For the love of Obimama...

Obimama recently held a YouTube video contest for rights to design and buy an Obimama Mei Tai.  Here are a few of my personal favorites:

Cloth Diapering 101: The Prefold

Courtney K shares her wisdom on cloth diapering with prefolds. This is an old post from her personal blog, but updated to include some extra and more relevant information. Enjoy!

As cloth diapering gains popularity, I've had tons of mommy friends, new and old, who want to get in on the fun. The problem is "where do you start???" It seems easy until you Google "cloth diapering" and you realize all the choices. It can be overwhelming! I was fortunate enough to have a friend who started while I was pregnant. I got to watch her try 'em all out, learned all the lingo, and by the time my belly popped, I knew exactly what to buy and from where! But we don't all have a good friend whose mistakes we can learn from and everyone has to start somewhere. I decided to blog a bit about them and today I'm gonna feature the infamous prefold!

Do not run, ladies and gents! Stop in your tracks; this is not your grandmother's cloth diaper. For some, the prefold is not for you. Many people want their cloth diapers to be exactly like a disposable, only washable. That is not the prefold; however, here are a few reasons you might want to take a closer look at the prefold:

1. This is by far the CHEAPEST! You can get a high quality dozen prefolds for around 20 bucks. You only need about 18 dipes, though some choose to have more. 18 gets you to washing every other day.

2. They are the SIMPLEST! Not in the action, since they do require a cover, but they are cotton, nothing more, simple, easy to clean, natural, cotton!

3. STREET CRED! Some might not care about this, but let me tell you, vintage ladies love to see you using what they used, and once you master the prefold, anything found on the floor of your van can become a diaper in a snap! if need be. :)

Choosing your prefold

They come in various sizes (four that I know, maybe more?), but here are the three I own.

Premie/newborn (green): These are so small, I don't think anyone should ever buy them. Seriously, they are for 5-lbers or less I'd say. I only use these for layering or butt wiping; trust me, you don't need these!

Infant: PERFECT, these are the best size to start with.  They will get you up to about 15 lbs, give or take a lb. These are the most common and come in a few varieties. Bleached (really white), Unbleached (cream colored), Egyptian or Chinese, etc, but really it doesn't matter. I've had both, they all worked great, just buy what you find the best price on.

Premium (tie-dyed): Usually these are white, I paid a bit extra to have some dye,d which is fun but white ones are great. These are great for when you outgrow the infants or if you are starting out with a kiddo bigger than 15 lbs.

A prefold is really a layered piece of cotton that is a little thicker in the middle.  Unlike the flat dipes of the old, there is no real folding.  You might fold it down in front while your baby is a newborn or fold it a bit more narrow for a skinny, but truly there is nothing to it, you can do it! 

For holding a prefold in place (if you clicked the video, you are already in the know), pins are a thing of the past!  This draws flocks of vintage ladies with pin-scarred fingers to the church nursery changing table.  Nowadays, we use Snappis!  A Snappi is a Y-shaped stretchy band and on each tip it sports a plastic version of an Ace bandage hook.  The hook digs into the dipe and holds it in place, but will not prick your finger or, more importantly, your baby. 

Snappis do not make good bed companions, so keep 'em
near the dipes where they belong.  I have been bitten
by a rogue Snappi or two in the middle of the night!

To finish it off, a prefold requires a cover.  However, while prefolds can fit sizes for longer, the covers will need to be sized up more often/quicker.  Fortunately, you do not need as many covers as prefolds.  You can use a cover three or four times before you switch it, more if you let it air out between changes.  I'd recommend owning four or five covers.   

Covers can come in a varieties of colors.  You will be shocked.  Many are PUL, a kind of plastic waterproof cover, but trust me it is a soft baby-friendly version of plastic.  These come with snaps or velcro.  I like snaps for babies who like to remove their diapers; I like velcro for cross-eyed mommies at 2 a.m.  These cost about 10 bucks each.  A few of my favorite brands are Bummies and Thisties. I also like covers like Econobum covers because they grow with Baby from newborn to toddler.  While PUL covers are the most common and probably the easiest, there are more options!  Fleece covers (like the one above) are super cute.  (Yes, fleece is moisture-wicking, so this keeps the baby and all your stuff dry.)

Wool is another great option!  You can get wool shorts or pants or simply a wool diaper cover.  You have to lanolize wool, which is really just a soak in the sink with a lanolin product, but they are your cover and your pants.  I love these because in my mind wool was how they had to have stuff done back in the day.  Before plastic (PUL) and all the fancy stuff, there was cotton and wool.  Two of my favorites spots to score super cute woolies are Cabbages and Kings for new and the Spot's Corner on Hyena Cart for lightly used.

I love diapering in simple prefolds made from natural cotton. They are so versatile.  You can add a soaker for overnight or a heavy wetter, or simply double up.  (That's what I use those teeny ones for now.)  You can dye them however and have fun.  We never have rashes and they are easy to clean!  Give them a try, you won't regret it!  One of local babywearing members even sells dipes and covers of all types:  Nappies and More...

Pictures from our February meeting

It was a gorgeous day and we had an awesome turn out!

Cora K. and Kate B. spot Melissa S. as she tries her first Double Hammock.

Cora K. tandems babies with an ETLA "Sock Monkey" wrap.
(Photo by Kate B.)

Jillian D. wears her daughter in a Didymos Black Hemp Pfau.
(Photo by Gretchen M.)

Stella K. carries her daughter on her hip in a Didymos Orient.
(Photo by Gretchen M.)

Lauren F. wears her baby in a Bamberoo buckle carrier.
(Photo by Gretchen M.)

Feb Meeting

We typically hold meetings on the first Wednesday of every month.  It's a chance to get to meet other babywearing and cloth diapering moms here in Colorado Springs/Teller County.  You can get some tips on wearing and learn about different carriers and older kids are welcome to come and play as well!

Come join us at the Casa Verde common house on the 6th! The meeting starts at 10:30 and typically runs a couple hours.  The address is 1355 Lindenwood Grove, Colorado Springs CO 80907.  And if you haven't yet, come check us out on Facebook, where we often chat and set up additional playdates!

Saying Goodbye to Beth

Earlier this month, Colorado Springs babywearers had to say goodbye to one of its members Beth White; the military has sent her away from the mountains of Colorado and to the cold state of Alaska.  Beth reflects on her babywearing journey, both as an individual and as a person who has helped the group develop into a close-knit community of babywearers:

Many wearers can pinpoint exactly how they came across the idea of babywearing, whether it was a chance encounter with someone wearing an Ergo, or coming across a picture of someone wrapping on an online forum.  But not Beth; she is a second generation babywearer!

“I’m not sure when I learned about babywearing,” she says.  “I think I always knew about it.  My mom wore me and my sisters in a frame pack and some sort of ring sling.”

“I started researching carriers when I was pregnant and bought a Sleepy Wrap and used that when Faith was just two days old. I loved it and so did she!  I went to my first babywearing meeting when she was two months old,” she says.  “I really liked being around other moms that I had a lot in common with and I wanted to make sure I was wearing my baby correctly!”

Over the course of the next few years, since that first meeting, Beth has watched the group grow, as babywearing has slowly gained popularity.

“[When] I first joined the group there wasn't a meeting for over six months after I went to the park meet-up. We slowly started getting together more regularly and formed a group of solid ‘core’ members that came to everything,” she says. 

The online move of the group from a Yahoo! Group to Facebook, she says, was also “really instrumental” in its growth.  With Facebook’s popularity and ease of use, it allowed for more interested mothers to find and connect with the group more easily.
 

Despite being a member of the group for over three years, Beth (who now also has a one-year-old son, Titus) feels that she can’t take much credit for the successful group the Colorado Springs babywearing group has become: 

“One of my favorite things about our group is that it’s a community effort…There has always been a wonderful group of mamas working to make any changes,” she says. 

But fellow babywearer and friend Courtney Kempe knows that Beth’s contributions deserve to be acknowledged.  In the past, she has organized events to teach people carriers, connected the group with other local organizations and ordered the group’s business cards for members to carry and pass out.  Additionally, “she is really cool about showing people how to babywear without spending a ton,” says Courtney. 

Fitting with babywearing (and the tenet of keeping a baby close as nature intended), Beth also has a fairly natural parenting style, one that includes something that, in theory, should come very “naturally,” but doesn’t always:  Breastfeeding.  She first started attending LLL meetings when she was pregnant with her daughter.  For the last year and a half, she was a La Lache League leader in Colorado Springs, sharing her personal experiences as well as supporting and educating mothers on breastfeeding. 

“I am very passionate about breastfeeding and I love being able to help others,” she says.  Also, “babywearing inevitably comes up at nearly every meeting so I love how everything overlaps.”  

The Colorado Springs group members are sad to see Beth go, but she will undoubtedly be a valuable member to whatever parenting-related groups she decides to join at her new base. 

Q&A With Beth

What do you love about babywearing? Do you have a favorite carrier/carrier style and what makes it your favorite?

I love how much more productive I can be while still meeting the needs of my baby. Faith was very high needs and I wore her a lot at home. Titus hasn't been "high needs" but when he is teething or sick and I have a three year old to take care of too - I don't know how moms manage without babywearing! And it makes running errands a piece of cake, especially if Titus wants to nurse while we are out. I love woven wraps (right now my favorite is our Didymos Marigold) for all ages and soft-structured carriers (Kinderpack) for 6+ months for back carries when running errands.

What was your motivation for cloth diapering?

Saving money and avoiding the chemicals in disposables. We use flats with wool longies/shorties.

What are you going to miss about the group?

Awww :( everything! I am so very blessed to have been a part of such a wonderful support system for the last three years. Mostly I will miss getting together with other moms and chatting for hours while we get sunburned outside in the summer.

*Written by Paula R.

Meet Local Babywearer Raina

Business owner Raina Seabaugh knows all about juggling motherhood with being a busy working mom. She and her husband own Little Monkey Bizness (a Denver-based franchise) here in Colorado Springs. They had always talked about owning a business, but it wasn't until after having their two children that they decided that it needed to be one that was child-centered.

“We looked at multiple franchises but couldn’t see ourselves working there on a daily basis, or having it be a place that our kids would enjoy coming,” Raina says. “Our very active son is five years old and he prompted us to look at opening a place where he could get out his energy, especially in the winter.”

A friend introduced them to Little Monkey Bizness, which seemed to fit the bill.

"We felt Colorado Springs needed an indoor play area that was safe, clean, and open for anyone to come in seven days a week," she says.

Despite working six days a week, owning a business where children can play has its perks. Raina can bring her own children there with her, including her two-year-old Mackenzie.

She occasionally wears her daughter in her ErgoBaby Carrier while she works. As a toddler, Mackenzie doesn't need to be worn much as a young infant; however, Raina thinks it is wonderful to have the option of being able to wear her if needed.

"Owning a business has definitely been an adjustment and I think it is important to assure my kids that I am still here for them," Raina says. "I feel that wearing Mackenzie helps in those times when I still have lots to accomplish at the business but she needs me to pay attention to her. She can say hi to people and talk to me about other things and I can still do my job."

She first discovered babywearing with her older son, who she carried in a Baby Bjorn. Mackenzie, however, wasn't as fond of that particular carrier, so they turned to the Sleepy Wrap (now known as the Boba Wrap), which Raina fell in love with. Her daughter was six weeks old when a new swim season started and babywearing helped Raina succeed in her role as a swim “coach on deck,” while continuing to fulfilling her role of a mother physically with her daughter close to her in their wrap.

For more information on Raina's business, Little Monkey Bizness, check out their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/monkeybizness.colospgs.

***

Q&A with Raina

What carrier do you use and what do you like about it?

I currently am using an ErgoBaby Carrier. I like it because Mackenzie can be on my back and I am still able to work at Monkey Bizness. I can work the register, make coffee, clean the art room, and interact with customers easily. She’s also very comfortable and can fall asleep there if she is tired. I struggle with working-mom guilt and I love the ability to have Mackenzie close to me more often.

What benefits have you personally found in babywearing? How does babywearing help out in your home life? Does your husband babywear as well?

I think having my children close to me is the best thing about babywearing. It is the easiest way to calm an upset child and help me feel close to them even when I have to multi-task. Being a mom isn’t easy! We have to make so many things happen at once, but don’t want our kids to suffer because of all the other things going on in life. I like the conversations I can have with my daughter when I am wearing her. I think she benefits from seeing first-hand a lot of what I am doing, and I believe her speech is better because I can introduce her to more things around us. My husband did wear our older child more than our younger one and he loved it as well. I have passed on our Baby Bjorn to my brother, who just had his first child, and he loves having his daughter close to him as much as possible.

Have you gotten any comments about "wearing" your child from customers?

Customers have commented that it is nice that my kids can be at work with me, and I agree. It’s a huge benefit to owning our own business.

Would you recommend babywearing/toddlerwearing to other parents?

I really would! I think close, physical touch is so important with your children, for both the kids and the parents! As a new mom, wearing my first child made me feel less trapped, like I could get other things done and wasn’t bound to my house. It helped me get out and meet other moms, it was a conversation starter, and it calmed my baby whenever he was fussy.

***
I noticed that we had some extra traffic in the last 24 hours!  If you are interested in learning about babywearing or cloth diapering, please join our facebook group to chat: Colorado Springs and Teller County Babywearing and Cloth Diapering Group.

**This post was written by Paula R.

Meet Babywearing Faith

Please check out our guest contribution this month, an interview with Faith Rayland by our own Paula Rodriguez!

Considered a babywearing celebrity by many, Master Babywearing Educator Faith Rayland's YouTube channel features her techniques in using a woven wrap to carry a baby.  Her videos, (posted under her handle "Babywearing Faith"), are often recommended to new wrappers and those who are looking for tips on perfecting certain carries.

But Faith is more than YouTube famous in the babywearing world.  She has an impressive list of babywearing achievements:  She founded and is the president of the BWI's Central New York chapter.  As an MBE, she holds the highest accreditation in education Babywearing International offers.  Work for this certification includes two previous/lower accreditations, an assessment proving proficiency in the use of the various types of carriers, logged hours of volunteer time with BWI, as well as writing a  research paper on babywearing.  

She is also an evaluator for Volunteer Babywearing Educators, (the first accreditation BWI offers) and says she was "recently voted onto the Board  of Directors for BWI." 

Faith has had quite a babywearing journey, first starting out in 2007,  after her first son was born.

 "I didn't have a local group/resource for help...I had a sling, but couldn't figure out how to use it for about a month," she says.  "Once I did figure it out, I used it all the time and eventually found thebabywearer.com and got a few more carriers as my baby got bigger and my needs changed."

"I wore my younger son from Day 1 and had a lot more knowledge by this point," she continues.  "Interest in babywearing in my area was growing and when my baby was around a year old, I decided to form a group to give people the  opportunity for in-person help which I wished I'd had when my oldest was  born."

In-person help like the kind Colorado Springs babywearer Cora Kelly got from Faith herself when she attended a BWI meeting in Syracuse, New York before her move to Colorado.  

"She is just super nice and down to Earth," Cora says of Faith.  "She is so patient and helpful! I was a complete newbie when I met her and only knew how to do one carry and she showed me how to do many more online and  in person."  

Of course, at the time of their first encounter, Cora didn't know that Faith was "The Faith."  Babywearers online recommended that she check out Babywearing Faith's videos on YouTube and when she actually watched them, she was surprised and shocked to find that she had already met the famous babywearing redhead in person.

So what prompted Faith to start making those videos?

"I was having a hard time finding ones I liked," she says.  "There were and are many great videos on YouTube, but they can be hit-or-miss and I  found I was too impatient to sit through several videos to determine  which ones were helpful for me.  I hoped that by creating a series of my own videos, other wearers might trust my username and know they could count on my videos to be helpful."

Faith definitely found success in her mission, as evidenced by her YouTube view count of just over 48,000.  Cora describes her videos as easy to understand and says that the pace at which Faith explains and wraps is a "speed anyone can follow and keep up with," both traits that are important for someone just learning how to use a woven wrap.

To check out Babywearing Faith's videos, go to http://www.youtube.com/user/babywearingfaith.

Additional Q&A with Babywearing Faith:

What are your favorite BWing resorces and why? 

Babywearing International of course, and thebabywearer.com!  I have  learned so much from the other posters on TBW and I feel that BWI is such  a valuable resource for people who have a local chapter because nothing is as good as in-person support.   

What is the best advice someone has given you in regards to babywearing?  

I learned this in one of the classes at the International Babywearing Conference 2012 - that as long as you follow the two rules of "keep your baby's airway open" and "don't drop your baby," there is no right or wrong way to wear your baby.  Some carriers/positions are more optimal than others, but it doesn't make the non-optimal ones wrong.

What advice do you have for people who are just starting out in babywearing and what advice do you have for people who want to help or approach others (new moms, etc) about babywearing?

For someone just starting out, get in-person help if possible.  It's so much better to try a few different carriers to find what works before investing in one, and the help of a knowledgeable babywearer can be reassuring that you're doing it safely, which increases your confidence.  For someone who wants to approach another person about babywearing, I usually just work into conversation how much I love using a carrier to meet my baby's needs and have my hands free for other things.  I gauge the person's interest and if they do seem interested, I let them know about our local group and invite them to a meeting and/or give them my card.

Do you have any favorite BWing memories?

Too many to list!  But I think the best memories are when my boys were older and not wanting to be worn much anymore, the times when they have brought me a carrier and asked to go up.