30 Carries in 30 Days

Halloween has come and gone, but the opportunity to wrap yourself in something new has not passed!

Through the month of November, Babywearing International of Cleveland would like to invite all woven wrap lovers to participate in a '30 Carries in 30 Days' exploration. If your first woven wrap arrived last week and you are just getting your bearings or you have a closet full of woven lovelies and you'd like to spice things up a bit, here is your chance to stretch yourself and hone your skills!

We'll begin our month with front carries, include a few variations, then we'll work around to hip carries, and we'll celebrate the end of the journey with back carries!

Snap pictures of your practice, post them on our page as you go along. At the close of the month, one participant will be drawn for a babywearing *treasure*


Join friends new and old of Babywearing International of Cleveland for 30 Carries in 30 Days!

Cheers,
Jess

Why I really love Babywearing International of Cleveland

Why do I love Babywearing International of Cleveland? It is so much more then just a group of ladies that teach you the how-to's of babywearing.  It is a place to come and learn how to wrap your babies up in love.  A place to learn to care for your babies in a way that still allows you to cook, clean, shop, and play (with two hands!) your older children while still loving and holding and nursing your itty-bitties.  A place that welcomes you in with open arms, even if you have never met them before....

 

I discovered BWI of Cleveland during a time in my life where I needed new mommy friends oh so badly.  I had a deep ache inside of me where those other like-minded women were missing.  Ones that understood the type of parent that I was and could provide the support and true friendship I was craving.  And while I attended my first meeting with just the hopes that they could help me figure out this crazy long piece of fabric I had just bought, I left with so much more.  I left that meeting feeling so uplifted and completely welcomed that I was giddy; my happiness bubbling out making the long drive home fly by.  I got to know these ladies a bit more through their active facebook group and I was counting down the days until their next meeting.  So I went again, and again the following month, and then it got to a point where I couldn't imagine not attending a meeting!  THIS was exactly where I was supposed to be.  Right here in this village, this place that truly cared about the desires of my heart, loved on my children as their own and went out of their way to lift me up when I needed it most. 

 

Last May, just 3 months after I had attended my first meeting I had a miscarriage at 22 weeks.  It was heartbreaking and someone that has battled depression in the past, I was afraid the darkness was going to over take me again.  Well these ladies blew me away with their kindness to an almost complete stranger.  They set up a mealtrain and made sure my family was fed, they checked in on me regularly and lifted me up both in prayers and lots of love.  These ladies jumped in to care for me in ways that you would expect from people you had known your whole life.  I felt blessed and loved and that dark stranger didn't stand a chance. 

 

And yet again in August I had a freak accident and fell (while Babywearing no less) and broke my leg.  I was required to lay completely flat with just my leg elevated for 2 months.  After those two very long months I was then on crutches with a cast then a big old boot until mid December.  I had a 6 year old a 2 1/2 year old.  I am a stay at home mom and just the thought of complete and utter bed rest stressed me out.  How does one care for their family and not succumb to full on depression?  It takes a village.  Yes, yes it does!  Yet again these amazing ladies stepped in- wait not stepped, but jumped in to bring food, flowers, phone calls, visits, and countless texts and emails, to keep my spirits up which was a huge part of the healing process.  International Babywearing Week came, and I still couldn't drive let alone babywear (or toddlerwear in my case).  My sweet friends went out of their way to pick me up and cart me around so that I could take part in the festivities.  In a time that is easily the hardest of my life, I look back with such gratefulness. 

 

It can be difficult to make new friends as an adult.  It takes a lot more work then when you are younger and attending the same college, or able to bond over cocktails and wild nights.  Having  a group like this where we are all in the same stage in life- juggling children, husbands, housework and the occasional loneliness of being home alone with just little people to talk to is a necessity.  These women are my lifeline.   So when I was asked if I was interested in becoming a VBE, I jumped at the opportunity.  This group has given me so much I wanted nothing more then to be able to give right back.  And although the whole point of our group is the art of Babywearing, it is so much more.  We've shared sickness and health, pregnancies, childbirth, surrogacies, and children's birthday parties.  We've fought depressions, shared in one another's joys, late night conversations, tears and lots and lot of laughs.  It's real life.  And it's the good life.  Come for the lessons.  Stay for the rich friendships you will undoubtedly gain along the way. 

New Membership Cards and Business Cards!

Have you ever been out and about and ran into a fellow babywearer in the wild and didn't know exactly how to approach them but you were DYING to?  Well our new business cards make it super easy! 

The fun "Hey, Babywearer!" greeting does the talking for you by being built right in and includes all of our BWI of Cleveland hot spots.  Now it is easier then ever to invite new faces to our awesome group!  Tell them how fun out meetings are; not only do the Mommies and caregivers get awesome Grown-up time, but it is a playdate for all of our Littles!  Doesn't get much better then that in my opinion!  Be sure to grab a stack at your next meeting and start handing these babies out!

If you have attended any of our August meetings you may already be familiar with a new addition to being a Paid member of BWI of Cleveland- your very own Membership Card!  In the beginning when we were a small group just starting out, it was super easy to know everyone by name and face that was attending all of our meetings and events.  But with our huge growth over the last year, both in Leadership and Members (we have over 100 paying members and climbing!!) we discovered that Membership Cards were the way to go! 

 

These cards can be picked up at any of our meetings, so please see a VBE to get yours!  We will even personalize it for you ;)  These cards will need to be presented any time you wish to check out a carrier from our Lending Library and also for any Member's Only events and discounts that you wish to take advantage of.  So once you have yours, stick it in your wallet so you know where it is at all times. 

 

We are super excited about the amazing growth our chapter has experienced and look forward to sharing all the amazing changes and opportunities that will available to you all in the very near future.  So please stay tuned! 

 

 

If you are not currently a paid member to BWI of Cleveland and want to join to take advantage of our Lending Library and other benefits or you just wish hear more about it, please ask!  Us VBE's can talk about our group all day long!  

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!