Babywearing and Friendship

When I first heard the term babywearing I was very hesitant and didn’t even know where to begin. I was so scared; I know there was no reason for that now.  When my oldest daughter was born I wore her once or twice in a cheap carrier from a big box store and disliked it so much that I just knew that was all there was to offer for babywearing, so I gave up quickly.  When my second daughter was 5 months old I went to The Great Cloth Diaper Change in Tulsa.  I was immediately amazed at all the beautiful carriers and all the different ways all the sweet babies were being worn, but of course I was too shy to ask anyone about them.  Finally when my daughter was 10 months old I decided on what would be my first carrier, a Kinderpack.  And wow, I went crazy from there. I quickly started watching many YouTube videos and purchased my first wrap, Girasol Double Rainbow.  I then joined travelling wrap groups and that right there is how I started making some pretty awesome babywearing friends.  It is amazing how one thing can bring great friends together and you know they will be lifelong friends even though you may never actually meet them.  I have also met some pretty awesome local mommas through Babywearing Around Tulsa and Checotah Babywearing Mamas’ Facebook groups.  We may not see each other all that often but when we do we always have lots of fun just chatting about what we have been up to lately, we also will do the occasional shout out if we see each other while out shopping.

What are some ways that you have made new friends because of babywearing?

Mandi is a mom to two beautiful little girls. Mandi gets to practice babywearing in her home daycare often. In her spare time Mandi loves to be with her family and go to craft classes with her friends.

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)

I'm New and Lost

Welcome!

Are you new to babywearing?  Or maybe you still haven't found that perfect carrier for you or your child?  There's so many options that it can be a bit overwhelming.  

First what is babywearing?  Babywearing is using cloth to wear your baby or young infant.  This allows you to comfort your child while still being able to get things done, if you so choose hehe.  It ranges from essential for many parents to an art form.  And of course there is always a price range to normally accommodate all budgets.  

Are you semi local to Tulsa?  If not, feel free to email babyweartulsa@gmail.com and we will help point you to the closest group that we are aware of.  Okay so I'm a bit biased but Babywearing Around Tulsa (BWAT for short) is an excellent resource for you to take advantage of.  BWAT has two FREE meetings per month (monthly and mid-month) that cover safety as well as a brief 101 that showcases all the main options you have to wear your baby.  In addition to the free meetings, BWAT also offers small classes on specific topics for a small fee.  Fees go to benefit the group as well as the instructors gas and time.  Likewise private consultations can be done at the discretion of the instructors for an agreed upon price.  

Instructor Somer demoing a Front Wrap Cross Carry (FWCC) during Babywearing 101

But where do I start?  Come to a meeting!  Immerse yourself.  Babywearing (BW/BWing) 101 talks about airway safety, spine and hip development as well as comfort for the wearer.  It also goes over the 4 major categories of carriers: Woven Wraps, Mei Tais (pronounced "may ties"), Ring Slings (RS) and Stretchy Wraps (Moby, Boba, etc), as well as Soft Structured Carriers (SSCs) like Boba, Tula, Kinderpack, Ergo, etc.  A demo of a front carry in each carrier will be shown.  In addition to the educational aspect of the meeting, you'll be given approximately an hour to visit stations and even try on a carrier or two.  Will you walk out knowing which carrier is perfect for you, possibly.  More than likely you'll have a better idea of what you would like to try.

Trying on carriers is great, but I don't think I will know if it's the perfect carrier for me in just 5 minutes?  How right you are!  Only time wearing will really determine if that carrier is your ideal comfort for you and baby.  BWAT has another resource.  We call it a Lending Library.  

What is a Lending Library?  A Lending Library (LL) is basically a library of wraps and carriers for member check out (normally 2 weeks to a month).  A Lending Library is great though, as it allows members to actually see if carriers will work for them before they buy them. Our Lending Library is constantly growing and we are striving to obtain more variety. We'd love any carrier that you would like to donate or any amount that you are willing to give. Donations will be accepted at our meetings or via paypal at babyweartulsa@gmail.com.

What's the cost of membership to the LL?  For BWAT we have a yearly membership cost of $20.  If the carrier is damaged or not returned while it is in the member's possession it is the member's responsibility to replace it monetarily (that's the small print :)). To ensure the ability to charge the member for the replacement or repairs cost we hold either a signed credit card slip or a signed blank check in a lockbox that is only accessible by two leaders; the Librarian and the Treasurer.  All damages and costs will be discussed with you prior to charging you.  However if you fail to communicate in a timely manner you will be charged.

So I'd like to try x carrier, how do I go about checking it out?  BWAT has a large LL however it's also popular.  Some carriers are checked out every chance and others go months between check outs.  To simplify the process for our Librarian we have a digital wait list.  You do not need to be a member before signing up for the wait list.  You can only check one carrier out at a time.  Prior to our monthly meeting Tiffany will tag all members that are up for a carrier (and which carrier).  If you can not make the meeting then the carrier will go to the next person on the list that isn't up for a different carrier.  Yes this means that at times the ninth person gets the carrier.  After 11:30 am at our Saturday meeting the LL carriers that have not been picked up become available to check out to the members at the meeting.  This happens a lot!

So when can I check out a carrier, when is it due, what if I can't make it to the Saturday meeting?  Check outs occur at the monthly meeting as well as our mid-month meeting only.  Most carriers are due back by the next monthly meeting (if you can not return the carrier by the start of the meeting then it needs to be returned to a leader BEFORE the meeting).  Late fees accrue for late (even if it's during the meeting) carriers.  BWAT requires and needs the carriers for members and non members to try on during the meetings so this is important!  No carriers can be checked out before the meeting for this reason.  However if you can't make the Saturday meeting you can see if a carrier you want has been returned or not checked out at the mid month meeting or contact Tiffany about picking up a non checked out carrier from her in between meetings.  Some carriers are on two week checkouts which means they need to be returned at the mid-month meeting.  

So where is the wait list? It can be found here:  http://bit.ly/1r2Vdfz
or if you are mobile: http://bit.ly/ZrSZMm

Now I'm on the wait list and I've been tagged, how do I pay my membership fee?  You can pay by cash, check, or card (for a small processing fee) at the meetings.  You can also PayPal the $20 gifted (friends and family) to babyweartulsa@gmail.com prior to the meeting.
Link to pay for membership via PayPal:

Okay so I'm now a member and this will be my first meeting, what can I expect?  First you'll sign in at the meeting and attend BWing 101 (if you arrive in time).  Next you'll visit the stations and play with the carriers.  You'll fill out our Lending Library Form (for every check out) and turn it in.  You will be verified for a current paid membership as well as a "deposit" on file.  At 11:25am carriers are released to be picked up and a leader or volunteer will check to make sure you are leaving with the correct carrier.  If you need to pay your membership fee or submit a "deposit" a leader will be available to assist you at the meeting.

If you would like to print and fill out the forms to bring they can be found here: http://bit.ly/1o6xMO0 and http://bit.ly/1sw3mpq

Have other questions?  Feel free to post in group.  

Happy Babywearing!

C.J. North is the Babywearing Around Tulsa Treasurer.  She is a Babywearing Institute Scholar working on certification.  C.J. stays home with her 3 kids and manages the allergy and special needs of her family while being overly addicted to research.  In her rare spare time she enjoys crafting, reading, photography, and playing video games.

My Wrapping Journey

I’m a wrapper!!! I’ve wanted to say that for so long and now I can.

One year ago when my second daughter was born I entered into the wonderful world of babywearing. I had an Ergo which is a great carrier, but was determined to master wrapping.  I mean how hard could it be? All those mamas on YouTube made it look so easy. Making a seat in one graceful movement, perfect gliding passes…yeah not so much. I was having the hardest time figuring out all of the different carries. You should have seen us after trying our first back carry. There were definitely tears.  My daughter was crying too. She was super wiggly, I couldn’t get a good seat and passes would not pull tight.  (Don’t worry. I always practiced over a bed as any new wrapper should).  I don’t know exactly what it was. Maybe it was just my stubborn nature.  But every time I said I was going to quit something always brought me back to practice again.When my daughter was about 6 months old and after watching countless YouTube tutorials, I finally learned how to get her up on my back safely. A couple months after that I could get her up on my back fairly easily. I was even getting pretty decent at spreading passes. However, it still was not completely comfortable to me or my daughter and definitely not my first choice of carrier. I would still reach for a buckle carrier first. Not that there is anything wrong whatsoever with a buckle carrier. But I wanted to like wrapping. Correction, I wanted to LOVE wrapping.

I don’t know when it happened exactly.  But one day I was wrapping and it just worked. It felt right. After all those months of practice, tears and sweat, it just clicked and I wrapped my almost one year old with ease.  Then it happened again! And before I knew it I started choosing wraps over buckle carriers. It was even super comfy.  I was a wrapper!!! It may have taken almost twelve months but it happened!

Now, I am not writing this to, flaunt my “wrapping skills” or anything like that. I’m writing to encourage every person out there who wants so badly to wrap but feels that they just can’t.  Who wants to so badly to do a back carry but just can’t make a seat or tighten those rails. Who thinks that if he/she can’t master wrapping in a couple months they must be a failure. You are not a failure. You are learning a new skill and it takes time.

Here are a few tips I have gathered over the year that can really help the wrapping journey.

1.       Find a babywearing group. If you don’t have one in your area, at least join one on Facebook. They are an endless fountain of support and knowledge. I am eternally grateful for my group Babywearing Around Tulsa. I could not have made it this far without the lovely women I met in that group.

2.       Don’t give up after a couple tries. Be patient.  It may take some people longer than others but with time you can do it. Don’t hold yourself to a time table.

3.       If possible try a few different wraps.  Different blends, weaves and thickness can make all the difference in a wrap job.  Now I understand I’m not made of money either.  That’s why I became a compulsive churner.  I have rarely owned more than one wrap at a time. With being able to trade or sell what I currently had I have been able to try a bunch.

4.       Don’t make the mistake I did and try back carries before you have mastered front carries. There are things you learn when front carrying that are essential to back carrying. Believe me. You will save yourself a lot of trouble.

5.       Lastly, don’t lose sight of what babywearing is about.  Don’t let the desire of obtaining a skill make you lose out on the bonding experience between you and your baby.  If you are getting frustrated, take a break. Carry your baby how you know best. Kiss their head and breathe them in.  After a few days or weeks try again.

I hope my ramblings have helped a little. I wish you all the best in your own babywearing journeys.

Blessings and happy babywearing

Megan

Megan Kloker is a God-loving, babywearing, cloth diapering, health nut who loves being a stay-at-home mom to her three children (Aiden, Nyah and Lena) and wife to her husband (Grant). She, grew up in Leona Valley California with her 10 younger siblings before she got married and moved to Springfield Illinois. Megan and family have since lived in Tulsa Oklahoma and have rencently moved to Fort Worth Texas. Megan loves being around people, drinking coffee and playing Dance Central.

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.