Meet Your BWI Staff!

Meet Erin Carpenter, another one of our awesome VBEs!

Name: Erin C.
Ages of kids: M, 22 months (Two in February!)
Where are you originally from?: Huntington Beach, CA
How long have you been baby wearing?: Since M was a few days old. I knew I wanted to babywear, but getting my husband on board initially was a struggle. He tried M in a Moby and loved it! It's been downhill from there - SSCs, ring slings, and finally into the world of woven wraps when she turned a year old. Now that we're approaching two, I have my first wrap conversion mei tai (WCMT) in the works and I'm eager to put it to good use!
How long have you been a Volunteer Babywearing Educator/in Training?: I made VBE status one of my 2015 goals, and by mid-January, I had it in the bag! I am a teacher in my civilian career, so sharing my love of babywearing comes naturally to me. I love seeing other caregivers discover the benefits of babywearing and the bond that comes with it. 
What's your favorite type of carrier or go-to carry?: When it comes to grocery store runs, we love our toddler Kinderpack. I was delighted to hear that my husband continued that routine of ours when I was away at military training. When it comes to woven wraps, my favorite carries are Half Jordan's Back Carry (HJBC) and Double Rebozo Shoulder to Shoulder (DRS2S).  
What BWing obstacle/challenge/goal would you like to tackle/master next?: I am looking forward to falling in love with my WCMT and becoming proficient with different ways to tie it off.
What hobbies do you enjoy when you're not babywearing?: Reading, running, dancing, traveling (well, that's done while BWing too).
What are your future goals?: To continue to pursue my love of babywearing and sweet talk my daughter into being a willing participant for as long as I possibly can!

Meet Your BWI Staff!

Hey everyone! Meet another one of our very talented VBEs, Galen Duffy. Galen is in charge of our group's babywearing education. If you've ever wanted to know more about becoming a VBE too, contact her via Facebook today!

                                    

Name: Galen Duffy

Ages of kids: 4, 2, and one month

Where are you originally from?: DC

How long have you been babywearing?: 4 years

How long have you been a Volunteer Babywearing Educator/in Training?: 3 years

What's your favorite type of carrier or go-to carry?: I love Kangaroo and HJBC in a woven, 
and also love my ring slings.

What BWing obstacle/challenge/goal would you like to tackle/master next?: I'm devoted to making babywearing accessible and normal, and am looking for new ways to introduce babywearing to communities within COS. Also, my goal for the year is to be able to do a freestanding handstand again.

What hobbies do you enjoy when you're not babywearing?: Yoga, knitting, reading (in all of my quiet time - Ha!), and running

Meet Your BWI Staff!

Meet one of our rocking VBEs, Natalie Cross! 

Ages of Kids: 11, almost 4, and 18 months.

Where are you originially from?: My father was air force, so I'm from everywhere!

How long have you been babywearing?: Technically 11 years, but really only seriously for 4. I wore my oldest in an SSC when she was very small, but didn't start using wraps or other carrier types until #2 was born. 

How long have you been a Volunteer Babywearing Educator/in Training?: I've been officially volunteering with the group since our affiliation in 2014, but only teaching since June. 

What's your favorite type of carrier or go-to carry?: I can't pick a favorite! I love everything depending on the situation, but my most used carrier/carry right now is my Ringsling, and a half JBC using a short wrap. 

What BWing obstacle/challenge/goal would you like to tackle/master next?: I'd like to figure out how to do a Kangaroo Carry propersly. That shoulder flip is my arch nemesis. 

What hobbies do you enjoy when you're not babywearing?: Don't you mean "what hobbies do you have 4 minutes to enjoy, because you can strap a kid on and have a moments peace?" haha. I like to sew, and I homeschool my oldest, which is actually fun quite a lot of the time. I can't wait until all three of the kids are old enough to participate. 

What are your future goals?: I am working toward becoming an Advanced Babywearing Educator with BWI, and then in the future also becoming an MBE. 

Meet Your BWI Staff!

Meet Alena, our go-to girl for all things DIY Babywearing (Do-it-yourself)!

Name: Alena Sutherland

Ages of Kids: 3 and 1

Where are you from originally?: Sioux Falls, SD

How long have you been babywearing?: I've been babywearing since my oldest was 2 weeks old. 

How long have you been a Volunteer Babywearing Educator?: I've been "training" since that first meeting in August or September. I've been DIY-ing since just before my son's first birthday. 

What's your favorite type of carrier or go-to carry?: I flip flop between a Mei Tai and ling size 4 or 5 woven wrap. Double Hammock with a Candy Cane Chest Belt (DH CCCB) is the carry I always do. Seriously, always. 

What BWing obstacle/challenge/goal would you like to master next?: My next goal is to weave my own wrap. Or weave the most marshmallowy rainbow fabric you've ever touched and covert it to a Mei Tai. 

What hobbies do you enjoy when you're not wearing?: Lots of crafty things: sewing, crocheting, paper quilling. 

What are your future goals?: Make sure my kiddos grow up into good people and figure out what I want to be when I grow up. 

Meet Your BWI Staff!

Meet Your BWI Staff!

In this post, meet Bailey Hornback!

Name: Bailey Hornback, Advanced Babywearing Educator

Ages of Kids: 3 1/2 and almost 2

Where are you from originally?: Springfield, MO

How long have you been babywearing?: I started wearing when my youngest was a newborn. It was a necessity when a I had a newborn and a 21 month old at home to chase. I tried to wear with my oldest, but was using a carrier that was uncomfortable for us, so I just gave up. 

How long have you been a Volunteer Babywearing Educator?: 1 year

What's your favorite type of carrier or go-to carry?: I like to wrap with woven wraps (right now, I'm loving a size 4). However, now that I have 2 toddlers on my hands I am often sporting a SSC as it is so quick to do ups and downs. My boys seem to need up and then right back down. 

What BWing obstacle/challenge/goal would you like to master next?:  In terms of wearing, I would like to become more proficient in using a ring sling. It is one of those things that I can teach, but can't do. I have a new ring sling coming and I am determined to become more comfortable with them myself. In terms of being a babywearing educator, I have my eyes on becoming a Master Babywearing Educator. I am really passionate about being an educator. Even when my kids are grown up, I can't see myself leaving the babywearing community. I love it too much. 

What hobbies do you enjoy when you're not wearing?: I really don't have a lot of hobbies. I enjoy swimming and doing Zumba at the YMCA. I have also found an appreciation for hiking since we moved to CO. My family also volunteers to walk dogs every week at the local no-kill animal shelter in Pueblo. 

What are your future goals?: My future goals are to get my 2 year old to sleep in his own bed. I would also like to implement a Pueblo babywearing meeting and see it grow to be successful before my time in Pueblo is up. 

Meet Your BWI Staff!

We are excited to introduce a new blog post series of "Meet your BWI Staff!" Our Volunteer Babywearing Educators and Trainees don't always get to meet all of you at our meetings, so what a better way than to introduce ourselves. 

In this post, meet Baxter Snider!

Name: Baxter Snider

Ages of Kids: 4 (Almost 5), 3 and 1

Where are from originally?: Miami, Florida

How long have you been babywearing?: Almost 5 years! My aunt got me a Ring sling to use with my first and I've been slowly branching out with carriers ever since. 

How long have you been a Volunteer Babywearing Educator/In Training?: Haven't started my training yet! 

What's your favorite type of carrier or go-to carry: A size 4 wrap and Galen's quick kangaroo is my go-to. I can always count a wrap nap and a happy nursling. 

What BWing obstacle/challenge/goal would you like to tackle/master next?: Double hammock. I just can't seem to get it right...but I will! I'd really like to keep branching out with my carries in general. 

What hobbies do you enjoy when you're not babywearing:? Hobbies? I don't really have any. I love all things birth! But that's now a job I love and not so much a hobby. Is drinking coffee a hobby? ;) 

What are your future goals?: Become a VBE before we leave CO. I love that babywearing will help me find a new group of friends wherever we end up next. I just hope they are as amazing as the lovely ladies here!!!

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!

July Meeting at East Library

It was so good to see so many new faces at East Library for our July Meeting! Thanks to all who attended. 

We talked a lot about hot weather babywearing and steps you can take to make sure you and baby stay cool. Using carriers that only have one layer like Ringslings or Soft Structured Carriers are really helpful. And if you're using your woven wrap, using carries with single layer passes ensure that baby will be cooler. 

We also discussed cooling towels that you can buy to place between you and baby to help regulate both your body temperatures while wearing. 'Frog Toggs' is a great brand of cooling towel for not a lot of cost. 

Also demonstrated at this meeting was a Torso Carry (also called a Kanga Carry) using a beach towel. If you're at the pool with the kids and you forget your carrier, never fear! You can turn your beach towel into a quick carrier with a few steps. If you've never attempted a back carry, make sure you are comfortable wearing your baby first. Then practice back carrying over a soft surface (like a couch or bed, etc.) and use another person to help spot, if you can. Baby should also be able to sit unassisted while using a back carry. 

If you joined Babywearing International at this meeting, welcome and thank you! Your annual dues of $30 help us expand our library, train our Volunteer Babywearing Educators (VBEs) and help us print materials to get the word out for babywearing! If you haven't yet joined, join here today! $30 also allows you to checkout one carrier from our lending library every month for the year that you've paid dues. A great deal if you're in the market for a new carrier but aren't ready to commit before trying one. BWI membership is also a great gift to someone you know that might be expecting!

Here's some great action shots from the meeting:

Our lending library!

Erin C. tries out a Mei Tai from the lending library.

One of our VBE's, Natalie C. assists an attendee with a back carry.

This sweet little girl is happily wrapped on her mama. 

Erin C. shows off one of her famous sling ring carries!

This cute little guy is comfy in a beach towel torso carry, as demonstrated at our meeting. 

We look forward to seeing everyone at our next meeting, taking place at Cloth Diaper Market on Saturday, July 19th, at 10am. See you all there!

April Meeting at Cloth Diaper Market

We are so glad to be able to have monthly meetings at Cloth Diaper Market. It was another great Saturday meeting, and we were glad to see those of you who were able to make it! The group's V.B.E.s (Volunteer Babywearing Educators) are doing their best to make sure all questions get answered. So bring your concerns or frustrations to our next meeting. They're happy to help! 

As promised, there was a drawing when our chapter reached ten members! Laney K. was the winner at the meeting's drawing. Congratulations, Laney! The next drawing will happen when we reach ten more members. If you haven't yet joined our BWI chapter, click here and pay your annual dues of just $30. Your dues pay for us to spread the babywearing love and grow our lending library. Plus, you get to borrow one of those lending library carriers every month for the year of your membership. Thanks so much for supporting BWI Colorado Springs!