 |
| 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. |
Welcome to the Babywearing International of Colorado Springs blog! You may also join us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/babywearinginternationalofcoloradosprings/
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Where We Wore in July
Here's where we wore in July!
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Budget Conscious Babywearing
Budget Conscious Babywearing
Guest Blog Post By: Erin Carpenter
As a newcomer to the babywearing world, the sticker shock of various woven wraps
and carriers can leave you wondering if this is even feasible for your family, or if
this is a practice for the wealthy and privileged. I was a first time mom without the
financial means or support at home to afford what I thought was the “necessary”
carrier, an Ergo. Unaware and uneducated about my options, I fell prey to the allure
of a counterfeit carrier, with its lower price point. You don’t have to make the same
mistake as I did, and you don’t have to sacrifice safety in order to wear your baby.
Donated Carriers
There are several specialty non-profit organizations that will donate a carrier to
you, based upon family circumstances.
The Carrying On Project – Carriers for military families, who cannot otherwise
afford a carrier.
Ruckabye Baby – Carriers for wounded warriors or Gold Star families with a child
under the age of two.
3.21 Carry – Carriers for families whose child/children have Down syndrome or
other disabilities.
Lift Me Up Babywearing – Carriers for families whose child/children have
developmental disabilities, and who don’t otherwise own a carrier.
DIY Carriers
Handy with a sewing machine, or have someone available to help you? Our own
VBE Natalie has made a number of her own carriers, with patterns and materials
that are readily available. There are DIY forums on TheBabyWearer.com, with tons
of online patterns and instructions to help you make anything from a tablecloth ring
sling, an Asian baby carrier (mei tai, podaegi, onbuhimo, etc.), even a soft structured
carrier! Osnaburg is a popular fabric used for DIY wraps, running as low as $3.89/
yd online and it can be dyed for a personalized touch.
Low Cost Carriers
Little did I know when I first started out, there are safe and time-tested carriers
out there that are low cost! The Infantino Sash Mei Tai can be purchased for less
than $25 at your local big box store. There is a "Babywearing on a Budget" group on
Facebook where users can buy, sell, and trade carriers under $100 – you might even be in
the right place at the right time and score a much pricier carrier for a steal! Local
resale groups and Craigslist are also good options for looking for a budget carrier.
I regularly see stretchy wraps for sale. Use caution when purchasing a carrier
through the last though, as counterfeit items will show up. When in doubt, get a
second opinion from a VBE or an experienced babywearer. Have a non-ergonomic,
narrow based carrier? There is a scarf trick to make the seat more comfortable for you and babyYou can use a scarf to make a wider seat for them!
Lending Library
Not sure about what carrier you’d like to use with your baby, and cautious about
how you’re spending that limited budget? Consider membership into our BWI
group! For the cost of $30 a year, you’ll have the ability to check out one carrier a
month from our Lending Library! You’ll have access to wraps of various sizes, ring
slings, mei tais, soft structured carriers, as well as pouch slings, that can grow with
you and your baby. It’s a great option to explore what works best for you and your
family, while still being mindful of your dollars.
Babywearing is not a privilege for some, it’s a benefit for all, and can be done on any
budget! It’s not the carrier that matters, it’s the carrying that counts. Let BWICOS
help you wear your baby, whether your budget is $20 or $200!
Guest Blog Post By: Erin Carpenter
As a newcomer to the babywearing world, the sticker shock of various woven wraps
and carriers can leave you wondering if this is even feasible for your family, or if
this is a practice for the wealthy and privileged. I was a first time mom without the
financial means or support at home to afford what I thought was the “necessary”
carrier, an Ergo. Unaware and uneducated about my options, I fell prey to the allure
of a counterfeit carrier, with its lower price point. You don’t have to make the same
mistake as I did, and you don’t have to sacrifice safety in order to wear your baby.
Donated Carriers
There are several specialty non-profit organizations that will donate a carrier to
you, based upon family circumstances.
The Carrying On Project – Carriers for military families, who cannot otherwise
afford a carrier.
Ruckabye Baby – Carriers for wounded warriors or Gold Star families with a child
under the age of two.
3.21 Carry – Carriers for families whose child/children have Down syndrome or
other disabilities.
Lift Me Up Babywearing – Carriers for families whose child/children have
developmental disabilities, and who don’t otherwise own a carrier.
DIY Carriers
Handy with a sewing machine, or have someone available to help you? Our own
VBE Natalie has made a number of her own carriers, with patterns and materials
that are readily available. There are DIY forums on TheBabyWearer.com, with tons
of online patterns and instructions to help you make anything from a tablecloth ring
sling, an Asian baby carrier (mei tai, podaegi, onbuhimo, etc.), even a soft structured
carrier! Osnaburg is a popular fabric used for DIY wraps, running as low as $3.89/
yd online and it can be dyed for a personalized touch.
Low Cost Carriers
Little did I know when I first started out, there are safe and time-tested carriers
out there that are low cost! The Infantino Sash Mei Tai can be purchased for less
than $25 at your local big box store. There is a "Babywearing on a Budget" group on
Facebook where users can buy, sell, and trade carriers under $100 – you might even be in
the right place at the right time and score a much pricier carrier for a steal! Local
resale groups and Craigslist are also good options for looking for a budget carrier.
I regularly see stretchy wraps for sale. Use caution when purchasing a carrier
through the last though, as counterfeit items will show up. When in doubt, get a
second opinion from a VBE or an experienced babywearer. Have a non-ergonomic,
narrow based carrier? There is a scarf trick to make the seat more comfortable for you and babyYou can use a scarf to make a wider seat for them!
Lending Library
Not sure about what carrier you’d like to use with your baby, and cautious about
how you’re spending that limited budget? Consider membership into our BWI
group! For the cost of $30 a year, you’ll have the ability to check out one carrier a
month from our Lending Library! You’ll have access to wraps of various sizes, ring
slings, mei tais, soft structured carriers, as well as pouch slings, that can grow with
you and your baby. It’s a great option to explore what works best for you and your
family, while still being mindful of your dollars.
Babywearing is not a privilege for some, it’s a benefit for all, and can be done on any
budget! It’s not the carrier that matters, it’s the carrying that counts. Let BWICOS
help you wear your baby, whether your budget is $20 or $200!
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
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:
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!
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. |
Where we Wore in June
BWI, Colorado Springs! Here's Where We Wore in June!
 |
| Lauren B.'s husband wears their son in an Ergo Sport while at the Denver Aquarium. |
 |
| Amanda J. and her sweet little girl while at MommyCon in a Beco Soleil. |
 |
| Amanda J. enjoying MommyCon to the fullest while using her Beco Butterfly II. |
 |
| Erin C. shows off one of her carries from her 30 day Sling Ring Challenge while at MommyCon! |
 |
| Nicole R. snuggles her sleepy little guy while using her gorgeous ringsling. |
 |
| Nicole R. holds her sleepy toddler close in a woven wrap. |
 |
| Sarah L. and her baby boy enjoy the Iris Garden demonstrations at East Library. |
Monday, June 9, 2014
June Meeting at Cheyenne Mountain Library
Our June meeting took place at Cheyenne Mountain Library this month! We had a great turnout, and Galen D. and Bailey H. showed us the Ruck back carry along with some variations. For more practice, watch the video below.
Because Camp MommyCon is coming to Denver June 20-22, we will have our next babywearing meeting July 1st, at East Library at 10am. See you all there!
 |
| Bailey H. demonstrates a ruck as attendees observe. |
 |
| Galen D. explains some tips that are useful to the ruck back carry. |
Because Camp MommyCon is coming to Denver June 20-22, we will have our next babywearing meeting July 1st, at East Library at 10am. See you all there!
Sunday, June 8, 2014
Where we wore in May
Here is where we wore in May, BWI Colorado Springs!
 |
| Erin C. wears her sweet sleepy baby while at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo! |
 |
| Katie K. rocks her ringsling while at a friend's gender reveal party! |
 |
| Lauren B. wears her son in a woven wrap while at Territory Days with her family. |
 |
| Jessa Z. wears her toddler in a Tula while on a walk. |
 |
| Nicole R. and her family enjoy the sunshine at Territory Days. |
 |
| Ky holds his tiger baby close in a ringsling! |
 |
| Nicole R. wears her sleeping son while having a garage sale. |
Monday, June 2, 2014
Where We Wore in April
Hey BWI Colorado Springs! Here is where we wore in April!
 |
| Katie K. wears her daughter in a Double Hammock using a Girasol Harvest at the CO Paint Mines! |
 |
| Isabel T. uses a Kinderpack Standard while visiting an aquarium in Dallas, TX with her son. |
 |
| Stella K. snuggles her daughter in a Didymos Acqua Pfau wrap. |
 |
| Sarah L. and her son stroll around Denver with their family. |
 |
| Nicole R. gardens with her son on her back. |
 |
| Nicole R. and her kiddos walk down Main Street while in Arizona. |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)