a Rafflecopter giveaway

PAXbaby.com

Win your choice of an Ergo , a Solly wrap or a KoKaDi DUDE woven wrap! The PAXmoms are always happy to have you come by and say hello; please comment on our post at PAXbaby’s Facebook page with YOUR choice to enter to win a FREE carrier!

*Shipping in the States will be free; International winner will pay exact shipping costs!

The winner will be emailed once the drawing comes to an end on Friday, November 18th, 2016!!
Shipping address must be confirmed via email within 24 hours, or a new winner will be chosen!!
For this reason, make sure to check your email(including your Junk folder!!)

****Winner may choose just ONE of these carriers to take home! GOOD LUCK!!!

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*happy babywearing*
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The post FREE FRIDAY with PAXbaby and the free CARRIER appeared first on PAXbaby.

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FREE Friday at PAXbaby.com! Fridays are always fun at PAXbaby.com, but today is Day 3 of International Babywearing Week so we have THREE giveaways! Entering to win is easy; refresh our PAXbaby.com facebook or blog throughout the day to score your chance to win an Ergobaby carrier, a Solly Baby wrap, or a Sakura Bloom double linen ring sling! Our lucky winners will each take home one baby carrier and the suggestion to buy a Lotto ticket because there will be quite a few entries! Good luck!
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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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ya Rafflecopter giveaway

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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The winners will be emailed once the drawing comes to an end on Friday, October 7th, 2016!!
Shipping address must be confirmed via email within 24 hours, or a new winner will be chosen!!
For this reason, make sure to check your email(including your Junk folder!!)

A HUGE thank you goes out to our amazing sponsors: Solly Baby, Ergo Baby and Sakura Bloom – THANK YOU for helping us spread the babywearing LOVE!!

paxbaby
*happy babywearing*
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The post IBW2016 – DAY 3 FREE FRIDAY appeared first on PAXbaby.

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We would LOVE to thank our most GENEROUS #IBW2015 sponsors:

Maya Wrap
Beco Baby Carrier
Crane Humidifiers
Ergo Baby
Sakura Bloom
Solly Baby
and
Squeen’s Beads

paxbaby

Today, one lucky PAXfan will win an ERGOBABY baby carrier absolutely FREE (the print will be our surprise to you)!!! See why this carrier has been a classic for so many years!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The winner will be emailed once the drawing comes to an end on Thursday, October 8th!! Shipping address must be confirmed via email within 24 hours, or a new winner will be chosen!! For this reason, make sure to check your email (including your Junk folder!!) (Free shipping in the USA; actual shipping costs for our International friends)

paxbaby
*happy babywearing*

The post Day 5 – Win an ERGO! appeared first on PAXbaby.

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Come celebrate International Babywearing Week with PAXbaby.com!!!

We will be partying all week long, so make sure you check back with us so you do not miss out on any of our amazing daily giveaways!
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a Rafflecopter giveaway
paxbaby

We would LOVE to thank our most GENEROUS sponsors:

Maya Wrap
Beco Baby Carrier
Crane Humidifiers
Ergo Baby
Sakura Bloom
Solly Baby
and
Squeen’s Beads
paxbaby

Where will YOU be babywearing THIS week? If you have no where to go, make sure you at least come join in online! Teach yourself a new carry, teach someone else how to babywear, take some babywearing selfies, wear your favorite carrier, buy a new carrier, wear an old carrier, lend someone a carrier –  let’s spread that babywearing love, and get people talking! Where will babywearing take YOU this year???

Each day there will be a brand new contest to enter, running from 8am – 10:00pm PDT, so make sure you enter! Like, comment, SHARE, tag your friends!

The winner will be emailed once the drawing comes to an end on Monday, October 5th!! Shipping address must be confirmed via email within 24 hours, or a new winner will be chosen!! For this reason, make sure to check your email (including your Junk folder!!) (Free shipping in the USA; actual shipping costs for our International friends)
paxbaby
*happy babywearing*
paxbaby

The post International Babywearing Week 2015 Oct 4-10 appeared first on PAXbaby.

Attending one of PAXbaby‘s famous babywearing retreats is amazing in many ways, but one of the BEST perks of the event is our swag bag! PAXmommy Jillian has carefully selected the items for our swag bag, introducing our retreat attendees to some of her FAVORITE WAHMs and manufacturers! Each retreat has been sponsored by some of the same manufacturers and some have been different. This #PAXretreat2015 features over 25 small (and a couple LARGE!) businesses that we would love for you to meet! If you like what you see, please give these working mamas and papas a shout out! A link share or a Facebook like goes a long way in our small community! And thank you thank you thank you to our beautiful sponsors; we have been overwhelmed by the generosity shown by these goodies and gifts!!!

PAXbaby.com

PAXbaby.com

#PAXretreat2015 Sponsors

Gathering Hands

David Morgan Graphic Design

GroVia

Ovolo Wraps

Little Sapling Toys

Under the Nile Organics

Brooklyn Owl

Starbright Baby

Blessed Beginnings

Wrapsody

MamAmor Dolls

Mama’s Go To Salve

Turk and Bean

The1stYearBaby

Rockin Green Laundry Soap

Bluebird Babe Boutique

Tula Baby Carriers

Tekhni

Ergobaby Carriers

Harlow05

Rumpeez

Beco Baby Carrier

Doula Jackie

Judy & Park

Kowalli

Moxxy

PAXbaby.com

*happy babywearing*

PAXbaby.com

The post #PAXretreat2015 Swag Bags! appeared first on PAXbaby.

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 It is hard to believe that #PAXreatreat San Clemente is over already!

We had an absolutely AMAZING time laughing and learning with so many  wonderful mamas and babies, listening to presentations from Laura Brown of Ergo Baby, CharLee from Quasico Creative, Cassiopeia of Tula Baby Carriers, a skype lunch conference with Keren of Je Porte Mon Bebe, and to top it all off – certification by the Canadian Babywearing School!!!

Guests received babywearing portraits by Salt + Light Photography, packed goodie bags, hours of instruction, gourmet meals and snacks prepared right on site and tons of life long memories!!!

What could be better than a gigantic week-long sleepover with some of your favorite babywearing friends and all of the PAXmommies!?!?

paxbaby

paxbaby

A HUGE, HUGE thank you to ALL of our generous sponsors – we could not have put on this event without all of your help!!

paxbaby

paxbaby

*happy babywearing*

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The post PAXretreat – laughing, learning, FUN! appeared first on PAXbaby.

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We have goodies BIG and small from the following AMAZING and generous sponsors:

JPMBB, Tula, Beco, Ergo Baby, Babyhawk, Angel Pack, Raspberrie Press, Pretty Baby Accessories, SPB Custom Creations, Family Tree Glass

Wrapsody, The Natural Baby Co. , Luna Pads, Sling Rings, Jade Made, Wrap Scrap Stash, Fun Factory

PLUS: 5+ hours of babywearing business building seminars from Laura Brown, CharLee Christian, and PAXmommy Jillian, Babywearing Ballet, portrait sessions with our PAXtographer, lunch and learn with Cassiopeia of Tula and Karen of JPMBB, a babymaking party, and much, MUCH MORE!!!!!

paxbaby

paxbaby

Sound like fun??  You better believe it is going to be!

We have ONE more FULL retreat ticket left and it could be YOURS!

 http://shop.paxbaby.com/paxretreat-at-the-beach-1/

This is going to be the most EPIC sleepover of ALL time!!

Come join us!

paxbaby

*happy babywearing*

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The post ONE More Spot at the PAXretreat appeared first on PAXbaby.

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Are YOU new to babywearing and overwhelmed with alllll of the options available???

We are here to HELP!

Contact our babywearing experts at help@PAXbaby.com for a custom Babywearing Prescription TODAY!

We want to help you find the perfect carrier for you and your specific needs! Are you fluffy? Petite? Very tall? Have a HUGE baby? Have a teeny baby? Have twins???
We will work with you to help you find the best fit.

Did you know that PAXbaby.com also offers a Sling Exchange program??

http://shop.paxbaby.com/rentals/

Try before you buy, and rent a fabulous carrier directly from us!
You can read more about this amazing program here:  http://shop.paxbaby.com/sling-exchange/

paxbaby

*happy babywearing*

paxbaby

The post New to Babywearing? Try our Sling Exchange! appeared first on PAXbaby.

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Have you ever wondered how various soft structured carriers compare, and if your one year old (++) will still be supported knee to knee?
PAXfriend Tara sampled a few different carriers at her local babywearing meetup, and put together this little collage for us.

For reference, her daughter is 16months old, 23lbs and 36.7″ long (90th percentile in height).

**Tula pictured above is a Toddler sized Tula**

Now, this is only an EXAMPLE, not every baby or babywearer is going to fit a carrier in the exact same way. This pictorial is only to give you a basic idea.

http://shop.paxbaby.com/buckle-carriers/

Although the Toddler Tula is a little big, really for Tara, it seems to be the better option for her tall one year old, if she is hoping to have a carrier for her little one to grow into!

Which carry do you love best for your little (or not so little) one?
When did you find they began to grow out of their Standard/baby sized SSC?

We would love to hear your thoughts!

Comment below, or send us a quick note to help@PAXbaby.com.

paxbaby

*happy babywearing*

paxbaby 

The post SSC comparison photos appeared first on PAXbaby.

I’m due with my fourth child in January. What two carriers will work together the best so I can carry my toddler and the new baby?

A: Congratulations! When you add a new baby to the family it can be a challenging time for everyone. Having the ability to carry your children and keep your hands free will be vital!

The best way to wear two children at once is to have one on front and one on the back. Your toddler will go on your back, and your newborn in front. We’ll start with the newborn.

You will need something that is easy to ‘pop’ your newborn into for a front carry. Our favorite is the Moby Wrap. This carrier can be wrapped on yourself first using easy-to-follow instructions and once it’s in place you can work on getting the toddler on your back. Another option for the newborn would be a Ring Sling or Pouch.

To get your toddler on your back a meh dai or soft structured carrier would be the easiest. Go ahead and get the toddler on first, securing the waist strap of the carrier under the Moby Wrap, and the shoulder straps over the Moby. Then you can pop your newborn in the Moby and spread out all the layers of fabric. With a carrier like the Beco Butterfly or Ergo, you probably will not be able to fasten the chest clip in front of you. If this doesn’t work well for your body shape, then choose the meh dai, which usually hugs closer to your body and fits better backpack style.

The post Wearing Two Together appeared first on PAXbaby.

My babywearing story by Tina:

PAXbaby.com

Babywearing to me is more than about convenience. It is about creating a bond of closeness and security. I am the mom of two beautiful girls, 4 months and almost 4 years old. Babywearing has been a lifesaver over the course of my daughter’s life. I first started wearing Kassidy in a Moby wrap as a newborn. We quickly moved onto a Snuggli and eventually (her favorite) an Ergo. We still wear her on our backs in the Ergo (and on days when she needs extra cuddles on the front.)

PAXbaby.com

PAXbaby.com

Kassidy is a differently abled child, she has as medical condition that has left her unable to walk (currently….we are working on forever!!). Babywearing was our lifesaver as we trekked across the northeast (from  Boston, to Baltimore, to Philly, to Syracuse) for medical appointments. It was so easy to navigate hospitals, subways, metros, trains, airports, and congested sidewalks while  wearing Kassidy.

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More importantly, babywearing has kept Kassidy close when she was nervous for “one more test” (or when I was nervous for one more procedure). It helped keep her calm (and Mommy & Daddy calm). I have worn her during blood work, when IVs were inserted, and during talks with the doctor. When Kassidy had to go to the hospital, she would be comforted by snuggling close to us in the wrap or ergo. It made all the difference. Kassidy is a rock star at doctor appointments. I firmly believe is because we kept her close, high and near us during the crucial, scary moments.

PAXbaby.com

PAXbaby.com

I am proud to say I am a babywearing mom of two. I encourage all moms to wear their babies.

PAXbaby.com

*happy babywearing*

PAXbaby.com

The post Proud to be a babywearer! appeared first on PAXbaby.

A woven wrap is a large piece of fabric that has very little stretch to it. These are ideal for back carries but work great for just about everything. My Storch is a 4.1 meter Vicki.

Graeme’s baby wearing journey hasn’t been as well documented as Connor’s.
Daddy doing the inaugural wearing in the hospital. Who says daddies can’t bond with exclusively BF babies?

A tradition it seems, here we are out to see Santa.

In March we planned a trip to a hotel with an indoor water-park. I knew I’d want to be hands-mostly-free in the pool so I researched a water sling. I knew I wouldn’t be using it for anything but wearing in the water and I wanted something that dried really quickly and was fast to take on and off. I decided on a Taylor Made Water Ring Sling, my first real ring sling.
A ring sling is a carrier that consists of a non-stretch fabric with two rings at one end that the tail end is then threaded through to make a pouch for baby to sit in.

Now that I have two kids, back carries in my woven wrap are pretty essential (I can’t even believe I was going to sell my storch!) I have wrapped Graeme on my back so many times I can’t even count. I’ve made little old ladies very nervous at the mall when I throw him back there and wrap him up all by myself (I let them “spot” if they are really persistent, but I make sure they know only to intervene if Graeme is falling off otherwise I get all discombobulated when they start picking up rails and stuff) and he’s napped back there while I photographed a wedding. Together we made a man blush when Graeme was on my back while waiting in line at the local Dairy Queen (never cutesy ask an infant if they get ice cream too, my response was “Well yes, in a few hours.” Never saw a man turn more shades of red than right then!)
This wrapping job looks a little odd but he was very secure back there!

Families who baby-wear together, stay together!

Recently I’ve added a mei tei to my carrier selection. It’s not a fancy one, just one made by another mama, but I quite like the Michael Miller fabric and the simplicity of it (especially since I have a bit of baby weight to loose yet before my Ergo fits right).
It’s a horrendous photo but since people like photos (and I wanted to show the print!) I thought I’d post it anyway. You can see where Graeme prefers to be!

After all of this I’d like to think of myself as an experienced baby-wearer but I know that there is still tons more to learn and I look forward to continuing this journey long into the toddler years with my children!
*happy babywearing*

The post A Babywearing Saga appeared first on PAXbaby.

A few days ago, I sat at a Sit’n’Stitch playgroup at our local mom gathering place, a store called Birth, Baby and Beyond. I was holding my Beco carrier in my lap, sewing up tiny little wear spots on the black straps in bright yellow thread (for safety reasons). This soft, floppy carrier, worn from daily use had cradled my baby through his early days, and has been the best investment in my parenting arsenal. I put the needle aside carefully to look at my son, now almost 30 lbs. of active and independent boy.

It was in that very room of the store owned by a local doula and birth advocate (now my friend) that I first learned about “babywearing” and the course of my life took a drastic and wonderful change. The doula who owned this baby boutique advertised free baby classes in The PennySaver, and I clipped out the one that said “slings and carriers” and showed up one night with my nearly 20 lb. 5 month old. The night of the meeting, a few other moms and their babies gathered in the classroom space to listen to Tammy present all the carriers. Then we got to try them out with her help, and she assisted me with a meh dai.

Bailey was so happy in the carrier, and I was SO comfortable. It was amazing! I had my hands and arms free AND Bailey was close and safe! At the time, Tammy didn’t have any buckle carriers other than front packs to demonstrate. I already had an Infantino front pack and a Lamaze Close Comfort sling (which I’d later find out was rather dangerous). So, I hit google and looked up mei tais. meh dais led me to SSC’s (Soft Structured Carriers) like the Ergo, Pikkolo, Patapum, and the Beco. Since I still had money from working through my pregnancy, I decided to buy myself a GOOD sling.

But, what would I choose? I looked at all the options I could, scrawling brand names and defining features on scraps of paper, feverishly clicking through pictures of happy parents wearing their happy babies. When I finally took the plunge and bought my first “real” carrier, it was a 4th Generation Beco Baby Carrier, on sale for $120 with black straps and Amy Butler’s Sky Temple print. It still surprises me that I didn’t buy a meh dai or a Moby wrap. I didn’t take any “baby steps” before going straight to the Beco SSC, but I never regretted my choice once. I got it in the mail, broke it open, popped Bailey in and never looked back.

Over two years of constant daily use, even with other SSC’s and other carrier types tried out for novelty, and the Beco was always our favorite. Now, looking at the faded black of the straps and the slightly pilly surface of the print, I think about retiring our trusty 4th gen. Not only did it serve us well through sickness, spit ups, shopping emergencies, potty accidents, hikes, and special occasions, it also helped many other moms as I took over Tammy’s slings and carriers class. I was so happy with babywearing that I wanted to share my love and enthusiasm. My stash grew exponentially, but no matter what, I always went back to our Beco.
I found a forum called TheBabyWearer.com, attended an International Babywearing Conference in Chicago, watched the Tummy2Tummy DVD over and over, and volunteered countless hours advocating for moms and babies and helping them to learn safe and comfortable babywearing. I have learned so much, and gained so much through babywearing. A good sling can change your life, and I know that my big, risky decision to buy an expensive baby carrier (having never even touched an SSC in my life) eventually led me on a path of self-discovery and ultimately gave me a way to give back.

The most rewarding part of our babywearing journey has been the giving aspect. I often help moms who don’t have the financial means to purchase an expensive carrier, and we work together to find something that will get them hands-free and happy. I gather donated slings as loaners or donations for underprivledeged families. No matter who they are though, when someone comes to me to learn about slings, I can give them the knowledge that I’ve acquired over the years, and that costs nothing . . . but it’s priceless.

So, as I sat there, stroking my hands over our trusty Beco, looking for more worn out spots to reinforce, I thought about our second baby, due in 5 weeks. There’s another baby waiting to be held snugly in the embrace of this carrier, close to my heart. I guess I’m not going to retire it any time soon!

*happy babywearing*

The post Another Beco fan! appeared first on PAXbaby.

My guess is that someone has pointed out to these business owners the ergonomic value of baby carriers like the BabyHawk or the Beco leading to the release of the Infantino’s own Mai Tei product, the Wrap ‘n Tie, and Bjorn’s “invention” of a Beco Gemini – esque carrier complete with a waistband, padded straps, & the quintessential Baby Bjorn front facing out capability.  Here is what Bjorn has to say about their new Comfort Carrier:

BABYBJÖRN Comfort Carrier is an ergonomic baby carrier that provides the best possible support when carrying a bigger and older child for extended periods of time. The waist belt and the padded, adjustable shoulder straps distribute baby’s weight evenly onto your hips and shoulders. For extra comfort, the child can be carried using different leg positions and, as with all BABYBJÖRN Baby Carriers, you can carry your child facing inwards or outwards. BABYBJÖRN Comfort Carrier’s well-conceived design allows you to carry your child safely and close to you, and at the same time it’s hands-free.

Now, as a mom well versed in babywearing and the lingo of the babywearing world, I can see several key words that Bjorn is using to reel in babywearers previously critical of any carrier with the Bjorn label on it! ERGONOMIC, PADDED SHOULDER STRAPS, DISTRIBUTE BABY’S WEIGHT, HANDS-FREE.  Baby Bjorn has obviously been doing their babywearing homework, and they have discovered what features are most important to us.  However, this large manufacturer has made 1 very large error!  They have priced this new ergonomic Bjorn at around $200 retail, and that is a BIG mistake!  $200 could be spent on a gorgeous wrap conversion, a custom Mai Tei, or a legacy half buckle SSC that will go down in babywearing history!  But $200 spent on a China-made, Beco/ Ergo wanna-be with a Baby Bjorn label and a BRUS store receipt?  I don’t think so, Baby Bjorn!

How can you fight back?

By promoting baby carriers that we know, trust, and deserve to carry your baby!

Wear your WAHM made baby carrier with pride!

Pass out business cards to your favorite mom-owned baby carrier shop!

Urge your mommy friends to register for a GREAT baby carrier instead of a mediocre one!

Let a new parent borrow your own baby carrier and give a quick tutorial so that they can have a GREAT experience with it!

Smile at Baby Bjorn wearing parents, and slyly say “Did you know there is a carrier even MORE comfortable than that one!?!”

And most importantly wear your baby with confidence: let the whole world know that you are a BABYWEARER!

*happy babywearing*

The post What is wrong with the Bjorn? appeared first on PAXbaby.

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I’m not a big fan of surprises. In fact I’d prefer you tell me know what’s in my Christmas gift, even if I have to wait 10 more months before I can open it! But I do like the unexpected. Seeing things that perhaps don’t quite fit in yet still look fabulous. Like the shocking pink hair on my favorite Blabla Boogaloo, Yoko…

I love finding babywearing in unexpected places! Last year TurboTax aired this commercial which shows a father wearing his baby in an Ergo! The DVR came in handy the first time I saw this one, and of course my hubby thought I was nuts playing and rewinding and playing again, asking over and over if that was an Ergo baby carrier.

And of course there’s the silly baby carrier sightings, like Luke carrying Yoda during his Jedi training. Although we can’t really call Yoda a baby, the carrier Luke is using was certainly inspired by a traditional meh dai, straps over the shoulders and around the waist.

Babywearing is becoming much more common, or I suppose we should say it is experiencing a resurgence, since carriers carriers have been around since people figured out how to weave cloth together. Even a decade ago, however, it would have seemed strange to see a baby being worn instead of in a stroller.

Now that the benefits of babywearing are getting more attention, celebrities and public figures are catching on. The average family can babywear with pride and not feel like a pariah or earth-hugging hippie (not that it’s a bad thing ;))! It’s still a little unexpected, but certainly a welcome sight to see slings in the media.

On Sunday morning, January 10, as we prepared to leave for church, my Mom called to let me know that my grandmother, Mema, had been hospitalized due to heart attack.  At that point no one really had much information except that she was stable and being admitted to the cardiac care unit for tests and observation.

On Monday morning, January 11, I was awakened about 5 a.m. by contractions that steadily grew stronger and closer together.  I was 40 weeks 3 days pregnant, so we were anxiously awaiting the arrival of our newest baby girl.

Our precious baby girl was born that afternoon and immediately stole our hearts, just as her older sister (3 1/2 years old) and brother (21 months old) had upon their births.  My parents made the three hour trip from Nashville to be with our older children while I was in the hospital.  The news they brought of Mema seemed to be good; everyone thought she was improving and that with time and a change in medication she would be able to go home.

The next twelve days were pretty much a blur of newborn care, mom recovery, tending to the older children, and attempting to get as much sleep as possible.  And then, on Saturday, January 23, my whole world shifted as I learned that my Mema had left this earth and gone to be with Jesus.  As I spoke with my Mom on the phone that morning, I struggled with many things: holding back the tears well enough to carry on a conversation, guilt at not having been able to visit Mema in the last few months, and a profound sadness that my tiny baby had not been able to meet her great-grandmother.

I immediately made the decision that I had to be at the funeral; there was just no way that I could miss it.  Even though that meant loading up all the little people, making the three hour trip, and exposing my two week old baby to all of the people who would be coming and going during the visitation and funeral.  For me, this was really a no brainer, the choice between the temporary hardships of a 24 hour trip to Nashville or a lifetime of regret for not being there.

Mema was a very special lady.  She poured her love into my life from my very earliest moments.  She set an amazing example of what a wife should be as she cared for my grandfather during his years of battling muscular dystrophy.  She demonstrated the love of a grandmother in every way.  She influenced my life in many ways.  Her death is felt by many and by me every day.

Our baby girl is a very special little lady.  Right now because she is ours and, hopefully, in years to come because she grows and matures into the very special lady God has created her to be.  I feel blessed to be her mother and pray that she is as good a woman as my Mema was.

I did get to introduce these two ladies who mean so much to me, although not in the way I had hoped.  Instead of a cheerful welcome into the arms of her great-grandmother it was a tearful, one-sided conversation.

And now it is my privilege and obligation to make sure that this tiny girl knows how much her Mema loved her even though she never met her.  It is my privilege and obligation to make sure she knows that in her final days Mema was very concerned about the well being of this tiny girl.  It is my privilege and obligation to make sure that I pass along the legacy that Mema left.

Mema, you are loved and missed, but a part of you lives on in each of your daughters, granddaughters, and great-granddaughters.  Including this tiny bundle of baby girl that I hold in my arms.

The post Love Day 11: The Unexpected appeared first on PAXbaby.

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*happy babywearing*

The post Soft-Structured Carrier Comparison Matrix appeared first on PAXbaby.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I’m hooked. It’s true.

While I only have one kiddo (DD) at present (almost 14 months! *sob*), I spend my days watching a wonderful little boy (Mr. G) who’s five months younger than she. Living in a townhome without a yard or much space for a playroom means that we make a point of getting out of the house every day, even if it’s only for a walk or a trip to the grocery store (or a walk to the grocery store!)

I freely admit to being stroller-impaired. We have a small umbrella stroller, and I manage to pinch my fingers every time I try to fold it up. I still can’t manage to push a stroller through a door that I’m pushing open without getting one or more of us stuck in the process. And I’m constantly stepping on the back tire of the jogging stroller, causing me to do a faceplant into the handlebars. Because of this, I tend to shy away from using the stroller, even if it means wearing two.

So my carriers get a lot of work to begin with. Add that to the fact that any time we go anywhere between the hours of 7am and 4pm from Monday to Friday, I have to haul two small children plus diaper bag and whatever else we need down a flight of stairs, outside (insert fumbling with keys at this step), down another flight of stairs, and into the car. All of this is an operation that works better if one has at least one hand at their disposal; however, with two kiddos that can’t walk, those hands are usually occupied.

Enter my SSCs (Soft Structured Carriers.) My Ergo and Beco are indispensable parts of my BabyWearing stash. But, like someone that shares a car with multiple drivers, I’m constantly finding myself having to readjust my carriers; husband uses the Ergo and the shoulder straps are too long when I put it on, or I put daughter in the Beco while we’re out in the evening and get it all snug around her, only to have to readjust for the much shorter and chunkier Mr. G the next day.

Thus, my need for another carrier. My decision to purchase the Oh Snap! was cemented when I saw that I could get it in the Jasper print. After failing to convince DH that I needed the Alice Beco to replace my boring but easily-coordinated Metro Black BB1, I decided that Jasper must be mine. But the features looked great too–taller body, highly adjustable.

I got the notice of shipping on Tuesday 12/10, and was prepared to stalk the mailman obsessively starting on Friday. But we went out on Thursday morning and came back Thursday afternoon to a lovely surprise–a little Jasper sitting cozily on my doorstep, holding a conversation with the lawn gnome that guards my flowerpots. Squeeling commenced and I begged the kiddos to nap so that I could open it unmolested.

Alas, it wasn’t to be, and it got its first test about two minutes after opening. I hadn’t had time to do much more than get the waistbelt adjusted before both kiddos started fussing at each other (they were, after all, needing naps). So I popped one on my back in my new friend Jasper and went to snug up the shoulder straps.

That was my first pleasant surprise. Rather than adjusting where the webbing meets the padded strap, they adjust where the webbing meets the carrier body. Also, they adjust in a way that has you pulling upwards to tighten, rather than trying to exert force down and backwards in an unnatural way. Getting a nice snug fit there was quick!

The waist belt was comfy too, and seemed to do its job. I was satisfied, we got the mail, and when we came inside, I was able to get the nap thing going. This gave me time to play with the rest of the adjustments, and I was impressed at how many there are. The first time I took the chest belt off, I thought it was a pain to get on again, but then I figured out a trick to get it on more quickly (hold the clip loosely, and slide starting at one corner of the clip). The hip belt adjustments intrigued me, and I was interested in seeing if the shape adjustability would make a difference in the feel with a child. I played with it a bit, petted the beautiful fabric a bit and talked to the owls, then hung it up and hoped that I’d get a chance to try it out later.

Through the fickleness of fate, though, I had to wait until the next day. I forgot to grab it on our way out the door to run our few errands, so I had to make do with the Ergo that lives in the car–one on the back and one in the arms.

They fell asleep in the car on our way home, and regrettably didn’t sleep long enough and woke up cranky. (Well, one woke the other up… etc. etc.) So I grabbed the Ergo from the car and stuck daughter on the front in it and Mr. G on the back in Jasper.

The first thing I noticed is that the hip belt’s shape adjustability is HUGE. Mr. G was practically weightless back there. The way I was able to get it adjusted had it contoured to my hips, rather than just perched atop them. MUCHO comfortable, even with the Ergo hip belt on top of it. It’s also wonderfully wide and padded. Much easier to wear almost 40 combined pounds of baby when the weight is perched on the hips! Lastly, the dual adjustable buckles are nice, because I can have the clip over to the side more, which is where I find the clips on my SSCs easier to buckle.

The next thing I noticed was that Mr. G was unable to do his usual attempt at a back dive from the carrier like he does in the Ergo. Score 100 points for the tall back–this thing will last my shorty kiddo forever!

My last discovery as I wore two was how much I liked the chest strap. I was able to get it adjusted so that it lay flat against my unfortunately large chest, and (unlike on the Ergo and the Beco) I felt like I could get it nicely snug without putting uncomfortable pressure on places that could lead to plugged ducts. I couldn’t see the reasoning for the cloth sleeves over the webbing on the chest strap until I got it snugged up, then I realized how nice it is for distributing the pressure evenly.

I wore both kiddos for a bit over a half-hour, until Mr. G had woken up enough to want down so that he could play. So I put daughter on my front in Jasper and immediately (yes, immediately) noticed what might be my favorite thing about Jasper. I’m not a strap-crosser–my first SSC was my Ergo so there was no reason to learn. I borrowed a mai tei from a friend long enough to see why one might want to cross the straps, but even with the Oh Snap’s ability to cross the straps, I figured I’d just stick with the ability not to have to fiddle with clipping and unclipping things. But even with the straps uncrossed, Jasper doesn’t dig in under my arms/on the sides of my breasts in the same way that my other two SSCs do, something that is an issue with my Ergo and Beco to the point where I ended up with mastitis on one side. Because the straps are padded so far down, there’s padding under my arms, spreading out the pressure, which isn’t much anyway.

This morning I wore daughter again in Jasper and we ended up taking a nice long walk. She conked out–the highest compliment she could pay, perhaps.

So I’ll have to apologize to my husband, but there’s a new man in my life, and his name is Jasper.

The post A RAVE review for the Oh Snap! with pictures coming later! appeared first on PAXbaby.