Where we Wore in November!

BWI Colorado Springs, here is where we wore in November!

Erin C. and her sidekick enjoy small business Saturday while downtown using her Girasol Catfish woven wrap. 

Gabriela M.'s husband snuggles their daughter in a Didymos Woven Wrap. 

Gabriela M. and her sleeping daughter using their woven wrap on Thanksgiving day. 

Patti S. and her sweet sleepy girl while strolling around IKEA on Black Friday. 

Sarah L.and her son enjoy a fun day at the zoo. 

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.

Cold Weather Babywearing

With winter quickly approaching, you might be curious about how to still wear baby but keep both of you nice and warm. As always, there are many options on the budget spectrum! It's important to remember that he/she will already be getting warmth from your body heat. So, keep a close watch to make sure he/she doesn't get overheated!

If you like to be crafty and make do-it-yourself projects, you can create your own no-sew fleece poncho or this cape cover!

Oversized coats or sweaters are great to zip up over you and baby. You can also wear a backwards hoodie zipped up over the both of you. Your baby has a built in hood this way if you're front wearing! Then you can wear your own coat/jacket on your back. 

A blanket can always be tucked into any carrier or wrap. This is great for quick trips in and out of places. 

If you're in the market for something made specifically for babywearing in the winter, Kowalli makes a winter cover that fits right over you and baby. Ergo has babywearing jackets, but it may be harder to get your hands on one since they stopped manufacturing them. Amautis require no baby carrier at all, as you just slide baby into the coat itself. These tend to be more pricey and tough to find, but are great if you want a solution outside of a carrier/jacket combination. Peekaru vests are also great options.

Wraps are fantastic for winter! Using multiple pass carries can give a cozy, blankety feel for both of you! Wool woven wraps are super warm and have a thick feel. 

Once you have your cold weather babywearing gear ready, these are great tips: 

-Footie pajamas or Babylegs will keep baby's legs warm while in the carrier. Pants can ride up once you get baby in a good seated position while in the carrier. If you are using footie pajamas, make sure they're a tad oversized so no extra pressure gets put on baby's feet. This could also encourage leg straightening. 

-Pre-tie your carrier for easy ins and outs!

-Make sure to keep special attention to baby's airway with extra layers of coat or blankets nearby. Baby's head should still be close enough to kiss and their chin should be off their chest. 

-Heat escapes from baby's head and feet first. So make sure to keep a hat on him/her! If you're back wearing, put the hat on baby before they go up on your back. 

Happy Babywearing! As always, feel free to visit and join our BWI Colorado Springs Facebook Group, and 'like' our Facebook page. We would love to hear from you or answer any questions your might have!

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!

Ways to get baby on your back

If you've been wearing your baby for awhile, you might find yourself getting curious about wearing baby on your back. Having two hands free with baby behind you can be invaluable. But we have to put the safety of our kiddos first and foremost. (If you're new to back carrying, please use the help of a spotter or practice over a couch or bed.) 

Here are some great videos to demonstrate how you get a baby on your back depending on your carrier type. 

Soft Structured Carriers are great options for back carrying. The waist belt can offer a lot of back support, and padded straps can make for a comfy wearing experience. Once you have the waist strap secured around your waist, you can use a "hip scoot" or a "superman toss" to get baby into the carrier on your back. Watch this video to see how it's done.

Woven Wraps are incredibly useful and versatile when back carrying. With some practice, you can get baby high and snug on your back. This can alleviate a lot of the discomfort that comes from having them too low or far from your body in other carriers. There are numerous back carries you can use with a woven wrap. A Mei Tai  is a lot like a SSC (soft structured carrier), but has the great comfort qualities of a woven wrap. For both a woven wrap and a mei tai, you can use a "hip scoot," "santa toss," or a "superman toss." The video below gives a great rundown of these methods. 

Again, remember to use a spotter or practice over a bed if you're new to back wearing. If you still have some questions, ask a Volunteer Babywearing Educator on our BWI Facebook page, or come to our next BWI Colorado Springs meeting! We look forward to seeing you there to answer your questions and get to know you better!

Where We Wore in August

Hey BWI Colorado Springs! This is "Where We Wore" in August! 

Amanda J.'s husband wears their daughter in a Standard Rainbow Gems Tula at the Balloon Glow!

Amanda J. and her little girl enjoy the Colorado Springs Balloon Classic at Memorial Park.

Erin C. snuggles her daughter at the airport one last time before her nine week long military training. 

Jennifer P. and her little boy enjoy the view at Memorial Park while wearing a Didymos Petrol Hemp Indio.

Jennifer P. and her kiddos watch the Balloons at the Balloon Classic. 

Lyz B. and her kids enjoy the start of the Balloon Glow.

Sarah L. and her sleepy little boy on top of Pikes Peak while using a Tekhni woven wrap. 

Where We Wore in July

Here's where we wore in July!

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.

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. 

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. 

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! 

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. 

May Cloth Diaper Market Meeting

We were so glad to see everyone at this month's Cloth Diaper Market meeting. Thanks to those of you that could make it! We are doing our best to get things organized and have a topic for each meeting. Galen D. showed us a Front Wrap Cross Carry (FWCC). This carry is a great for anyone that might be new to woven wraps. It's also fabulous for nursing and front cuddling a sleepy baby. 

Galen D. teaches the group how to do a FWCC. 

If this carry is new to you, check out this video! 

Here are some action pics of members who attended this month's Cloth Diaper Market meeting:

Natalie C. and Gabrielle H. talk about carries they like. 

Natalie C. and Angel D. visit during the meeting.

Gabrielle H. has her sleepy baby in a back carry. 

Sarah L. and Katie K. chat about wraps they enjoy using. 

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. :)
 

March Meeting at the East Library

Thank you to all who came out to the East Library location for one of our March meetings! If you couldn't make it, you were missed! We practiced Charlie's Cross Carry (shown in the video below, as demonstrated by our very own Galen D.). This carry can be done with any woven wrap, size 4 or longer.

March Meeting at the Cloth Diaper Market

Our next March meeting is taking place at Cloth Diaper Market, on Saturday, March 22, at 10am! We can't wait to see you all there. Come learn more about a carrier you're thinking of purchasing, learn how to wrap with a woven, or get advice about how to make babywearing work better for your family! Remember: This is a Saturday meeting for all of you who work during the week. We hope you can make it!

January Meeting at Cloth Diaper Market

Our most recent meeting at Cloth Diaper Market in Colorado Springs was a hit! Lots of a mamas came by the open house to learn from one another, ask questions and have a great time with the little ones. The lending library was open for everyone to try different sizes of woven wraps or see how they might like a certain soft structured carrier. Thanks to all the ladies that made this Saturday meeting a success! Look for future Saturday meetings in case you're unable to make weekday meetings. 



Amanda J. wears her daughter in a Robbin's Hip Carry.

Sarah M. and her son are comfy in a woven wrap converted into a Mei Tai.

Katie K. tries a wrap from the lending library . 

Jenni S. wears her sleepy daughter in a back carry.

Dannielle H. chats with other moms while her son plays on her back. 

Dannielle H. helps another momma perfect her back carry.

The babies at the meeting had a great time together!

Nicole R. holds her comfy baby boy in a ring sling.

Some of the meeting attendees chatting about their favorite carriers. 

A sleepy baby as content as can be wrapped up on his mom!