Carry Challenge 2014

Starting January 1, 2014 we will have a 15 day carry challenge using woven wraps, full buckles, ring slings, and Mei Teis, with a new carry every day.  To participate in the Carry Challenge, you will simply make an album (titled with your name and “Carry Challenge” - much like we did for babywearing week) and upload your picture each day. I will post the title of that days carry and a video instruction on the facebook page each day.  Pictures must be uploaded that day, into your album, to count for prizes. But I would love any picture (a different day for example) to be posted in the daily carry thread on the facebook wall.

We have AMAZING prizes donated and all prizes will be awarded based solely on participation, EXCEPT for one prize for  the most creative carry. So the more carries you try, the more likely you are to win a prize! I decided to do the prizes based on participation because there are still several wraps available in the lending library if you want to check them out and participate. Table clothes, or bedsheets could be used, and 6 of the carries are done with carriers other than woven wraps. So there is plenty of opportunity for everyone!

Remember only pictures uploaded the day of that specific carry will count towards your total carry score for prizes. This will be more fun for everyone with daily participation rather than waiting until the last day and doing each carry for 2 minutes to take a picture.

The Creative Carry challenge can be ANY carrier type and any carry method. It will be up to a group vote and the winner will be allowed to choose ANY prize (except the grand prize). So if you ONLY want to participate in the creative carry - that’s fine too! The best entries will be a new carry with detailed instructions that the group can re-create on their own.

The Carry Challenge will follow this list for carries:

PRIZES!

We have FANTASTIC prizes donated for this event! Our grand prize was donated by Lauren Hyatt from Mums N Bums and is a Girasol Ring-Sling! Mums N' Bums is Owasso's newest addition to mommy and baby care! Mums N' Bums will provide eco-friendly, organic, natural products that will help you and your baby feel at your best!

Danielle J. Ethington is providing a custom Nipple Beenie for your cutie-pie! They are also available for purchase at oui oui cloth diapers!

Haylee Hager Barney is donating some adorable custom burp rags made of white cotton prefolds,  backed with Flannel and trim added. We have 2 sets of two donated.

Kristin Riffe has donated a coupon for a free customized suck pads with any fabric from her fabric library at:

http://pitterpatterstitches.weebly.com/drool-pads.html

Holly Foley has donated a gorgeous collection of custom hand-made bows that will go to several winners.

Ashley Richie of Tulsa Teethers has  donated a wrap scrap ring AND wrap scrap earrings!

And Kim Harris of Blue Marble  Market is donating a doll mei tei carrier for your little one to carry their little babies in! So cute!

If you have any prizes you would like to donate for the challenge please let me know! The more prizes the more fun for everyone! Also, remember, there are still woven wraps  in the lending library ready to  be checked out for this event! There is no reason not to participate.  I hope everyone has fun with this event and we can make it an annual occurrence!

Tiffany Johnson is a breastfeeding, baby wearing, co-sleeping, attachment parenting mama to three beautiful children. She is currently taking a leave of absence from her busy career as an estate planning attorney to focus on her home and family. In her spare time she loves crafting, reading a good book, red wine, all things geeky, and loving on her babies.

Carry of the Week - Torso Carry Love

Carry of the Week - Torso Love!

Ok, i’m going to be honest - I did NOT want to do this post. Torso Carries were requested, talked about it, videos linked, promises made. But I didn’t want to do it. The primary reason is I have no core strength. Zero. I’ve alluded to my “back problems” in our group but the fact of the matter is, I have much more than “problems”. A five level spinal fusion to help correct scoliosis when I was 16, with 3 levels collapsing during the pregnancy with my first son, have left me with virtually no core stability. I babywear because I HAVE to (I also love it - so that’s a plus!). Slings are literally the only way I can carry my babies for more than a few feet at a time. So the prospect of putting all that weight solely on my midsection scared me to death. BUT, I love you ladies. So I delved in. And here is what I found: It isn’t that bad! I still prefer to distribute the weight as much as possible but a torso carry was definitely doable. Even for an extended period of time! And Solomon LOVED the freedom of having his upper body free. I almost felt like I wasn’t wearing him because I had so much freedom of movement. And let me tell you, if you have any neck or shoulder problems you are going to love me after this post! :)

When I started researching Torso carries I found that it is basically one carry, used primarily in African cultures, that uses a towel or short piece of cloth to wrap a baby on your back. It honestly is a LOT like wrapping up with a towel - they use the same top rail flip over and it goes under your arms the same. It was very familiar. But I was able to look further and come up with a few far more secure feeling carries. So I am going to show you several methods to Torso carry so you can pick what is best for you. Here is the first video with the “towel” method (I did this with a size 4 gears and tied under bum): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQ6h64S-oto

The first method is a front Torso Carry that is based off a Front Wrap Cross Carry.  The idea here, is after you have baby secured in the torso pass you bring (carefully) both shoulder straps under your arms. You still cross over baby, pass under legs and tie in back. I would say this would work best with smaller babies as toddlers can easily lean back in this one. Be aware, this carry is lower on your body so make sure you are always aware of babe’s neck and face and be familiar with babywearing safety (make sure their chin is never on their chest, etc). The good thing about this carry is you could use a size up or down from your base size and make it work (basically sizes 4-7).  The key to keeping this one comfortable is TIGHTNESS. Always start with your bottom and top rails and don’t forget to tighten the middle as well.

Here is the video Tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyfwI46s7Wk

The next method is a back torso carry and is based on a double hammock. This is best for older babies because they need to have really good head and neck control to be on your back without the support of a wrap higher up around them. This carry is done with your base size or a size up (usually a 6 or 7). You start this carry like the traditional double hammock (refer back to our earlier blog post on a DH), and when you get to the cheerleader Y pull, you bring both passes under your arms and tie in a knot at your chest (you can see this in my picture). I used my base size so brought my ends back around and tied under bum. If you are sized up you can cross over and under babies legs and tie in front. Whatever is most comfortable for you and what size you have. Here is the Video Tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ny_jR0DDKhE

There is a similar Torso Carry to the one above done with a shortie (size 3 or 4). It is similar to the DH variant above, but ends with the chest tie. I did this with our size 3 Cheetah and wrapped the tails back under the wrap. Here is the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwum3eybbl8

Finally, we have a Torso carry using a Ring Sling! This is starts out just like a back carry in a ring sling (get baby in the sling then scoot them on to your back) but you slip your arm out before doing the final tighten. Here is the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ_qhMfysEU

OK! I think the Torso Carry compendium is complete! I hope you guys find one of these variations you like and PLEASE post pictures in the group! I love to see people trying a new carry because I suggested it - just makes my day! And, as always, if you have a suggestion or request for the next CotW please let me know and guest writers are ALWAYS welcome.

Tiffany Johnson is a breastfeeding, baby wearing, co-sleeping, attachment parenting mama to three beautiful children. She is currently taking a leave of absence from her busy career as an estate planning attorney to focus on her home and family. In her spare time she loves crafting, reading a good book, red wine, all things geeky, and loving on her babies.