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Siiiiigh.

Oh how many minutes/hours/days are spent dreaming of wearing your future squish when you are pregnant?

Ahh, to feel their heart beating against yours, their breath sweet on your chest, their tiny coos … and oh, that newborn smell.

The anticipation is second to none.

Wrap your little squish in a wrap as soft as they are, ok not AS soft as they are, but close to it.

Choose from an array of beautiful, soft, snuggly and supportive stretchy wraps for your newborn:

http://shop.paxbaby.com/stretchy-wraps/

What better way to hold your precious new one “close enough to kiss” than snuggled up close to you in one of these amazing beauties from PAXbaby.com:

 Boba, Moby® Wrap, Anaju, Je Porte Mon Bébé (jpmbb), or Wrapsody: The Wraparound Baby Carrier

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*happy babywearing*

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The post Looking for a stretchy wrap?? 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.

Diana B. is an experienced mom, babywearing advocate, chicken keeper, gardener,  and Spanish food know-it-all!  When she traveled to Spain last month, she and her sister BOTH wore Beco Butterflies and took lots of pictures of their International babywearing  adventures!  Become part of Diana’s life by reading her blog, “A Little Bit of Spain in Iowa” and try your hand at winning a Beco by entering her contest!  Here’s Diana:

If you’re not familiar with the Beco Baby Carrier, it’s a backpack style carrier which allows you to carry a newborn up to a 45lb toddler on your front or back.

Designed by a babywearing parent, active sailor and rock climber, Gabby Caperon. Beco combines perfect ergonomics, excellent weight distribution and stylish design from top quality fabrics. Each carrier is handmade by a skilled seamstress in facilities which apply high social and economical standards. Sustainability and minimal impact of our production on the environment is important to us. We strive to provide the best quality, safe products and friendly customer service.

Reading the Beco story, designer and owner Gabby Caperon, produced the first Beco from her home as an at home mom.  She needed a more comfortable carrier to carry her growing baby and researched traditional baby carrying from other cultures.  She sewed her first Mei Tei and when she needed something a bit more sturdier she looked towards the innovation of a backpack.  I love it!  Brilliant mom’s creating with passion and love!

I’m so glad Gabby is sharing this product with the world because it was so useful on my trip.  I used it in the airport, buses, trains, touring, to market, and especially as a safe haven for my child as he slept on me.

One of my absolute favorite things about baby carrying is the closeness that it brings to your child.  Feeling their every breath, touch and movement is a constant reminder that my joy and my place in life, at this moment, is to be their mami.

I used my carrier to carry my toddler mostly on my back, however, I would rotate him to the front to sleep or sit in my lap on public transportation.

The Beco was really amazing on long train rides, as I knew my toddler was sleepy but… he’s rambunctious!  The Beco kept him strapped onto me where we chatted, talked, sang and slept!  It was great

The Beco Baby Carrier was also comfortable and easy to use.  The straps are padded and easy to adjust.  You can pull them down and tighten the strap.  The bottom support pad and strap kept his weight distributed evenly and I could carry him for quite a long time.  Below is one of many instructional videos.

This is my first backpack carrier and I am enjoying it!  Before I had this carrier, I carried Zekie in a moby wrap as a newborn and moved to a Baby Bjorn that was given to me as a baby shower gift.  He was already used to be carried by mami, but what I found so enjoyable is that he enjoyed riding on my back.  “Up high!”  “Up high!” Zekie would yell… so cute!!
I also enjoyed that I was able to carry my older son in it.  He enjoyed it as well!

After this trip, I told my husband as long as each of the boys could be in a carrier, I was no longer fearful to visit the Grand Canyon!  Maybe a future vaca is in order

The people of Beco were gracious enough to give my sister a Beco as well.  Anyone that reads my blog knows that my family and I are very close.  So it was so much fun being able to carry our babies together.  Ezra was five months at the time and enjoyed the closeness of sleeping on his mama.

The only thing that was difficult for my sister is that Ezra does enjoy being carried facing out.  Unfortunately, the Beco does not allow the baby to face out.  Maybe a feature they could add in the future?

Since coming home, I’ve had opportunities of using it at the farmers market, while gardening, at the pool, on walks, at a wedding and other everyday routines and events we’ve attended.  really it’s been my secret weapon to keeping a toddler from hitting the high road! As my hubby and I are praying about bambino number 3, it makes me even more excited to think about carrying him/her in the Beco!

The post Want to win a Beco? appeared first on PAXbaby.

The Boba Baby Carrier debuted in September 2009 with the first generation which did not include the hood, and although the Boba 1G can still be found, the detachable foot stirrups and removable hood validates the price difference in my opinion!  Having received the JPMA safety certification in March, Boba Baby Carriers can now assure parents that their soft structured carrier meets very strict quality, safety, & functionality requirements set by ASTM!!!  And Nap Inc, the parent company behind Boba and also Sleepy Wrap, is required to test 25% of their Bobas in a certified lab and have Random Retail Testing quarterly so moms like us can be sure that Boba is a safe choice for our babies!  Thanks, Boba!!!!

Featured on the Today Show as one of parent’s best baby carrier choices, I was thrilled to see Boba on the Liz’s iVillage list as a comfortable & safe toddler carrier!  While the press has been going nuts over the recall of bag slings, this was a refreshing news article focusing on fabulous carriers.  From a mainstream point of view, it was great to see Boba listed along with Moby Wrap and the Baby Bjorn!  Wooohoooooo!!!!

Available is a range of nature-inspired colors, Boba just made their first foray into prints with their Tweet fabric custom designed for them at Spoonflower, and we are hoping that this will be the first of many vibrant Boba Limited Editions!

This is an action photo of the Tweet and I think it may be even cuter in real life than in pictures!!!

Our Tweet pre-orders have all been filled now, but if you’d like to email me, I will take your information for the next round of Tweets!  If you are in need of a fabulous soft structured carrier NOW, order a Boba Chestnut, Walnut, Pine, Cedar, Aspen, or Willow for immediate & FREE  shipping!  And if you’d like to “borrow” a Boba to see what all the fuss is about, get more information about PAXbaby’s Sling Exchange!

Become an expert about SAFE baby products!  Read more about the JPMA official certification or the ASTM standards and regulations!

*happy babywearing*

The post Boba is a FAVORITE! 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.

The first hardest part about wrapping to me is deciding which one to choose! Do I pick the one that matches my outfit? Or the one that highlights Baby’s gorgeous blue eyes? Or maybe it depends on the weather! Wearing a heavy wrap on a hot day sounds like babywearing torture, but on a chilly day, a woven sounds just perfect! When #5 was an infant, there was nothing more heavenly than using our stretchy wraps, but now that he is a hefty 25 pound ham with legs, support is the key issue so even a gauze wrap needs to be tied tightly and expertly to keep us both comfortable.

Once I’ve chosen our wrap for the day (who am I kidding! I change baby carriers during the day as often as your daughter changes her fashion doll!) the question is which wrapping technique to use. One sounds stranger than the next, and if you didn’t know I was talking about baby carriers, you might think I was speaking in great detail about an exotic style of massage: Wiggleproof Back Carry, Swedish Tibetan Tie, Front Cross Carry Cradle, Buddha, Sumo, Jordan’s Reinforced-Rear Rebozo Rucksack… They all have their purpose and their time, but how is one, underslept, overworked mommy to 5 supposed to choose? So I usually just go with my standard back carry, the Back Wrap Cross Carry with Rucksack Straps and Tibetan tie.

The third and final tough decision to make is that Baby #5 is securely on my back, children have been rounded up (and clothed – AGAIN), the picnic is packed, do I take baby back out of the wrap to get in the car and drive to a park for lunch or walk to our local park and keep that baby tied up? Only time will tell for today’s adventure! If you see a calm peaceful group of sweet young children and a serene mother with a baby wrapped on her back at the park, that’s NOT us! We’re the boisterous high pitched giggling cluster of little kids and their mom who more often than not is swinging, climbing, racing, and cavorting along with the young’uns, all the while with baby happy and babyworn, whether in a gorgeous wrap, fabulous Mai Tei, or quick ‘n easy Soft Structured Carrier!

And now, just a few more in action shots of our favorite wraps!

The BB Slen Blueberry longie – no wrap stash is complete without at least 1 BB Slen (Fair Trade manufacturing, grippy but so soft, no breaking in necessary for this woven wrap!)

The BB Slen Turkish Delight – it’s this simple: You NEED one!

The stretchy Moby wrap – A stretchy wrap should be handed out at the hospital to new parents! It is the ultimate BEST baby shower gift, and every mom should have at least 1 to wrap their squishy newborn!

And a personal favorite, the Gypsymama wraps – some are gauze, and some are stretch, but you have got to try 1 for the summer!

*happy babywearing*

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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.

Wendy Bellissimo Bag Sling

Infantino Bag Sling

If you are approached by “well meaning” strangers telling you that your baby carrier is a death trap, here a few key points to remember!

A bag sling bends your baby in an unnatural C shape, constricting their airway and making it hard to breathe.  YOUR sling or baby carrier can be worn safely in an upright position, called tummy to tummy!  Your baby can breathe in a normal, natural way, and you can easily see and hear that they are alright.  Bag slings have the babies low on the mother’s body out of sight and in harm’s way if the mother were to turn or be bumped from the side.

Safe Sling suggestions for newborn babies:

Moby Wrap – This is a stretchy wrap that conforms to your body and holds baby to you in comfort for both of you!

Sakura Bloom ring sling – Wearing your baby upright in a Sakura Bloom is comfortable and fashionable!

Freehand meh dai – With its padded straps and headrest, this mei tei would be an excellent choice for a heavier newborn!

Beco Butterfly II – The infant insert is adjustable and removable once baby is taller, but for newborns, this soft structured carrier offers a lot of head support and shade thanks to the detachable hood!

Olives & Applesauce – This soft structured carrier also caters to newborns with its insert and straps that can cross against your back in an X!

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Hotslings AP Pouch – the adjustable pouch that fits a large range of body sizes but is as easy as THAT to use!

Moby Wrap – extremely comfortable stretchy wrap ideal for newborns through 15-18 pounds. Once your baby grows that heavy, the stretchy fabric is too stretchy and you will need to upgrade to a carrier designed for heavier babies.

Babyhawk meh dai – Asian inspired carrier with a body and 4 straps. Can be intimidating to start, but can be the most comfortable carrier in the bunch!

BB Slen – A woven wrap made under fair trade conditions that is “grippy” enough to be easy to use even for beginner wrappers!

Beco Butterfly II – My personal favorite Soft Structured Carrier, meaning that the straps buckle instead of wrap or tie. Great for moms, dads, toddlers, or newborns. The infant insert is included but removable and the integrated seat means that even new moms and inexperienced babywearers can get their baby on their back like a backpack easily and comfortably!

Other favorite brands are Gypsymama wraps, Oh Snap! SSCs, and Olives & Applesauce SSC!

Step out of your comfort zone, say NO to commercially manufactured brands like Bjorn and Evenflo, and get yourself a REAL baby carrier! You and baby deserve it!

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