Come join us!

Welcome to Babywearing International of Colorado Springs! We can't wait to see you at one of our many events.

We have two Lending Library Meetings a month, where our full lending library is available for you to play with and our Volunteer Babywearing Educators are dedicated to helping you with any babywearing related questions. Weekday meetings are located at Enso Prenatal and weekend meetings are located at East Library.

We also host multiple social events, where our VBEs will be present and able to help, but the main emphasis is on community rather than education.

Please see our calendar for all of the details. We hope to see you soon!

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. 

Carrier 101

Overwhelmed by how many types of carriers there are out there? Never fear! Your VBEs broke it all down at the January meeting. If you weren't able to make it, keep reading for a run-down of the major carrier types. :)

Ring Slings: Ring slings are a great option starting from newborn to toddler. It's a one shoulder carry that can be easily adjusted for a comfy fit for you and your baby. The bigger the baby/toddler, the shorter amount of time this carrier will be comfortable as it distributes weight on only one shoulder instead of two. For many mamas, this is a great carrier for quick trips in and out of the store. It's a great carrier for nursing as you can easily lower your baby to your breast and/or use the excess tail length for discreet nursing coverage. This is also great for front or hip carries. You can use it for quick back carry, but nothing too long term and you should be experienced with your ring sling before you try back wearing with one. Here's a great ring sling troubleshooting tutorial! 


Woven Wraps (and Stretchy Wraps): Woven wraps are the most versatile in the carrier world. They come in different sizes/lengths and can wrap any size baby/toddler. Great for front, hip or back carries. There are so many types of ways to use a woven wrap, you will never get bored. There is a bit of a learning curve when you begin learning how to wrap, but once you do you might not go back. Also great for nursing your baby on the go. Check out our past blog post with even more information on woven wraps and safety tips, including why stretchy wraps shouldn't be used for back carries!

Mei Tai: A Mei Tai is a traditional type of Chinese carrier. They can be used with newborns and into toddlerhood. It consists of a square panel of fabric and four straps. Some Mei Tais come with wider wrap straps, allowing for a woven wrap feel. These are said to be the best of both the soft structured carriers and woven wrap worlds, since they have features of both. A Mei Tai is tied on waist first, like you're tying on an apron. Your insert your baby in the body of the fabric and bring the straps around your opposite shoulders to tie off. Another great nursing on-the-go option! Here's a great video to watch for using a Mei Tai with a newborn.

Soft Structured Carrier: These are the mainstream carriers people tend to know the most about. There are many on the market and people have their favorites based on preference. SSC's or buckle carriers can be used for front, hip or back carries depending on which carrier you have. Some buckle carriers are more comfortable than others, so it's important to try a few out before you commit to one. A good waist belt can offer a lot of back support and padded straps make for comfy long term wearing. Can be used most often with newborns through toddlerhood, although you might need to use a few tricks to get a newborn fitting comfortably. Some buckle carriers are easier to nurse in than others due to lack of adjusting action.

Pouch Sling: Pouch slings are easily stowed in a diaper bag or purse. It's super important to have the right size specific to your body so your baby can be high, tight, and close enough to kiss. Not great for long term wearing as it is a one-shoulder carry. Not ideal for newborns or toddlers either, but fine in a pinch. These carriers do best for a baby sitting unassisted. 

As always, if you're unsure where to go from here or have ANY questions, feel free to ask a Volunteer Babywearing Educator in our Facebook Group or at our next meeting. We would love to meet with you!