I can't believe it is already time for International Babywearing Week again.  I always look forward to this week so much. Not only is it nice to have an excuse to spend the week going to fun activities, I also always end up making a new friend or two at these events.  If you follow our Facebook group you already know that we have so many entertaining activities online too.  This week you will see giveaways, games, contests, and a new carry of the day everyday to try. You can also get to know our volunteers better on our "ask me anything" posts. My favorite activity is the scavenger hunt.

 

Here is a link to our Facebook group so you can stay up to date on all the events and activities. https://www.facebook.com/groups/Tulsababywearers/

Let me know what your favorite event or activity is in the comments.I can't wait to see you this week!

Summer Babywearing

Summer is quickly approaching and around here that means HOT weather.  Babywearing can easily be done in the summer with just a few minor adjustments.  Using a carrier made of breathable material can help to beat the summer heat.  Our lending library offers many carrier options with mesh and linen. Although it doesn’t seem like it would make a significant difference, a mesh panel in a soft structured carrier really does increase the airflow around the carrier pretty drastically.  Infant inserts can get pretty hot as well especially in the summertime, a linen wrap or ring sling can be a great alternative.  Linen is a very breathable material that still offers great support for small babies.

 Evaporative cooling towels are fabulous when summer temperatures soar. You might know them by the brand name Frogg Toggs, but there are many similar options available in various brands.  When wet these towels are able to stay cooler than the surroundings and are great for quick wipe downs or draping around a caregivers shoulders. These aren’t ideal for babies who are still too young to regulate their body temperatures, but they work great for older babies and children.

If taking a dip in the water is your preferred method for staying cool, water carriers are great. They come in various styles including ring slings, meh dais, and wraps. There are several important safety tips to remember when wearing in the water. As always remember the TICKS, keep the carrier Tight, with baby’s face In view at all times, Close enough to kiss, Keep the chin off the chest, and Support baby’s back. Keep baby’s face out of the water. Only use the carrier with the fabric wet, because it can be slick when dry.

 

Wearing in the summer can be a delightful experience for both the caregiver and baby. As always when spending time in the heat, babywearing or not, remember to stay hydrated, keep baby in the shade, and know the signs of overheating. Hopefully with these tips you will be able to stay cool while still enjoying all the benefits of babywearing.

Our community

Did you know that we are so much more than just an educational blog?

Babywearing Around Tulsa is a registered nonprofit in the state of Oklahoma. In addition to our own philanthropic endeavors, we also partner with several organizations for educational outreach. We are a completely volunteer run organization with volunteers located all over the Tulsa metro and surrounding areas. There is always someone willing to help, either in person or over the internet.

We also have a vibrant Facebook community.  Our members are the absolute best. They are so kind to each other, offering support and education whenever asked. It is a large community with almost 7.000 members, but it feels a lot more like a conversation over coffee with friends. You can find it here. https://www.facebook.com/groups/Tulsababywearers/

Once you’re in the group, not only will you find education and support, you can also check out our events. That is where the real fun begins. We currently have two events a month.  The first is purely social, so that members who interact in the Facebook group can enjoy time with each other in person.  The social events are held at different kid friendly locations every month like zoos, museums, parks, pools, etc. The second event of the month is our meeting.  The meeting is for educational purposes. We help members with using their own carrier and/or finding a suitable carrier from our lending library.  Our lending library has 163 carriers that can be checked out to members on a monthly basis. The library is comprised of ring slings, meh dais, woven wraps, and soft structured carriers.  There really is something for everyone.

However you decide to get involved, we look forward to meeting you soon.

International Babywearing Week 2016 - Best Seat in the House

This year's IBW theme is Best Seat in the House.  We have a slew of on-line and in person events lined up for you!!  Some oldies but goodies are coming back, like Ask an Instructor, the Babywearing Scavenger Hunt, and a carry challenge to keep you busy all week long.  

Need help?  Our kick off to IBW this year is actually our mid-month meeting, so join us at Hardesty Regional Library on Wednesday, October 5th from 11am to 1pm.  Need a carrier for the carry challenge?  You can check one out from our amazing lending library at the meeting.  We still have a really good selection this month!

We hope this line up of laid back playdates and get togethers has something for everyone.  If you can't make it to one of our events, get together with babywearing friends in your area; plan a park date or go on a hike.  And don't forget to share your pictures.  See our list of events below and our hashtags for the week.  Make sure to check in with the facebook group daily for all of the fun online stuff!

And don't forget our fundraiser!!

Proceeds benefit Babywearing Around Tulsa.  We are not for profit and volunteer run.  Fundraising helps us to add carriers to our lending library and serve our community.  Thank you so much for your ongoing support of our efforts in Northeast Oklahoma.

GrapeBaby Tekhni Delta Heartland Doll Carrier Giveaway!

Hey Babywearing Around Tulsa! In a few short days, (5 to be exact, not that anyone is counting) the instructors will be off to Atlanta for the 2016 International Babywearing Conference! 

At the beginning of Spring, we asked all 6,000 plus of you to lend a hand to help send our instructors to Atlanta. Like always, you guys did amazing pulling this off. Between an awesome raffle, fit-checks at Bottoms and Beyond, and some cute-as-heck babywearing photos, you guys raised $4,000 of the $5,000 needed! Pat yourselves on the back! You did an awesome job! 

We have one more little push to get to that $5,000 goal and it's the best one yet! 

We have this beautiful doll carrier: handmade by Sew Fresh from none other than BWAT's custom designed wrap, Tekhni Delta Heartland.  

Entries for this amazing carrier are $1 per chance or 12 chances for $10. 

To enter, fill out the entry form and send your payment via PayPal to BabywearTulsa@gmail.com.

Don't forget to send all payments gifted (family & friends) and please include "Doll Carrier Fundraiser" in the notes sections. 

The winner will be selected via Random.com Monday July 11th and notified.

And it's totally cool if you want to try the doll carrier on before handing it over to your kiddo. We promise not to tell. 

Remember to get your entry in by Monday July 11th! 

Happy Babywearing! 

Karissa is a babywearing boymom to four boys ranging in age from 17 years to 10 months. She loves to read and geek out to all things history! 

"Babywearing Means". . . A Thank - You From the Instructors

Hey Babywearing Around Tulsa! As many of you know we have been working hard to fund a trip to the International Babywearing Conference in Atlanta for our four instructors: Tiffany, Beth, Somer, and Ashley.  

The conference is a great opportunity for the instructors to keep up to date with the fast-paced world of babywearing. They will be learning so many new and exciting things and bringing it all back to Tulsa to share with you! 

As if that isn't cool enough, the instructors are so grateful for all of the tremendous amount of support you all have shown in helping raise money to send them to Atlanta, they have decided to do something special for you!

A contest was announced on the group page last week to ask, "what does babywearing mean to you?" 

We had a lot of great entries: 

Catie Marie Willard "Baby wearing has filled the gap of so many things I missed out on as I became a mother... You see, I could not carry a child in my womb. For years we tried. Miscarriage after miscarriage. It was heartbreaking for us. So we became foster parents. When we brought our first newborn home from the hospital, I was in love. She was tiny and frail from drug addiction. So I carried her. For those first few months of her life, I carried her. And it was like I was experiencing carrying her as if she came from my own body. We breathed together, rocked together... She would curl into my chest and melt into me as though it were the safest place in the world, ever safer than her rough time in the womb. She already had my heart the moment I held her at that hospital... But when I wrapped her close, I gained hers. Babywearing has become a strong bonding experience with each tiny baby that enters our home, hurt, broken, and scared. It creates a bond of safety, security, and love. I was meant to be a mother, and babywearing has allowed me to carry my babies close. In my arms, and in my heart. And for that, I am eternally grateful... ❤️"

Chrissy Yates: "Baby wearing has been extra special to me with this sweet boy. His big brother died at 18 days old from a heart defect and I didn't get to hold him much. I love getting to keep my rainbow baby close when we are out of the house, plus it frees up my hands to help with 7 year old big brother and 4 year old big sister. This little man loves to be worn!"

Larisha N Shaw: "Babywearing to me means bonding. My youngest is not "mine". I mean she is mine but I didn't birth her myself. Babywearing has allowed us to bond on a level I don't think We would have been able to otherwise. She loves to go uppie as much as I love carrying her. 💕"

Kasia Pope: "Baby wearing has helped me keep up with my Autistic 5yr old, and my 3 yr old with Anxiety all while still giving love to our 8m old! 

It means I can take them places to have fun and lo can still get a nap without my arms feeling broken.... Unlike my poor sister who had to keep passing around her two boys because their arms were hurting. 😜 Hopefully she will learn now how helpful carriers really are! I would love to spread baby wearing love with her!! 😍"

Ambrosia Ekelman: "Balance. In the midst of working full time and trying to split time between a baby, a toddler, and a big kid, without feeling guilty, I could cuddle one with ease, while interacting with the other. Wearing does so much for the soul."

Karissa Booze: "Babywearing means friends. This group has brought out a part of me that is hard to find. Stepping out of my comfort zone and becoming a volunteer has brought me many new friendships that I would never have tried to make on my own. I love knowing my son will have a group of kiddos to grow up and play with. And I have a solid village in my corner! ❤️"

Stacy Isbell: "Babywearing means survival. Flying across the country with 3 kids and being able to get to the rental car with everything :)"

Olivia Kaylee Stagner: "Babywearing means I can hold my sweet baby boy who gets so overwhelmed by crowds and strangers so close and feel his nerves go away while I love on him and still help big sister. It means he can stay close to me and he doesn't have to fear that I'm going far away from him! 💙💙💙"

Kim Gonzalez: "Babywearing for me has meant sanity. I struggled with post partum depression and spent many early mornings crying as my daughter would not sleep or nurse or let anything comfort her. Our moby wrap saved us both during those times. I could snuggle her close and she would finally be content. Which meant that I could finally calm down myself. As she's gotten older, babywearing has helped my anxiety and stress of being out in crowded places with a toddler. I get sensory overload very easy in loud crowded places and my brain struggles to keep a train of thought, so being able to have my child close to me helps me have one less worry to deal with when I have my moments of sensory overload. Plus, she hates riding in carts at the store so babywearing has helped saved my arms from falling off from having to carry her 😉 now that I am pregnant with #2, I know that babywearing will continue to provide me with sanity as I juggle an almost 2 year and newborn come next January. I would seriously have lost all of my marbles if it wasn't for babywearing ❤"

Joely Guthrie: "Babywearing has been one of the most amazing experiences of motherhood for me. It has helped my children and myself make it through the ups and downs of everyday life. Many know I have worn for more years than some of are members are old, leaving me with many reasons why Babywearing is so important to me. Babywearing has helped me calm my anxious children and myself, from sleeplessness, colic, reflux, sickness, teething, milk production, mastitis, social anxiety to the complexity of traveling alone with 7 children fighting crowds in airports and festivals. It has helped when my boys broke bones and my son was hospitalized just hours after his sister was born and discharged. The things I can still do hands free even when tandem carrying. I can help with HW cook dinner and BF all at once😱. Not to forgot the simplicity of making the family grocery trips, appt and family walks a less stressful situation. However I believe the most important reason for us is I made it through severe depression and social anxiety(PTSD and PPD). It has helped me bond with my child that I had a hard time believing would not ever love me or bond with me even while EBF. This was most likely the most impact BW has given me because I don't know if I would have ever felt that bond with out wearing. 

I have meet so many mommas, answered so many questions and was able to share my love for the bonding that BW provided for us. I hope that the first 20 years of BW was just the beginning and I have many more years of sharing and wearing. 😊"

Please go to Babywearing Around Tulsa and like your favorite entry! The entry with the most likes on Sunday July 10th will receive this awesome babywearing Smart Bottoms diaper that Tiffany picked up at WEAR in Chicago! 

Thank you BWAT for everything you do. This group is filled with members who uplift each other and spread the babywearing love! We love you all!
Don't forget to go vote for your favorite entry! 

Happy Babywearing!

Karissa is a babywearing boymom to four boys ranging in age from 17 years to 10 months, She loves to read and geek out to all things history! 

What's all this fundraising for, anyway?

Some of this will echo what Tiffany said, but I want to share here my thoughts as well.

We are so glad you asked! It takes a fair bit of money to run a group this size and to keep our meetings free and open to the public. Every month our membership grows, the number of people we are serving grows, our reach extends and our hearts swell with love for this community we have formed.  

Lending library membership fees do help support our mission, in addition to being put towards growing the lending library, but in order to keep those membership fees low, we fundraise a few times throughout the year.  We don't want to raise membership fees and in the last 4 1/2 years we have not had to because our members have supported our fundraising efforts and always made them a success.  From T-shirts to garage sales, to decals and donation drives, we have raised money and had fun doing it.  We have bought huge numbers of carriers for the lending library this way.  We have given carriers to families in need through the generosity of our community.  We have been able to serve our community at events other than our own.  And we owe it all to the support of our members.  

Part of our current big fundraising push is also to help pay for continuing education for our instructors. We feel that it is a major benefit to our group and our community for our instructors to keep abreast of current research and teaching techniques. The majority of the time our instructors pay for all of their training out of their own pockets. When Ashley and I went to Houston, Texas in 2013 to take classes to become Certified Babywearing Educators, we felt your support and know you understand the importance of good education.  We collected donations and held multiple weekends of garage sales and covered about half of the cost of the classes.  But it is our love for what we are able to share with our community that had us covering the travel and the rest of the class fees out of pocket.  Whatever we don't raise now, we will end up paying for ourselves. We feel strongly that this education is an important benefit to our group. Everything that out instructors learn will be brought back to BWAT to the benefit of our members. Much of our current meeting structure came from things we learned in classes or ideas we had because of classes.  We want to continue to be the best for you!  Training and continuing education is important in every field and no less so in Babywearing, a field where the research is moving at lightening speeds right now.  

We are so close to meeting our fundraising goal for this spring. If you can donate, even just a couple of dollars, it is very very much appreciated.  http://goo.gl/forms/ygxaLF2pnY  

(Donations can be made anytime but donations qualifying for entries into our prize drawing must be made before 8pm central time on Wednesday April 20th)

Happy Babywearing!

<3 

Somer Johnson is a Babywearing enthusiast and Momma to Bitsy and Squeaker, two bundles of energy. She is a Babywearing Institute 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.