Five-Minute Friday: Identity

They began to grate on my nerves each time I saw them, seemingly Scarlet Letters of sorts.

What was meant to be a resource for the lonely and seeking mother, turned into flashy, glaring badges defining me and thus defining you by parenting styles we've chosen or not chosen to embrace.

And so the Attachement Parenting, Breastfeeding and Babywearing buttons had to come down from the sidebar of my home here online during my recent redesign by the fabulous Alita Jewel.

Not because I don't passionately believe in the benefits of breastfeeding and babywearing and the basic tenants of AP such as loving and respecting each person in the family no matter how tiny

but because I don't see you as a breastfeeding mom or a formula feeding mom

a babywearing mom versus a stroller-pushing mom

an AP or a Babywise mom.

I see you

I see me as

whole people

who are loved beyond our modest understanding.

We are more.

More than our parenting choices.

More than our jobs.

More than our self-professed roles.

We are valued

and chosen

and wildly loved

and complexly created

by a Master Artist.

I wasn't planning to explain the facelift here but timing seems serendipitous as my online home was revamped just a week before the controversial Time magazine cover of a mother nursing her toddler son with a cover story title asking Are You Mom Enough? began yet another firestorm. {I'm not linking there, but you can search it if you'd like.}

And I'd like,

if I could, to answer

that for us all

regardless of if we nurse

by bottle or breast

when we are nourishing our loves with love --

that, no,

we are not mom enough.

we are more

because we are beloved beyond belief.

Babywearing: At Home

He's so at home in his skin, his body now.

At two years old, he loves to jumpjumpjumpity jump jump, feet self-bound together, blast off down the sidewalk in hot pursuit of his brother, crashing through walls of leaves and stomping his footprints into sun-dried grass.

The toddle is giving way to a steady-on-his-feet gait, only slipping out in moments of shear exhaustion; most times, he much prefers to carry himself over the hills and up flights of mountainous stairs atop of legs that yearn to stretch and push and break free.

But I think something sparks a memory, every so often, in between conquering stretches of neighborhood and fortresses disguised as two-story staircases, that there's this soft space waiting atop of my hip just next to my chest and another in the slightest curve of my back.

E at 10 months in a Didymos Hemp Indio

And in that memory, he'll run smash crash into the bottom of my legs, waving arms up high while declaring intentions for being lifted up into the fullness of my arms, into the encasing of a sling.

He snuggles in, relaxes tired muscles, lets his weight sink into my own, thinking inside his quieting mind, {I'm pretty sure}

E at 2 years old in a Kinderpack 

Oh, yes, I'm at home here, too. 

In celebration of International Babywearing Week, I'm celebrating locally with Babywearing International Chicagoland. If you are local, come celebrate with us!

Do you have a favorite babywearing post? I'd love to read it!

October Rewind: Because these Stories Need Space, too

Sometimes I like to look back at what was happening around this time the year before ... just out of curiosity and a little because I like to take in the growth of the past year. 


Also, I wonder --what were you doing around this time last year? Perhaps repost it today, and link below if you'd like to share!

My 13-month-old baby boy's chest rises and falls, rhythmically against my back as he slumbers while his brother and I collect leaves under a gentle autumn afternoon sun.

It's been a long day, and Baby E., who is teething has needed extra mommy-care since he woke in a grumpy mood. I've been holding him nearly all day, and he's refused his normal naps and sleeping, leading us further down a path of grumpiness and crying jags.

His big brother, G., has waited as patiently as a 3 year old can wait for attention of his own.

"Look at this biiiiig red one, mommy!" he exclaims. "It's perfect."

I squat down next to G. and examine a large Maple leaf that had freshly tumbled from the branches.

"You're right!" I proclaim. "It IS perfect."

He plucks the leaf from the cement, puts it in his bag and off we continue down the sidewalk in search of more leaves for our tree project.


As Baby E. quietly snores on my back, G. and I converse about autumn and why we have seasons and how Illinois is so verrry, verrrry far from the equator, which tends to make Illinois verrry, verrry cold in the winter.

A lull in conversation allows my mind to wander as G. bounds down the sidewalk seeking more leaves.

I feel Baby E.'s soft breath and teething-induced drool making a little patch on back damp.

And I feel grateful -- grateful that he's so snug and relaxed pressed against my body even as we merge recklessly into toddlerhood.

I'm comforted by his comfort.

But the reality that grips my heart, sends it soaring into the soft blue sky comes when G. retreats from a pile of leaves, grasps three fingers on my right hand and says, "Mom, I love having leaf walks with you."

His face is brimming with love.
nd I think to myself, so often we talk about the benefits of babywearing for the child being worn and the person wearing him or her.

But how often do we talk about the many moments babywearing affords the little bigger one who walks alongside of mom, who can easily slip his little hand into one of her free ones so they can walk together?

I love {big fat mushy, overflowing love} the compelling stories my friends shared with the Chicago Tribune reporter who came to interview our Lake County Babywearers members at our International Babywearing Week event -- stories of how babywearing eased post-partum depression, helped dad reconnect with his daughter and allowed a working mom the ability to bond with her little man after a long day's work.

Babywearing boasts such powerful benefits; the Tribune story powerfully highlighted those extraordinary stories.

And parents need to read those stories because they showcase how to be attached caregivers.

But I think the every day, seemingly simple stories of babywearing benefits need a space, too.

So though I know it's not newsworthy that G. and I went for a walk and connected on a gorgeous fall day, I just wanted share it anyway.

Because sometimes it's those simple moments that end up changing a really small but important part of the world. And a small but really important heart.



This is a repost from 10/19/10. 

Babywearing: Advocating for Education, Not Fear Mongering

Unfortunately, Monday morning brought sad news of a two-day-old Australian baby who died while being worn in a sling.

So, again, with the unfolding of such an unfortunate tragedy, the practice of babywearing will most likely be thrust into the limelight, complete with advice medical doctors who have no experience with slings forming all kinds of warnings for parents to avoid the alleged dangers of babywearing.

And because my heart absolutely aches for the mother who lost her precious baby while wearing her little one and because I whole-heartedly believe babies are safest when pressed against the skin of a care giver, I feel compelled to say it again:

Any baby item can be dangerous!


Carseats, baby swings, baby cribs -- any place babies can slip into the dangerous chin-to-chest position and block off tiny airways must be monitored.

BUT the art and practice of babywearing is safe.


In fact, I would argue that the art and practice of wearing your baby snuggled against your skin where the rise and fall of baby's chest can be felt is safer than leaving baby to sleep alone, unmonitored in a car seat or crib.

With that said, we must spend time educating parents on how to ensure baby is in correct positioning in ALL baby gear items, including car seats, swings and carriers.

And we babywearing advocates and instructors must send time helping parents understand best practices of baby wearing so they will not be tricked into thinking that all baby gear and baby carriers are inherently safe or alternately not safe.


But, first, let's briefly talk baby carriers and why all carries are NOT made equally.

Some slings,like the recalled Infantino Slingriders that have caused infant deaths and are commonly referred to as bag slings, should not even be marketed as baby carriers because there is NO way to safely carry a baby in such a sling.


These slings are worn around the parents' neck and body much like a messenger bag is worn. Babies who are placed into the deep pockets of these slings are at risk for suffocation because their bodies are positioned in a C shape where the child's neck often touches her chest and restricts airways. All the while, the poor mom or dad wearing baby could be oblivious to any danger because baby is all the way down by mom or dad's belly button.

(image courtesy of Walmart.com)
ALL bag slings -- like the Infantino Slingrider -- are so dangerous; they violate every babywearing best practice instruction we babywearing instructors teach:



Baby should be close enough to kiss.
Baby should never have his chin resting on his chest.
Baby's head should be above the rest of her body.
Baby's knees should be higher than his butt.
Baby's face shouldn't be covered by fabric.
Baby's head should be supported.



Not only do bag slings -- like the Slingrider -- defy EVERY SINGLE ONE of these safety musts, they also give reputable ring slings and pouches, like Sakura Bloom ring slings, a bad name.

Can reputable slings be worn less than ideally? Of course! Remember, sometimes carseats are also used drastically wrong, with baby's chin falling to the chest and restricting little airways.


But reputable carriers are designed so that the wearer can, indeed, adhere to the best practice guidelines {remember, baby should be visible and kissable}. We now also have the Baby Carrier Industry Alliance working with the ASTM to establish a voluntary standard for sling-style carriers that allow wearers to adhere to best practices while wearing their babies.  

And companies who sell sound babywearing products, like Sakura Bloom, send best practice guidelines with their slings that explicitely explain the tennents of babywearing safety.

So while the media circulates news stories about the "dangers" of babywearing that only promote fear without sharing education on best practices on positioning a new baby,  let's ensure that we babywearing advocates {and carseat-and-swing-safety advocates} pass along information on best positions for newborns and babies inside and outside of carriers.

I think we owe it to all the babies and families out there who have experienced such tragedies as well as those caregivers who would like to remember, honor the beautiful little lives lost as they care for the little ones in their arms.

For more safety and carrier information, visit:
http://www.thebabywearer.com/ or http://www.babywearinginternational.com/


Please note: Baby E is being worn in the tummy to tummy position in a Kimz Kreations ring sling. He is one week old in the first picture and two weeks old in the second. Please be sure to note that the fabric is covering the back of his head in the second picture, but his little nose and mouth are clear of fabric and are tilted up away from his chest.

Babywearing: In my Book

I know I've celebrated {lamented} how E no longer has no residual babyness emerging from his two-year-old self.

But, that doesn't stop us from slinging him way up high our backs, enjoying every day that he's still able to be slung.

In my book, babywearing isn't just for babies anyway.

It's just as much for toddlers who could take on an entire apple orchard if they wanted to ... but who know the view is way better from up here.

Babywearing: Rebozo

By Marion Scott

My baby was the one you could hear from down the hall.

Doors all along the hallway of the Mother-Baby Unit shut as the nurse brought 5 pounds and 2 ounces of scrawny, screaming irritation back to me once again.

After a physically uneventful but emotionally draining year, I was completely unprepared for a premature birth, forced labor and botched delivery.

Apparently baby was not ready, either.

It was weeks before I could sit down, months before I could sit down without pain. Days before baby could latch on, weeks before he wanted to latch.

Family came and went before the weather could turn. They marveled at baby’s tiny body and earsplitting voice. I notified the silence where baby’s father had been: “Baby boy born. Mother and baby fine.”

I tried to cook and clean for my patient husband, our new marriage trapped in non-verbal infancy and the frustration of novelty: diapers, dryer vents, drugstores, dirt.

Nights were measured in one-hour intervals. Days ran into one another strung together by the constant motion of bouncing, moving, swaying, walking around and around in circles on my carpet path. Housebound by doctors’ orders and winter storms I sometimes wore earplugs to dull the constant crying until I, too, became dull.

Dull. Alone. Sinking inside.

In my more lucid moments, I thought this must be punishment for unplanned pregnancy. No friends, no network, no family and no peace. I never registered for baby things thanks to the kind lady at the Pregnancy Center who gave me a crib, a stroller and some maternity clothes. Lacking a periodical subscription, a Babies R Us and an internet connection, I did not hear the term “Postpartum Depression” until well after the postpartum stage.

Books lived on the nightstands, on the counters, on the edge of the crib. Straight lines of text balanced the erratic daily mood swings, until they joined one day in a black-and-white picture book from 1961 entitled Children and their Mothers.

Grainy photos of black and white skin, poverty and prosperity, new world, old world, third world glared starkly in the glow of my nightlight. Mothers from around the world, sad and happy, eating, healing, resting, nursing, working, starving, dying. In homes, hospitals, clinics, hovels and ditches.


But the babies! The babies were content, peaceful, unaware of their circumstances. And for every sleepy, drooly, placid baby there was a piece of cloth, a basket, a scarf, a pack which held them up high on their mother’s body.

In the morning, after my tired husband left for work, I took a flat sheet and ripped it in half longwise. Looking in the mirror for perhaps the first time in weeks, I tried to tie a band around my body, wrapping the length and width around mummy-like.

I looked at the tiny body clawing at his blanket on my bed and then at the quantity of fabric wrapped around my middle. Looked at the picture of the African mamas washing, sewing, cleaning socializing with babies on their backs. Unwound the sheet and picked up now-frantic baby … and stuffed him feet-first into the top of my sports bra.

This became our morning exercise routine. Daddy leave for work. Baby wake up again. Mommy frantically strip her shirt off and nurse angry baby, then stuff him semi-upright in her bra and begin walking our carpet path.

After a few days, baby quieted after only minutes of protest, dosing in his tight elastic nest on top of mommy’s chest, all his bony arms and legs folded in, securely held. After a few weeks I got braver. I knew how to do something! I could cook, I could clean, I could help my baby feel better, if only for a few hours.

We got braver as the weather worsened and nights began before dinnertime. I half-expected to be stopped by a police car on our first walk around the block.

Ma’am, what is that lump under your coat?

Just a sleeping baby, warm in his swaddling of shirts and scarves, only the top of his hat visible under my chin.

Deep snow, deeper quiet, an hours’ respite from fighting our housebound demons.

By spring baby had outgrown his nest.

A new internet connection brought news of warmer weather, lists of garage sales and links to baby stores.

I dragged out a used Snugli and diaper-pinned the straps back on. Baby objected to this new, open-air insecurity. What luck when I found a “real” sling at Walmart! It was huge--I pushed and pulled the padding through the rings, removed stitching, chopped ends and generally mangled it into submission. Miles, weeks and two aching shoulders later, I found a new website. La Leche League led to Jenrose led to Jan Andrea led to my sewing machine and finally a simple pouch sling emerged.

We went to the grocery store together, baby, the pouch, and I. The white people stared, the gentleman in the milk aisle shook his head.

“What will they think of next? That baby is going to fall out on the floor!”

But the old Mexican lady buying bushels of tomatoes adjusted the stretch of fabric across my back with a gap-toothed smile and tucked the edges under baby’s knees.

The deli girl told me of her grandmother and her country as plastic-gloved hands mimed tying straps and tucking fabric.

“Rebozo?” asked a man sorting oranges, then let loose a torrent of Spanish.“Rebozo?”

“Rebozo?” I asked my Spanish-speaking mother a few weeks later.

Doubtful about my invention, she was heartened by my combed hair and babbling baby.



The wall between us cast shadows in either direction, baby rising every day, the noon sun of compromise.

A few months later she returned from a missions trip, thinned and warmed by hotter climate. She handed me two strips of brightly woven cloth with fringe at the ends.

The weave was open, the cotton soft and flexible. Meshlike, the scarves stretched and curved around the curve of baby’s peeking face.

“Rebozo,” said my mother, as she tied it around baby and me. “Rebozo.”


Marion Scott is wife to a patient man, mother to four youngsters and designer of the CatBird Baby Pikkolo. A babywearing pioneer of sorts here in the area, she's been wearing her babies intermittently for the past ten years, well before many slings were readily available on the market. She is the liaison for Babywearing International of Chicagoland, our local babywearing group. I'm proud to call her a babywearing mentor and friend.

Babywearing: PSA -- Kissable and Visible

After the duffel bag sling recall, a few sling makers began a new safety campaign of sorts to help moms and dads identify whether baby is being worn safely: Kissable and Visible.
Baby E. volunteered to be a model for how NOT to be worn yesterday at the Sillicon Valley Moms Chevrolet Missions event where brands and the Chicago Mom Bloggers had a chance to dialogue and mingle.

So is baby's face visible?

Check!

And kissable?

EHHHHHHHHH!
No; baby's face should be visible and kissable simultaneously. And, thus, baby should NOT be worn like this in a sling while standing. Especially, while his mother is Tweeting. Now, while she's seated, it's probably not a big deal, but in that case, when mama stands up she should not forgot that her baby wriggled like crazy and she loosened the sling so she and baby could sit comfortably. (Which I --- errr SHE -- didn't, so we're safe.)

Disclaimer: No babies were harmed in the making of this Public Service Announcement. The only thing that suffered was the Tweeting mother's bruised ego when she realized someone had snapped a picture that could potentially be used as a PSA for improper sling wearing. However, she has been advised to not beat herself up because she was sitting and conscious of her decision to loosen said sling while in a seated position, thus not actually putting her baby at risk for injury.

Here, the Tweeting mother demonstrated how a sling should be worn:


Visible and kissable.


Photo credit: Lahleyoo

Babywearing: The real deal on safety

Brace yourselves, babywearing parents.

If we thought we got inquiring looks for slinging our babies before, I'm sure we're in for a firestorm of more than just curious glances now that the Consumer Product Safety Commission is preparing to issue a warning about infants having suffocated in popular slings sold at our local Target.

And it might not be such a bad thing.

I want the conversations to begin flowing when I'm wearing my babes mostly because my heart weeps for the parents who lost their little ones while trying to wear their babies close to them. It's terribly heartbreaking that these moms and dads wanted to love and protect their babes by wearing them, and just the opposite happened when their precious little ones suffocated while being worn.

So this warning/recall is important. Yes, it's so very vital, not only because these slings are responsible for deaths but also because this warning will further thrust babywearing into the spotlight.

And though I'm praying that the warning/recall will clearly explain and define why the types of slings that have caused these terribly tragic deaths are dangerous, I, for one, am not willing to leave any of the babywearing education to a government safety commission.

Because the CPCS's job isn't to educate the public about safe babywearing.

And its job isn't to broadcast that the act of babywearing is or isn't dangerous; rather its job is to sound about which products are unsafe.

While it's important to know which products are unsafe, we need to ensure parents and caregivers understand why these recalled slings are unsafe so they can make informed decisions when purchasing a carrier.

So let me stand from my blogtop and scream it:

Any baby item can be dangerous!

BUT the art and practice of babywearing is safe. ***

Once parents understand best practices of baby wearing, they will not be tricked into thinking that all baby carriers are inherently safe or alternately not safe.

The slings, Infantino Slingriders, that have caused infant deaths are commonly referred to as bag slings, and they should not even be marketed as baby carriers.

These slings are worn around the parents' neck and body much like a messenger bag is worn. Babies who are placed into the deep pockets of these slings are at risk for suffocation because their bodies are positioned in a C shape where the child's neck often touches her chest and restricts airways. All the while, the poor mom or dad wearing baby could be oblivious to any danger because baby is all the way down by mom or dad's belly button.

(image courtesy of Walmart.com)

ALL bag slings -- like the Infantino Slingrider -- are so dangerous; they violate every babywearing best practice instruction we babywearing instructors teach:

Baby should be close enough to kiss.
Baby should never have his chin resting on his chest.
Baby's head should be above the rest of her body.
Baby's knees should be higher than his butt.
Baby's face shouldn't be covered by fabric.
Baby's head should be supported.



Not only do bag slings -- like the Slingrider -- defy EVERY SINGLE ONE of these safety musts, they also give reputable ring slings and pouches, like Hotslings and Sakura Bloom ring slings, a bad name.

Can reputable slings be worn less than ideally? Of course! {Remember, sometimes carseats are also used drastically wrong.} But reputable carriers are designed so that the wearer can, indeed, adhere to the best practice guidelines {remember, baby should be visible and kissable}.

And companies who sell sound babywearing products, like the aforementioned ones, send best practice guidelines with their slings that explicitely explain the tennents of babywearing safety.

We must advocate for babywearing. We know how beneficial it is to the health of families -- parents and babies alike.

We must also advocate safety by educating parents about the dangers of specific slings like bag slings but also by teaching overarching babywearing best practice guidlelines. The CPSC statement probably will scare parents away from these bag slings. But that is likely all the warning will accomplish alone.

Instead of fearing the CPSC warning will give babywearing a bad name, let's speak up for babies' safety and sound sirens of warning about unsafe baby slings and practices alongside the commission.

And then let's take it a step further by educating parents about babywearing best practices so that parents feel secure in holding their babies close. Because we want every parent to feel comfortable with wearing their babies. Shouldn't they all reap the benefits of being close enough to kiss?

Let's wholeheartedly pray that this warning thrusts us babywearers into the limelight so we might be able to educate the public, particularly caregivers and parents, about the many benefits of art of babywearing. And then lets teach parents how to best wear their little ones.

I don't want to see one more baby die from improper positioning in a poorly designed sling, so I, for one, welcome the gawking and comments because it will just open the flood gates for best practices to flow.

For more safety and carrier information, visit:
http://www.thebabywearer.com/ or http://www.babywearinginternational.com/

EDIT after inquiries: Baby EJ is being worn in the tummy to tummy position in a Kimz Kreations ring sling. He is one week old in the first picture and two weeks old in the second. Please be sure to note that the fabric is covering the back of his head in the second picture, but his little nose and mouth are clear of fabric and are tilted up away from his chest.

***EDIT: I have edited this part of my orginal post to state that I feel the art of babywearing is safe. There is no safer place for baby to be than snuggled up right againts mom or dad's chest. Babywearing allows babies to be under the constant care and attention of their caregivers.***

If you would like, please leave a link to your own babywearing safety blog post. :)

Rave: 3Tree Design Anaju Bamboo Baby Wrap

There's always a little room to grow.

Unless, of course, we're talking about my baby carrier stash. My husband politely pointed out that perhaps my stash was large enough when it had to be housed in a full suitcase instead of a carry on sized one. I parred down the stash so it could go back to the smaller suitcase, and I didn't buy any other carriers even after we found out we were expecting another baby. And even though I'm a bit of a carrier addict, it was all right with me because I really thought I had everything I could ever need.

Of course, though, when baby EJ came along, he proved me wrong because he didn't like any of the carriers I loved so much -- not one! He only liked [read: he didn't squawk like a dying bird while in it] a wonderful muslin ring sling lent to me by a friend. Though I loved the ring sling, when baby EJ breached 12 pounds at 5 weeks, I began wishing he liked something, anything that went over both of my shoulders so there would be better weight distribution, especially as the date for the five mile Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk neared.

We found our glass slipper of a baby carrier when the 3Tree Design Anaju Bamboo Baby Wrap arrived at our house after I agreed to review the brand-new wrap founded by California babywearing mama Michelle Schlensker.

I must admit that normally I'm not a fan of stretchy wraps. I've tried a few different brands, and I've never found one that was actually supportive enough for my liking because I have heavy, fast-gaining babies. Many unsuccessful and uncomfortable stretchy wrap carrying attempts with my first son led me to unlovingingly nickname them saggy wraps. However, after heavily relying on the Anaju Bamboo Baby Wrap almost to the point of wrap abuse, I'm now eating my words and publicly apologizing for labeling all stretchy wraps as unsupportive and uncooperative.

The Anboo, as we affectionately nicknamed the wrap in our house, is everything I want in a stretchy wrap. It is breathable, supportive, sustainable, organic, superbly soft and certainly capable of being a work-horse carrier.

And we've worn the living daylights out of this thing during the past two weeks it's been in our home. We used it during the five-mile-long Strides Walk. I've walked in high-heels along forest preserve trails while wearing EJ in it. We have worn EJ in it at myriad events throughout Lake County. It's also seen the inside of our Curves and helped me snuggle EJ while getting work done at the club. I don't think we've gone one day where it hasn't been used.

I've speculated that EJ likes the wrap for the same reasons I like it so much. It is softer than even my most worn cotton T-shirts with an almost-silky feel. Because it is made of bamboo and cotton, it is supportive while maintaining high breathability. Rarely, do you get the kind of support and breathability the Anaju gives in one wrap. The Hoppediz "Das Leicht" is the only other wrap I've tried that succeeds in offering both support and maximum air circulation; however, the Anaju is second to none in its super-soft and silky feel. I imagine the Anaju being one wrap that mamas in warm climates don't mind sporting; though, I cannot say I've had a chance to test it in the heat because the Chicago area has had a tundra-esque October, and I don't think we've seen a day with temperatures beyond 66 degrees.

I appreciate that the wrap is made of organic bamboo viscose and organic cotton because I don't have to worry about toxins when EJ sucks on the edges as most babies do. (It passed Oeko-Tex 100 certification, which is Europe's safety testing system for fabrics.) Speaking of spit and drool marks, the Anaju is even more appealing because after it is washed and dried it bounces back to its original shape if any stretching has occurred. Schlensker explains on her site that bamboo has a wonderful memory, and therefore, superbly maintains its shape after being laundered. That means you don't have to be afraid to wear your baby in the Anaju right after a feeding because if spit happens, and it will happen, the wrap is easily cleaned in the washing machine.

The Anaju, like all stretchy wraps, does have limits, though. Stretchy wraps cannot safely support back carries, in my opinion; the founder of the wrap agrees, as she specifically pointed this out in the wrap's user hand guide. The Anaju is recommended for use with babies one year and younger. I would say it certainly feels like the bamboo/cotton combination is stronger than other stretchy wrap fabric blends out there. I don't feel too many pressure points while wearing the wrap unless I'm wearing for more than a few hours; it's hard to avoid pressure points with a stretchy wrap, though, so I am impressed with how little I have felt after wearing it for hours at a time every day.

Currently, the Anaju is available in Jade Lime, which has worked out well for us because we're big green fans in our house. Mamas who want specific colors will have to wait until Schlensker introduces the other colors in the line.

It's also important to note that because the wrap material is so lightweight and stretchy, the Anaju must be tied onto the carrier tighter than other stretchy wraps. It should feel like a snug T-shirt before you slip baby in, and it should grip baby pretty snugly in order to give maximum support. Equally important, new babywearers often adore stretchy wraps because they are pretty darn easy to learn how to tie and secure baby into a good position.

So enough from me about the Anaju. Want to love on one yourself or know someone who would really enjoy it? Here's how you can win your own 3Tree Design Anaju Bamboo Baby Wrap:

1. Leave a comment sharing why you or someone you'd love to gift the Anaju to would so enjoy having the it. Be sure to mention the specific quality about the wrap that you like most if you can narrow it down!

2. Tweet about this contest. (Post link in the comment section.)

3. Link to this contest on your Facebook status. (Post link in the comment section.)

4. Become a fan of 3Tree Design on Facebook. (Post link in the comment section.)

Be sure to comment every time you complete one of the above so you have many chances to win.

Giveaway entries will be accepted until midnight Oct. 31.

Babywearing: Little nurturers

During our last monthly Lake County Babywearers meeting, the toddler and his friend decided they wanted in on all the action.

Children live what they learn, right? Of course, don't ask me that on a day when the toddler has pee peed on the couch because he definitely never learned that from me. And I'd like to think the hubby has only encouraged the toddler to pee pee in the potty or behind trees.

However, I can be certain that my hubs has encouraged a spirit of affection and nurturing in the toddler because he told me while he was wearing his baby that he was snuggling the baby the way mommy and daddy snuggle him. Now that's the kind of learning I like to see lived!

Babywearing: Shorty love

Normally, I lovelovelove mei tai baby carriers. But with being pregnant and not wanting anything with straps to touch my belly, I've had to find some other equally awesome carriers. I really loved my Hotslings pouch during the first trimester because it was quick and it kept the pressure off of my stomach.

But as I've gained more energy during the second trimester, I have been able to carry the toddler for longer periods at a time. Therefore, I realized I needed something that could stand up to long carries -- a carrier that distributed his weight onto both shoulders but not my emerging and somewhat-large belly.

Enter the shorty.

The shorty is a woven wrap - any brand -- that comes in shorter lengths than a standard size wrap, which usually measure 4.1-5.2 meters. Here is a 4.1 meter Storchenwiege woven wrap in the colorway Albert. Notice how long the tails are after I tied them around my waist.

A typical shorty measures 2.7 meters (for the smaller mama) to about 3.2 meters (for the average mama) to about 3.7 meters (for the fluffier mama). Shorties are limited to performing only certain carries - ruck sack, kangaroo, hip carry and cradle carry. (Click here to learn more about sizing and carries!) Here is a picture of me wearing the toddler when he was 12 months old in a 2.7 meter Bara Barn woven wrap in the colorway Druvor. The position is similar to a hip wrap cross carry.

But the advantage of a shorty is quite extensive. A shorty is quicker to wrap because it has less material to wrap and tie. It is cooler because it has less material. And it is easier to learn to use and tie because it has less material. See? Sometimes less is more!

But the shorty also has the benefits of a woven wrap because it is a woven: It's supportive. It's a work-horse. It gets better and softer with each use. It can be used from newborn through toddlerhood and then through preschool age. And you don't lose the versatility of a wrap regarding different carries like you often lose with other types of carriers.

Here is a picture of me at 23 weeks pregnant carrying the 24-pound toddler in a ruck sack carry at the zoo. I'm wearing a 3.2 meter Didymos woven wrap in the colorway Iris. Look at how short the tails are after I tied under my bust. Not a whole lot of material to fuss with!

Need more for your money? A shorty can be transformed back and forth between a wrap and ring sling simply by adding or removing sling rings.

As I mentioned wraps are great for carrying newborns and beyond. I will be ruck sacking our newborn when he arrives using the Iris, as wraps are one of only two carriers (the other -- a Kozy mei tai) you can safely use to hoist a newborn up onto your back. In this picture, I'm wearing a good friend's newborn ruck sack style in a 4.6 meter Storchenwiege woven wrap in the colorway Inka. You can see how much more material I had to fuss with, and I must say, I do like doing ruck sack carries with shortys much better!
Oh, shorty, how I love thee. Let me count the ways. Oh wait. I already did.

Babywearing: I've shown you mine, now you show me your ...

babywearing beau!

One of my tips about how to help your hubby wear your baby was to show him there are other men out there who sport their babies in carriers. So let's see some of those men wearing their babies!


The winner will be featured front and center of my next babywearing post! The first and second runners up will also be given some press on the same post ... however, they won't be front and center. Sorry. That spot will be reserved for the most inspiring (or heartwarming or funny) babywearing daddy photo. The winner also will be gifted with a $5 Starbucks gift ... because if you've got a kiddo to wear, you probably need the caffeine.





Boring rules and the not-so-fine print:

* The photo must be yours!

* The kid must be yours!

* You gotta reside in the U.S. and this type of giveaway must be legal where you live. You don't want to do time for a $5-contest prize, now do you?

* You must e-mail (hyacynthworth@ yahoo.com) your photo to me by MIDNIGHT Sunday, January 11 (or at least by Monday morning when I wake up!).

* You can only send me three photos.

* EDIT: The top three pictures will be chosen by my very own babywearing daddy, John, because he's gotta get something kind of reward for letting me post a picture of him as a banana tree wearing our little monkey, Gabe. The winner will be chosen by YOU, my blog readers, so you'll have to vote for your favorite.


The runners up will be announced Monday, January 12 by 9 p.m. Send this post to all the lovely babywearers you know ... unless you are afraid of a little competition. :) Help spread the babywearing love. Happy babywearing!

Babywearing: Not just for mamas

More than a few mothers I've spoken with have shared their heartache regarding husbands who refuse to wear their little ones because of some unknown reason.
I won't pretend I understand the male mind enough to list sure-fire ways to convince the man in your life to wear your little one, but I've compiled a few tips from my own experience and asked a few babywearing dads for some pointers to help entice the man in your life to suit up and wear the best accessory he'll ever sport: his baby.



1. Unleash the logic -- Don't spout off 75 reasons why babywearing is beneficial for both baby and the wearer during a hotly contested argument about babywearing. But instead print a very short article citing the benefits of babywearing. Where to leave this little wealth of information? Perhaps the bathroom since your man will be a captive audience while on the throne. Or maybe send it via e-mail so he can look at it during lunch break. Or place it on the fridge or cookie jar if he often frequents those places. Babywearing International has a small yet insightful list of reasons that is easy to read on its site.

2. Talk bonding -- Sometimes husbands of breastfed children often feel like they cannot do anything to help mom with their new bundle of joy except change baby's diaper. Baby tends to go to mom to nurse for everything from nourishment to comfort to finding warmth. Mark, babywearing daddy to 19-month-old Charlotte and husband to Allison, said wives also can help their husband's understand that babywearing increases bonding between the wearer and the baby.
"I think a lot of fathers always feel like they're less connected to their babies than their wives, and this is a way for them to connect and be closer to their baby," he said.

3. Point out the appeal -- We parents know it's hard to accomplish anything with a baby who constantly wants to be held. Point out to your hubby that he can go about his daily activities --send e-mails, walk the dog, watch the game, play with another child, fix things, make a sandwich -- while wearing baby.
"You can take care of the baby and 'do stuff,'" Mark said. "I probably wouldn't mention cleaning as the 'stuff.'"

4. Proof in pictures -- Sometimes you can play monkey see monkey do with adults just as easily as you can with toddlers. Perhaps, try surfing thebabywearer.com for one of the threads that show off babywearing daddies. I know my husband has peeked over my shoulder while I was looking at one of these threads and asked if I posted any pictures of him on there. :) It's always nice to feel like you're in good company. And maybe your baby's daddy will be more likely to proudly sport your munchkin if he sees other daddies doing it.
"It does help to see guys wearing kids online, but don't expect to see many doing it in real life," said my hubsand, John, babywearing daddy to 16-month-old G. "You just have to decide it's what you are going to do and stick with it."

5. Purchase a manly carrier -- John doesn't really think sporting my paisley-flowered carriers is particularly masculine, so I've made sure to order all of my mei tais with one side being a gender-neutral or even manly solid color. I was tempted to buy a mei tai with a camo-printed fabric, but he willingly wore the solid khaki canvas mei tai because it wasn't girly at all. It's a good idea to appeal to your man's likes and steer clear of his dislikes. Perhaps, he's a total Star Wars junkie; in that case, it would be really fitting to find a fabric that went with a Stars Wars theme and have it made into a carrier for your hubby.

6. Purchase a simple carrier -- The easier it is to get baby on and off his body, the more likely your husband will be to use a carrier without your assistance. John started off with a mei tai, and he really liked it until Gabe reached 18 pounds. When we needed more support, John bought me an Ergo for Christmas. And he fell in love with it. Because the Ergo buckles rather than ties, John has deemed it easier to use. I cannot pry the Ergo from his hands. It is his carrier of choice, and he wants nothing to do with anything "more complicated" now that he found the Ergo love.
"Buckles and the like make it easier to get the baby on and off," John said. "Plus you don't feel silly like you do when you are wearing a mei tai apron style while dragging 4 feet of straps behind you as you put the baby on in the parking lot while a woman is looking at you strangely ... not that I have experience or anything."
Also, for what it's worth, John tried the Pikkolo and deemed that a "nice" carrier, too. He, however, is very picky, and did not really like any of the other ones. It helps that both the Ergo and Pikkolo come in manly solid colors and manly materials like canvas. Dan, babywearing daddy to 2-year-old Martha and newborn Ruth and husband to Colleen, had only one suggestion when it comes to purchasing a carrier for a husband.
"Buy an Ergo," Dan said.

7. Boost his ego -- Tell him how sexy you think he is when he's wearing your little one. Compliment his every effort to babywear and follow up his attempts with really steamy compliments. If he knows you think it's sexy when he wears the baby, you might have a hard time getting him to let you have a turn carrying your baby. Of course, you should follow up your compliments with some sort of proof that you really meant your compliments. John thinks this idea is one of the grandest on the list. He, however, cautioned wives to tell the truth regarding whether their husband looks silly in, say, a pink flower-covered carrier while wearing baby in public.
"Your husband will be watching to make sure no one is looking at him strangely while wearing the baby," John said, "so be honest with how he looks as well."

8. Enter the confessional -- Admit that at first babywearing seams a little hard. Remember how overwhelming it is to try and learn how to properly use a carrier WHILE dealing with the fear that you might drop your baby while trying to get baby into a carrier. Though it's unlikely that you or your hubby would ever would drop your baby, it's still a very real fear for many people. And remember that your husband probably does not spend as much time with your little one, so he may not be as comfortable giving your baby basic care let alone doing something like wearing her. We all have fears, and sometimes those fears restrain us from doing the things we really would like to do. Reassure him that it takes a little practice, but remind him you have faith in his ability to safely and comfortably carry your little one. And tell him you'll help him without becoming frustrated, irritated or bossy. After he's comfortable with how the carrier works, encourage him to put baby on alone.
"I was the most proud when I was able to get G on my back without any help," John said. "I felt like a total expert, which is how men like to feel. Encourage your husband toward the same end."

9. Share success stories -- Everyone likes to know something she is about to attempt has worked out well for someone else. Share stories about how babywearing has helped you or helped other fathers you know.
"The proof is in the pudding aka 'thank God the baby stopped screaming and fell asleep' while mom was working out," John said.