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.

DIY Carriers: Safety first!

If you're thinking of making your own carrier or just shopping for one, this guest post has some great tips and information for safety! 


By: Alena Sutherland

When making or shopping for a carrier, fiber content is a good place to start. I love natural fibers. 100% cotton, 100% linen or a cotton/linen blend is my kind of jam. But not all cotton is created equal. Bottom-weight is what you want. 

What does bottom-weight mean? It means a fabric you would make pants or a skirt out of. So all those lovely, pretty patterns on quilter's cotton are out, very sorry. Don't worry, they can make a great accent panel on a mei-tai or pocket on a ring sling tail.

So, what are safe fabrics? Osnaburg is a popular choice for DIY carriers. Natural in color, it takes to dye easily. It can be found at most Wal-Mart and Hobby Lobby locations, and sometimes JoAnn's. Bottom-weight linen is also a good choice. My friend recommends http://www.fabrics-store.com/ for linen. She says product number IL019 is good for wraps or ring slings and product number 4C22 works well for soft-structured carriers
and mei-tai panels. 

What about tablecloths? I hear about them online a lot...Yes, I love a great tablecloth as much as the next crazy DIY babywearer. 100% cotton is my preferred fiber content. Mahogany Brand on Amazon.com and Threshold brand from Target are a couple great 
brands to try. I love to hunt thrift stores like the Arc for tablecloths too, but have a good feel for fabric weight before you try this if you're new to babywearing DIY. 

How about curtains? If they feel like one of the tablecloths I mentioned above, go for it. Otherwise, take a pass. 

What about bedsheets? Only for emergencies, I say. And then, only doubled. They are too thin and not sturdy enough to hold a seam. 

If wrapping isn't your style, you'll need additional supplies to create the carrier of your dreams. 

What are safe rings for ring slings? I order from slingrings.com. They are saftey and weight tested and approved for babywearing. Multiple pretty colors to choose from and they ship quickly. If you're in a pinch, you can use rings purchased from a feed and tack store. Look for something that is at least 3/8” thick and has smooth welds. Craft rings which are 1/8” thick from JoAnn's, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, etc., are NOT SAFE. Please, plan the extra 3 or 4 days for shipping and buy from slingrings.com. 

Where to buy safe buckles/webbing for a soft structured carrier? Strapwork.com is the place to go for these items. I've never made a soft-structured carrier, so I have no personal experience with them. 

Thread? I like Gutermann thread. Other name-brand poly-coated threads should be just fine as well. 

Now, with your supplies in hand, what would you like to make?

Wrap
A wrap is the simplest to make. First, pre-wash your fabric. Then, simply cut to width and length, add tapers if they thrill you, and hem. Most wraps are 28”-30” wide. If you want tapers, be sure to cut them like a parallelogram, not a trapezoid. If you've forgotten your geometry, don't worry, here is a visual: 

You want the green parallelogram, not the red trapezoid. This way, you have the same length along both the top and bottom rails. How long would you like your wrap? This handy table from paxbaby.com is my favorite quick reference. I've added a column of “Length in yards” which I rounded to an easy-to-measure number so you know how much fabric to buy at the store. Keep in mind most fabrics shrink in the wash, so buy a little extra.

Size       Length in meters        Length in feet       Length in inches        Length in Yards

2            2.7                            8.86                     102.36                       3

3            3.1                           10.17                    122.05                        3.5

4            3.6                           11.81                    141.73                        4

5            4.2                           13.78                    165                             4.5

6            4.6                           15.09                    181.10                         5

7            5.2                           17.06                     204.72                        5.75

8            5.6                           18.37                    220.47                         6

Ring Sling
A ring sling sews up fairly quickly and easily. Your fabric should be about around 30” wide. Lengths vary from 62” to 95” finished. Finished means you need to add a few extra inches for your shoulder sewing. You pick a shoulder style: gathered, pleated, eesti(for personal use only, this shoulder style is licensed property to Jan at Sleeping Baby Productions). Be sure to have a minimum of 3 rows of stitching. Please visit http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/Baby/slingsize.html and http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/Baby/shoulders.html for some of the best information on the web for DIY ring slings. 

Asian-Style Carriers
Rather than re-inventing the wheel, I shall direct you to a fabulous blog for the nitty-gritty how-to-sew instructions. Please, when sewing these carriers use quality thread, attach straps to a sturdy inner layer of fabric, and reinforce attachment points with x-boxes, as shown below.  

Mei-Tai
http://www.fineandfairblog.com/2013/10/tablecloth-mei-tai-tutorial-with-wrap.html

And if you'd like a mei-tai and a ring sling from one tablecloth: 
http://www.fineandfairblog.com/2013/12/how-to-get-mei-tai-and-ring-sling-out.html

Onbuhimo (or Onbu)
http://www.fineandfairblog.com/2014/02/diy-tablecloth-onbuhimo-tutorial.html

Podaegi (or Pod)
http://wrap-pod.blogspot.com/


Remember, all of these DIY safety qualities should hold true when you're shopping on Etsy, Facebook swap groups, or elsewhere online. If you're ever unsure of the characteristics of a DIY carrier being sold online, go with your gut! The safety of your little one depends on it. Always compare prices to other retail sources. Sometimes, if the price is too good to be true, it is. And of course, you can always ask a VBE on the BWI Colorado Springs page for advice or a second opinion. Happy and safe babywearing!

Ring sling VS. Rebozo

Babywearing gives incredible opportunity for versatility. Depending on your child's size, duration of time you'll be wearing them, and your own personal preferences for what's comfortable, there is always a carrier that can meet your multitude of needs. Some options begin to look awfully similar, so it's a great idea to look more closely to find what really will work best for us!

So, let's compare the Ring Sling alongside it's traditional Mexican Rebozo counterpart. But first, here is a video from Galen D. to help ourselves become better acquainted. 

A Ring Sling is a long piece of  fabric with two rings (typically nylon or metal) sewn to one end. The fabric is threaded through the rings and makes a pouch for the baby to sit comfortably with a deep seat. Because the fabric can be pulled through the rings, it's easy to adjust for any sized wearer. These are wonderful carriers for newborns and infants. They're also great for quick "ups" with toddlers, but can get more uncomfortable depending on toddler size. Because Ring slings offer a one-shoulder carry, there is not as much support for longer periods of wearing time. 

Megan B. wears her one month old newborn son in a ring sling. 

Many people find the rings easy to adjust. Any slack in either the top or bottom rails can be pulled through the rings to make things more snug and comfortable for you and your baby. Ring slings are best for front or hip carries, but do not offer much variety aside from those. 

A Rebozo is a long piece of fabric that can be tied into a slipknot. Check out this video if you'd like to see how it's done.

 This carry looks a lot like a ring sling, but the slipknot sits where the rings would otherwise be. Similarly to the ring sling, it's great for quick trips because it sits on one shoulder. Short woven wraps are often used with this carry (Size 1-3) and can also be used in various other front, hip and back carries. To offer even more versatility, a separate pair of sling rings can be used to make a no-sew ring sling! 

Sarah L. wears her infant son in a Rebozo.

The slipknot can be a bit daunting for anyone who is unfamiliar with how to attempt it. Once a slipknot is accomplished, it does take two hands to adjust, as Galen mentioned. It takes some practice, but it's great in a pinch if you have a shorty wrap or DIY babywearing safe fabric to work with! 

Both carries are great for nursing, as well. If you like to nurse discreetly, any extra tail can be brought over the top of the carrier to give a bit of covering. 

The rest is up to personal preference. If you'd like to try either a ring sling or a rebozo out, come to our next BWI Colorado Springs meeting and check out our lending library. With a BWI Membership you can take a carrier home for a month and see what works best for you! Happy Babywearing. :)
 

Where we wore in March

Here's where we wore in March!

Ashley T. wears her little one close while traveling to Erie, Pennsylvania. 

Jillian D. uses a Tree of Life Mei Tai while in a Gondola with her family in Breckenridge.

Natalie C. wears her baby while at the zoo with her kiddos.

Sarah L. visits the zoo's elephants while wearing her sleepy baby in a woven wrap.

Natalie C., Katie K. and Lauren B. visit the zoo while wearing their babies.

Jessa Z. and her boys in downtown San Diego, CA. 

Jessa Z. wears her toddler while at Scripps Aquarium in San Diego, CA.

Jessa Z. and her two boys smile for the camera while shopping in Orange County, CA. 

Where We Wore in June

Jillian D. minigolfs with her daughter in her back in Didymos Black Hemp Pfau.

Jennifer P. takes her kids to their first baseball game at the Sky Sox Stadium.
She has her son in a KoKaDi  Glamour Stars ring sling.

Nicole R. checks out some books at Penrose library with her older son
while her baby snoozes in a  mei tai.

Dorinda B. carries her baby in a Beco Gemini while experiencing wheat
harvest with the grandparents in Kansas.

Amy S's husband looks out at the sky on a hike at Eleven Mile State Park.
Their daughter is asleep in a Boba 2G.

Emily C. takes her son to Castlewood Canyon State Park in a Baby K'tan.

Isabel T. goes hiking in the Sugarloaf area with her son in a Didymos
Indio Sun Yellow wrap.  

6/5 Monthly Meeting

Our monthly meeting was held today!  With Elizabeth C. moving away, meetings will no longer be held at Casa Verde.  We thank her for hosting us for this long.  :)  Future meetings will likely be at local parks if the weather continues to stay nice.

This meeting's topic was "Carrier Safety."  We talked about the "Cradle Carry" and while it is a valid carry, carries that hold the baby upright with their faces visible and kissable are the better option, as you can be more aware of the baby's airway.  (Vigilance about a baby's breathing while babywearing is important.)  We discussed forward-facing babies (wearing babies with their backs against our chests, facing out), and how there are also options such as hip and high back carries. These carries allow babies to get a good view and tend to more ergonomic for both the parent and the baby.  We also talked about narrow-based carriers.  These carriers are not considered unsafe. While there are more comfortable or ideal options out there, it is still safe for parents to wear babies in these kinds of carriers.

June Meeting Group Photo

Courtney K. tries out a wrap woven by group leader Marcia S.
(Photo provided by Courtney K.)

Rechelle B. checks her baby's seat. She is using an Ellevill Tri-green woven wrap.

Gretchen M.'s daughter rocks a torso carry.