Friday, August 15, 2014

Member of the Month - August

Introducing Our August Member of the Month! 

Good Snuggles to be found with Babywearing

Let's start simple; your name, children's names and ages?

Brittany Ridley, Clay (1 year)

How long have you been wearing?

I have been wearing Clay since he was born.

What led you to Babywearing and how has it changed your parenting? 

I liked the idea of wearing my baby, to help make it easier for my husband and I to go hiking and not have to carry him when we knew we would be on our feet. I bought a K’Tan because it was on sale, and looked similar to a Moby, though I had no idea what it was or how to use it. I just knew it didn’t cost as much as a Moby or a Baby Bjorn.

Have you had an interesting Babywearing experience you'd like to share?
Enjoying the freedom for walks

I think the most interesting experience I had was trying to wrap a baby at over 5000ft on a mountain bald (grassy, tree-less area on top of a mountain), in high winds. I nearly lost the wrap to the wind a couple of times, but go him wrapped on my back after a minute or two. It wasn’t even my wrap, so that was definitely scary.


What is your favorite carrier and why do you prefer it?

I definitely love my wraps (size 2 and 4) because I like how versatile they are. I do LOVE my Tula for hiking and as something easy for my husband to use, but I prefer how snuggly I can get Clay in my wraps.

Do you feel like you have support from family and friends on wearing your baby? 

My friends and family may at times think I’m silly, but they cannot deny how happy he is when he is being worn and how much it calms him down when he is tired or grumpy. I am fortunate not to get negative feedback from him. I think they just think it’s silly, but it works, so no need to fuss about it. What do you like to spend time doing aside from babywearing and spending time with your kiddo(s)? I work full time for a local company, and do enjoy my team there. In my off time, I LOVE to spend time in the mountains in Tellico (close to my home in Sweetwater). Tennessee is such a beautiful state and I make a point to enjoy it as often as possible. I also just love to spend time with friends and family. They bless my life.

What is your favorite thing about living in Knoxville? 

Well, I actually live in Sweetater, but love East Tennessee as a whole because the climate is amazing. I grew up in northern Illinois and don’t miss the flat land or the SNOW. I do miss black dirt, but I can deal with the red clay if it means I get mountains to play on.

What's your favorite cartoon from childhood?


This is a tough question, because I liked several… Looney Tunes was definitely up there, but more than cartoons I really enjoyed Wallace and Gromit clay-mation shows and ANYTHING Jim Hensen (Muppets, Sesame Street, Fairy Tale Theater, etc.)

Gotta have some juicy in every interview right? Tell us one guilty pleasure of yours? 

Driving to nowhere. I don’t care what gas costs, but when I need to relax I just drive for hours. I never have a destination, just pick a road and go until I feel like turning onto another one. This is usually a 2 or 3 hour event, since I feel like turning around after about an hour or more.

What do you like best about BWI? 

I like that there is a place to refer any care-giver that wants more information about babywearing - whether they know it as a term or just an action. It just makes it easier to share knowledge in person then through selfies on the internet.

What would you like to see in the future with BWI? 

I would like to see it grow into something helpful and easily accessible to folks from all areas of town (and across East Tennessee). I hope to see us add enough VBEs and other educators to branch out and help share this child-rearing blessing to more and more families.

What's the cutest habit of your kiddos you feel the need to share with the world? 
Look at that cute face peeking out! 

His ability to giggle at anything, with great enthusiasm. He is so smiley and giggly, it’s infectious. I try to emulate that personality, because it’s nearly impossible to be upset with so much smiling and laughing going on. Let's be open ended and vague to close: anything else you just want to tell us about yourself? I’m pretty easy going. I look for the best in everyone, because their story is not my own and they have a reason behind their actions. I’m always looking to improve on things I know, and learn things I don’t. I may not agree with everyone about everything (because that would be a lie), but I will agree that we have different opinions and share information or just avoid talking about it if that subject starts an argument. I can be friends with people who have different opinions, as long as we have something to share. There is so much that can be learned from others, there is no reason to lock myself inside a box and hide away. Step out and take a risk and see where it takes you. 

Let's be open ended and vague to close: anything else you just want to tell us about yourself?


I’m pretty easy going. I look for the best in everyone, because their story is not my own and they have a reason behind their actions. I’m always looking to improve on things I know, and learn things I don’t. I may not agree with everyone about everything (because that would make be a lie), but I will agree that we have different opinions and share information or just avoid talking about it if that subject starts an argument. I can be friends with people who have different opinions, as long as we have something to share. There is so much that can be learned from others, there is no reason to lock myself inside a box and hide away. Step out and take a risk and see where it takes you.