International Babywearing Week 2014

It’s almost that time of year again - the air is getting cooler, pumpkins are starting to appear, brightly colored leaves flutter from trees… BABYWEARING WEEK IS COMING! This year, International Babywearing Week is October 5-11 and the theme is “Share the Adventure.”  The purpose of “IBW” is to celebrate, promote, and advocate the benefits of safe babywearing. It is a time to join together as a community to embrace and support one another while having fun and winning some awesome prizes!  The Instructors of Babywearing Around Tulsa have put together an awesome schedule of events, both in the community and online, that are sure to fit into everyone’s schedule and brighten your day!

WEEK LONG ACTIVITIES:

This year we are again doing the infamous “Scavenger Hunt.” A highlight from last year, and beyond fun, this year’s “hunt” promises to bring back old favorites and fun new challenges. Watch for posts from Ashley for more details on how you can get in on the action!

I will also be doing a week long “Carry Challenge.”  As IBW is a time to embrace our community and encourage others to join, we will have a variety of carrys AND carriers in this challenge, so everyone will have the chance to participate. Don’t have a wrap/RS/SSC? Meet up at one of the in person events to snap your challenge pic! There is a fun online “mystery prize” for those who meet the challenge!

“Ask an Instructor” is a new addition to our weekly activities where each Instructor will have a day to answer questions on the facebook page. These can be wearing questions, behind-the-scenes questions, or getting to know them a little better. Done in “AMA” format, this promises to be a fun interactive event!

We will also have a “Daily Picture Thread” with a themed photo for each day of the week!

There will also be a week-long “dip” for a handwoven doll wrap donated by a sweet member to raise money for our Lending Library! Wouldn’t your baby look adorable wearing THEIR baby in this? Is it possible to be jealous of a toddler’s wrap? :)

Babywearing around Tulsa has partnered with “The Babywearing Draw” on facebook to raise funds for our Lending Library. Tickets are $3 with the chance to win multiple incentive prizes and HALF the total funds raised! The LL with the highest number of ticket sales is automatically entered into a 3rd 50/50 draw! So every ticket counts! The last time it was done more than $400 was raised for each library - let’s see if we can beat that record! More information on our Facebook page or ask an Admin.

DAILY ACTIVITIES

• Sunday October 5
• Online -
• Start of Carry Challenge and Scavenger Hunt
• “Starting Out Sunday” picture thread - Show us your FIRST babywearing picture

• In Person - 
• Babywearing FLASH MOB at Guthrie Green! Music starts at 2:30, come and go starting at 1:00. Grab your favorite carrier and join us for what hopes to be the biggest group of babywearers Tulsa has ever seen in one place!

• Monday October 6th
• Online -
• Ask an Instructor - Somer
• “Matching Monday” photo thread done in the fun “Uno” style format

• In Person -
  
  
  
• Babywearing 101 Ballet Class informational lecture at Tulsa Ballet Studio K (45th and Peoria) 4:30. This class is free and open to the public and will discuss the benefits of safe exercise while babywearing (specifically Ballet) while showing a few preferred carrys. Those interested will have the opportunity to enroll in the class following the lecture.
• Family Picnic at Zink park at 5:45 - head on over from the lecture, or just come on out! Bring your blankets and join us for a family style picnic and enjoy Tulsa’s beautiful fall weather.

• Tuesday October 7th
• Online
• Ask an Instructor - Tiffany
• Travelling Tuesday photo thread - Show us your pictures while traveling or just on-the-go babywearing

• In Person
• Riverside Walk
• Morning walk meet at 10:00 AM at the 41st Street Park
• Afternoon walk meet at 3:30 at the 96th Street Park
• Broken Arrow Play date at Central Park off Main, 6:00 PM.

• Wednesday October 8th
• Online
• Ask an Instructor - C.J.
• Wacky Wednesday photo thread - Let’s see those silly babywearing moments!

• In Person
• Babywearing Mini Photo Sessions at Woodward Park, 9:30AM. A variety of local photographers have agreed to provide participants with 2 edited photos for a $5-10 donation to the lending library!
• Soft Structured Carriers Class - This class with cover the fundamentals of Soft Structured full buckle carriers as well as front, hip, and back carries. A variety of brands and sizes will be available to help you find the perfect fit. $15 for the class and sign up is required (join under “events” tab in facebook)

• Thursday October 9th
• Online
• Ask an Instructor - Ashley
• Throwback Thursday photo thread - Show us your favorite babywearing picture from the past.
• The Babywearing Draw Lending Library incentive dip ends!
• In Person
• DIY Suck pads and Woven Wrap repair class 10:00 AM (location to be determined). Bring your prettiest fabric and a sewing machine (if you have one!) and make some suck pads for your SSC (snaps available for nominal fee). OR does your woven wrap have a snag or pull? Bring it out and we will teach you how to fix those pesky problems!

• Friday October 10th
• Online
• Ask an Instructor - Rachel
• Favorite Friday photo thread - What is your all time favorite babywearing picture?

• In Person
• Zoo playdate! Meet at the globe between 10-10:30 and go at your own pace. We are NOT encouraging anyone to go as an entire group (it’s too overwhelming) but smaller groups after we get a couple of pictures at the globe.

• Saturday October 11
• Online
• Snoozing Saturday photo thread - let’s see those angelic sleeping worn babies!

• In Person
• Day out at the Aquarium! This is a come and go event all day. We are contacting the Aquarium about a BWAT discount and will get those details to you as soon as we have them.

PRIZES

We have amazing members who have graciously agreed to donate some fabulous prizes for the various events throughout the week, more details on these later, but a sampling is: A free LL Membership, Scentsy warmer and wax, a babywearing mini photo session, birth doula gift certificate, custom drool pads, Galaxy dyed mommy and me set, a gauze wrap, amber teething necklace, lemonberry cloth diaper, wool dryer balls, wrap scrap teething necklace, custom birthday tu-tu set, AND MORE!*

I can't wait for all the fun this week will bring! I hope to see each and every one of you spreading the babywearing love online or in person! If you have any questions please contact an admin.

Tiffany Johnson is the Babywearing Around Tulsa Lending Librarian. She has received her babywearing training through the BWI conference as well as through practical, hands-on teaching. She is an extended breastfeeding, baby wearing, co-sleeping, attachment parenting mama to three beautiful children. She is currently taking a leave of absence from her career as an estate planning Attorney to focus on her home, family, and special needs child. In her spare time she loves crafting, reading a good book, red wine, all things geeky, and spending quality time with friends and family.

*BWAT is ALWAYS looking for prizes for various giveaways, if you have something to donate please contact an admin (we will always advertise WAHM donations with links to etsy stores or facebook pages)

Do It Yourself Carrier Tutorials

Do It Yourself (DIY) Carriers: General Overview
with Tutorials

       

 

 

There are a lot of ways and types of carriers you can make yourself, if you are a crafty person. It is highly recommended that you use Gutermann's thread or Heavy Duty due to the amount of weight and wear that occurs at the threaded areas. Also due to safety and liability issues, we only recommend that you make your own carriers (or for family members). BCIA and CPSIA are two standards organizations that you should be aware of and compliant with in order to sell or make carriers for others. These standards are becoming even more strict and including lead, chemical and weight testing for all fabric/thread used. If you have questions about these standards, please message C.J., Ashley, or Somer and we will be happy to point you in the right direction if we cannot answer them ourselves.

 

 

 

Stretchy Wrap (such as a moby, sleepy wrap...) - Very easy to make and no sewing is even required. You can use 5.5-6 yards of cotton knit fabric (with stretch no more than 30%), cut it down the middle length wise and you're done! You can hem or serge it all the way around for a more finished look but it's not necessary at all. This does create 2 stretchy wraps.

 

 

 

Water Wrap- This can also be done very easily and no sewing is required. You get 5.5-6 yards of football mesh, cut it in half length wise and you have 2 wraps. You can serge the edges all the way around if you want, but it's not necessary at all.

 

 

 

Woven Wrap- This can be done with minimal sewing skills. You can use gauze (great for newborns in the summer), osnaburg or 100% linen (other fabrics can be used, though they do need to be considered bottom weight). All 3 are safe for front, hip and back carries. The amount you need will depend on the length of wrap you want. If you want a standard long wrap (approximately a size 6), you'd need 5.5 yards of the fabric you choose. You should be able to cut it down the middle length wise to get 2, but this will depend on the width of the bolt. We recommend 24-27 inches wide for a wrap when finished so it would need to be at least 50 inches wide to get 2 out of one piece (most manufactured wovens are 27in for reference). After cutting it length wise you can also "taper" the ends which is cutting them at an angle. This will help when tying it when you wrap as it won't be so bulky. A difference of 5-6 inches cut at an angle is a decent amount. You create the tapers opposite of each other (meaning, on one end of the wrap the "top" is longer with the "bottom" shorter, on the other end the "top" would be shorter and the "bottom" would be longer; laid flat the direction is the same /==/). Then, you'll hem it all the way around the length and width of the wrap. It may also be helpful to add a "middle marker" which is easier to do prior to cutting the tapers. This can be done by just a short decorative stitch, a small scrap piece of a decorative fabric to mimic a tag, or just a few stitches. This will help you when wrapping to know where you should start from depending on the carry you choose to do.

 

 

 

Ring Slings- This can be done with moderate sewing skills. We only recommended to purchase the rings used for slings from slingrings.com as they have been weight tested for babywearing (though o rings used for horses can be used they are heavy compared to sling rings). Sling rings are also not welded so they have no weak points in them which under pressure could cause them to break. There are wonderful tutorials on how to make ring slings on sleeping baby production's website. Fabric choices are numerous but the fabric does determine the type of sling that needs to be sewn. A bottom weight fabric can be used in one layer only. A pretty quilter's fabric we recommend in a double layer with a bottom weight. A medium weight fabric we suggest using two layers. Multiple layers can also be warmer and more difficult to adjust.

 

· One Layer Ring sling- http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/Baby/sling.html

· Reversible Ring sling(same fabrics) http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/Baby/reversible.html

· Reversible (different types of fabrics) http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/Baby/reverse2.html

· Two layer with lightweight fabric- http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/Baby/doublelayer.html

· NO SEW Ring sling- http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/Baby/no_sew.html

8 Steps to create an X Box Stitch

Mei Tais- This can be done with a moderate to higher level of sewing skill. Thread choice is very important as the thread carries weight. Also reinforcing all seams, extending the straps at least 6 inches into the carrier, and using "x boxes" (shown above) on the shoulder straps where they extend into the body of the carrier is important to insure the likeliness of the carrier ripping is minimal. Also if using a lighter weight fabric a bottom weight support panel between the layers of the body is suggested (can be a full panel or an internal X or U support panel, see below). Using multiple layers or bottom weight fabrics are also suggested for all straps. There are a lot of great tutorials and patterns out there on how to make a MT and many threads over on thebabywearer.com. Here is the link to a post there with numerous patterns and directions.

 

· http://www.thebabywearer.com/forum/showthread.php?177441-MT-Answers-a-compendium

· faux ball baby overall MT- http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/Baby/bbo.html

· wrap conversion MT- http://www.wrapmeitai.blogspot.com/

o(You could do this with 100% linen and Osnaburg fabric as well.)

· "Hood to Headrest MT"- http://www.stilllearninglife.com/2008/01/diy-hood-to-headrest-mei-tai-tutorial.html

· Scandi MT Tutorial- http://scanditute.blogspot.com/

Internal X Support Panel

 

 

Soft Structured Carriers- This can be done with moderate to higher level sewing skills. Just as with a MT, thread choice is very important. Also seam reinforcements, straps sunk into the body, and "x boxing" on connecting areas are important. We also suggest that double or bottom weight fabrics be used as straps and if using a light weight fabric that a support panel be used. It is also recommended to use only weight tested buckles (to the weight limit that you feel comfortable with; I have found buckles tested to 90lbs for a $1 each).

 

· SSC tips- http://www.thebabywearer.com/forum/showthread.php?117666-SSC-(Soft-Structured-Carrier)-Tips

· Chelsea and Shira's SSC Pattern download- http://www.thebabywearer.com/forum/showthread.php?233690-Free-SSC-Pattern-now-available!-Have-fun-)

· SSC PDF download pattern- http://www.mediafire.com/?whdfr3hbm9t

· SSC tutorial on blog- http://latebloomercrafts.blogspot.com/2008/11/ssc-tutorial-1-cut-list.html

· SweetPod SSC tutorial- http://www.thebabywearer.com/forum/showthread.php?393607-sweetpod-ssc&highlight=buckles

· Tip to turn MT into a "half buckle" without sewing- http://www.thebabywearer.com/forum/showthread.php?418472-Converting-a-MT&highlight=buckles

 

 

 

Podaegis (Pods)- This is a blanket type carrier with straps on the top. These can be made with moderate sewing skills. As the same with a MT, thread choice is important as well as sinking the straps and "x boxing" them to reinforce them. Straps should be a bottom weight fabric or a double layer as well as the blanket.

 

· Wrap Pod- http://wrap-pod.blogspot.com/

· Straight strap pod- http://www.thebabywearer.com/forum/showthread.php?93216-Pod-directions-draft-version

· Angled strap pod- http://www.thebabywearer.com/forum/showthread.php?114473-Silk-Pod-sew-along-directions!-Finished-yay!

· PDF download straight strap pod- http://www.thewahmmall.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=46_56

· Patchwork Pod- http://sewshesews.wordpress.com/2009/10/01/baby-carrier-tutorial-a-podaegi/

 Angela Miller is an extraordinary mother to 4, including a rambunctious boy, an adorable set of twins, and new, little girl that likes to keep her on her toes. In Angela's very little free time, she enjoys DIY carriers and is aspiring to purchase a loom!

 

 

C.J. North is a Babywearing Institute Scholar who is also a certified elementary teacher.  She stays home with her three kids; 6yo stepson, 2.5yo son, and 6mo daughter.  C.J. has a love/hate relationship with cloth diapers and is crunchier than she ever thought she would be.  She also manages the allergy and special needs of her family, while being overly addicted to research.