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

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   



Over The Shoulder Belly Holder- The Art of Belly Wrapping Continues

There are two more styles of belly wrapping that I would like to share with you today.  These are both quite similar, taking the passes up and over your shoulders to provide additional support and to aid in distributing the weight of your belly using ruck straps.  I hope you are all finding these as helpful as I do! 

Thank you Nicci Sample for the cute picture! 

 

 

I don't have a video for the next style, and I apologize for the Spanish-only written instructions!  But the step by step graphics are very straight forward and easy to follow. 

 

 

Thank you Acacia Parks Mo for the great pictures! 

 

 

I definitely encourage you, if you are pregnant, to give one of the many styles of belly wrapping a try.  You will be blown away by the instant relief and comfort they provide!  Happy wrapping!



Belly Wrapping for Pregnancy Support

Woven wraps are one of the most versatile of all baby carriers.  They can be tied hundreds of different ways and come in a number of different lengths making them a custom fit for people of all sizes and shapes. 

But why wait to use them until baby is here?  I am currently pregnant with baby #3 and am SO incredibly happy I was introduced to the amazing art of Belly Wrapping for Pregnancy Support!!  I am carrying this baby so much lower then my other two, and breech nonetheless, that by afternoon I have a lot of pressure and discomfort in my belly, back and hips! As much as I would love to just lay down and rest, with two busy, very active boys that just isn't possible!  Belly Wrapping to the rescue. 

By taking a woven wrap or ring sling and tightly wrapping it around your belly, and even your hips if desired, you are creating a pregnancy belt.  This provides a firm yet gentle support for your growing belly, loose joints and achy back.  Not to mention it is a perfect way to start practicing with your wrap and getting it nice and soft and broken in for when baby arrives! 

Just as there are tons of ways to use a wrap and ring sling to carry your baby so are there many ways to wrap your belly as a pregnancy support.  I am going to include a few of my favorite YouTube videos for you all to follow along.  Each one utilizes a different size woven wrap, giving you the preferred comfort and support your growing body needs!

Wrapping your Belly with a "Shortie" (sizes 2-3)

 

 

 

Wrapping Your Belly with a Mid-Length Wrap (sizes 4-5)

This style of belly wrapping, although is a bit more involved, is definitely my favorite comfort-wise. I feel that it gives me the most support all over, belly, hips and full across the back.  

 

 

 

Wrapping Your Belly with a Long Wrap (sizes 6+)

 

 

 

In this video, they encourage you to use a partner to help get it nice and tight and remove all the slack.  This definitely helps a lot, but I have also done it on my own as well and still felt like I was fully supported.  This can be done with a woven or a gauze wrap. 

 

Wrapping Your Belly with a Ring Sling

 

 

There are many things your can do with the tail on your ring sling.  Since I am only 5'1", I usually like to tuck my tail away or spread it across my belly, otherwise I am tripping over it.  But be creative and do what works best for you! 

Check out all of these adorable bellies from a few of our BWI of Cleveland members!

Thank you to Alicia Moellenkamp, Karyn Tankersley, Nicci Sample, Maya Lindenmuth and Kristina Elyse for the wonderful photos!! 

If you would like to have some hands-on help with wrapping your own bellies, please pop into one of our monthly Instructional Meetings!  Please view our Events tab to find one closest to you! 



Saftey when using a back carry: the Differences Between a Stretchy and a Woven Wrap

Many of us begin our Babywearing journey with a Moby or other stretchy style wrap.  Oh the coziness of those with our newborn squishes!  Then as we get more confidant in our wearing abilities and the more groups we join the desire to try a woven wrap grows!  Seriously how cute are all those babies on their mommy and daddy's backs?! 

But it is very important to remember that no matter how tight you feel like you can get the Stretchy Wrap tied on you, a back carry is NEVER safe in a stretchy, Moby-style wrap.  Only woven wraps are designed to safely carry your baby or toddler in front, hip and back carries. 

This video is a perfect example of just why it is unsafe to back-wrap with a stretchy. In this video her child is older and she is demonstrating what can happen while standing over a bed.  But could you imagine if a baby wanted to see what was going on behind you, even if you were "just practicing" until you received your woven? 



If you are interested in trying a woven wrap out before you buy one, please consider becoming a member of Babywearing International of Cleveland!  For $30 for the entire year you get full access to our Lending Library and the ability to check out one carrier a month (12 in all!).  This is a perfect way to figure out just what you like and don't like before taking the huge jump in purchasing one for yourself.  You can join in person at any meeting, a VBE would be more then happy to get you all set up.  Or if you just can't wait, It's only two steps to join online: fill out this membership form

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1_mXuYIg_jQtGzYGklxMvrZcOOUWW8k5BmJyOZJhkn_Y/viewform

and then send $30 via paypal to bwiofcleveland@gmail.com. Please send it as "friends and family" so paypal doesn't take fees from us since we're a nonprofit.

Happy and Safe Babywearing! 

Congrats to our Medalists for the Olympic Rings of Babywearing Challenge!

The votes have been tallied and the winners announced! 

Congratulations to our 3 medalists in

Event #4- Olympic Rings of Babywearing: Incorporate sling rings into your favorite carry

 
 

Meagan DePerro took home the Gold Medal

Emily Gold took home the Silver Medal and

Amy Higgins took home the Bronze Medal!

 

Meagan won $10 off her membership, Emily won $5 off her membership and Amy won a 13th month free! Just for taking a pretty picture :)

Awesome job ladies!

 

 

Our next, and last Olympic event photo contest is your take on the motto "Faster, Higher, Stronger" ****please note, any grossly unsafe Babywearing pictures will not be considered. Please, please keep your baby safe while planning your contest entry. This may seem like common sense but other BWI groups did have an issue with it.

Event #4 Olympic Rings of Babywearing

So many tiny squishes!!  If I wasn't already 16 weeks pregnant, I would have major baby fever from all of these precious photographs!  Hurry over to our Facebook group so you can cast your votes for our final medalists (and don't forget to vote for yourself!) Voting closes at Midnight on Friday.
 

 

Event #4

Olympic Rings of Babywearing: Incorporate sling rings into your favorite carry

 

 

Put your thinking caps on.....

Our next, and last Olympic event photo contest is your take on the motto "Faster, Higher, Stronger" ****please note, any grossly unsafe Babywearing pictures will not be considered. Please, please keep your baby safe while planning your contest entry. This may seem like common sense but other BWI groups did have an issue with it.

New Lending Library Addition: a Beautiful BBSleen!

Look what came today! This BBSlen Pink Pepper is a whopping size 8/5.6 meters. It will be getting a mini makeover (aka chop job) before being added to the library though. What size(s) would you like to see it in??  Please leave your suggestions in the comments! 

BBSlens are 100% cotton wraps known for being exceptionally toddler (or preschool ) worth because they are one of the widest wraps on the market! It's a medium thickness with a denser weave which makes Alicia's daughter's 33 pounds feel almost weightless!

Thank you Pavo Textiles!

We are so thrilled to announce our newest addition to the Lending Library. A huge thank you goes out to Pavo for their generous surprise donation! Action shots coming soon...

We know that everyone is going to be super excited to check Taj out!  But as a way of giving everyone a chance to play with it and to help soften it up some (it's quite a beast currently!) we'll be letting her travel the meetings first before allowing her to be checked out.

New Lending Library Addition!

Check out our new lending library addition: a Hopp Tye! This beauty is perfect for birth up to about 2 years old and will be available at our Willoughby meeting tomorrow!