Do You Need a Toddler Carrier? the answer is . . . Maybe.

Happy, SUNday, Midlands Babywearers!

This past week has been a crazy one, full of up and down weather, and the start of our very first fundraiser. Why are we raising funds? We want to expand our Lending Library - we have some good things in it, but we could use both more carriers and more variety. We are looking to fill two very specific needs. Firstly a longer woven wrap, a size 7 (5.2 meters), we felt was a necessity. We have a number of plus size mamas that would be more comfortable learning with the added length, and it is a better length for many men, too, that might want to try wrapping. Secondly, if we get enough funds (and it looks like we will!) we'll be adding a toddler sized soft structured carrier (SSC) to the library. We get so many questions about them, and it's definitely something that you want to try before you invest in one. The fundraiser closes Monday, 03/31/2014 at 10 PM. We are buying amber necklaces wholesale (both children's and adult sizes) and the proceeds will go directly to our Lending Library fund. If you are interested in ordering, head over to our Facebook group and check it out!

M and H - in cranberry Ergo

So, you have an Ergo. It's great - easy to use, pretty affordable, and you love it. But your baby is now a toddler, and you might be wondering if you need a bigger carrier, something a little wider and taller. If you check Ergo's website, it says that its carrier can carry up to a 45 lb. toddler. The fabric and plastic parts (buckles, webbing, etc) of the carrier are safe up to that weight. You CAN wear your 40 lb. 4 year old in it, but SHOULD you?

I'll be completely honest with you. The answer is "Maybe".

Keep your Ergo:

38 lb 4 year old in a toddler sized KP.

If money is the issue and you honestly can't afford a larger  carrier (believe me, I think we have all been there at some point) or just can't convince yourself you NEED a toddler carrier, you will be fine. Your toddler will be safe, you will stay hands free, and you will be continue to be able to DO ALL THE THINGS.  The Ergo, and other standard sized carriers (including Infantino SSC like the Union and Balance) will serve you well into toddlerhood.
Another point to consider is how often do you wear your toddler? Do you wear them daily, for long periods of time? Do you only wear occasionally for quick ups when he is tired? Even more rarely than that? If you are only using your carrier  once in a while, and your toddler is only going up for a few minutes, it may not be worthwhile to invest in a toddler sized SSC.

Time to trade up:

Is it becoming uncomfortable, even painful, for you to wear your toddler? As your toddler grows, and the Ergo doesn't support their weight as evenly knee to knee as it used to, you may feel some strain on your shoulders, back, and hips. It also may be uncomfortable for your toddler, as the edges of the seat of the Ergo now come to less comfortable spot on his legs, as more than one parent has  discovered. Read more of one family's journey to toddler wearing HERE, including some awesome comparison pictures of the Ergo and Toddler Tula used with their two and four year olds.
Do you have a leaner? Especially when worn on your back? I know I do. If your carrier (I keep using Ergo because it's the most common standard sized carrier, but it can happen in a Boba SSC, Infantino Union, Beco Gemini or Soleil, even standard Kinderpacks and Tulas) comes up under your toddler's armpits and fits snugly to your body, they *should* be safe, however it's often at this point we recommend sizing up - the extra height in a toddler body size will make both of you feel more secure.

What to buy:

The two most common brands of toddler sized carriers are Kinderpack and Tula - they both have a standard size and larger toddler size. Which you buy is completely personal preference. The shoulder straps are different, and the measurements (height and width of the body) are slightly different, and the toddler Tula has a bit more legs out padding.  I am not out to re-invent the wheel, so go HERE and check out a great comparison of these two carriers.
Other brands that offer a toddler sized SSC: Action Baby Carriers. These are very affordable carriers, but the shoulders are not as padded as other brands, and the body is a flat rectangle of fabric instead of a more contoured fit that the Kinderpack and Tula have.
One of my favorite comparison charts that covers nearly all the common standard and toddler sized SSCs can be found here - Kinderpack (KP) is not on here, but the dimensions of KP can be found here.

 

Other FAQ's

I have an infant and a toddler. Can I get one SSC for them both?
- Yes, you can! I loved my Olives and Applesauce SSC for this purpose, because the clip in infant insert is easy to use and isn't padded (no added warmth!), and it has one of the widest seats you can find in a standard sized carrier. The Boba 4G also transitions easily from infant to larger baby/toddler. The seat is not as wide as some others, but if you have a smaller toddler, it will work well for you, or if your toddler isn't worn often. The key to choosing one carrier to suit two children is to choose based on the child that is worn more often in that sort of carrier. If you would use a SSC more for your toddler and prefer to use your stretchy wrap, ring sling, mei tai, or woven wrap more  for your infant, buy an SSC that fits your toddler. Eventually your infant will fit into it, and there are a couple tricks to get a slightly too big carrier to work for a smaller baby. If your infant is worn most often, buy a standard sized carrier - your toddler will be happy and safe in it for the occasional time he or she is "up".

I have a big baby. Should I just go ahead and buy the bigger carrier?
- Maybe. Do you have a big 3 month old, or a large 11 month old that fits perfectly in a standard sized carrier, but clearly could be on the verge of moving up? If you have a big 3 month old, ideally I'd recommend buying a standard sized carrier and selling (or trading) it to fund a toddler size when the time is right. You may want to choose a standard size carrier that already runs a bit big (like the Olives and Applesauce mentioned above, or a standard Kinderpack or Tula) - it will last you a while. Why? because, honestly, your baby will likely not be happy, or as comfortable, in a carrier that is too big. Many older babies prefer to ride "arms out"  in a carrier which is challenging to do if it is too big, they may sit too low in the carrier, making it more difficult to keep their airway clear, and the seat may be so wide on them, their legs stick straight out, instead of being able to bend at the knee. There is a great blog that makes this point best: HERE. If you have a large 11 month old, I would say, yes, go ahead and buy the toddler size. The standard size would likely fit you and your baby several more months, even a year or more, but both of you would probably be more comfortable in a toddler size.

Is there a way to "size down" my carrier?

cinched Kinderpack

cinched Mei Tai

- Yes, you can. The following will work to make a standard sized carrier better fit a smaller infant (without an infant insert!), or make a toddler carrier fit a smaller baby/toddler better. It is safe, it works, and the only main drawback I see is that it negates the legs out padding that helps make a carrier more comfortable for the baby to worn for long periods of time. You can also use this method on a Mei Tai style carrier, for the same reasons. Often known as the "hair tie" or "scrunchie" trick, it is precisely that. You use a sturdy, fabric covered hair elastic around the base of the body panel, near the waist band, to cinch it in. That's it. Pictured below is the hair tie trick on a mei tai. It works on SSCs too! If you have a Kinderpack, you can use the elastic at the base (intended as a roll up strap) to cinch it. This does two things - narrows the base of the carrier so baby can bend his or her knees, and it shortens the body panel so that it's more comfortable for baby.


One thing I love about babywearing is that carriers retain their value like no other baby gear item you own. That's why I advise to buy the carrier that works for you best NOW, and when the time comes, sell it and purchase the size you need when the time comes. At the end of the day, whether you continue to use your standard sized carrier until your child no longer wants to be worn, or buy a toddler size a little early and make it work for you, or you buy and sell carriers as needed - you are wearing your baby, they are safe, happy, and you are hands-free. That's a win-win in my book.

 

We have a lot of exciting events coming up!

April 12th, our Saturday meeting, will focus on Daddy Babywearing. Whether you are a dad that already wears, is interested in wearing, or a mom trying to convince her husband that yes, HE can wear, too! - come join us at 10:00 a.m. at the LDS building on Assembly street. There's plenty of parking, and we look forward to seeing your whole family there! Please note, daddies and other family members are always welcome at any of our meetings. Babywearing is for everybody!
April 24th, our weekday meeting, will focus on warm (hot) babywearing. Come discuss your tips for keeping cool in the heat, what carriers work best for hot weather, and how to wear in the water. This meeting also starts at 10:00 a.m. and will be at our usual weekday location, the LDS church on Broad River Rd.
April 26th - the Natural Mama Expo and Great Cloth Diaper Change. We will be set up with a table to meet new parents, help trouble shoot carriers, and display our lending library - and possibly more! stay tuned! This is at the Convention Center in downtown Columbia.

Invasion of "The Swap" People

Happy Sunday, Midlands Babywearers!

It's been two weeks since the last post, I am so sorry that time has gotten away from me. I hope to make this one fantastic to make up for last week's missing post. Last night, I posted this in our Facebook group, and I love it so much, I'm posting here, too.
"You are a Master Babywearer - in China, it is said that "A master is anyone who knows more than you do." So, you are all master babywearers compared with most of the moms in the world. You do NOT need to know everything there is to know about babywearing -- if you know even ONE carry with even ONE type of carrier, you are in possession of knowledge other moms desperately want -- even if they do not yet know they want it. ;-D Therefore, you should all feel confident enough to teach others! So, pick a public place, pick a day of the week, and start sharing your skills with other families." -www.wearyourbaby.org
This is what Babywearers of the Midlands is all about. Parents helping other parents on their parenting journeys: sharing our skills, our knowledge, our failures AND our successes. It doesn't matter whether your only experience is with a Baby Bjorn, or if you've tried a little of everything, you have valuable knowledge to share both in our group and in our wider community. I'll be honest. I've never even tried ON a Baby Bjorn or similar narrow based carrier. My husband did, when we were expecting our first, and it looked like a baby bra on his 6'6" frame. We laughed, and moved on. Those of you that have used a Baby Bjorn (or similar narrow based carrier), I'm sure have ways to make it more comfortable for you and babe, and are perhaps the best resource for others looking to branch out from that type of carrier. Don't be afraid to speak up and share your stories. We love hearing from each and every one of you.

 

The Swap.

It's a scary place, the first time you go look. I'm sure you've heard horror stories. Failed transactions. Abbreviations. New language. Rules. It's like a whole 'nother country there. And I'm not even exaggerating. BUT. It's one of the best places to find a used carrier for the money you want to spend, plus, you are helping another mama out, right? I'm going to try to break it down for you, both as a seller and a buyer. How to navigate it, the lingo, tips and tricks for selling quickly, and buying right.

Buyers

Before you do anything else, even look, you need a feedback link. Go find the group "Babywearing Swap Feedback" and ask to join. Someone will add you usually within 24-48 hours. Once you are in, you need to be on a regular computer to create an album, not mobile. Choose a picture, it doesn't have to be your profile picture, just one you like, of YOU, and create an album with it, titled with "Feedback for YOUR NAME HERE."

Once you've created and titled the album, link under it in comments any buyer/seller feedback you have from other sites. www.diaperswappers.com, www.babywearer.com, www.etsy.com, www.ebaby.com, you get the idea. If you have NO feedback, anywhere, that's ok too. Just say so, in your album comments. Everyone has to start somewhere. Once you've created that feedback album, SAVE that link in a document somewhere, or if you are like me, and always mobile, send it to your phone, too. It can be difficult to search for albums, as that group is very, very large.

Okay, now that you've created a feedback link, you can go browse the swap. It helps to read the rules first, that will give you a general idea of the feel of things (but I really recommend doing that in any buy/sell/trade group you join). The carriers are listed in albums. Woven wraps by size, other carriers by types, miscellaneous items (you will find babywearing coats, accessories, etc here), and the Bargain Carrier album (everything $100 or less, usually including shipping). Some people, like me, are always mobile and will post to the wall. Wall listings are active for a few days before they must be moved to an album or deleted. 

You've found a pretty carrier! But the listing is like a foreign language - what do you do? Take a deep breath, I will parse out some common abbreviations and terms. The seller should list the brand, colorway, and size. Brands could be Didymos - abbreviated Didy. Kokadi is KKD, Kinderpack is KP, Little Frog is LF, you can find a link of common abbreviations, HERE. Next should be colorway. If it is Didymos, one of the oldest and most common/popular brands, there is a specific logic to the abbreviation. PHI, LHI, NLI, BWI - these are all Indios - that's the weaving pattern and the last letter of the abbreviations. The first letter is the color (in order  - Petrol, Lila, Natural, Blue or Black). Except in the case of the all cotton Indios, the second letter is the fiber blend. H is for Hemp, L is for Linen. In the case of all cotton, the second letter is the second color, often W for White. if you see more abbreviations, do not be afraid of Google. Google is your friend.

Price. Say the price listed is $130PPD or MMAO. What's that mean? PPD is "postage paid domestic" or basically, shipping included. Nearly everything is supposed to shipped priority, with tracking and insurance on The Swap. You've noticed, I'm sure, that these are not the cheapest baby items.  You want to be protected as much as possible in a sale. MMAO = Make Me An Offer. MMARO is Make Me A Reasonable Offer. Honestly, unless listed "price is firm", it is always okay to negotiate. Do it by private message. Like any negotiation, be nice. Don't say: "$500?! are you crazy? I can buy that retail for $198 plus shipping here! another mama is selling for $150! Would you take $125?"  Just cut to the chase and say something like:  " I love that Indio you are selling! I see it's listed for $200, would you consider taking $180?". Feel free to add in sentimental bits, like it's something you've been looking for a long time (ISO = In Search Of. DISO = Desperately In Search Of, CISO = Casually In Search Of, VDISO = Very Desperately In Search Of), or the perfect color to go with your daughter's eyes. I'm serious, sometimes that seems to help. The worst the seller can say is NO, or possibly counter offer. The albums are refreshed every month, so offers towards the end of the month stand a really good chance of being accepted, so that the seller doesn't have to relist in a fresh album next month.

Other questions to ask the seller: when do you ship? are there any stains or flaws? can you measure that for me? How does it fit your baby? do you have any other pictures (action shots, different lighting, etc)? Would you describe this carrier as good for hot weather? cold? Is it difficult to care for?

A brief word about "FTO or For Trade Only" - generally a seller/trader wants something of equal value, but sometimes you will see listed "+/- PP as needed" meaning they will entertain trades of differing value. Say they have an Ergo, and want a Tula. This means they'd trade the Ergo, and add the difference needed in Paypal money to fund the Tula someone else may offer in trade.  Or maybe the seller tried an expensive wrap, and actually misses a certain one of lesser value. So will trade their Pavo for an Indio, and the person with the Indio will also send the difference in value of Paypal money to the owner of the Pavo. Some traders want a "paypal backed trade" meaning you send the carrier PLUS the trade value in Paypal, as insurance, and both parties refund the money once the carriers are received as described. This is the most protected way to trade, but many people trade because they don't have the money to buy. If you are comfortable trading, go for it. (disclosure: I've never done a Paypal backed trade. I've always been very happy just trading).

What if you want something more expensive than you can afford in one go? Some sellers will accept payment plans. Make sure you lay out the terms in detail via private message. Usually a non refundable deposit, and regular payments until it is paid off. I've done my share as both buyer and seller, and love that there are people out there to help me afford what I want. Now, many times these payments are a mix of gifted and goods (so the seller is not hit with excessive fees). If you prefer the security of sending money as goods, perhaps offer to cover the extra fees the seller would incur.

So, the seller accepts your offer. Great! Make sure you either ask for their Paypal address or give them yours to invoice you, as soon as you are sure. The general rule is that the first person to ask for the paypal address is the buyer (or asks for an invoice). Always send money as goods so both of you are protected. There are fees for the seller this way, but that should be built into the cost they ask. (sometimes carriers will be listed as $130 ALL IN, instead of PPD to reflect that). They should give you a tracking number as soon as they ship.

Fluffy Mail!
Once you get the carrier, before you use it even once, look it over for stains, flaws, anything out of the ordinary. There is a great post here about common flaws and how to fix them. Most are cosmetic and should have been disclosed in the listing. If you find something glaring, take a picture and message the seller. Mostly as an FYI. If it is something you can't live with, or makes the carrier unsafe, it is perfectly OK to ask for a refund and send the carrier back to her. If she refuses, then a Paypal dispute should be opened. BUT - 99% of the time, that will not be necessary.  One other thing you may want to do, if it is a woven wrap, is measure it. STIH - Soft Tape In Hand (this is a cloth measuring tape, in case you have not guessed) - along one rail, to make sure the size is roughly what you were sold. This is the most glaring error I've seen happen to buyers lately, is getting a different size than listed. It's not off by a couple inches (often wraps shrink a couple inches washing, that is no big deal), but by a foot or more. You can ask for a refund or sell it yourself to fund the size you actually want. I will say that in the majority of cases, you get what you asked for and everything looks great! Happy Wearing!

This is a link to Babywearing 102's Swap Etiquette document. They do not recommend negotiation, but I think it is fine, as long as it's done politely, and by private message.

Selling

So, maybe your first carrier didn't work quite right for you, or your baby has outgrown it. You want to sell it. Good news: baby carriers retain more of their value than nearly any other baby gear item I can think of. Here's what you need to list your carrier:

A picture.

You want a clear picture, in good light, of your carrier. Bonus points for creating a collage (there are many smartphone apps that make it easy). For wraps, it helps to have action shots as well as one of the wrap neatly folded or rolled up. If you want your picture to be click-bait, having a daddy-wearing pic is always pretty awesome.  If there are any flaws (pulls, loose threads, stains, fading) take a close up picture using something as reference. This is often why you will see a coin or other item on a carrier, as a reference size showing the size of the flaw. (other reasons you see items on a carrier are to compare/contrast the color) - these pictures can be included in the comments. I recommend doing this rather than having potential buyers private message you for pictures, as it makes everything public, and you won't be answering a dozen PMs asking for the same information.

Price.

 How much to ask for your carrier is a sensitive topic. It's a very personal algorithm that often includes how much you paid for it, how much you will pay in shipping, if it is a high demand (HSA = highly sought after or HTF = Hard To Find. ETF = Easy to Find) carrier, if it is OOAK (one of a kind), sentimental value, condition, etc. In general, you can ship most things priority within the US for $10 or less. Often it helps to include in your listing (because the swap is international) that you will cover a portion of shipping elsewhere, or add $X for shipping, or to have a potential buyer message you for a shipping quote.  There are relatively common carriers that sell for close to retail if they are in excellent condition (no pulls, flaws, etc) but are well broken in (often linen and hemp blends), because it does take time and effort to achieve that state of wrapping floppiness. If you do not know what the original retail value for your wrap was, it might be listed on the woven wraps database, or you can try googling. If all else fails, you can ask on the group Babywearing 102 on Facebook.

 

Listing.

Include as much information as you can, including everything reasonable that went into your price - like condition (EUC = Excellent Used Condition, VGUC = Very Good Used Condition, Like New or BNIB = Brand New In Box), color, fiber, how broken it is, why you like it, and why you are selling (if it didn't work for you or if your child outgrew it). Your life story is not needed, and it does not seem to help sell a carrier any faster, I'm sorry to say. Remember, this is a public forum and all the financial details of your life do not need to be on display. I only include this disclaimer, because you DO see postings like that, and that is not the best way to sell your carrier. DO include if you have pets, if there are smokers in your home, etc. It also helps to include when you will be able to ship. We are all moms, we all have kids, we KNOW you may not be able to get to the post office every day, and not everyone can print postage at home. Putting a time frame in there (e.g.: I ship on Wednesdays and Saturdays) will help answer questions. Be honest! The more information you include about the carrier itself, the more likely it will sell quickly with little fuss, and the person who does buy it will be happy because there are no surprises upon receipt.

Lastly: include your feedback link. Once a carrier is received and everyone is satisfied, please leave feedback both as a buyer and a seller.

These guidelines also apply in any carrier B/S/T group. There is Babywearing on a Budget and also some manufacture specific ones (Kinderpack has one, as well as Kokadi, Pavo, some of the other hand-woven wraps, and if you dare, there is a High-end Babywearing Swap you can search for)

Happy Buying, Selling, and Trading! If you have any questions, need help troubleshooting, or have other tips and tricks to share, come join the conversation in our Facebook group.

Upcoming Meetings:

This Thursday, the 27th at 10:00 join us at the LDS church on Broad River Rd to learn more about Babywearing on a Budget.
 Saturday, April 5th, at 10:00 a.m., we will be at the LDS building on Assembly Street in downtown Columbia. The topic: Babywearing Dads. We will have dads talk about the carriers they love, and why. Bring the men in your life to this family friendly meeting!
Thursday, April 24th, at our weekday location, we will take about warm weather babywearing, including wearing in the water.
Saturday April 26th is the Natural Baby Expo/Great Cloth Diaper Change. We will be there, with a table to answer questions, meet new parents, and help spread the babywearing love!

We look forward to seeing everyone at one (or more!) of these events, and the play dates that are sure to be sprinkled in between as the weather warms up.

Money, Money, Money - Babywearing on a Budget

Happy Sunday, Midlands Babywearers!

What  gorgeous weekend it's been! This fantastic spring-like weather is a welcome reprieve from the cold and wet of the last week. I hope all of you have been able to spend some time outside, even babywearing, and enjoying the sunshine.

We enjoyed seeing many of you at yesterday's Saturday meeting in our new location on Assembly Street. The space is certainly better suited to the varied ages of children that come to the meetings, and we hope all of you found it accommodating as well. We welcome any and all feedback you may have regarding any of our meeting spaces, we want you to be as comfortable and as welcomed as possible.

 

Sticker Shock.

I started babywearing my first son in a Moby wrap, which we bought ourselves for around $40.00 new. My husband requested an Ergo, with every accessory possible, as a baby gift from my mother-in-law, which came to around $200 at the time (2009). I was, needless to say, a bit skeptical about this purchase. Certainly there were cheaper, more affordable options out there?  But hey, my husband was happy, and we did end up using the Ergo quite a bit, until we upgraded to a Boba carrier when our son was one. We tried one on at KD's Treehouse in downtown Columbia, loved it, and bought it when she did one of her sales where the entire store was a certain percentage off. That's all I knew about baby wearing on a budget, then. Sales.

When our daughter was born when our son was not quite two, I knew I wanted her on my back as early as possible, and from what I read online, the best way to do that was with a woven wrap. I was daunted a bit by the skill level involved in such a task at first, but even more than that, I had a bad case of Sticker Shock.

Venturing online for woven wraps in late 2011, with the help of our local babywearing group, I couldn't understand really why what many sites labeled a SPOC (simple piece of cloth) sold for well over $100.00. At the time our daughter was born, we were living with my in-laws, as my husband had been laid off shortly after conceiving our son, and later went back to school for massage therapy. In the intervening time, my paycheck was just not enough to maintain us, and to help us get back on our feet, we moved in with my husband parents while I was still pregnant with our daughter. So, money was very definitely tight. Since having our son, I had discovered consignment sales, yard sales, online sites for buying used cloth diapers - ways to help us save money but still keep our kids well clothed and supplied with all the baby gear we needed. Certainly something similar existed for woven wraps.

Then I was introduced to www.thebabywearer.com - a site truly for all things babywearing. It was, and is, a treasure trove of information for both novice and experienced Babywearers. Reviews, pictures, tutorials, questions, and yes, a FSOT (for sale or trade) board. I bought my first, used wrap - a Hoppediz Panama - for less than $100. And sold it not long after for about what I spent. Since that day, many other wraps and carriers have found their way in and out of our home, some were quite affordable, others were definitely a splurge, but I've learned a few tricks for making the most of a babywearing budget, as have others in our group, and we are going to share what we've learned with you.

In the years since I've started wearing, many other websites have sprung up, there are more brands, more wrap designs, more SSCs, and Mei Tai on the market than ever. There are some highly sought after designs and brands, but there are some quality affordable options out there, too.

Buying New

Many people prefer to buy new, and there are some brands and websites that either are consistently affordable, or regularly offer deals and discounts that will help you save money. Many websites offer layaway options which is a great way to buy something on a budget. Especially if you are like me, and not all that great at putting aside money for savings.

Brands:

Little Frog - is a Polish company that makes safe, quality woven wraps that are extremely affordable. Even buying directly from the company, and paying shipping from Poland, a wrap will generally run you under $80.00.
Infantino - This company has gotten bad press in the past for making unsafe (as in recalled) carriers, as well as carriers that just were not good quality. Do not let past mistakes keep you from checking into this brand now - they have some of the most affordable, ergonomic carriers available in stores like Wal-Mart, Target, BabiesRUs, and BuyBuyBaby. They have both Mei Tai and ergonomic Soft Structured Carriers available for under $50.00 brand new. You can often find these clearanced out in stores like TJ Maxx, or on the shelves at consignment stores like Once Upon a Child.

Websites:

Marsupial Mamas - frequently has sales around holidays up to 40% off. There is also a "wrap closet" section on the site for clearance items and second quality wraps. Second Quality wraps are wraps that are safe, wearable, but contain a minor design flaw such as a skipped thread, weaver's knots, uneven tapers, or other minor cosmetic flaw that makes them less than perfect, but still safe and wearable.
Birdies Room - a Canadian website that carries pretty much everything Didymos (a German brand of woven wrap) has to currently offer. She offers layaway and often does holiday discounts as well.
Wrap Your Baby - another site that offers great sales, and - if you buy from them - let us know! Our local baby wearing group gets a $10 credit towards Lending Library purchases each time one of our members purchases something.
Baby Steals - often as Ergo baby carriers or Ring Slings as the daily deal for $75-$80.
Zulily - a daily deal site that also will do Ergo, Infantino, and other brands for well under typical retail.

 

Buying Used

Especially with woven wraps, it can actually be preferable to buy new. Just as your favorite jeans get more comfortable and soft the more you wear them, so do woven wraps. This breaking in process can be a quick as a wash and dry cycle or take months of wear and use depending on the wrap and fiber blend. Many buyers prefer to get something already well broken in and look to buy used, or are looking to hopefully pay less than retail on woven wrap and save money.

The Babywearer FSOT - you must join the babywearer in order to purchase anything from the site, but there is no minimum join time or number of posts before purchasing from a member. There are more rules about who can sell (you must belong to the site a minimum of 30 days and have a certain number of posts before listing something for sale). Carriers are organized in forums by type, and this tends to move more slowly than the Facebook groups.

The Babywearing Swap - sometimes simply referred to as "the swap" - there is a Bargain Carrier album in which every carrier listed is under $100, including shipping. Things go very fast here. Some tips for navigating the swap can be found in the documents on Babywearing 102, which are linked here. You'll find basic how-to's, swap etiquette, how to buy, how to ship, and more.
 - tips for buying on a budget
- swap etiquette
- how to navigate The Swap
-also, for the curious, why woven wraps can be so expensive?

Babywearing on a Budget - this Facebook group only allows the sale of carriers under $100. Again, things move very quickly here. All of the basic how-to's, etiquette, etc apply to this group as well.

Buy local - Babywearers of the Midlands is now home to over 175 local Babywearers - among us, there are a LOT of carriers. Many of which will be for sale at some point. If you are ISO (In Search Of) anything, ask on the wall of the Facebook page, you will be surprised at what you can find here, and at a fantastic price - no shipping!

 

Do It Yourself

Are you crafty? handy with a sewing machine? Yes, you can make your own baby carrier. You can sew a woven wrap from Osnaburg fabric (it is the most common choice for this purpose), make a ring sling from a table cloth, or a Mei Tai. You can use your own fabrics for this purpose also.

Jan Andrea of Sleeping Baby Productions has some of the most comprehensive tutorials out there, and below are some links to her instructions on how to choose fabric, sew your own ring sling and mei tai.
 - choosing fabric
- buy rings from www.slingrings.com
- one of the most common ring slings - a single layer pleated shoulder - tutorial here
- basic mei tai tutorial
- main menu with many other tutorials from herself and around the web

If you have joined www.thebabywearer.com, there is a forum on DIY there, also, which is a wealth of information from people who have a lot of experience DIY.

There are several Facebook groups too, one of the most helpful is Babywearing DIY Advice and Support.


Can you babywear on a budget? Yes, you can! There are many options out there for anyone, on any budget. The best part? You and your baby (or toddler) can be happy, comfortable, and functional in a carrier regardless of whether it cost $25 dollars to make, $50 to buy used, or $150 to buy new. The next best part? When you are done, or maybe the carrier just didn't work for you the way you thought, you can SELL it, often times for almost as much as you paid for it originally. Baby carriers retain their value better than nearly any other piece of baby gear you purchase.

One other option is our Lending Library. Once you have attended two meetings, you can check out a carrier your first carrier for FREE. Subsequent carrier trials are only $5. Try out options as you save money towards a carrier of your own, or as you narrow down your options for your very own carrier (or if you are deciding what you'd like to add to your stash). Most our Lending Library carriers are very affordable options, so if you fall in love with something, and you are on a budget, we can help you find one of your own for a great price.

Speaking of meetings: our next official meeting is on Thursday, March 27th, at the LDS Church on Broad River Rd, and we will talk more about Babywearing on a Budget.
Our Saturday April meeting will focus on Babywearing Men. Bring your husbands, brothers, and fathers out for more information on babywearing specifically for men. Already a babywearing dad? Come show us your favorite carrier, and tell us why you love it so much!
The Weekday meeting in April we will discuss warm weather babywearing, including how to wear your baby in the water. If this summer is as hot as the winter was cold, this is topic you won't want to miss!

Come join the discussion on our Facebook page, and share this blog with your friends!

You've Got a Baby on Your Back!

Happy Sunday, Midland's Babywearers!

Chris, cold weather babywearing

I am so happy to see the sun shining today. I do not know about all of you, but I'm ready for spring. The winter weather has been cold and relentless. The bright spot out of it though, has been the formation and growth of this group.
When a handful of us started this new group in January, we had no idea how large and successful we would become in such a short amount of time. And it could not have been done without all of you. It has become of utmost importance to us that everyone in the group be seen as valuable, with experience and knowledge to share. As admins of the group, we are not without these qualities, but it would do a disservice to the group as a whole if we did not encourage and celebrate the many years of experience and wealth of knowledge that the community as a whole possesses, and willing shares on a daily basis. The community's welcoming and friendly attitude, and eager sharing of each of your babywearing journeys is what makes the group as a whole a wonderful place. So thank you, for all that you do and are, for making Babywearers of the Midlands great! Let's keep up the good work!

The last couple of weeks we've focused on, in our Carries of the Week, Mei Tai carriers and the Ruck Sack Carry (done with  a woven wrap). In that vein, we thought it might be timely to discuss that mother of all questions: "How do I get a baby on my back?" And "when can I do that?" We'll break it down for you, carrier by carrier.


Carrying a baby on your back is probably the most rewarding part of babywearing. You can get so
much done with baby back there! If you are wearing an ergonomic carrier that's right for you and baby, you can wear baby on your back for a long time without back pain or discomfort. There is a reason nearly all the photos of indigenous people babywearing have the baby on their back. It's comfortable, convenient, and yes, anybody can do it.

You've Got a Baby on Your Back! (how'd you do that?!)

Soft Structured Carrier (SSC)

Jessica, wearing daughter in a Tula

In an SSC, like an Ergo, Boba, or Kinderpack, you typically carry baby a bit lower on your back, given that most people wear the waist band at their waist or hips. Back carrying in an SSC, given that baby is lower on your back and that you can not really keep as close an eye on baby's position and breathing as closely as you would in a front carry (when baby is lower), and that young babies without head control cannot maintain the C shape of their spine when sitting lower on your back (look back at our Ergonomics of Babywearing blog post in early February), is not recommended until baby gains good head control. Most people start using an SSC on their back when baby is at least four to six months old. Baby needs to have good head control, and it is best if they can eat least do a supportive sit before you start, since their backs need to begin to have developed the lumbar curve.

Katrina, wearing son in a Kinderpack

There are a few methods that are commonly used to get baby on your back in an SSC.
One which many people feel comfortable with, since it feels very secure for both you and baby, is to put the SSC on as you would for a front carry, with the waist band slightly loose, set baby in the seat, hold the arm straps tight and slide the baby around to your back as you slip your arms into the straps. Video HERE (for some reason, embedding videos is not working today)

 

Another method which mirrors how you get a baby on your back in other carriers, is the Santa Toss, where the carrier is held over a sitting baby's back as you swing baby (and carrier) on to your back like a Santa Sack. Video (by our own Ashleigh) is HERE.

One other common way to get a baby on your back in an SSC is the Hip Scoot Method, I find this method best used for older babies and toddlers that can hold on to you and cling a bit. Watch HERE and HERE

 

To get baby down, simply reverse the process you did to get baby up, making sure to keep at least one hand on baby at all times. Sometimes I sit down on the couch and unbuckle baby there. There are also ways to get baby up in an SSC from a seated position, like a couch or the back seat of a car you can find on YouTube. I really recommend practicing doing it another way, because it is inevitable that you will one day be away from the couch, car, bench or chair and want to get baby on your back.

Mei Tai

A Mei Tai is similar to an SSC, except that instead of buckles, you have straps that tie to secure baby to your body. A mei tai can be worn comfortably a bit higher on your back, where the baby's head is behind your neck and you can feel baby breathe. Since baby can be worn higher, some parents start wearing baby on their back in a mei tai a little younger than they would an SSC. The methods used to get baby on your back in a Mei Tai are very similar to what we see with SSC, including the Santa Toss method and Hip Scoot methods. You'll notice in these videos that babies tend to be worn higher on their parents' backs than in an SSC, which is why some choose this sort of carrier for back carries with younger babies.


Hip Scoot: HERE
Small baby, high back carry: HERE
Santa Toss: HERE

 

Woven Wrap

Katrina, daughter is 8 weeks

Katrina, son is 1 month

A woven wrap, which is basically a long piece of woven cloth, offers the most variation on how and when a baby can be worn on your back safely. With a woven wrap, you can position baby high enough that you can monitor their breathing and maintain the C shape of their spine, making this the only carrier in which it is safe to carry a newborn on your back. As baby gets older and larger, you tend to adjust them so that they are lower on your back, although generally, they tend to be higher than they would be in an SSC.  Always, when beginning practicing back carries with a woven wrap, have a soft surface like a bed or couch nearby, and a mirror to check baby and wrap placement. Even better is spotter who is an experienced wrapper. Some parents chose to practice with a stuffed animal or doll before trying with their baby. Also helpful: food bribes for older babies to keep them still while you are learning, or some parents offer a toy or their phone to play with. It's best to choose a time when baby is well-rested, fed and generally happy before practicing. If your baby tends to spit up, you may want to let baby's tummy settle, or place a burp rag at your neck before getting baby on your back, as the adjusting and tightening of the woven wrap often results in burps and more spit up.

Getting a newborn on your back using the Santa Toss: HERE

 



 The Superman (with pants-tucking seat creating trick!): HERE

The Hip Scoot, best for older babies/toddlers: HERE

 

 



As you can see, the methods for getting baby on your back no matter what carrier you are using are very similar. Try and see what works for you. Already wearing a baby on your back? Great! If we didn't cover the method you use, and it's something you love, come joint the conversation on our Facebook Page and share it with us. This is by no means a comprehensive list. It's a place to get started. We can't wait to see the results! We can almost guarantee you'll love having a baby on your back.

 

 

 



Melissa

We have some exciting meeting topics coming up! Our March meetings (Saturday, March 8th at 10 a.m and Thursday, March 27th at 10 am) will cover Babywearing on a Budget. Come learn ways to find inexpensive, awesome carriers and learn a little about making your own. In April we will cover Daddy Babywearing at our Saturday Meeting and Warm Weather babywearing at the Thursday meeting.