COTW: Kangaroo Carry

Welcome to Carry of the Week, overtired, grumpy baby edition! My name is Megan, and my 11 month old daughter Helen will by my wrapee. She is just learning to walk, and I’m guessing she is about 25 lbs, though we haven’t been weighed in a while.

I’d like to share with you the Kangaroo Carry today (it’s not the same Kangaroo Carry as shown in the Moby instructions).  It’s a great carry for sleepy babies as you can unwrap easily and hopefully transfer to bed with minimal fuss, though Helen won't even let me loosen knots without stirring. Its a good front carry that can be done with a whole range of wrap lengths, usually base size-2 and up, depending on how much reinforcing and tail you mind dealing with (base for most people is what you double hammock in, or Front Wrap Cross Carry in).  Actually just follow this link if you want to know more: http://paxbaby.com/woven-wraps-101-sizing/   I just squeezed it in using my Lila Hemp Indio, which is a long size 2. Sorry about the awkward selfies!

Photo courtesy of Meg Deresti

Here is the pass sequence:  With the middle marker at center of baby's back, create kangaroo/ruck pass on your front. Flip rails at shoulders (bring outside rail over the other rail toward neck which will create the right tension in the rails). Cross in back, tighten, tighten, tighten and tie under bum. If using a longer wrap, reinforce under bum and tie at your back.

Photo courtesy of Meg Deresti

My two favourite tutorials are linked below.

Babywearing Faith: http://youtu.be/8aK4A-HjNnw

        -I like her extra tips and tricks for getting things extra tight

Wrapping Rachel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaLn69KE1vM

        -She describes how to use up length in a longer wrap

Photo courtesy of Meg Deresti

Feature Friday: Babywearing Safety

Last week we highlighted all of the wonderful benefits of wearing your baby.  This week we want to focus on the importance of wearing your baby safely.  Whether you are wearing a newborn or an older infant, whether in a sling, wrap, or buckle carrier, there are a number of important safety precautions of which we should always be aware.

1.  T.I.C.K.S.  The School of Babywearing has developed the acronym "T.I.C.K.S" to remind us of some of the fundamental safety precautions when babywearing:  Fabric should be Tight; Baby's face must be in view at all times; ensure baby's chin is off chest; baby's head should be close enough to kiss; and baby's back should always be supported in its natural position.  For more on T.I.C.K.S. visit the School of Babywearing's site at:

http://www.schoolofbabywearing.com/Images/TICKS.pdf

Photo courtesy of Debbie Vanderloo

2.  Inspect your carrier.  Inspect your carrier to be sure that it is safe before each use.  Check the seams, buckles, fasteners, etc., to ensure that it is in perfect working condition.

3.  Consider what's within baby's reach.  Depending on where you have baby situated on your body, be mindful of what items will be within his reach.  Ensure all sharp or otherwise dangerous objects are stowed safely away from those reaching hands.  Also be mindful of baby's location in relation to your surroundings - ceilings, door frames, etc., can become hazards when you aren't aware of the distance between them and baby.    

Photo courtesy of Debbie Vanderloo

4.  Avoid activities that come with increased risk of falls.   These activities include climbing a ladder, riding a horse or bicycle, running, and moving on a slippery surface.  Remember, when wearing your baby, your centre of gravity is off.  Something that seems easy for your to do when you are unencumbered by baby becomes much more difficult when there is 20 or 30 lbs of baby hanging off your body.

5.  Support baby with arms when leaning or bending over.  This ensures baby's position doesn't shift and he doesn't slip out of the carrier.

 

Photo courtesy of Jocelyn Orr

For more information on wearing your baby safely, please visit the follow links:

Boba. http://www.boba.com/support/safety/

BWI. http://babywearinginternational.org/pages/safety.php

Wear safely and carry on!

Wordless Wednesday

Photo courtesy of Emily Rivard

My Stash Monday: Tuesday Edition!

Each week we will feature a Babywearing of Algoma member's stash.  If you are interested in sharing your stash on the blog, please email us!

Thanks to Emily Rivard for this weeks MSM.

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Hi, my name is Emily and I carry two babies - 10 month old, Liam and 2.5 year old Kai. Today I’d like to introduce you to my stash of baby carriers. My stash is pretty minimalistic. I have a ring sling, mei tai, a woven wrap that I made myself, and a size 6 Didymos Second Time Travel.

My ring sling lives in the car and is used primarily for quick trips to stores that don’t have carts. It is perfect for tiny babies (which I no longer have), but I find that my shoulder gets sore if I have to use it for my 40lb toddler for more than 20 minutes or so.

My mei tai has become my daddy-carrier. My husband prefers to use it to carry Kai while I wrap Liam. If we each take a baby while grocery shopping it’s almost like we’re there alone! Mei tai’s are a great option for those wanting to babywear but intimidated by wrapping. It was definitely my gateway carrier.

 

My DIY woven wrap is made of a very thin woven upholstery cotton (not osnaburg - which is what I thought it was when I purchased it), and is a little bit longer than a size 6. I don’t use it often since

I find it digs into my shoulders and it’s difficult to tighten. It stays in my basement as my emergency carrier.

Finally, the love of my life, my size 6 Didymos Second Time Travel. This is our everyday carrier and gets the most use. I love the versatility of the wrap - I’m able to do front carries, hip carries, and back carries with it. Of all my carriers, it is the only one that I can use to comfortable carry Kai for several hours. The learning curve was definitely worth it.


Thank you for taking a peek at my stash today!

Carry of the Week: Reinforced Ruck with Knotless Finish

Each week we will feature a new carry for all to try.  Usually these will be released on Sunday but this week some of us had sick kiddos and other challenges so we are a bit behind on things.

 

***

 

My name is Stephanie, and the itty bitty you see is Olivia. 

 

Today we're going to feature a Reinforced Ruck With A Knotless Finish!  The reason we do this carry so often around here is, in all honesty, for it's speed - getting Liv up and happy is time specific. We babywear primarily to make momma and baby happy; Olivia still wants to be carried, and so we do. 

 

I am using a size 5 woven wrap (Kokadi Erna im Wunderland) in these photos.

 

This carry can EASILY be done with a shorter wrap if you don't want to reinforce your ruck (ie. make another pass).  It's a matter of personal preference - I like to do a reinforcing pass because I like the security. Olivia likes to wiggle and pop her seat, so those extra passes mean that she poses no risk of falling or loosening the carry.

 

The reason I chose a knotless finish is because I think it's important to showcase the ease with which wrapping can be done. The fabric itself is sturdy and grippy - if you tie properly, and safely - you do not need to make knots with your fabric. I also like the knotless finish for ease of dismount; once Olivia has decided she wants to walk or run, it's again time specific, and in her mind fairly urgent! 

 

I leave you today with this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3XSk7tzt3A & a few silly photos of us! 

 

 

 

Why Wear Your Baby?

Wearing your baby is fun and convenient, but there are many more reasons to wear your baby that you may not have considered.  Keep this list handy for those times when well-meaning friends and family comment that your constant carrying of your baby will result in him being spoiled and/or delayed in some way (it won't!).

In no particular order:

1. Physiological benefits.  Babies are born with a natural c shaped curve in their spine.  Babywearing supports this natural curve.  Babywearing also helps with the important formation of the first curve in the neck, something usually encouraged through "tummy time" but that can just as easily (and more enjoyably!) be accomplished through regular babywearing.  Another reason doctors promote tummy time is the prevention of plagiocephaly or a flat spot on baby's head; this can also be remedied by babywearing.  Additional physiological benefits to note are the regulating of bodily functions including breathing, digestive functions, and body temperature (read more about this at the Babywearers of Northern NJ blog, link below).

2.  Carried babies cry less.  Studies have proven that babies who are carried cry less (40% less!) than babies who are not carried for a good portion of each day.  In cultures where carrying babies throughout the majority of the day is the norm, babies' periods of crying are measured in terms of minutes rather than hours (as is the norm in the Western world).

                                                 Photo courtesy of Emily Rivard

3.  Brain development.  With all that time spent not fussing and crying, babies who are carried spend a good portion of the day in a state of "quiet alertness", a state which makes learning about their world around them comfortable and enjoyable.  Babies who are worn regularly observe and learn from the every day events that their parents engage in.  In addition to this, we know that babies senses are stimulated by touch (which is inevitable when carried); the closeness and contact that comes with carrying your baby further encourages healthy brain development.

4.  Bond.  Babies and their mothers often have an instant bond that is further intensified through the breastfeeding relationship.  Significant others and additional caregivers who also want to establish a close bond can do so through babywearing.  Some of the closeness and skin to skin contact that nursing babies share with their mommies can be had through babywearing.  In the sling or carrier, baby can become familiar with Daddy's (or Grandma's or babysitter's) voice, body temp, heart beat, etc.

                                        Photo courtesy of Meg Deresti

5.  Convenience.  Whether you have just one squish or a squish plus a toddler or two, you will find using a carrier is extremely convenient.  From navigating the grocery store with your squish safely stored against your chest, to pushing your busy toddler on the swings at the park while baby naps on your back, babywearing makes being a great parent even easier!

To learn more about the benefits of babywearing, have a look at the following sites:

Dr. Sears  http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/health-concerns/fussy-baby/baby-wearing/benefits-babywearing
Babywearers of Northern New Jersey  http://babywearersofnnj.wordpress.com/2012/12/

Wordless Wednesday

Photo courtesy of Meg Deresti