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.

Wearing While Feeding

Babywearing: the greatest invention ever! Giving mamas freedom to move with their child safely attached to their font or back while having two, count em TWO, hands free! Whats not to love am I right?

You can do so many things while wearing; you can keep up with your older child, who may or may not be trying to turn your wall into an easel, wash the dishes, or go on a relaxing walk without having to worry about where baby is or what they are doing, you can even feed your baby in the carrier (this my friends is one of the greatest skills a mom can acquire)!

 If your too late and need some help getting that new drawing off the wall try this----> http://www.howcast.com/videos/161520-How-to-Clean-Crayon-Marks-Off-Painted-Walls

Nursing hands free

As many of you know August is World Breastfeeding month so the focus will be breastfeeding in a carrier but we will also touch on bottle feeding as well.

Many moms plan to breastfeed their babies but may become overwhelmed with how often or how long their new squish is nursing and the amount of time they are sitting stationary. I remember this feeling so well, in the beginning I loved just hanging out and relaxing just nursing my little one but as the dishes piled high and the laundry went unwashed I witnessed first hand my house becoming a squalid mess. Of course during this time I attempted to clean but my sweet newborn needed my attention more (obviously). Everyone encouraged me to not worry about the mess or dishes etc. but it was impossible. If just one person had recommended wearing my baby to do these simple, yet overwhelming, tasks I would have been so much happier.

Co-leader Mary BF her youngest while older sis takes a sleepy ride 

Feeding your baby can be the best at times but occasionally it may feel as if you are shackled to that chair or sofa All Day Long! Feeding in a carrier lets you break those chains and gives you new found freedom to continue that shopping trip, you were almost finished with, without stopping to find a place to sit down.  No more sitting on the couch for hours while baby is camped out for a long feeding during a growth spurt. You now have the ability to spring into action and finish those all important things on your never ending to-do list(s).

Co-leader Ashley nursing youngest out and about

 All 5 types of carriers are adjustable and are all capable to be used for feeding as well. Some may work well for a mom and baby couplet and others may not. Don't be discouraged if it doesn't work out the first time you try; it can take a little practice. If you decide to come to a meeting one of our VBE's ( volunteer babywearing educators) can help you get into a carrier that will work for all your needs including feeding.

Babywearing can help facilitate breastfeeding in many ways. If baby is being worn mom or dad are more readily available to see baby's early hunger cues (hands in the mouth, rooting- searching for the breast, or even smacking their lips) and respond quickly. Having a calm mama and baby can ease breastfeeding as well so knowing the early cues and responding promptly can make a world of difference. 

1 week old ZA practicing skin to skin while BF

Skin to skin during babywearing can help mama's milk production by stimulating milk producing hormones for mom.








Babywearing still can come in handy for the older nursling too. It is easy for them to stay hydrated or reconnect with mom after a scrape on the play ground or during a emotionally overwhelming incident.

My big girl BF after a long hot trip to the zoo

Maybe mom is a little overwhelmed about nursing in public and needs a better option than a blanket to nurse discretely. Breastfeeding in a carrier can be so discrete at times people you come in contact with may not even know you are nursing your child.

Safety

While feeding in your carrier there are a few safety issues to always check for. Remember baby should always be in a natural position mimicking in arms of the caregiver; the only exception to this rule is when baby is feeding. Always double check that no fabric is covering baby's airways and baby's chin is off of his/her chest (no grunting noises). While nursing in a carrier check often to make sure baby's airways are clear for easy breathing and more efficient milk transfer.

How to breastfeed in your carrier

 Many mothers ask how do I breastfeed in a carrier? Well the answer isn't always simple because it can vary depending on the age, ability, or baby and the type of carrier mom and baby are wearing. For SSC's ,like the Ergo, it is usually easiest to loosen one shoulder strap then scoot baby (and carrier) to the breast on the loose side to breastfeed. For a ringsling some prefer a upright position and others prefer a cradle carry so this will also depend on the way you like to nurse. First lower baby by pulling on the bottom ring to loosen the carrier, make sure there is at least one hand on baby during this step. Next position baby either upright or to the side in a cradle position and latch baby on. Then tighten the ringsling to have a little more support for mom and baby.  Mei tai's and wraps are very similar to the process decribed for the SSC. You would untie and loosen the straps by bouncing/shifting baby to one side while lowering baby. Retie when you are in a optimal nursing position. With a Pouch Sling most women prefer to nurse baby in the cradle position. Making a few adjustments and shifting baby to a cradle position is the usual protocol.

Need a visual for adjusting a wrap to be able to nurse? Check out my tutorial for half FWCC--> HERE!

What do I do after baby is done nursing?

Put baby back into a upright position where their chin is off their chest and baby is close enough to kiss the top of their sweet smelling noggin.

1st position before or after feeding, 2nd position BF in a RS, 3rd position bottle nursing

Other Feeding/Bottle Nursing

Moms who use bottles can also feed in a carrier. This mom from VA explains the process of bottle feeding in a carrier well, " I found it easy to put my babies in a carrier to bottle feed and to then have one hand free. To bottle feed, place your baby in a carrier and lower him or her just enough to give space for the bottle. If I am holding the bottle I find it most comfortable to place my hand underneath and up into the carrier to hold the bottle. It simulates nursing well and we can gaze into each other’s eyes, or I can wipe something off of my 3 year old’s face, or assist my 6 year old in researching the state flower of Virginia. Most importantly there are many ways we can feed our babies in a loving way and still accomplish all the tasks we need to throughout our day." Bottle nursing in this fashion can promote bonding with caregivers when breastfeeding doesn't work, isn't possible, or isn't the right choice for a family. Just because you are not breastfeeeding, doesn't mean your baby can't enjoy the bonding benefits of being held while feeding.  And just because you want to hold baby and bottle nurse doesn't mean you have to give up accomplishing others tasks.


Happy wearing and feeding, mamas!


Sarah Murray VBE,BFPC

Baby, It's Hot Outside! - Your Guide to Summer Babywearing

Baby, It’s Hot Outside!

Staying cool by enjoying Popsicles at the Farmer's Market 

Let’s face it one of the top concerns, other than basic safety questions is, “but won’t we be hot?!” when discussing babywearing. This is especially a common concern in the South, where I happen to live. Sometimes, starting in May, temperatures can get up up 80-90 degrees. In July and August it’s not uncommon to see temps in the 100’s.  I’m not the type of person that spends my life indoors either. .

Again, let’s face it, there are also some  real concerns associated with being too hot so we need to address a few good tips, some good tricks, and some overall good practices when it comes to babywearing in the heat.


Babywearing in the Water
Any time it’s about 85 degrees I like to have water available. Thankfully because I am in the South there are no shortages of splash pads, water parks, pools, and other streams and creeks that one can find themselves near to cool off when needed.
Water comes with its own potential dangers that I do take very seriously so it is important to me to be very cautious of this element during the warmer months. One of my favorite ways to keep the baby cool with me AND safe is to use a babywearing product designed for water wear. My personal favorite is a babywearing water sling which is made out of a mesh sturdy material that threads through two rings and drapes over the wearers body, allowing you to drop the baby into a ‘pocket’ created with the fabric against your body. You can either wear baby tummy-to-tummy against your chest or an older baby with head control can be moved onto your hip.
The water sling is wonderful for splash pads or other shallow water scenarios to allow baby to get wet and enjoy the water without the safety concern of drowning. A water sling can be used in SHALLOW WATER but should never be used to “swim” with the baby attached to your body. If you are able to comfortably stand in the water with it coming no further than the babies waist in the sling you should be okay aside from places the ground could drop off or the water moves quickly. These are places children should not be enjoying the water at all.

Getting ready to play in the sprinklers in our water sling

There is another product called a Water Wrap which is made from a long piece of mesh sturdy material which is wrapped around the users body and baby to secure them closely just as the sling. Some people prefer the wrap over the sling because the wrap allows a two shoulder carry versus the single shoulder on the sling.

Knoxville CoLeader Carrie
in her Water Wrap

Both of these options are amazing when you have a smaller baby and older children to watch over. You don’t want to be stuck on the side lines with a stroller in the heat while your other kids are out in the water having fun without you! (Or possible dangerous situations where you could not get to them easily)

Some more fun ideas that other moms have used are; the Bali Breeze wraps which are made of thin gauze cotton that dries quickly and the ever creative mom using a beach towel for torso

Torso Carry using a beach
towel by co-leader Ashley

carries on the beach as needed.

The pod is a lot like a mei tai and tends to be
fairly cool in the summer months

Which Carrier is Best?
There are a lot of personal preferences for this question. In general there are some specific products made for babywearing in the heat.
Ergo makes a soft structure carrier that has a panel in the back to allow breathability called the Ergo Performance. It is a lighter weight and less padded option than the original Ergo to make it cooler in the summer or when being used out on hikes or walks.
Boba makes a product called the Boba Air which is made of a very thin, super strong material that provides the option of folding it into its own tiny built in carrying bag which folds down super small and can be dropped in about any bag. However, most people do find that it is not as supportive as the regular Boba soft structure carrier.
Bamberoo soft structure carriers have a product line that includes a middle paneling of Solarveil which is a very light weight almost mesh fabric that makes the carrier very breathable. Solarveil is however no longer being created so the only way to find these products are on the used markets.
Kinderpacks are another popular SSC carry brand that offers a Cool Knit and Comfort Mesh options for the heat.
Many people enjoy Mei Tai’s and Pods during the summer months without having to purchase a specific carrier just for the summer as well.

My Eldest wearing
my second in a Mei
Tai at a Street Festival

When Talking About Wovens, What materials and carries are best?
First, there are again some specific brands that market to keeping you and baby cool. The Bali Breeze is the most known of those choices. They are made of cotton gauze and are very lightweight.
Other than that the material will be the most important when choosing a woven wrap for the heat. Linen is often looked upon as the coolest material to use in the heat. I have found that linen is helpful but it also needs to be a thinner wrap such as Vatani, Ellaroo and some of the thinner Ellevill Zara’s, like Triblue. Cotton is often the second choice with Dolcino and India Jani being at the top of the list.

Ellevil Zara tends to be
light and airy

Now that you have an idea on material, let’s talk about sizing and carries to look for.
I find the less the material the better when it comes to a true woven wrap. (The Breeze is a tad different as it is so lightweight you’ll want several passes) so shorties, wraps size 4 and under, are most often preferred. If you are very new to wrapping you might want to choose the longer side of short as shorties can be a little harder to get the hang of.
A simple easy carrier to do with even the shortest of wraps is the Rebozo carry which is fashioned much like a sling, instead using a knot to secure a fit. It’s a single pass carry that will help keep the wearer and the baby cool.
Another favorite of mine is the strap carry which goes across the baby’s back, under the arms (must be used for babies with good trunk control only) and then crosses under the bum to keep them in

The Strap Carry 

but only uses a thin strap instead of full body coverage.
The Reinforced Rear Ruck Rebozo (Also known as the “Pirate Carry or RRRR) is also a very common summer back carry which is great with short wraps and does not create very much material over wearer and baby.
Sticking with less passes over the user and baby is generally going to keep everyone the coolest.

What are some other ways to keep cool and protect baby from the heat?

First dress the part. This is for both you and the baby. Keep baby in less clothing. Cute outfits are great and serve a purpose but if baby is riding with you no one is going to see them anyway. Some people will leave baby in a diaper alone. Others may opt for a light onesie or T-Shirt. You can always add clothing when baby is not in the carrier. The same will apply to you. Many people will prefer to wear a light tank top when wearing in the summer. If you or your baby tends to get extra sweaty and sticky you might opt for a light t-shirt.
Everyone needs to stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water yourself. If you are nursing, nurse frequently. Make sure everyone is taking in lots of fluids.
Another important tip to wearing in the summer is big floppy hats. You can provide sun coverage to both you and baby in a great big floppy hat and they are never out of fashion in the South ;-) Baby can wear their own adorable little sunhats too. 

Ashley using a DIY linen sling
and a cute summer hat 

Wear sunscreen and if baby is old enough they can use some too. If not be aware of body parts that are in the sun and use a thin muslin like blanket to keep the direct sun off of their tender skin. Thin babylegs and similar options are also better than having no protection from the hot summer sun. There are products such as the Peekaru Ozone and Monkey Products which can be used to protect the baby’s skin in a carrier as well.
Wet everyone down. Use spray bottles to spritz yourself and baby on occasion. Remember sweat is your friend. You can wet down the muslin blanket to keep baby cooler. Or use specific products like the Frog Toggle or Water Bandanas. Anything you can wet down and drape over baby or lay across the back of neck and shoulders are going to be your friend.
More than anything you need to be smart about being out in the summer months. Find shade and shelter. When possible avoid going out during peak sunny hours. Be aware of how both you and your children are reacting to the summer heat.

We hope you enjoy the summer! 

Happy Father's Day to all our babywearing daddies!

Happy Father's Day from Babywearing International of Knoxville!

Dads and Baby Wearing

Like most, I was reluctant to start baby wearing. Scratch that... I absolutely did not want to do it. I don't know if it was a masculinity thing or an apathy thing, but nonetheless, I did NOT want to wear a baby.

My wife got into the whole thing when our eldest daughter was six months old. She got a knockoff brand Ergo and I used it a couple of times before the buckle broke and made it a safety hazard. Luckily, no kids were injured and we learned that if you are going to wear your child, invest a little more than 16 bucks because it's well worth it. I think of it like I think of guitars. You can absolutely find a cheap Burswood or Peavy guitar to play and get the job done, but the more you invest, say like in a Parker or Gibson, the better the guitar will be. There are exceptions to every rule, of course, but for the purposes of this blog, let's just say that it's worth it to do your homework and get something good. If you are going to go with something cheap and it breaks, you're still just wasting money. not cool.

So we forked out the cash and got an actual Ergo and it was immediately more comfortable, for me and baby.
     So I used that for a while, but while I was still getting comfortable with the idea of baby wearing, my wife had already discovered the very large realm of wraps, pods, ring slings, and wrap conversions. I quickly learned that there is a LOT to this whole baby wearing thing, and I had just scratched the surface.
     Then I discovered how amazing a pod is. A pod is essentially two long straps and a flap that becomes the baby's seat. AMAZING!!!!

Ok, overenthusiastic. I get it. But still, this thing got some serious daily use.
     When our second young un' was born, we were in an awkward phase for the pod. Big One was a little big for it to be terribly comfortable for long periods of time; while Little One was a little too small to enjoy it. So I learned a few new tricks. I'll admit, I can really only do one carry with a regular wrap. The front wrap cross carry (FWCC in wrapper lingo). It's the only one I know, but it is effective. I am proud to say that Little One only wants me to lay her down to sleep now because I would use the FWCC to lull her to sleep every night as an infant (I totally played NCAA football until well after she fell asleep on multiple occassions).
      We then had a few wraps converted into different things: ring slings, full buckles, etc... I now have a hot pink full buckle that I use nearly every day. Both kids fit in it well, and it is very fast and handy. I took Aria to the Orange and White game this year (GBO!), and if that carrier hadn't paid for itself by that point, it certainly earned its keep that day. We parked about a mile from the stadium. I wore her all the way to Neyland Stadium; then let her down at our seats to enjoy the game. No big stroller to push, and no worrying about her being trampled. After the event I put her back on my back for the trek back to the car. She passed out before I made it to the sidewalk and dangled limply (and happily) all the way back to the car.

     Look, I'm not going to try to convince every dad out there to wear their kids. Although, it is a fact that wearing kids will lead to a 76% increase of chicks checking you out. I will say that if you are too cool to try it, you are doing things the hard way. Oh, I'll just carry her/him sounds nice and easy until you have another kid (or two... or three) or several things to carry simultaneously. To be fair, you have a kid. You will ALWAYS have a lot to carry. Everyday tasks just become easier. Cleaning with a little one screaming at your feet or shopping with a child afflicted by Restless Leg Syndrome can be at least combated in a comfortable way.

       So all that to say, try babywearing. Seriously, it's awesome. And manly.

ALSO CHECK OUT MY AWESOME MEI TAI INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO HERE

Our May Monthly Meeting

We met for our first official day meeting on Friday May 2nd at Burlington Library.  It was a wonderful turnout with about 30 adults with their little ones attending.  One of our leaders, Ashley Teller demonstrated a Front Wrap Cross Carry with her newborn.  A video tutorial can be found here on our YouTube channel for those practicing at home https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuxzD5mMIzQ  We were also very honored to have Ali James of the Knoxville News Sentinel with us.  She wrote a wonderful article about our group that was featured on the front of the family section on Saturday May 10th.  If you subscribe to them you can check out the article here http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2014/may/09/hold-me-close-moms-meet-to-share-babywearing-and/

BWI of Knoxville at the Knoxville Natural Parenting Expo

 

 

Babywearing International of Knoxville was super excited to be a part of the Knoxville Natural Parenting Expo for our first year on Saturday April 26th at the Knoxville Convention Center.  The event was put on by our local natural parenting store, Bohemian Baby.  The convention center was full of moms, dads, and caregivers, many of whom were babywearing, checking out tables with local goods and resources in the local natural parenting community.  Our table was full all day with people asking questions about wearing and wanting to know more about our group.  It was very exciting to see so much interest.  BWI of Knoxville also had the priviledge of being showcased in a babywearing fashion show on the main stage.  One of our leaders, Carrie Plemons, did a fabulous job MCing as several members modeled a variety of carriers for the crowd.  It was a great success!  We look forward to being a part of the expo again next year!