 1 to 10, but 2 through 7 are the most common. A 2 is 2.7 meters long and a 7 is 5.2 meters long. Each size is half a meter longer than the previous one. (Note: some people say a 2 is 2.6 meters and a 7 is 5.1 meters long, and different brands may have their own sizing systems. This standardized system is a good basis for understanding wrap sizes, though.)


I wear size 16 and have a bra size that's only barely in the first half of the alphabet, and I have used wraps in all sizes from 2 to 8. I just can't do the same carries in each of those sizes.

Here's an example. There's a carry (method of tying a wrap around you and your baby) called front wrap cross carry (FWCC) that is often the first carry someone learns when they start wrapping. To do FWCC comfortably, I need a size 7 wrap. Other people, however, can do FWCC comfortably in a 6, a 5, or an 8. 


I can still use size 6, 5, or 8. I just have to do a different carry with them. In a size 6, I might do a carry called double hammock with a candy cane chest belt. In a size 5, I might do a ruck tied Tibetan. This is because some carries have more passes around your body than others, so they use up more length. 


Double Hammock with a Candy Cane Chest Belt, base -2

There are many, many carries that have been named and described and for which you can find tutorials and videos. But you need to know what size wrap to pick up before you start. That's where the base system comes in.


The size you need to comfortably do an FWCC, the carry I mentioned earlier, is called your base size. I don't know why FWCC was the carry picked for this; it's probably just because it's a very common carry. So my base is 7, but someone else might have a base that’s a 5 or an 8. Generally, base sizes start at 5 or so and go up from there.


Ruck with a Candy Cane Chest Belt, Base -3 and Base -4

I can relate the size of other wraps to my base. A 5, for me, is base -2 (because it's literally two numbers smaller than my base). A size 3 is base -4 for me. An 8 is base +1. Using this system, wrappers with different bases can easily recommend carries to each other, knowing that we'll be able to figure out what size wrap to use. If I say “What size do I need for a ruck tied at shoulder?”, someone can answer, “Base -4.” I’ll know to reach for a 3, and you’ll know to reach for whatever size is four less than your base, too.


Most people find that they like some sizes more than others. My favorites are my base and base -3 (which are 7 and 4 for me). If someone whose base is 6 likes base -2 best, that means she has the same favorite size as me—4—but will do different carries in it.


One more thing to know is that your base size can change. Sometimes it will go down when you become a better wrapper and can tighten your wrap jobs better. And often, it will go up when your baby becomes a hulking toddler. You can still use your same wrap, you'll just need to try a different carry.


Angela had a base size size 4 when her son was an infant but it increased to a size 5 as he grew. She can still FWCC in a 4, but as you can see in the last two pictures she is tying on the very tippy tails.  Because of this she prefers her base as a 5 now.  

Many people start out with a wrap in their base size. I did. This is often a good move because there are carries, like FWCC, that use your base size, are relatively easy to learn, and will help you build a good foundation of skills such as seat-making and strand-by-strand tightening (there’s that jargon). But you don't have to start with your base size. If you're a larger wrapper, you can still use a 4 or a 5 or whatever size you want. If you're smaller, you can still try a 7 or an 8. You’ll just need to learn specific carries for that size as it relates to your base.



Traditional Sling Carry, base -5

When you understand this language, you’ll be equipped not only to shop for a wrap, but to talk about wraps and get recommendations for new carries to try, too. Resources such as Wearing Wiki organize carries by what size you’ll need relative to your base size, and you’ll quickly see that any size wrap has something to offer you. Once you wrap your mind around this way of thinking about sizes, you’ll be able to decide what wrap to try based on the carries you’re interested in, and I hope the wrap world will seem just a bit more welcoming.


Written by Jennifer Rae Kinyak, Guest Blogger

Jennifer Rae Kinyak has been wrapping her baby, Elliott, for just shy of two years. She's a member of Land of Enchantment Babywearing in New Mexico and an admin for the Facebook group Base Love, where topics like this are discussed in great warmth and detail. She's working on drawing all 5,000 mammal species, and though the project is on a long hiatus, you can see her progress at http://dailymammal.com.

Thank you so much Jennifer for you insightful post!  It is a fantastic resource for all babywearers and we are lucky to have you as a Guest on our blog. 

Seeing the World: Everything You Want to Know About Forward Facing Out!

Like so many first time parents, I spent a lot of my pregnancy researching and preparing for this new adventure in our lives. I knew even before I got pregnant that I wanted to include babywearing; a friend had worn her babies and it just made so much sense to me. When Graham arrived, he was all about being held of course, but was less into being worn. He really wanted to see the world, and got very angry when he couldn’t see. In desperation one day when he was around 2 or 3 months, I dug out the Bjorn Original we had received as a gift. Since he had good head control we gave it a shot, and he was SO happy to see what was going on.

I wanted to learn to wrap, though Graham had zero tolerance for front wrap cross carry or any other front wrapping. I was not skilled or brave enough to try back wrapping yet, and he let me know hip carries were also not ok. I tried all of the typical things – give him time to adapt, walk around, etc., but he just got more and more angry when I wore facing in. So, I learned how to wrap him facing forward, in a modified Robin’s hip carry. He was happy, and I could learn some wrapping skills.

I had read that forward facing was “bad” for my baby, but my experience showed me otherwise. And really, despite what you may have heard or read, forward facing is perfectly fine as long as you are safe about it – more on this later. We faced some discouragement, mainly in online forums – I had the lists of why forward facing is bad for your baby linked for me many times. I was careful – it was never for extended periods of time, I trusted my mama instincts to know if he needed a break, and in general we were wearing in fairly calm environments. Mostly we wore around the house, and on our daily walks with our dogs in the woods. I educated myself as best as possible, and want to share what I learned.

So what did I learn? Well, as always with a kid, first and foremost is their safety and comfort. The most important thing to keep in mind when forward facing is protecting baby’s airway. Good head control is key, and the babies I’ve come across that prefer forward facing tend to make that preference known pretty young, so it can get a little frustrating waiting for them to be strong enough. A good milestone to use as a gauge is for baby to be able to push up during tummy time and look side to side. If they can do that without falling, they can hold their head up well enough to forward face. Usually baby will be pretty involved with watching what’s going on, but if they do get sleepy, you definitely need to turn them to face inward. We all get relaxed when we fall asleep, and it’s very likely baby’s head will flop forward – clearly a bad position for breathing well. So, turn them around when they’re still awake so they can rest against your chest.

Overstimulation is often cited as a concern for forward facing. Too much stimulation is very stressful for a baby, especially when they are young. For me though, Graham made it as clear as he could that he wanted to see what was going on. I didn’t take him anywhere incredibly busy, mostly just at home or walking the dogs. He was still close to me, closer than he would have been in a stroller. While I haven’t been able to find research on forward facing babywearing, there has been research into babies interacting with other people, as well as using forward facing strollers. It has been shown to be best for babies to be facing their caregivers as much as possible. I kept this in mind, and we never wore forward facing for more than about 30 minutes. Most will recommend 10-15 minutes. We also spent a lot of time interacting in other parts of life, and he’s always been very social. It is important to keep in mind though that your baby can not see you and read your cues as well when they are facing away from you, so you need to be extra aware of them and check in constantly to know how they are doing.

Comfort is a factor for you both, as in any babywearing. Narrow based carriers have unfortunately developed a bad reputation, but if your baby has healthy hips they are completely safe. I don’t know that I would want to sit that way personally, but I did use one with Graham and he didn’t seem to mind. After all, babies are pretty good at letting you know if they aren’t comfortable. If your baby does have hip dysplasia or other joint or muscle tone issues, you should definitely talk to your doctor or physical therapist about the best way to wear your baby. Otherwise, you can use many different types of carriers to face forward - just be sure that the carriers are meant to do so safely.

So, which carrier is best? Just like any babywearing, the best carrier is what works for you and your baby. Factors include cost, convenience, comfort, and learning curve. I’ll cover all of these for a variety of carriers below. If your baby wants to face forward, and you want to wear them, there is a way to do it!

Wraps: 
You can forward face in both a stretchy wrap and a woven wrap, and there are a few ways to use a woven wrap too depending on what size you have.

Stretchy wraps like Moby, Boba, or other stretchy wraps are commonly used for newborns. They are pretty affordable, often found used for $10-$30, or new for around $40-50. They do tend to get less comfortable for the wearer when baby gets to be around 15lbs, since they do stretch. In terms of convenience, they can take a bit of time to learn to use well, but can be pre-tied (for either inward or forward facing) and you can take baby in and out throughout the day. Facing baby forward can be done with the same pre-tie as facing inwards, the Pocket Wrap Cross Carry (PWCC). Here’s a video of how to face forward with a stretchy wrap:

Forward facing in a Stretchy Wrap. 

Woven wraps can be used a couple different ways to forward face. Their cost is widely variable, depending on brand, fibers used, and other factors, but there are options for most budgets, from around $75 or so up to as much as you want to spend. I have made videos for two ways to forward face, one that is very similar to the stretchy wrap Pocket Wrap Cross Carry: Forward facing PWCC in a woven wrap, and the other that is sort of like using a ring sling: Robin’s hip carry modified for forward facing. For the PWCC, you can use your base size, and for the Robin’s you can use your base size – 2, (so a 4 if your base is a 6), and also can use a longer wrap easily too. PWCC is a narrow based carry, where your baby’s legs will hang down, but the Robin’s is a “Buddha” carry, where your baby will be sitting with their legs folded in a sort of pouch. Check out the videos for more clarity on that!

Forward Facing Pocket Wrap Cross Carry in a Woven Wrap

Robin's Hip Carry Modified for Forward Facing

Both of these carries require a bit more learning to get down well, but if you are planning to wrap as your baby grows, they are a great way to practice wrapping skills such as strand by strand tightening even if you have a baby that doesn’t want to face you. Wraps are also very adjustable, and versatile to grow with you and your child through your babywearing years.

Ring Sling: 

Ring slings are also available in a huge variety of fabrics, patterns, and colors. There is a variety in shoulder style, too – gathered and pleated are most common, but there are others including padded, which is what I use in my video. As with wraps, cost varies a lot, but you can usually find a good one in the $50-$100 range. They have less of a learning curve than wraps, and are also useful for a variety of ages from newborn to toddler. You’ll use them differently as your baby ages – 30lbs does not feel great on one shoulder for long, but toddlers often want up and down quickly and ring slings are great for that. For forward facing, you’ll again be making a sort of pouch, and putting your baby in on their bum with their legs crossed in front of them Buddha style. The video will clear that up a bit for you: 

Forward facing in a Ring Sling. 

Mei Tai:
There are a couple mei tais that allow forward facing. The CatBird Baby mei tai and Infantino Wrap and Tie are readily available mei tais that allow forward facing. They both come with built in ways to cinch the bottom of the body panel and make it narrower, which is what makes it more comfortable for your baby to sit facing forward. The Infantino is under $40 new, and relatively easy to learn to use, and the CatBird baby is under $100. Mei tais do take some practice to get adjusted well and tied tightly, but the learning curve is definitely shorter than for wrapping. It’s also a two shouldered carrier and carry, so some wearers may prefer that to one-shouldered options like ring slings. Mei Tais are also very adjustable for anyone to use. Most mei tais are not advertised as forward facing compatible, but the Wrap and Tie is, as is the CatBird Baby mei tai. Here’s a video:

Forward facing in a mei tai. 

SSCs: 
Soft Structured Carriers, or SSCs, come in a huge variety of designs. For the most part, the basic concept is the same – they are often called buckle carriers because they buckle around your waist and have shoulder straps that buckle together to hold it on. They are similar to a sturdy backpack, and are usually pretty quick to learn to use, and also quick to put on and off. They have probably the lowest learning curve of the group, but the tradeoff is that you have to find the design that is most comfortable for you. Each brand has a different amount of padding, differently shaped shoulder straps, different buckle placement, etc. Once you find what works for you and your baby though, they are very comfortable and convenient. They come at a variety of price points; there are budget options available around $50, many options at around $100-$150, and there are some that cost more depending on what you’re looking for.

Not all SSCs allow forward facing. I will briefly cover some of the more common ones, but there are some others out there.

Baby Bjorn has a few options. There is the original Bjorn carrier, the very similar Bjorn Active, and more recently the Bjorn One. Neither the Original or Active have waist bands, which can make them a bit less comfortable for the wearer as baby gets larger, but the One does have a waistband. They are all a little different than most SSCs in the design, and take a little time to get familiar with how they are used, but once you spend some time practicing they are easy to use.

Forward Facing in a Bjorn Original

Forward Facing in a Bjorn One

The Ergo360 is another forward facing SSC. They have a wider seat than most forward facing SSCs, and have done their best to keep baby in a more ergonomic position than most SSCs allow when facing forward. SSCs in general tend to have a narrow base for forward facing, but Ergo has more of an actual “seat” for baby in the 360. There is just a quick adjustment with buttons to change from inward to outward facing.

Forward Fcaing in an Ergo 360

Lillebaby allows forward facing in their standard size carriers, there are flaps that detach from the waistband and make the base narrow to allow for newborn wearing and for forward facing.

Forward Facing in a Lillebaby

The Beco Gemini also allows forward facing or newborn wearing with a quick adjustment at the panel base. They have flaps that unsnap and re-snap into a narrower position.

Forward Facing in a Beco Gemini

This list is not exhaustive, mainly for SSCs, but it does cover the variety of options available for forward facing.

However you choose to carry your baby, there are a few things I like to keep in mind beyond the basic safety. You know your baby best, and babies (and kids) tend to let you know if they’re unhappy. If your baby wants to face forward, they will let you know. And if they like the carrier you’ve chosen, you will be able to tell. It might take a little trial and error, but the feeling of holding your baby close paired with the freedom to move around and experience the world together is worth every second.

My husband, Eric and his little helper Graham

This amazing blog post was written by educator Kate Krengel as her project toward her advancement into Advanced Babywearing Educator (ABE) Status.  Thank you Kate for your knowledge and insight! Our chapter is lucky to have you. 

Learn Along with BWI of CLE

Coming up in January 2016!

In addition to "Try It Tuesday", BWI of Cleveland is going to kick off the New Year by adding two new weekly learning events to the Facebook group.

Did you ever want to learn all about woven wraps or the different types of soft structured carriers (SSC's)? If so, be sure to check out the Facebook group starting Sunday, January 24, 2016 for "Sunday Specifics". Every Sunday we will detail a different carrier! In addition to woven wraps and SSC's we will look at ring slings, Mei Tai's, and pouch slings to name a few and included in these posts will be pictures of carriers available through our Lending Library!. We will also detail specific SSC's (Lenny Lamb, Tula, etc.), as well as specific Mei Tai's (Baby Hawk, BB Tai, etc.) in upcoming weeks to help you decide what carrier might work the best and which one to look for in the Lending Library!

The second weekly event that will be on the Facebook group starting Wednesday, January 27, 2016 is "Woven Wednesdays". Each week will feature a different carry to learn using a woven wrap (with great introductory carries in the beginning!!).  Suggested wrap lengths will be given as well as links to tutorials to help facilitate learning! We hope that you will share photos with us every week!

BWI of Cleveland looks forward to the New Year and the start of these new events! Please feel free to interact and most importantly...HAVE FUN!!

Written by Nichole Hoven

Nichole joined our volunteer team this past November. She is mom to Lucas (born 06.2015), wife to Ian, and full time scientist at a University in Cleveland. She became interested in Babywearing while pregnant with her son. She started out with a Boba stretch wrap, and an Ergo SSC. Not being 100% sure on how to use the Ergo with a newborn led her to an internet search for a local Babywearing group. She found the Cleveland chapter and as they say, “the rest is history”. Nichole's current favorite way to carry her son is using a woven wrap. She will volunteering at the Elyria meeting and is excited to help where needed as her schedule permits!

Conglomeration of Carriers: A self-proclaimed wrappers journey thru a world of new carriers (and bacon)

 

I am a self-proclaimed woven wrap guru. When my little guy and I started wearing, we used a stretchy wrap and soon became accustomed to the length of fabric. I quickly learned the proper way to tighten and swirl the tails around so that the extra fabric didn’t feel overwhelming or cumbersome. When the guy started getting heavier (way too quickly!) I attended a BWI meeting and we took to using a woven wrap very quickly. I loved how versatile they were and loved trying new ways of tying (although I swear, I’ll never get a nice double hammock!) I quickly learned the lingo (what exactly is a DDDDDDDISO??), purchased a size six on the swap and got to work! Months later, after attending another handful of meetings, I began thinking about all of the other types of carriers I had encountered. I found lots of other moms singing the praises of ring slings or wearing their little one in a mei tai or customizing their buckle carrier with new suck pads and hoods with reach straps. Was I missing out? It was like there was some strange golden light streaming out of the library rolling suitcases and totes Indiana Jones style! We loved wrapping but were we missing some great babywearing moments by only using one type of carrier? So that brings us to this exciting babywearing journey!

When I first decided to try other kinds of carriers and blog about the experience, I thought I should set up some ground rules like in real sports like baseball and late night bumper-bowling. First, I wanted to focus on the three most popular types; ring slings, mei tai's and buckle carriers. I wanted to give each a fair shake and I knew that every carrier would have a learning curve so I would use each kind of carrier exclusively for one week. I would wear in lots of different situations. And I did! I wore around the house doing laundry and making pierogies!, I wore while we were out shopping (let’s be honest, mostly at Target… I have a problem…) and running errands! I wore at work at the college! If I was going to learn something new, by gosh so were my lazy college students! I also wanted to make sure that it was clear that these would be my personal experiences and opinions. Every family is different and everyone has their own likes and dislikes! This would be my story and one carrier feature that I might hate could be exactly why someone else loves it. You might swear by Heinz ketchup but I like mayo on my fries! I also wanted to try carriers that were available in the lending library so that our readers could check out the same carriers if they read something they were interested in! I had some help from Katie Abell our knowledgeable librarian and chose a Maya Wrap gathered shoulder ring sling, a Lenny Lamb toddler sized mei tai and a Lillebaby Airflow.

 Lenny Lamb Toddler Sized Wrap Conversion Mei Tai

 

I started with the mei tai. I knew from my research and from talking about them at meetings that it would be the most like woven wraps, especially in terms of manipulating the straps. I also knew that I would be able to easily wear the little guy on my back which is especially important when I wear at work. At first I found I was fumbling with the straps a lot and had difficulty with them twisting up. It was like I was being attacked by some kind of soft, fluffy drunken octopus! But once I got the child up I found it quite comfy for both of us! The padded straps were soft and cushy on my shoulders and the little guy quickly discovered that he could bounce up and down like a ten-year old hopped up on ring pops (which he enjoyed immensely). After a few days, I was able to get him up much more quickly, without looking like I was trying to put some sort of jacket on backwards and in the dark, though I still had trouble making the transition into a back carry. I found myself wishing that the straps were wider to add some additional support (hello…wrap straps!) and the little guy quickly got frustrated with being worn lower on my back (he’s quite nosy and NEEDS to see over my shoulder.) When I asked what he thought, my hibernating grizzly bear of a husband said that it would be great for anyone intimidated or worried about making a seat and that he would be comfortable back carrying with it! Then he rolled over in his chair and went back to sleep. It was a weekend after all, and I’d made bacon for breakfast.

Lillebaby Airflow

After our week of mei ties, we moved on to the buckle carrier. At first I was intimidated. There were all kinds of straps to adjust and clasps and padding. It was a bit confusing in the beginning, figuring out which arm went where and which nylon strap needed tightening or loosening. I fumbled around like a feeble ferret without thumbs! There was definitely a learning curve! Finally, after a grueling battle I prevailed and once everything was adjusted to fit properly, I could wear the little guy easily and comfortably. After some time, I began to see the appeal of this type of carrier! Once the straps were adjusted, it was very quick to put on and take off.  And on, and off… And on again as the one-going-on-thirteen year old made up his mind full of pre-toddler angst. The carrier felt very much like a padded backpack which is something many people are familiar with. After time, I personally found it quite bulky and disliked the thick padded straps, they were too “sporty” for me. I felt like I should be spelunking in a damp cave somewhere or rappelling off the side of a twenty-story Chuck E Cheese.  My furry werewolf of a husband looked up from his warm platter of bacon, said that it looked like some kind of medieval torture device and promptly refused to try it, returning to the deliciousness. I also realized that I have a strange aversion to having things buckled and tied around my waist! I couldn’t put my finger on it when we were using the mei tei, but I feel extra constricted when I have a carrier tight around my waist. Maybe it’s an unconscious hatred for day glow fanny packs from somewhere in my childhood… I realized that when I wrap, especially with back carries, I rarely ever tie around my waist! I always seem to tie Tibetan or use a candycane chestbelt! Needless to say, I doubt I will be getting involved in any high stakes buckle carrier Tuesday stockings anytime soon…

 

Maya Wrap Ring Sling with the Comfort Fit Shoulder

 

Finally, we spent a week with a ring sling. Going into this project, I felt like I knew the most about ring slings. I often used my short wrap tied as a rebozo, so I knew it would be similar. I knew I could really only wear it one way, that it would be a one shoulder carry and that I wouldn’t be able to wear the little guy on my back. I was highly skeptical. Thoroughly unimpressed. Highly suspicious. Why were people so drawn to them? It was a mystery that needed investigating, like on Dateline or in the Hardy Boys! Let’s just say I felt very apprehensive about using the ring sling for a whole week. Suddenly, after using it for a day, I realized that these limitations are exactly what makes the ring sling perfect for us! When the boy wanted down to chase the dog around with a plastic spatula, I could put him down quickly. When he wanted back up because his plastic bottle full of dried beans wouldn’t fit in the top of the Alphabet Train, I could put him right back up! The ring sling was fast and easy. We were even able to nurse in it!

 

 

My furry Ewok-from-Endor husband appreciated the speed of the ring sling when we had to go to the grocery for more bacon and quickly demanded that we needed one to keep in the car. Luckily, I had an extra short wrap and some sling rings laying around which I could quickly convert (professional sewing skills, go!) and we are now the owners of a new ring sling!

 

I learned a lot about our personal babywearing needs over this experience. I found that all of the carriers I tried have different appealing features, some of which I liked and some of which I didn’t. I also realized that at heart, I will always be drawn to the versatility that woven wrapping allows for, and it will always be the “go to” carrier for me. I think the most important thing to take away from this journey is that all of the carriers are unique and allow us to have our babies safe and close to us!  

 

Written by Sarah Russell,
Blogger and Volunteer, BWI of Cleveland



If you would like to go on your own carrier journey, please attend one of our many Instructional Monthly Meetings held all across the Greater Cleveland area!  Please visit our Events Page to locate a meeting closest to your home. See you there! 

Winter Wearing (Without a Babywearing Coat!)

 

 

 

Have you been wondering about how to wear the baby in the winter? There are many great babywearing coats and vests and ponchos out there, and you can even find patterns to sew or knit/crochet your own!  However, many people decide that a dedicated babywearing coat or vest isn’t practical for them or their budget.   How do you wear in the winter with your own coat and keep the baby warm?  This blog post is dedicated to winter wearing without a babywearing coat or vest.

 

My first fall and cool weather babywearing, I had a 4 month old and my raging post partum hormones caused me to start sweating if I so much as looked sideways at any coat. A babywearing coat was not going to be a good choice for me!  Instead, I dressed the baby in an extra layer, wrapped him over my tank top, and we went to the store.  I got some strange looks for wearing a tank top in fall, but the baby stayed warm and I didn’t sweat!  As the fall progressed into winter, I learned how to dress both myself and the baby to keep a happy medium.

 

 When you are wearing in cold weather, there are a few things to keep in mind that will help you choose how to layer and which carriers to use.  

 

Before you start, decide if you can zip your existing coat  (or maybe your husband’s coat!) over the baby worn on your front or not. This applies mostly to small babies and young infants in front carries.  If you can do this, it simplifies things greatly. If you are going to wear your baby on your back or they are too large to fit under the coat in a front carry, then you’ll be wearing them over your own coat.

 

First, remember that you will share body heat with the baby. If they are on your back or your front, you will trap body heat from your torso (your warmest area) right next to their torso. The areas to focus on keeping warm are the extremities. Focus on ensuring that hands, feet, and head are covered and protected from the weather. Remember that pants and sleeves will ride up and there’s a gap between hats and coat collars!  

Second, dressing in layers is very important. Think about the function of each layer and choose thin ones to help trap the most body eat without adding excess bulk.  For example: a pair of tights as a base layer (with socks and pants over top) will not only trap body heat, but also keep little legs covered when pants ride up in a carrier.  If you layer a thin fleece hooded jacket on top of the shirt and hat, you will add warmth and cover their neck and ears.  If you zip the coat over the baby, you can skip one layer because the coat will be warming them.
 

The third step is related to the second one if you are wearing over your coat. The outer layer that you choose for both you and the baby will affect the way you put on the carrier or wrap. Smooth coats, puffy coats, snow suits, and other slippery fabrics will make getting a secure carry much harder.  I use a wool coat for me and a fleece snow suit for the baby because they provide grip and hold the carrier in place.  If you are wrapping, this is particularly important.

 

 

Fourth and last, remember that you and the baby are both now taking up more space! If you normally can front wrap cross carry in a size 5, you will need to go up to a size 6, or modify the carry to use less wrap. If you are using a buckle carrier, you will need to adjust the straps to fit around your coat and layers. Ring slings, Mei Tai's, and most stretchy wraps should fit just fine, as you will tie them or adjust them a bit bigger than normal.

Once you have decided on the layers that work for you and have your carrier adjusted, take it for a test run! Go on a short walk in your yard or down the street, and see if you are both comfortable. Sometimes you find that the baby has too many layers and is overheating or that you have to work on getting a snug adjustment of the wrap over your coat.

Below is the picture of the layers I put on my toddler for this winter.
 

Written By Katie Abell
VBE and Librarian of BWI of Cleveland

Talk about a Stash Shot!

If you attended any of the later November Instructional Meetings you got to experience a pretty awesome thing- the contents of our entire Lending Library!! Or at least close to it depending on which meeting you attended.  Since we had no check outs this months to accommodate our full inventory overhaul, we all got to see everything all at once.  This has never happened before!  It was so exciting seeing just how much our Library has exploded the past year and a half!  These pictures were taken at our North Royalton Meeting, so more carriers still needed to be returned at the two meetings that followed this one!  Holy cow talk about and incredible stash!!! 166 carriers to be exact!

ring slings, stretchies and pouches

Soft Structured Carriers and Mei Tai's

 

wraps, wraps and more wraps!

 

Once all of the 166 carriers were returned, we took this opportunity to split the library into three regional libraries that will always attend those specific Instructional Meetings.  It is so exciting that we actually have the resources to do this. It means that our chapter has grown in leaps and bounds and doesn't look like it is slowing down any time soon! 

 

December marks the reopening of our Lending program and the Grand Opening of our Regional Libraries.  Be sure to attend a meeting this month to see what pretties are at your favorite location!  To view LIVE stats on every carrier (which library they live in, full availability and when they are due back) please check the Lending Library tab at the top of the page. 

 

 

If you have any further questions about our big changes please email our Librarian Katie Abell at librarian@bwiofcleveland.org