Babywearing Around Tulsa: kinderpack

Showing posts with label kinderpack. Show all posts

Monday, February 2, 2015

Growth

WARNING: Sappy post to follow.

I thought about taking this back to the beginning. Back to when we had a half dozen people per meeting and a dozen was a really big day. Back to when we didn't have the giant lending library we have now so each mama who came brought every carrier they owned, whether it was 1 or 10, and dumped them all out on the tables in the room for everyone else to try. Back when there was room to spread out a blanket on the floor and plop all the kiddos on it. But that was way too many pictures and I still want the post to be able to load on your computer. ;-)

My how we have grown. Even though everything in the intro paragraph may sound wonderful and perfect and ideal to some people -- and it was a wonderful and perfect beginning to Babywearing Around Tulsa -- what we have grown into is AMAZING.

We have tried new things and made new friends. We have fund raised and saved dues money and searched hard for good deals. We have grown an impressive lending library and we shared our message with so, so many parents and caregivers.

We have lived through carrier fads. ;-) We have worked through different meeting structures and teaching techniques. We have LOVED getting together every month.

We don't always remember to take a group photo, but when we do they are always an awesome mix of moms, dads, grandparents and babies. The mix of carriers is always amazing.

We love that in BWAT wrappers, SSC lovers, Mei Tai enthusiasts and ring sling fanatics can coexist and do so lovingly. And that its very hard to get a group photo where no one is talking, because everyone loves to talk to each other so much we just can't stop.

If you want to learn to wear your baby, you are welcome here. If you have your one beloved wrap and need no other carrier, you are welcome here. If you want to collect all the pretty SSCs you can get your hands on, you are welcome here. If you want to learn to carry your newborn, you are welcome here. If you want to try a preschool size KP for your big kid, you are welcome here (and we have one in the lending library).

Twins, singletons, front carries, back carries, fancy finishes, ring slings, stretchy wraps..... We work with you to find the perfect carrier for you and your baby. One of the things that makes BWAT so special is that we know there isn't a one size fits all solution to babywearing and we celebrate our diversity.

The support that this group has provided to so many is invaluable. I hope I can get to know each and every one of you. At our current size, I know its virtually impossible, but please know that I value every one of you anyway. (3000 facebook members, guys! We have OVER 3000 facebook members. Can you believe that? My mind is blown.)

The friendships that have been forged here are strong and deep. Together we have learned so much and continue to do so.

Together we grow.

Somer Johnson is a Babywearing enthusiast and Momma to E, a bundle of energy. She is a Babywearing Institue Certified Babywearing Educator. She is also addicted to cloth diapers and makes and sells wool dryer balls as SomerKnits. Occasionally she also carves out some time to knit, spin or weave - her main pre-baby passions.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Traveling Wraps: What’s That?

Not long into my babywearing journey I was scrolling through Facebook one day and I came across something new and just way to cool to pass. Traveling wrap groups! I was so intrigued I had to see what this was about. Ever since I tell everyone I can, well if they are interested, and I get asked all the time, “What is a travelling wrap group?” So that is where the idea for this blog post came to be.

First, you make a feedback link inside the group. Feedback is simply a picture of your choosing where people can write what their experience with you that way others will know to trust you or not.

Second, you pick one of your wraps or carriers out that you feel comfortable with sending to other moms you don’t know. You post a picture of it and all the important information like: fiber, value because each host mails it to the next with insurance for the full value, how many hosts, length of travel which is usually one week per host, etc. Moms will comment on it if they are interested in hosting it for you. They will each provide a link to their feedback so you can decide if you would like to work with them or not. Once you pick out the hosts you make an event page inside the group where the hosts can post tracking information and pictures as it is traveling. Once you decide what order the travel will go on you simply mail it to the first home then it will go from home to home until it arrives back with you. Other ways you can send wraps travelling is through round robins where a set number of people all send a wrap out and everyone in that group gets to have someone’s wrap for the full travel period. You can also temporarily trade with just one person.

Third, once you send something travelling you get to start hosting some awesome wraps and carriers.

Travelling may be fun but I need to be honest at the same time. Costs: I have always paid between $6-$19 per wrap to mail it to the next hosts so you can do the math $6-$19 X 40. Sometimes I really miss my wrap while it is away from home, I mean really miss it. The entire system works on trust. I have been blessed by working with some amazing moms, but I have heard a few but not many horror stories.

Groups I am a member of and you should join me: Wrap Wanderlust, Churny Mama’s Traveling Wraps, Motherhood of the Traveling Wraps, and Traveling Woven Wraps.

What have I hosted and sent traveling? I’m so glad you asked J I’ll start with my travelers.

1. Girasol Double Rainbow visited 5 mamas

2. Tukula Ring Sling visited 3 mamas

3. Kinderpack visited 4 mamas

4. Girasol Tenango visited 12 mamas

5. Girasol Flamenco visited 3 mamas

6. Girasol Double Rainbow ring sling visited 5 mamas

7. Tula visited 2 mamas

8. Kokadi Love In Your Heart visited 2 mamas

9. Oscha Nova Roses just started its journey to visit 4 mamas

And the ones I have hosted in the order I hosted them:

1. Pavo Cheetah Wild

2. Tekhni Eco

3. Natibaby Feathers

4. Girasol Marley wcrs

5. Didymos Ellipsen with silk

6. Toddler Tula “Prepster”

7. Natibaby Shiny Sky

8. Storch Leo

9. Obimama Mei Tai

10. Pavo Hearts

11. Pavo Spice

12. Natibaby Brezo

13. Firespiral Seafoam

14. Dream Carriers Thread wcfb

15. Oscha Knots

16. Tula full conversion Girasol

17. Didymos Alpaca Gold

18. Tekhni Portico

19. Natural Hemp India

20. Didymos Indo wcrs

21. Kokadi Ahoi

22. Didymos Cleo

23. Oscha Okinami Blue Ice

24. Girasol Dark Rainbow wchb

25. Hoptye Pune

26. Plume Handwoven

27. Ovolo Fletching Wagtail

28. Tekhni Olympus Tidepool

29. Kokadi Eisvogel wcrs

30. Girasol Symphuo

31. Tekhni Ceres Raspberry

So you’ve seen my list. What is on your wish list to try?

My name is Mandi Pitts. I am a mom to two beautiful girls. I have a home daycare where I get to practice wrapping plenty of adorable babies. Even though I started late I love Babywearing! #wearallthebabies In my spare time I like to go to paint classes where there is no way you can mess up. On the weekends you can usually find our family camping, swimming, and riding our wave runners on the beautiful shores of Lake Eufaula.

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Disney World, Two Kids and No Stroller

When I first said to my husband we should take our two littles to Disney World without a stroller, he looked at me like I was nuts. ‘No really, it can be done!’ I promised.

I immediately posted in Babywearing Around Tulsa, asking for experiences from others who had done the same thing. I was disappointed when there were as many nays as yays.

So, I kept that to myself and we boarded a plane to Orlando with a 2-year-old in a Kinderpack and a 9-month-old in an Ergo and no stroller.

And it worked out just fine. Below are some of our pictures and a few tips for taking on such a task!

A large theme park with two ages two and under is no small task. And it requires stuff. But maybe not as much stuff as you think. I tend to go minimalist anyway, but for this particular outing I made sure everything I packed was necessary. Refillable water bottles for everyone, sunscreen, a few snacks and enough disposable diapers for the day plus wipes was a much pared-down diaper bag from our usual day-to-day diaper bag filled with cloth diapers, ointments and oils of every kind.

Ditch the diaper bag. I know, I just said I packed a diaper bag. And I did, I just packed it in a backpack, which is key when you are babywearing and have no stroller. I also utilized all of the little pockets on our carriers and attached my wristlet Baggallini to my Ergo for easy access.

Bring extra adults. This may not be feasible for every trip, but we had my husband’s parents come along with us. This meant my husband and I could wear the kiddos and grandpa could wear the backpack. If we had not had the extra adults, my husband would have worn the backpack anytime my toddler wanted to walk, which was quite a bit, and I would have worn it on my back with baby on front in between.

Consider the weather. We took our trip to the big mouse’s house in May and we lucked out. The temps were in the 80s at their hottest and it was quite breezy. Even so, babywearing gets warm and we were all thankful for our recently purchased chilly pads. We just wrapped them around the torso of the kiddos when they were being worn. We also scheduled some built in breaks from babywearing: lunch inside and air conditioned shows interspersed throughout the day broke it up nicely.

Know the rules. Before going, we checked out all of the rides and requirements online. I knew ahead of time that I would be able to wear my son on all of the rides we had picked out, anything that was all ages. Since this was a quick trip for the kiddos, we weren’t concerned with getting on rides that everyone wouldn’t be able to go on. Getting on and off the rides wasn’t an issue either since I was able to wear the baby. My toddler hopped in and out of the Kinderpack and my husband would just buckle the empty carrier back on like a backpack. I’m sure this saved time over searching for a stroller in the stroller park after every ride

Now that we’ve done it, I’ll admit it. I was pretty scared of not having a stroller. But by the end of the trip, my husband and I were constantly noting how in the way all of those strollers crowding the park were, how quickly we could get around and how nice it was to keep moving even though the little guy needed to nurse or nap.

Though it may not be everyone’s style, my husband and I had a blast wearing our babies at Disney World and can’t wait for our next big babywearing adventure.

Lauren Holloman is the proud momma of two kiddos plus a small menagerie of dogs and cats. When she isn't busy chasing two kids who are running opposite directions, she writes, edits and designs. You can read her pet blog at tulsapetsmagazine.com.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Papa bear and his (steadily growing) Cub

After my first “blog” or whatever you would call it, I wanted to write another a few months later. My son Jase, just turned 9 months old last week and in the time from the last time I wrote about my little tater bug until now, some things have changed (mostly good!).

I was lucky enough to have a close friend that was able to sell me a Kinderpack at a good price and also was EXTREMELY lucky to win a Boba 3G organic off of Bobas website. I guess I unintentionally shy away from wraps for two reasons. 1.) I know its dumb but they don’t have a ton of affordable “boy/guy” color combos (or at least that I've seen), and 2.) I had so much trouble with the Moby wrap that I think I would have a lot of trouble with a woven. I'm not sure whether either of these statements are true but I guess that’s just how I feel at this particular moment.

That being said, I will say that I wear my Kinderpack and my Boba all the time and my son and I could not be happier. I think that wearing my son and not really caring what anybody else thinks has been one of the best things that I've been able to do as a father. I get all kinds of looks in the store and malls etc, and even comments from my friends but I sluff all of them off (as I watch their kids run around and break stuff) and think to myself “Thank god I chose to babywear”. It helps so much in everyday life and the SSC is very comfortable and my son falls asleep in it all the time. I admit that the bubbles pattern might not be, in a manner of speaking, the most masculine print available but it was a well taken care of carrier at a good price and the safety of it matters more than the print to me.

But honestly I get more positive feedback from people saying things like “ well, now that’s a cool carrier thing, where do you get one of those?” Which opens the door for me to totally overdo the next few minutes of conversation by totally feeding them a TON of info about baby carriers that I'm pretty sure they didn’t want to know in the first place. I'm a good story teller (just ask Kim Williams-Harris or her husband Luke) and I'm a fisherman, so I guess you could say I was born to talk J. But when I see something that I know is beneficial to all involved and I am passionate about whatever subject that may be, I go to maiming and killing to convince others as well. (Kidding!)

I will say that in the past few months that I have seen the number of baby wearing daddys increase (sadly not as much as I would like) but it is increasing so I can't complain. I know that people like Somer and CJ and others have forwarded on my first blog in the hopes that it might help some shy or prideful daddy to babywear. That makes me happy and if my first writing helped even one dad to strap on their little one and charge into a store like a stormtrooper then it was well worth the (very little) effort.

Let me just send an observation to any dads that are just starting to wear or even remotely considering to wear. Do it. It truly is fantastic. The first time your child is in your carrier and he/she lays their head down to go to sleep on your chest and then falls asleep, you'll realize that that is one of the greatest feelings you've ever felt. I feel closer to my son than ever before when he does it. You might get a strange look from some older person or a rude comment by someone who is ignorant of such new fangled things like this but just remember that these are the same people that didn’t like power steering and power brakes. So its not that they don’t like the carrier or you, they just don’t like change, and that’s ok.

For you dads who wear, Awesome! Keep it up for as long as possible! Even if you wear 5 times a year, your still doing better than the status quo. I want all guys everywhere to be as passionate as I am about babywearing because all health benefits aside, it makes me feel good about being me! I can't tell you the number of times I've had women of all ages come up and commend me for being such a caring daddy. Being a dad is the greatest thing ever in my life and I don’t do it for commendation or peoples attention or for any kind of kickback. But I will say that it feels good anytime someone tells me that I'm doing a good job.

To the ladies of the BWAT group, and all the others that I've come in contact with who babywear, Thank you for making me feel like im a part of something great. You all have been wonderful and keep it up!

Keep calm and carry your kids!

-- Jake

P.S. if any of you ladies husbands want to friend me on facebook, have any questions that they would prefer to ask a guy about etc…. do not hesitate to let me know. I'd love to help be a part of another daddy learning the awesome benefits of baby wearing!

Join Jake and others in his Facebook parenting group Parents of Great Kids.

Monday, November 11, 2013

CotW - Kinderpack Hip Carry

Changing up Carry of the Week a little bit, here is one for you SSC lovers! Give this quick hip carry a try, you may discover whole new worlds with your beloved SSC or develop a new found appreciation of SSCs in general. Without further ado, CotW!

Hello. My name is Heather and I am a Kinderpack addict. This love was further cemented on Friday at Gilcrease Museum’s Museum Babies program. Had the dude comfortably riding on my back only to learn the museum prefers babies worn in front or hip carries (seems some curious backriding babes were grabbing at priceless art……oops!). Having successfully hip carried numerous times with the Ergo, decided to do the same with my Kinderpack. Worked like a charm and very easy to do!

First unsnap all buckles, slide buckles to maximum length, and push the Perfect Fit Adjusters (PFAS) as close to the buckles as possible.

Next, ignore the smattering of toys on the floor and place the Kinderpack around your waist to accommodate a hip carry. Snap the front shoulder strap into back buckle to create a sling. Slide the sling over your head. This makes the seat for baby.

Insert baby into the carrier. Bring the back shoulder strap around your waist and snap it into the front buckle. Tighten until baby feels secured.

Slide the front, diagonal strap onto your shoulder. Snap the PFAS behind you for additional support and to keep the front, diagonal strap from applying unnecessary neck pressure. Initially, do not be surprised if assistance is needed to buckle the PFAS. It helps to have them out and accessible before you put baby in the carrier. Tighten the front, diagonal shoulder strap as needed.

Voila! You are now successfully hip carrying in the Kinderpack. Happy Babywearing!

**Side note - this hip carry can also be done in any SSC where the straps unbuckle. That includes Ergos and others.

Heather Langley is an avid babywearer and proud mom to Rex, age 19 months. She is a Babywearing Around Tulsa administrator and Employment Specialist at Family & Children's Services Women in Recovery program. Heather enjoys spreading the babywearing love, music, reading, and spending time with her friends and family.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Kinderpack Versus Tula: A Photo Comparison

Kinderpack Versus Tula

People often ask the question, "Kinderpack or Tula"? That is a hard question to answer. Some people prefer the Kinderpack while others prefer the Tula. I prefer them both! They are both great but different. Below is a photo comparison and a few of the differences between the two carriers. My daughter is 22 months old, 32" tall and about 25 lbs.

Standard Kinderpack

The standard Kinderpack fit us great for a very long time. As you can see from the pictures, it is no longer knee to knee but is plenty tall. She can comfortably get her arms our which is how she prefers to ride.

Toddler Kinderpack

The toddler Kinderpack is almost perfect for her. It is slightly big on the width knee to knee but is comfortable. You can see that her arms are out but up on my back. She can't quite rest them out and at her side as she can in the standard. This is still a better fit than the standard.

Standard Tula

The Standard Tula fits similar to the standard Kinderpack. High enough on her back but no longer knee to knee.

Toddler Tula

The toddler Tula, like the toddler Kinderpack, is slightly wide on the knee but comfortable. While it seems higher on the back, it is easier for her to get her arms out than in the toddler Kinderpack. The body of the Tula is shaped differently and thinner than the Kinderpack. I believe this design is what allows her to get her arms out easier. Although it is not pictured, her arms are able to rest at her side in the toddler Tula.

There are some basic differences in the two carriers. The arm padding in the Tula is narrower than the Kinderpack. While it is narrower, I find it just as thick. I prefer the Tula arm padding. There is also see a noticable difference in the legs out padding. You can see in the pictures that the Tula leg padding is much more substantial. This doesn't seem to make a difference in comfort. Both carriers have perfect fit adjusters (pfa's). This feature allows you to get more of a custom fit and also makes it easier to share the carriers with someone of a different size.

The Tula does have a small pocket under the body along the waist strap. I have never used it. It may come in more handy for someone who uses front carriers which I rarely do. The Kinderpack waist band buckles in the middle and allows you to tighten on both sides of the clip while the Tula clip is on one side of the waist band. I like both styles. The Kinderpack under arm webbing can be tightened on either side of the clip as well. The Tula webbing can only be tightened one way and there is no clip under the arm. I am finding this a big plus on the Tula side for me as I hate the clip or webbing under my arms. This does pose a problem for someone who wants to be able to do hip carriers in the Tula. Since the straps do not come unclipped you cannot hip carry. The kinderpack straps do unclip therefore allowing a hip carry.

Which do I prefer? Both! I find myself wearing the toddler Tula most days but I still love my Kinderpack. They are both great high quality carriers. I recommend trying them both if you are able. If you are local, its you lucky day as we have both carriers in our lending library and available at our monthly meeting for comparison.