Make it Work!

Good Morning, Babywearers!

It's been a busy weekend, and I'm sure many of you have been out and about babywearing - I've seen you at the Greek Festival, Chinese Moon Festival, Soda City, and all the other usual places like soccer games, grocery stores, Target and the Mall. Well, you know what I mean. I saw posts on Facebook - there's no way in the world I can manage to hit all that stuff in one weekend, even if I wanted to! But I love seeing the variety of carriers each of us use every day.

That's one thing I really, really love about Babywearers of the Midlands - we have parents that use SSC/Buckle carriers all the time, others that are all about wraps, we have moms that love their Mei Tai, and still others that can't get enough ring slings. And yes, we have families that own and use a variety of these carriers, depending on the situations (yours truly, for example). That's one thing that I think is really important about this group as it grows - we see that all carriers are welcome and we can geek out about just about anything. If you are prone to geekery, at any rate.

Update: 09/27/2015: As you can see, this post was originally written and published a little over a year ago. In that year, a lot has changed in the babywearing community regarding recommended safety practices and regulations. The most commonly given  new rule of thumb is: if it is not in manufacturer's instructions, don't do it!

 

Therefore I'm updating this post with some caveats to safety, and when these Make It Work Tricks are ok to do, and when they are not.

 

For ALL OF THESE TIPS - they are not long term solutions. They are things you can do to make a carrier work for a wear or two, not more than that.

Make it Work!

All of us have done it. Bought a carrier slightly too big for our baby. Maybe the baby was smaller than you thought, or the carrier bigger. Or perhaps you were gifted a carrier and you can't get a good fit. I'm going to focus on three "tricks" you can use to make a carrier work for you and your baby, at any size. You may have heard of them, but wondered what they were. They have become so common in the babywearing world that they have become part of the lingo, and often not given much explanation. They are: The Hair Tie Trick, The Blanket Trick, and The Scarf Trick. I'm hear to break it down for you, so you can make these carriers work for you!

Updated Caveat: If your baby and carrier size are serious mismatch - they baby won't fit in for weeks or months - sell or trade your carrier for one that's the proper size. Under each of these tips I'll explain why they are short-term solutions.

The Hair Tie Trick

Who? This trick is used to make carriers work for smaller babies and newborns. It can also be used on a toddler carrier to make it work more like a standard.

What? Used primarily on Mei Tai, because it doesn't usually place unusual stress on the seams. On Buckle Carriers/SSC, this is a short term, do once or twice solution.

Where? At the base of panel, above the waistband.

When? Use this when the panel of the Mei Tai or SSC appears to swallow your baby. Especially with newborns, you want to follow TICKS:

• T: Tight - carrier needs to fit baby snugly to your body
• I: In View at All Times
• C: Close Enough to Kiss
• K: Keeps Chin off Chest - need that airway open!
• S: Supported Back - you want baby upright, with back in C position when they are tiny.

Why? Because a carrier that is too large for your baby means that following TICKS is impossible; a too large body panel means that it fits your baby too loosely. Baby can slump down, out of view, and compromise her airway. It is of utmost importance that baby carriers, like car seats, fit your baby and are used properly at all times. This trick narrows and shortens the body panel making it work for a newborn or smaller baby. It makes it possible to keep baby in view and follow all the rules of TICKS.

How? Easy Peasy. Using a hair band, ribbon, or other loop of elastic, slip it over the waist band (the ties if using a Mei Tai, the webbing if using a SSC), and onto the lowest part of the body panel, above the waistband. This shortens and cinches the panel, making it comfortable for a newborn to be legs out, in an M Position. For more on Ergonomics (like M Position, C shaped Spine, TICKS, and other alphabet soup awesomeness, see HERE. )




an uncinched Mei Tai
See how it does not follow the rules
of TICKS?
(this was Demo Dolly. She was in no danger)



If you look closely,
you can see the hairband at
the base of this Mei Tai

See how well it fits, when it's cinched?



Using a hair elastic to cinch the base
of a Mai Tai







Using a Kinderpack's Storage loop
to cinch the base of a standard carrier



 

Updated Caveat - using the roll up strap to cinch the base of the carrier was a recommendation that even the manufacturer, Kinderpack endorsed not all that long ago. They no longer recommend this particular use of the storage strap, as it places undue and unusual stress on the seams that have not been tested to safety standards.  

The Blanket Trick

Updated Caveat: Only use this trick at the manufacturer recommendation. The only manufacturer that endorses this method is Lillebaby.  Why? most infant inserts sold with carriers not only boost baby up, they also support your newborn around the sides, to prevent slumping and leaning which helps protect that precious airway.  Furthermore, blankets smoosh more than the foam pillows used in infant inserts and can easily become dislodged.  Final recommendation: use this with a Lillebaby if your baby is not ready to be legs out in the narrow base setting. Other wise,  you may want to try and borrow, trade, or buy a carrier better sized for your newborn until they fit properly in the one you have.

 

Who? This trick is used to make carriers work for smaller babies and newborns.

What? Used on SSC/Buckle Carriers.

Where? At the base of panel, above the waistband.

When? Use this when the panel SSC appears to swallow your baby. Especially with newborns, you want to follow TICKS:

• T: Tight - carrier needs to fit baby snugly to your body
• I: In View at All Times
• C: Close Enough to Kiss
• K: Keeps Chin off Chest - need that airway open!
• S: Supported Back - you want baby upright, with back in C position when they are tiny.

Why? Because a carrier that is too large for your baby means that following TICKS is impossible; a too large body panel means that it fits your baby too loosely. Baby can slump down, out of view, and compromise her airway. It is of utmost importance that baby carriers, like car seats, fit your baby and are used properly at all times. This trick boosts baby higher in the body panel, and makes a narrower seat for baby, making it work for a newborn or smaller baby. It makes it possible to keep baby in view and follow all the rules of TICKS.

How? Buckle or tie the waist of your carrier in your preferred location. Most parents tend to do this a bit higher than their belly buttons when using carriers with a newborn, in order to get baby in a higher position. Roll a flannel receiving blanket, and place on top of the waist band. Hold the roll with one hand while placing baby sitting on it with the other. Bring the back of the carrier up, and put your arms through the straps and fasten the chest clip. Many people prefer this method rather than the manufactured infant inserts (like Ergobaby's) because it is not padded and therefore less hot. But please, if your carrier comes with an infant insert, use it, rather than this method. Or let us help hook you up with a cooler carrier! There are a lot of great options out there that are more breathable and work wonderfully for newborns.

Side view of Jackie and H, blanket roll

Front view - placing baby on roll



All done - Baby H is
 Snug, Kissable, Viewable, and Comfortable
and adorable, too!



 

 Scarf Trick

Who? Have a narrow based carrier (made by Baby Bjorn, Snuggli, Evenflo, etc)? This trick is for you!

What? This trick will turn your less than ergonomic carrier into one more comfortable - for both you and baby, by bringing baby's legs up into an M position, and securing baby more snugly to your torso.

Where? Like most of these tricks, around baby's seat.

When? This can be used for babies of any age or size that fit the weight limits of your narrow based carrier.

Why? Contrary to what some of you may have heard, using a Narrow Based Carrier is not going to cause your baby to develop Hip Dysplasia. However, if your baby is prone to this condition due to other medical factors, using a Narrow Based Carrier (NBC, from here. I'm a lazy typist), will certainly not help. This trick brings your baby into a more ergonomic position - that is, a position that is far more comfortable and natural for them, while at the same time, securing them more snugly to your torso, which makes it more comfortable for YOU, the wearer.

Why does it work?  In most narrow based carriers, even when baby is facing you, they are harnessed such that they are really hanging in front of your body, only connected by the shoulder straps (and maybe waist band, if your NBC has one). The baby's weight is pulling away from your center of gravity which in turn, pulls on your shoulders and can hurt your back. This is especially evident if they are up for a long period of time. As far as your baby goes, ever notice - particularly with a newborn - how when you hold them upright, their tiny legs tuck in and up, like a frog? When you are holding them, your hand or arm is almost always under their bottom, supporting this frog-legged position, so that it almost looks like an M with the baby's knees being the top points of the M? You want your carrier to mimic the position you would hold them, in arms, as it feels most natural and comfortable for both of you.

How? There are two ways you can do this. The first, and most common, is to use any scarf that you could comfortably tie around you and baby. Bringing babies legs up into an ergonomic position, use the scarf around the both of you to secure the baby's legs in that M position, tying the scarf in the back.  The second method, you need a couple yards of a narrow strip of cloth. With baby in the NBC, you use the strip tied almost like you would a Moby wrap, bringing baby's legs up into the M position, and the fabric crossed behind your back. This method might be a bit cooler than using a scarf, and may overall feel more supportive than the scarf alone, since it also helps distribute the weight of baby better across your torso and shoulders.

Ashleigh, using the 1st scarf trick
She tucks the scarf up under baby's bottom
to create an ergonomic seat before tying in back.

Chris, using the 2nd scarf trick
She starts like the first scarf trick,
creating the seat, then bringing the ends of the fabric
crossed in back and over her shoulders
before tying under S's bottom.




 

 

Hopefully, this has helped you find ways to make your carriers work for you, or perhaps you can take this knowledge out in your community to help your friends, family, and neighbors use their carriers in a way that makes them more comfortable.  I know so many people give up babywearing because they can't find a way to make the carriers they have work for them, and they don't want to spend more money on another carrier without knowing if they can make it work. If you, or someone you know, wants to try out some options, please invite them, come with them, drag them to, one of our meetings. Ok, maybe not drag them. We are so blessed with what we've been able to add to our Lending Library, and we want to share the love! Plus we love seeing new faces and getting to know each one of you better.

 

Our Lending Library has grown so much over the last year since this was originally published! please contact one of our Librarians, and we will be happy to help you find a carrier that fits and works best for you and your little one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Rules. What Are They Good For?

Happy Blog Day!

 

We've passed the 375 member milestone, and then some! As our group, and the babywearing community in general, continues to expand and grow larger, it's really imperative that we take a minute (or a blog post) to make note of some of the changes that are happening among makers of babywearing items. You may have heard some of these terms floating around, like "BCIA" and "CPSIA" and "compliant versus non-compliant" . . .  what do these mean? How do they affect you, as the consumer of new and used baby carriers? Do they affect you when you sell your second hand carrier? What about moms who make their own carriers? Hopefully this post will answer some questions and break down everything for you.

 

 

What I want you to walk away understanding is: most baby carriers you see and might buy are perfectly safe when used appropriately. However, if you are buying from someone who sells via Etsy or Facebook, I want you to be able to tell, or to ask the right questions to determine if you are getting a safe carrier.

 

Alphabet Soup

 

BCIA  - Baby Carrier Industry Alliance - This is an internationl body of people who are interested in baby carrier safety. Anyone can join, you do not need to be a manufacturer/maker of baby carriers in order to become a member. Does a maker of baby carriers need to be a member of BCIA in order to legally make carriers? NO. But being a member does have distinct advantages, I've included an excerpt from BCIA's page here:

This is where joining the BCIA is a huge help. Experts in the field have spent hours creating and refining the ASTM standards, along with the CPSC and other governmental agencies. They are intimately familiar with the intricacies of the standard, and can help guide you through the regulations, find accredited labs that may be more affordable to the small business, and work through the testing process. Though testing is not inexpensive, BCIA has worked hard to lend the voice of the microbusiness to the standard and continues to work to make compliance affordable for as many manufacturers as possible. If you want to remain in the baby carrier business, you must submit your product for testing. The lab will look through the instructional materials you provide with your carrier (and you absolutely must include written or video instructions with the carrier — there’s no excuse for not doing so, and just pointing them to a website is not adequate) and, using those directions to fix the carrier to the test model, will then run the carrier through a number of tests to determine whether your carrier is safe.

For more information, you can view their full summary HERE .

 

Just in my opinion, if I'm buying a carrier off of Etsy or Facebook or Ebay, I'd like to see the maker be a member of BCIA. It tells me, as a consumer, that the maker is serious about making safe carriers and staying up to date on compliance and legal issues. The "bag sling" recall of 2008 was and continues to be a sore spot in babywearing history. This post talks about the dangers and testing involved in that recall, and I think is a must read for anyone considering making or buying older carriers.   Linnea Catalan of the BCIA makes an excellent point about this, and references the "bag sling" recall that happened several years ago.

 

In the current market, there is really no excuse for non-compliance. It really doesn’t matter how large or small your business is. Everyone in the industry takes infant safety very seriously (as well we should), and if the CPSC feels that a carrier is putting children at risk, they will take action. One of the first carrier recalls after the SlingRider was of a ring sling where only 40 had ever been sold — clearly a very small manufacturer, yet the recall was made anyway. Don’t feel that because you’re small, you’ll fly under the radar. That may have been true ten years ago, but it isn’t true now.

Which brings me to the next acronym

 

CPSIA - Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act - this is the law under which baby carriers must be compliant in the United States.  These are things that each baby carrier maker must do in order to legally sell the baby carriers that they make.

 

So what are you, as the consumer, looking for to determine compliance?

 

 

 

When you receive your carrier:

 

1) A Postage Paid Registration Card - it must be attached to the carrier such that the customer has to interact with the card to remove it — it can’t just be placed in the bag or box with the carrier. Some well known carriers we know of are still working on conforming entirely to this part of the legislation. These are relatively new standards and while people in the industry have known about them for a while, I think many home based manufacturers are still figuring out the nuances of compliance.

 

 

2) Labeling - You should see on your carrier a permanently affixed label, which should include the following: Place of manufacture, date of manufacture, and a unique identifier like a model or batch number. The label must be permanently attached to the carrier - stickers do not count.

No Label - non compliant
(this was a home-made ring sling in my own stash)

Completed Label - compliant
example of a label done by www.sleepingbaby.net

 

 

Behind the scenes:

 

1) Testing on parts and textiles to ensure that they are shown not to contain lead or phthalates. Any maker must keep record of all the "general certificates of conformity" of all their materials. As a consumer, you probably won't really notice this part of compliance as you won't see the GCC's yourself. But this is one reason why you see people insist on the use of certain products, like Sling Rings, for babywearing products. Sling Rings have been tested specifically for this purpose and are known to hold up to industry standards.

 

2) Different types of carriers are having ASTM  (American Society for Testing and Materials) standards rolled out at different times.

The ASTM standard for SSCs and Mei Tai will be mandatory in September of 2014.

The ASTM standard for wraps, ring slings, and pouches will be mandatory in mid- to late-2015. To read more about upcoming potential changes, go here. Included on the right hand sidebar are a few comments and concerns by the babywearing community.

 

 

 

Once the standards become mandatory, look for manufacturers who state their compliance and avoid those who say they have not tested their products, since it will be illegal to sell them at that point.

 

To see more on a Consumer's Guide written by one of my favorite babywearing people, Jan of Sleepingbaby.net, go HERE.

 

Buying and Selling Second-hand carriers

 

This will be able to continue as it has in the past, unless of course, a carrier is recalled. The buying and selling of recalled items is strictly prohibited (as I'm sure most parents already know).

 

One big change that will happen is the market for wrap conversion carriers. Due to the testing requirements and other changes in the pipeline, it appears selling wrap conversions from used woven wraps will no longer be allowed. However, conversions from new in box, direct from manufacture wraps should still be permitted. This is expected to limit the customization and diversity of wrap conversions in the market in the future. These changes for SSC and Mei Tai are effective September 2014. That is not very far in the future! 

 

What about the DIY community?

 

You are still able to create baby carriers for your own, personal use. You can still make a carrier as a gift for a friend.  If you want to sell a carrier at a profit, you will need to conform to all the standards under the CPCIA.  To that end, technically you can sell your DIY carrier for the cost of materials only.

 

After-Market Accessories, like different hoods, suck/drool pads, waist pouches, etc.

Most of these makers are on Etsy or Facebook and make some beautiful and functional products. Sometimes I love everything about my carrier except one thing. Like the hood (I really can not begin to tell you how much I detest the flat hood on my Kinderpack with Comfort Mesh. Purely personal preference, but it is far to small. In my opinion) and want to look for something to replace it. These replacement/additional accessories are not regulated, so it is really buyer-be-aware. It's up to you, as a consumer, to use your common sense regarding whether you really want your baby chewing on certain fabrics, or playing with too-long reach straps. The BCIA is working with ASTM to update the guidelines to at least include some mention of length of reach straps, since they are a major choking hazard and/or strangulation risk. You can read more about their efforts HERE.

 

Bottom Line:

If a shop is new, or you haven't heard of it, ask in our Facebook Group. Before investing in any carrier, whether it's a $30 Infantino Mei Tai, a $50 Ring Sling, or a $200 Buckle Carrier, ask questions! We all as parents understand you want your carrier to work well for you, you want it to be safe, and you want it to be a worthwhile investment. It is an investment. If you are like most of us, you plan on selling your carrier one day, and you will be able to sell it more quickly and for closer to its retail value if it is a compliant carrier.

 

Upcoming Events

Rachel - Ring Sling

Laura - Rebozo

Saturday August 9th - 10 a.m. at the LDS Institute of Religion on Assembly Street - we'll be demonstrating and trouble shooting how to do a rebozo knot and how to use ring slings - both great options for short carries that don't use much fabric and are therefore great carries/carriers in the summer heat.

 

 

 

 

We'll be covering this same topic again at our weekday meeting, Thursday, August 28th, at 10:00 a.m, at the LDS church on Broad River Rd.

Both of these locations are peanut-free. Snacks and drinks are welcome, but please choose what you bring with care.

Yes, You Can! -Make Your Own Baby Carrier

Happy Blog Day!

Leader Chris, leading the invasion
of Isle of Palms

Yesterday, some of us headed to Isle of Palms in a Babywearing Beach Invasion; those of us who stayed here appeared to have invaded Soda City - I saw lots of fellow Babywearers there, some I knew and some were new faces. I love seeing people babywearing!

Today's post is a guest post written by Rachael, a local mom who has started making carriers for her own personal use. She's kind enough to write up a guest post detailing the ins and outs of DIY baby carriers.

Even if you don't plan on making your own carriers, I recommend reading this to get an idea of things to look for if you ever shop for carriers on Etsy. The next blog post will go into more detail on Etsy sellers, what to look for, and what it means to be a member of BCIA (which is optional, but open to all), and compliant with CPSIA regulations (which is NOT optional). It's important to pay attention to details like materials and construction when purchasing WAHM (work at home mom) made carriers. Many of the makers out there make quality, safe, products that we'd happily recommend. There are others, I think that perhaps just do not know better, or choose to not educate themselves, that are not worth buying. Educating yourself on DIY carriers gives any consumer at least a basic idea in what to look for in a carrier made by a WAHM/Etsy/Facebook only seller. In addition, it helps to research BCIA/CPSIA compliance and what to look for. These regulations are new, and many sellers are still working on full compliance.

DIY Babywearing

Caution: Continue on at your own risk, DIY babywearing is both fun and addictive.
People DIY for different reasons. It can be for fun, because it's more affordable, or just because you want to. DIY is what really got me into babywearing. I made my first osnaburg wrap and fell in love with wearing and have not stopped since. Helping people wear their babies is very important to me and many other members of Babywearers of the Midlands, so this blog post is here to help you on your journey of DIY babywearing and hopefully answers some frequently asked questions.

Regardless of your reason for wanting to DIY, we can all agree that the number one thing is safety. Always look over your carrier for wear and tear, especially in areas of frequent use like where the fabric slides through the rings on a ring sling. Also, check all seams and stitching for ripped or torn stitches before each use and after each wash. For each DIY category I will list acceptable and non acceptable materials because they can differ from carrier to carrier. You always want to use high quality thread like Gutterman, and a brand new needle appropriate for your fabric and sewing machine.

 

DIY stretchy wrap

Amber, using a DIY stretchy wrap

Materials: Any jersey knit fabric (think Moby wrap)
These are quite possibly the easiest DIY carrier to make. Buy the fabric, cut the fabric to 30 inches wide, hem or serge the edges, which is optional because this knit won't unravel. These wraps are not safe for back carries. I personally did not make one because I had a Moby, but I hear good things from those who have made!

 

 

 

 

DIY Woven Wrap

Materials: Jaquard woven tablecloths (Mahogany brand are popular for shorties), cotton gauze, 100% linen (not the thin stuff, the thick kind you use for making pants), or Osnaburg found in the muslin section of most craft stores.

Not acceptable: quilter's cotton, regular muslin, anything thin that can pull apart easily.

These are also extremely easy to make if you can sew a straight line. If it's a little crooked no one will notice, trust me. If you split a Mahogany or any other 60X120 tablecloth, you only have to make one hem and you're done. Any other material can be tricky because you have to buy more length than you'd like to end up with. It will shrink after the initial wash. I don't like to think too hard about it. If I want 5 yards (roughly a size 6 wrap) I buy 6 yards, or a little extra, because you can always cut it smaller.  Fabric generally comes 45-60 inches wide on the bolt so you will have to cut it down in width too. I prefer wider wraps so I shoot for around 30 inches, but anywhere from 26-30 inches is normal. I currently have three different DIY wraps. I have an osnaburg wrap dyed purple and pink, a 100% linen wrap in a size 5, and a Mahogany table cloth shorty.

Mahogany Table Cloth (TC) shorty

The top is a 100% linen wrap and the bottom is an osnaburg wrap.

Ring Slings

Materials: Jaquard woven fabric (Mahogany tablecloths), 100% linen or 100% cotton woven tablecloths (Target tablecloths are popular in the DIY babywearing world), osnaburg  fabric, 100% silk, or athletic mesh (water ring slings)

DON'T USE: quilters cotton, gauze, anything that rips or tears easily or is thin.

Tablecloth Ring Sling

When it comes to making ring slings, Jan's tutorial at Sleeping Baby Productions (http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/Baby/sling.html) is considered to be one of the best. She even includes video tutorials for those visual learners like me. Her website includes information on materials to use. In my opinion, you should only use rings from Slingrings.com as they are made specifically for babywearing ring slings. They are safety tested and made smooth so they won't snag and jeopardize the baby's safety. They are affordable, come in many sizes and colors, and will be delivered to your mailbox within a week. I prefer to use the steel rings for everything but athletic mesh, but that is mostly personal preference.

 

Here's where I admit my tablecloth addiction. I ADORE my tablecloth ring slings. I find myself buying tablecloths when I don't even have rings on hand to make a sling. If I know you and you're pregnant, don't ask me about babywearing because I will make you a ring sling. But really, ask me about it because I want to make you a ring sling.
 

 

Mei Tai's, SSCs, and more.

Rachael and her DIY mei-tai

These I am grouping into the same category because they use the same main material for support. You always want to use a heavy duty bottom weight fabric, like duck canvas, for the straps and body pieces of  mei tai's and SSCs. I have never ventured into the SSC creating realm because I am too lazy to find the proper buckles, but I absolutely adore my home made mei tais.

There are a handful of good tutorials out there. I picked two I liked and combined them together. I will list a few good ones below.

Aside from the materials, the next most important part of making a mei tair or SSC is understanding which parts are weight bearing and need reinforcement. The straps should be attached with x-box stitching and the bottom should include multiple rows of stitching.

 I really enjoy the mei tai because you can have fun with it and customize it how you want.

This is the first mei tai I made. It's duck canvas for the body and straps with a decorative quilters cotton panel on the front, with a fleece lining to make it soft and snuggly for baby. We rocked this thing all winter long.

 

Hobo Mama's mei tai tutorial http://www.hobomama.com/2012/03/how-to-sew-mei-tai-baby-carrier.html

You're Sew Crafty's mei tai tutorial. Shows a contoured waist, straight waist, and wrap straps. http://youre-sew-crafty.blogspot.com/2012/12/table-cloth-mei-tai-tcmt.html

 

Resources

If you have any questions about DIYing your own carrier please do not hesitate to ask us at Babywears of the Midlands, but you can also find valuable information at:

DIY babywearing facebook page for info about all things DIY.
 

Dyed baby carriers facebook page for info about dying your own carriers.  
 

Sleeping baby productions

 

Thanks for reading this blog post. Happy babywearing!

 

Upcoming Events

 

 

Tuesday, July 29th - Come play with us at the Clemson Children's Garden. This is a great play area with lots for kids to discover and plenty of shade.

 

 

Rachel - Ring Sling

Laura - Rebozo

Saturday August 9th - 10 a.m. at the LDS Institute of Religion on Assembly Street - we'll be demonstrating and trouble shooting how to do a rebozo knot and how to use ring slings - both great options for short carries that don't use much fabric and are therefore great carries/carriers in the summer heat.