Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Woven Wrap Fiber Spotlight: Linen
This series highlights the special qualities of different fibers that are used in woven wraps. Please keep in mind that fiber content is only one quality that impacts how a wrap performs. Brand, weave structure, and thickness also make a huge difference in a wrap’s qualities. These posts give you information about specific qualities of a fiber.
Sakura Bloom linen ring sling |
Linen is cool and airy.
Linen is a favorite fiber for hot weather! Linen wraps have a very cool and airy quality. Even multiple passes of a linen wrap feel cooler than other wraps. If you are frustrated by feeling hot in a woven wrap, try some linen and feel the breeze.
Linen is supportive.
Linen fibers are very strong and supportive. They don’t sag with heavier children. Linen can be a wonderful choice for a person’s only wrap, because they are soft and easy to care for when you have a tiny baby, but still supportive with heavier toddlers.
Linen is solid and sturdy.
Linen tends to feel very solid when wrapped. It doesn’t stretch, sag, or bounce. People love how secure it feels, even in a thin wrap.
Linen is easy to care for.
Linen is easy to machine wash and dry. There aren’t many special rules to follow, so you don’t need to worry about ruining a linen wrap with one mistake.
Pink Nova Karma Calypso |
Linen breaks in soft.
Broken in linen becomes extremely soft and smooth. It is a completely different feeling when new and when broken in. A well broken in and cared for linen wrap can be luxuriously soft and strong.
Linen has some problems.
Linen can take some work to break in. A new linen ring sling or wrap feels stiff, crunchy, and is difficult to adjust. It can take quite a bit of work to get it soft. Many people prefer to buy used linen in order to skip the breaking in period.
The texture of linen bothers some people. If you are touch adverse to linen, it will feel scratchy and irritating, even when broken in. I recommend trying on a borrowed linen carrier before investing in your own!
As linen is used, it can get permanent creases (known as perma creasing) that cause it to always look wrinkled. Perma creasing happens from being stored while wrinkled, over drying, or even just regular use. Steam ironing regularly and being careful to smooth wraps while you fold can lessen the perma creasing, but most linen will have some creasing anyway.
Linen can feel “diggy,” meaning that it digs in to the shoulders of the wearer. Some people don’t like the feeling of linen because it presses uncomfortably on their shoulders. A carefully tightened wrap job can solve this issue.
Linen can be damaged if it is improperly cared for over time. Avoid powder detergents, which can enter the hollow linen fibers and damage them while washing. And avoid over drying, which can cause the fibers to become brittle and weak.
Linen wraps are easy to care for. You can wash it in your machine with a liquid detergent. Make sure your detergent doesn’t have optical brighteners or fabric softeners. Simply wash on cold on the delicate cycle, then hang to dry. Avoid overdrying linen, which can cause the fibers to become brittle and weak. Once the wrap is dry, you can steam iron it on the linen setting. Steam ironing helps to prevent perma creasing and helps to soften the linen.
Have you ever tried a linen wrap? Did you like it? Share your experiences here!
Monday, October 5, 2015
CARRY OF THE MONTH; October: Front Torso Cross Carry
Carry of the Month (COTM) is an ongoing feature for the BWIP blog and Facebook group. Each month one of the Volunteer Babywearing Educators (VBEs) will choose a wrap carry or carrier to showcase and write a blog post with instructions or videos. At our monthly meetings throughout the valley, we will designate time to demonstrate the carry or carrier in person and answer your questions. Feel free to join in on the fun! Post pictures of you trying out the COTM in the Facebook group or email us your entry. Check out the bottom of this post for the prize raffled off for participation this month!
October's Carry of the Month is Front Torso Cross Carry (FTCC) and it's being demonstrated by our lovely, new VBE, Amber Hodge! FTCC is a wonderful carry for full range of motion in the wearers arms, as well as being very cool, temperature-wise. This carry can be achieved in wrap sizes 4+ depending on your size and the size of your child. Amber is using a size 5 Little Frog woven wrap.
Thursday, October 1, 2015
IBW 2015 Sustaining Membership Drive
Calling all BWIP Members!
In celebration of International Babywearing Week, we are offering $5 off any sustaining membership when you sign up or renew from October 1st to the 16th! Whether your sustaining membership has lapsed or you just joined last month, consider renewing now. If you Sustaining membership is still active, your renewal will extend your sustaining membership for another year beyond your current expiration date. If you have not yet joined, consider doing so today to support our chapter and help us #embraceourcommunity!
Our sustaining members are the reason we are able to do what we do. We want to say thank you to all those that have joined BWIP as a sustaining member and supported us over the last 4 years. We want you to continue to benefit from sustaining membership with our chapter. Even those that may no longer need to do carrier research or whose little ones have grown and are no longer so small!
Your sustaining membership with our chapter allows us to continue to provide and expand our education and support outreach throughout our community. It allows us to replenish and build up our library. It assists us in finding better, more appropriate space to continue to meet the needs of our community. It allows us to share the love with more caregivers and keep reaching more who may not have known all the benefits of babywearing.
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
2015 INTERNATIONAL BABYWEARING WEEK - Raffle Prizes
International Babywearing Week is Oct 4-10th this year. We are holding our Main Event at Blossom Birth Center, 2928 N 18th Pl, Phoenix, AZ 85016 on October 10th from 10 am to 12 pm. One of the best parts is our raffle! Our amazing vendors and other local businesses and WAHMs show their love of babywearing and our group in such awesome and exciting ways. We love to raffle off their amazing creations and products.
Raffle tickets will be sold at our Main Event for $1 each or 25 tickets for $20.
Check out the list of those we are offering this year! (more to come as we get their information/photo)
1) $25 Gift Certificate to Xavier Rose Jewelry
2) Gift certificate for a free sewing slot for a wrap conversion ring sling. Customer provides wrap to be sewn into a ring sling, my conversion cost is free.Value $25 Donated by Whisper Wovens LLC
3) Gift Basket including 1 month of swim, gym, or dance classes, along with other items. Value $100 Donated by SWIMKids USA
4) Jamberry Mini Heater, Jamberry Application Kit, 1 sheet of Jamberry nail wraps. Value $46.50 Donated by Dara Cramp of Jamberry
5) Punkin Pack! This mini diaper bag to snaps to the waistband of any carrier!! Fits diapers, wipes, phone, keys and a wallet! Stay hands-free on your baby wearing adventures. Value $35 Donated by Nikki Otero of Nikki's Punkin Patch
6) One Night in the Zoo story book, First Dot-to-Dot Things That Go with stickers activity book, and First Hundred Words Coloring Book. Value $27 Donated by Noel Singleton of Usborne Books & More
7) One handmade nursing cover. Value $15, donated by Breast Friends Forever
8) Hand-crafted leather wrap bracelet made with genuine leather, indigo Chinese crystals and India seed beads. Value $45, donated by Alpine Elegance
9) Mala necklace. Value $50, donated by Malas by Hana
10) $30 Gift Certificate to Shannon's Cloth & More. Value $30, donated by Shannon's Cloth & More
11) Gift Basket. Value $25 Donated by The Soak Shop
12) A set of reusable holiday gift bags and hair accessories, one wide headband and two skinny headbands. Value $34, donated by Parakeet Boutique
12) Aluminum Size Sampler - This convenient pack includes 3 pairs of rings (small, medium and large) so they will work for sewing a sling, making a no sew sling, and doing other ring finishes with your wraps. Value $18/set, donated by Sling Rings
14) 11" Baltic Amber Teething Necklace with Baltic Amber, Yellow Jade and Amazonite. Value $40, donated by Mama+Love+Tree
15) Holiday collection pack of five bow set. Value $25, donated by Simply Remy Lu
16) 60 min massage
Prenatal, Postpartum or Restorative. Value $65, donated by The Nurtured Mama
17) Bundle: Natural Birth Exercises (book), SPB Water bottle, SPB baby tee. Value $65, donated by Sweet Pea Births
18) 10 Play Pack. (*Closing their current location on 11/9/2015, but will be valid at their new location opening in Spring 2016) Value $65, donated by Imagination Avenue
19) Gift Certificate for 1 Ultimate body applicator OR Facial. Value $30, donated by It Works Wraps by Raquel
20) bottle of elderberry syrup, paracord bracelets (and maybe some other goodies). Value over $25, donated by Nichole Pancheri
22) ICAN of Phoenix t-shirt (black, choice of ladies crew-neck size small, medium or large). Value $25, donated by ICAN of Phoenix
23) A Girasol Light Rainbow Diamond Weave wrap scrap gift set containing a beaded necklace with blue ribbon straps, and wide headband with elastic. Value $34, donated by Rainbowrific
24) $50 gift certificate. Donated by Cana Slings
25) Swag bag with wrap scrap furoshiki headbands and Love in Motion stickers (two sets). Donated by Wrapsody
26) PinkNova Karma Calypso wrap size 5. Value $225, donated by PinkNova
27) 2 tickets to the Arizona Science Center. Value $31, donated by Arizona Science Center
29) Serenity Zen diffuser, OnGuard handwash and pump, OnGuard Essential Oil, Breathe Essential Oil. Value $150, donated by Expressions of Life
34) Key Fobs made from wrap scraps, Value $10 each, Donated by Zee Zen and Tandem Trouble
35) One Twingaroo twin carrier. Value $160, donated by Stuff 4 Multiples LLC
36) Adult New Patient Visit (includes exam and adjustment). Value $80, donated by Optimum Wellness Chiropractic
37) Infant/Child New Patient Visit (includes exam and adjustment). Value $60, donated by Optimum Wellness Chiropractic
38) Postpartum New Patient Visit (includes exam and adjustment). Value $80, donated by Optimum Wellness Chiropractic
39) The Woman Art of Breastfeeding, La Leche League's signature publication, packed with real–mom wisdom, expert information, and proven strategies for breastfeeding at every stage; LLL keychain (not pictured); carrying bag. Value $30, donated by La Leche League of Arizona
30) Peace Sign Market Sling ECOBAG; Botanicals in Clay necklace; 75-minute One-on-One Breastfeeding Class geared toward the individual's concerns and questions. Available topics are First-Time Breastfeeding, Breastfeeding Your Newborn, Returning to Work, and Supporting Breastfeeding Duration, and the prize includes a book of choice from my favorite resources + customized resource packet and goodies! Value $150, donated by Marissa Honey-Jones, IBCLC
31) $30 Gift Certificate. Donated by Modern Mommy Boutique
32) A medium woman's tank top, purple and orange. Value $25, Donated by Tomodachi tie dye
33) 1 burp cloth made with a designer batik designed exclusively for kapaia stitchery you on kauai, 1 pacifier/ teething ring clip made with a designer batik from kapaia stitchery on kauai + 3" usa-grown natural maple wood teether, sealed with organic Hawaiian beeswax/ olive oil finish. Value $25, donated by honi kine
40) Babyganics gift set. Value $, donated by Babies R Us
25) Swag bag with wrap scrap furoshiki headbands and Love in Motion stickers (two sets). Donated by Wrapsody
26) PinkNova Karma Calypso wrap size 5. Value $225, donated by PinkNova
27) 2 tickets to the Arizona Science Center. Value $31, donated by Arizona Science Center
28) Lilac Blast Tencel/cotton blend scarf from Bijou Wear, made in the USA by hand with love by Babywearing seamstresses. Value $70, donated by Bijou
29) Serenity Zen diffuser, OnGuard handwash and pump, OnGuard Essential Oil, Breathe Essential Oil. Value $150, donated by Expressions of Life
34) Key Fobs made from wrap scraps, Value $10 each, Donated by Zee Zen and Tandem Trouble
35) One Twingaroo twin carrier. Value $160, donated by Stuff 4 Multiples LLC
36) Adult New Patient Visit (includes exam and adjustment). Value $80, donated by Optimum Wellness Chiropractic
37) Infant/Child New Patient Visit (includes exam and adjustment). Value $60, donated by Optimum Wellness Chiropractic
38) Postpartum New Patient Visit (includes exam and adjustment). Value $80, donated by Optimum Wellness Chiropractic
39) The Woman Art of Breastfeeding, La Leche League's signature publication, packed with real–mom wisdom, expert information, and proven strategies for breastfeeding at every stage; LLL keychain (not pictured); carrying bag. Value $30, donated by La Leche League of Arizona
30) Peace Sign Market Sling ECOBAG; Botanicals in Clay necklace; 75-minute One-on-One Breastfeeding Class geared toward the individual's concerns and questions. Available topics are First-Time Breastfeeding, Breastfeeding Your Newborn, Returning to Work, and Supporting Breastfeeding Duration, and the prize includes a book of choice from my favorite resources + customized resource packet and goodies! Value $150, donated by Marissa Honey-Jones, IBCLC
31) $30 Gift Certificate. Donated by Modern Mommy Boutique
32) A medium woman's tank top, purple and orange. Value $25, Donated by Tomodachi tie dye
33) 1 burp cloth made with a designer batik designed exclusively for kapaia stitchery you on kauai, 1 pacifier/ teething ring clip made with a designer batik from kapaia stitchery on kauai + 3" usa-grown natural maple wood teether, sealed with organic Hawaiian beeswax/ olive oil finish. Value $25, donated by honi kine
40) Babyganics gift set. Value $, donated by Babies R Us
Monday, September 7, 2015
Carry of the Month; September: Short Double Hammock Torso Carry
Carry of the Month (COTM) is an ongoing feature for the BWIP blog and Facebook group. Each month one of the Volunteer Babywearing Educators (VBEs) will choose a wrap carry or carrier to showcase and write a blog post with instructions or videos. At our monthly meetings throughout the valley, we will designate time to demonstrate the carry or carrier in person and answer your questions. Feel free to join in on the fun! Post pictures of you trying out the COTM in the Facebook group or email us your entry. Check out the bottom of this post for the prize raffled off for participation this month!
For September, we are shaking things up! We have prepared for you a tutorial on Short Double Hammock Torso Carry (SDHT).
Saturday, August 1, 2015
Carry of the Month; August: Pouch Sling
Carry of the Month (COTM) is an ongoing feature for the BWIP blog and Facebook group. Each month one of the Volunteer Babywearing Educators (VBEs) will choose a wrap carry or carrier to showcase and write a blog post with instructions or videos. At our monthly meetings throughout the valley, we will designate time to demonstrate the carry or carrier in person and answer your questions. Feel free to join in on the fun! Post pictures of you trying out the COTM in the Facebook group or email us your entry. Check out the bottom of this post for the prize raffled off for participation this month! It was donated by Dara Cramp Independent Jamberry
It's August! We've made it halfway through the summer here in Phoenix and this month we're breaking out a trusty carrier, the pouch sling. Pouch slings are economical and easy to find. They are one-shoulder carriers that are great for hip carries and also for front carries. This month, our chapter Treasurer, Liz will be demonstrating how to properly wear a pouch sling with her bitty babe. This is a perfect carrier for Liz to demonstrate: she's always keeping us on task with our chapter spending and pouches are the cheapest carriers in our library! Don't let the price fool you though, a properly fitted pouch sling can span the time from birth to toddler.
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Carrier Review: Wrapsody DuO
I had the pleasure of trying out our lending library’s
Wrapsody DuO the past few months. My son was approximately 27 lbs and 22 months
old during my tests, so I found a few other kiddos to play with for land tests.
I used my son for water wearing.
This wrap is made of 100% knit polyester, of which 55% is recycled! The material blocks a lot of sunlight, it's the equivalent of UPF 45. It's stretchy like a swimsuit, so only suitable for front carries and with children up to 25 lbs for land use, up to 35 lbs for water use. Short periods of land wearing (ie. to and from the pool) are ok with the heavier kiddos, but it's not really comfortable and you will feel a sag. The wrap comes in two sizes: regular and long. The link to sizing is here. I used a regular.
This wrap is made of 100% knit polyester, of which 55% is recycled! The material blocks a lot of sunlight, it's the equivalent of UPF 45. It's stretchy like a swimsuit, so only suitable for front carries and with children up to 25 lbs for land use, up to 35 lbs for water use. Short periods of land wearing (ie. to and from the pool) are ok with the heavier kiddos, but it's not really comfortable and you will feel a sag. The wrap comes in two sizes: regular and long. The link to sizing is here. I used a regular.
Upon tying, I found that the middle marker on this particular wrap was not exactly
center, but that was easily remedied. It was just as easy to get the child in
as any stretchy wrap I have ever used, though I was nervous about the knot
staying due to the slick feel of the material. The knots held: I never felt any
slippage, nor were they difficult to undo.
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Carry of the Month; July: Front Cross Carry
Carry of the Month (COTM) is an ongoing feature for the BWIP blog and Facebook group. Each month one of the Volunteer Babywearing Educators (VBEs) will choose a wrap carry or carrier to showcase and write a blog post with instructions or videos. At our monthly meetings throughout the valley, we will designate time to demonstrate the carry or carrier in person and answer your questions. Feel free to join in on the fun! Post pictures of you trying out the COTM in the Facebook group or email us your entry. Check out the bottom of this post for the prize raffled off for participation this month!
This month our carry of choice is Front Cross Carry (FCC). It's a quick, poppable carry that's great for tying on once and wearing the whole day. No matter how many times your child wants up and down! FCC is not to be confused with Front Wrap Cross Carry (FWCC) which is very similar but has an extra horizontal pass around you and your child. Demonstrating this month is Toria Trendler and her daughter! Toria is one of our wonderful East Valley VBEs. She is using Pavo Swalllowtail Violet Sky in a size 6. Swallowtail was designed by our International Babywearing Conference 2014 board in conjunction with Pavo Textiles. The IBC 2014 board was staffed with volunteers, mostly local to Phoenix, so we are very proud of this wrap!
Sunday, June 21, 2015
A Shout Out to all the Babywearing Men Out There!!
Check out these amazing babywearing dads! We want to give you a shout out on your special day!