Where we Wore in November!

BWI Colorado Springs, here is where we wore in November!

Erin C. and her sidekick enjoy small business Saturday while downtown using her Girasol Catfish woven wrap. 

Gabriela M.'s husband snuggles their daughter in a Didymos Woven Wrap. 

Gabriela M. and her sleeping daughter using their woven wrap on Thanksgiving day. 

Patti S. and her sweet sleepy girl while strolling around IKEA on Black Friday. 

Sarah L.and her son enjoy a fun day at the zoo. 

Where We Wore in September and October!

BWI Colorado Springs, here is where we wore in September and October!

Amy L. wears her baby for a stroll around Garden of the Gods. 

Alena S. wears her daughter in a back carry while at the pumpkin patch.

Gabriela M. wears her baby girl while at a meeting in September. 

Jayme P. wears her daughter in a ring sling while at the pumpkin patch.

Jayme P. and her daughter hiking together in September.

Jayme P.'s husband wears their daughter in their ring sling while at the coffin races. 

Sarah L. and her son picking apples in September while using a woven wrap.

International Babywearing Week 2014: Share the Adventure!

BWI Colorado Springs!

This year is our first International Babywearing Week as an official chapter! See our events timeline below for the week of October 5-11th, 2014. It's not too far away and we can't wait to see you all at these exciting events planned just for you by your BWI Staff.

Everyday on our Facebook pages, we will have a different theme to celebrate! And for every actual event you attend you will receive a raffle ticket to enter for some AMAZING prizes! Mark your calendar for as many events as you can to up your chances for things like a gorgeous Ring sling, a BWI membership, and more! If you're not already a BWI member, what a better time than now to join! If you join by International Babywearing Week, you and other existing members will receive TWO raffle tickets for every event you attend, instead of one!

Shout it Out Sunday, October 5th- Join us for a kick-off day at the zoo! Starting at 10am. Meet at the front gate to spend the day with your fellow babywearers! Click here to RSVP!

Momentum Monday, October 6th- Join us for food and fun at a BWI member's house from 10am-12pm. Food and drinks provided. Contact a BWI VBE or group admin for location information. Click here to RSVP! 

Also, join us on Facebook Monday evening for a fun virtual scavenger hunt! Watch the Page for details. 

Teach Me Tuesday, October 7th- Do you have a question for one of our VBE's? For just $10, you can get 20 minutes of personal one-on-one instruction to help get your carrier fitting just right. Please follow this link to RSVP and fill out a registration form. All proceeds benefit your chapter!

Tuesday evening, join us on Facebook for a Do-It-Yourself Babywearing Poncho Session. No-sew fleece and an Intermediate level sewing options will be available. Post your pics online as you create your very own poncho for the upcoming colder season! 

Work-out Wednesday, October 8th- Join us for a Babywearing dance class! Taught by our very own Galen D. from 9:30-10:30am. Click here to RSVP and make sure you are able to attend due to limited space. 

America the Beautiful Park Playdate, also wednesday, at 3pm. Come wear those babies! RSVP here!

Throwback Thursday, October 9th- Two events planned for this day! The first is a playdate at Judge Lunt Park at 9am! And then that afternoon we have an Ice Cream Social from 2:30-3:30. We will all grab some ice cream at Josh and John's and take some time to chat! See both events here and RSVP: IBW Park Playdate and IBW Ice Cream Social. 

Flexible Friday, October 10th- Come walk with us! Our Babywearing Walk will be at Bear Creek Park at 10am. For a map, details, and to RSVP click here!

Share your City Saturday, October 11th- Come to our "Donut party!!" See you at the Fountain Library for coffee and donuts! We will be raffling off all of our week's prizes. Join us from 9:30-11am. Click here to RSVP if you are coming. We want to make sure we have plenty of treats for everyone!

Don't forget to like our Facebook page and join our Facebook group! All events are listed in the events tabs. Find the next BWI meeting near you! We look forward to knowing you better!

Ways to get baby on your back

If you've been wearing your baby for awhile, you might find yourself getting curious about wearing baby on your back. Having two hands free with baby behind you can be invaluable. But we have to put the safety of our kiddos first and foremost. (If you're new to back carrying, please use the help of a spotter or practice over a couch or bed.) 

Here are some great videos to demonstrate how you get a baby on your back depending on your carrier type. 

Soft Structured Carriers are great options for back carrying. The waist belt can offer a lot of back support, and padded straps can make for a comfy wearing experience. Once you have the waist strap secured around your waist, you can use a "hip scoot" or a "superman toss" to get baby into the carrier on your back. Watch this video to see how it's done.

Woven Wraps are incredibly useful and versatile when back carrying. With some practice, you can get baby high and snug on your back. This can alleviate a lot of the discomfort that comes from having them too low or far from your body in other carriers. There are numerous back carries you can use with a woven wrap. A Mei Tai  is a lot like a SSC (soft structured carrier), but has the great comfort qualities of a woven wrap. For both a woven wrap and a mei tai, you can use a "hip scoot," "santa toss," or a "superman toss." The video below gives a great rundown of these methods. 

Again, remember to use a spotter or practice over a bed if you're new to back wearing. If you still have some questions, ask a Volunteer Babywearing Educator on our BWI Facebook page, or come to our next BWI Colorado Springs meeting! We look forward to seeing you there to answer your questions and get to know you better!

Where We Wore in July

Here's where we wore in July!

Katie K. wears and sits on a turtle replica while visiting an aquarium in Iowa. 

Lyz B. and her sweet boys while visiting the Emerald Coast in Northwest Florida.

Sarah L. and her kiddos have a fun day at the zoo.

February Meeting

Join us in February at the Cheyenne Mountain Library, on Tuesday, February 4th. This meeting is from 10:00am-12:00pm and everyone is welcome to attend. This meeting will be great if you'd like a basic run down of babywearing, different types of carriers and how to best use them. Bring your kids, carriers, and questions. Look forward to seeing you all there!

January Meeting

Thank you to all the ladies that joined us for our January meeting at the East Library. The kiddos got to play, moms got time to visit, and we practiced Robin's Hip Carry. See the video below if you'd like a second look or if you weren't able to make the meeting. The group will be having more frequent meetings throughout the month and at different locations around the area. If you weren't able to make this meeting at East Library, join us at the next meeting!



Group members ready their wraps to try Robin's Hip Carry.

 

Jenni S. wears her sweet sleepy newborn in a hip carry.

 

Stella K. and Natalie C. look on as group leader, Jillian, demonstrates a carry.

Molly R. and Amanda J. practice the carry of the month. 

Group leader, Jillian D., assists Xina P. with her hip carry.

One of our littlest members babywearing. :)

Erica N. tries out a mei tai from the lending library.

December Meeting

By Lauren B.

Thank you to those of you that were able brave the snowy weather for our December meeting. For those of you that opted to stay nice and warm at home with your little ones, no worries! You can try out this month's carry with the video below. "Christina's Ruckless Back Carry," demonstrated by Jillian D. at the meeting, can be used with a size 4, 5, or 6 woven wrap. 

Happy wrapping! Hope to see you all at the next meeting in the new year. Have a wonderful holiday with your families. 



  

Cora K. spots Sarah M. while trying the carry of the month.



Lauren M. looks on as Jillian D. demonstrates a back carry.

Jillian D. wraps her toddler.



Cora K.'s sweet toddler enjoys time on Mommy's back.

Lauren M. wears her baby girl in a Beco Gemini.

Jillian D. assists Sarah M.'s husband, Aaron, with a soft structured carrier.



Ladies at the meeting chat about different carriers they like to use.

Where We Wore in October

Jillian D. dresses up her toddler (and Kinderpack) in a ladybug costume for a Halloween party.

Paula R. wears her two year old on a walk in a Golden Thread Mistress wrap (woven by group leader Marcia S.) while on vacation in California.

Isabel T. wears her son on vacation in New York.  Her wrap is a Didymos Natural Linen Indio (dyed curry to merlot by Color Dip Studios).

Jessa Z. wears her ten-month-old son in an Ergo at the zoo.  

Jen C. (who has recently started the Jared plan) walks to Subway with her son in a Little Frog wrap.  

Tiffany S. wears her baby in a Moby while visiting giraffes during Boo at the Zoo.

Jillian D. wears her youngest in a KoKaDi Glamour Stars wrap at a pumpkin patch.

Jessa Z. takes her son "Captain America" trick-or-treating.

Babywearing Men of Colorado Springs!

Nicole R.'s husband Kris wears their son in a WAHM ring sling in between playing darts.

"Well, I only have two hands."  --Maureen S.'s husband  (He made the mei tai himself!)

"I just like [babywearing] because of being able to use two hands.  Also, when the kid falls asleep in it, it's awesome.  You can't beat snuggling with your kid while getting stuff done."  --Amanda J.'s husband Jake

Marie C.'s husband mini-golfs while wearing their son.

Jillian D.'s husband wears their youngest while shopping for electronics.  

Sarah M.'s husband Aaron wears their son while shopping.  

"He loves to wear him out on family trips.  I think he secretly likes the doe-eyed looks from other women."  -- Carey V., about her husband

Stella K.'s husband Stan wears their daughter while out and about.

Group Member Feature: Nicole R.

Nicole captures moments at the Balloon Classic 2013.
(Photo taken by her husband, Kris)

As many moms know, it can be hard to keep with your hobbies when you have a needy infant who needs a lot of your time and attention. There may be constant interruptions that come with having to put down your project to feed your child or give him or her a much-needled cuddle in your arms. Crocheting or knitting with an awake child means that your yarn may get tangled or your work quickly undone with one quick yank. Scrapbooking means your expensive paper may get snatched by grubby little hands or even snacked on. But group member Nicole R. has got it down. Photography is her hobby and for her, taking gorgeous photographs a is very doable while wearing her six month old son, Kyler.

Nicole is a "stay-at-home" mom (except you know, not really, since she does have two school-aged kids), but still takes on photography sessions on occasion for her friends.   

"I am not working currently. Just spending time with my kids and when I have the opportunity I take photos for mostly friends right now as more of a hobby," she says.  "I hope to one day make it [photography] my career as I learn and grow more but right now I am doing it mostly for fun."

She takes her youngest with her on casual photo shoots, as well as the ones she does for favors, if her friends don't mind.  Even on days when her husband is home, "it ends up being easier anyway because I am still breastfeeding and Kyler doesn't (or more so won't) take any bottle I have offered," she says.  "I have brought him to a handful of photo shoots and he has luckily always been so good and calm through the whole shoot."

Nicole has also had the opportunity to photograph family portraits that feature babywearing.

"I love catching parents, siblings, etc interacting with their child while babywearing and seeing that bond that ties them together being so close," she says.  "It goes hand in hand with photographing breastfeeding. There is just something so special to capture that moment, because before you know it your kids are nine and seven and running away from you and you reflect back to when they were tiny and wish to relive that moment again."

Nicole recently shot group member Sarah M.'s
family photos.

Nicole recently participated in a photography event called ClickinWalk.  Although she originally had reservations about taking her youngest, babywearing allowed her to easily take him with her while exploring the city.

"The ClickinWalk was awesome. It was my first one and I am so glad I went," she said.  "I debated on bringing the baby because I wasn't sure how it was going to go but I am glad in the end I chose to bring him. My daughter came along as well and we had a great time walking around Manitou snapping away. It's so nice when you find a group of people that share the same interest as you and are as passionate about it. All the moms were so calm and easy going and there was one other mom [CEO of Clickin Moms, Sarah Wilkerson] who was wearing her daughter...So it was nice seeing another mom wearing her baby too."

To check out more of Nicole's photography, you can go to her Facebook page, NicoleRenee Photography.

**This post was written by Paula R.

Garden of the Gods Photoshoot

We had a photography session at the Garden of the Gods today.  One of our longtime members, Gretchen M., took these beautiful photographs.