Many thanks to all of you who have been sharing links on your blogs, facebook pages, and twitter. We're causing a stir! So many inspired parents, so much positive energy around wearing our little ones. People seem positively encouraged.

I just had to share this one beautiful example of the power of your comments, photos and essays. On Monday Lisa H. Said:

Before my son was born (3 months ago, yesterday) I was sure that I would wear him everywhere. No baby would change my normal schedule. Ha! Silly me. The first 2 months we struggled with a breastfeeding issue (which I successfully conquered!) and I just can't seem to get the hang of the couple slings we were given (one of them being the recalled one, yikes!). My husband uses a homemade ring sling with much success, but it doesn't seem to be for me…I so want to have a beautiful picture with my little Fritz like the ones you have on your site!

On Wednesday Lisa said:

I want to be a Super Mama! And give my tired arms a break from 3 months of holding. This week's blog has inspired me to find a better sling and start my babywearing adventure!

And her comment yesterday:

Success! After following this babywearing week blog, I started to feel a little braver. My husband and I went to the Wildlife Sanctuary a little bit ago and he (the ring sling pro) helped me get it on and adjusted, and then loaded little Fritz in. He didn't scream! And then he fell asleep!I have never enjoyed a walk more. And then it started raining, nothing better than a walk in a warm rain! I just put the sling's tail over baby's head, and he never even woke up. Not sure the ring sling is for me, but it was still incredible! Oh, and did I mention the sun came out at the end and there was a rainbow? Perfect!!!

 How awesome is that!? I am smiling from ear to ear, Lisa. Congratulations, Super Mama! 

 

The Giveaways

Didymos Interview

I've been enamored with Didymos wraps since Sage was a baby. They are the top of the line woven wrap on the market by many standards. However I never made the investment in one of these arguably wonderful wraps. Two babies later, I wish that I had. Now I have the knowledge (and confidence) to know that a few yards of fabric can't beat me – but rather, can free me.

1. What is your company and how long have you been in business?

Didymos: I started with DIDYMOS in 1972, shortly after my twins Tina and Lisa were born. I was completely unfamiliar with baby wearing and it took almost 20 years to really establish this original way of babycare in Europe.

 

Clean: What makes your carrier one of the best?

Didymos: I have never made any compromises with respect to quality and have always striven to find ecological ways of manufacturing and ecological sources. That is why we put emphasis in manufacturing exclusively in Germany or neighboring countries. We think it is important to point out that it was DIDYMOS to introduce the typical baby wrap fabric which is elastic in diagonal but firm in straight direction. Moreover, we were the first to develop and introduce the sizing and shape (tapered ends) which are used for almost all baby wraps nowadays.

Clean: Why do you believe caregivers wear their babies?

Gypsy Mama Interview

My parenting style is pretty hands on. If my kids are distressed at something I am about to do (go to the coop by myself, take a shower, go get the mail all alone) I rarely do it. I'll take them along. Because of that I mastered the showering-with-baby thing when Sage was little. I also enjoyed taking my babes into the water (lake, pool, or river) when they were small. But hands free? That sounds like a dream. And safer, too. Gypsy Mama's Wrapsody Water Wrap sounds dreamy for mamas like me…

Gypsy Mama: I founded Gypsy Mama in 2004 with the goal of providing affordable gauze wraps to every family — I loved the ease and lightness of them.  When I separated from my husband a year later, I realized that if I could grow the company fast enough, I might still be able to stay at home with my little ones — and things worked out beautifully!  I have added several products during my 6 years in business, but the ones that stayed (and I personally love and use) are the Breeze Wrap, which is made from sturdy cotton gauze, the Water Wrap, which is a really unique product in our market — it wears like a supportive bathing suit for taking babies wading and in the shower, and the Stretch Wrap, which met my goal of  creating a wrap with all the benefits of stretch fabric but without losing the versatility woven wraps provide.

My commitment to uncompromised quality, a strong commitment to fair trade practices, and Gypsy Mama's ability to find unmet needs in the market that really set my carriers apart from others.

Gypsy Mama: I was initially drawn to babywearing after reading an article in 1999 linking sling use to higher IQ — that article led me to the "babywearing lifestyle," where many parents find convenience melts into attachment theory and instinctive parenting, and babywearing becomes as integral to parenting as sleep.

Gypsy Mama: Always be aware of your baby.  Listed to his or her cues, never cover her face, and be patient with yourself.  Like all aspects of parenting, babywearing takes time and practice.  If you or your baby don't quite get the hang of it at first, try again — and if possible, seek out someone with experience who can help you choose the right carrier for your needs and who can show you some tricks for using your carrier that may really make it work in a new way.

Gypsy Mama: I really think babywearing is a keystone in facilitating healthy parents and children.  It solves so many problems and has so many benefits that I think soft carriers are as crucial to raising children as diapers or blankets.  Physically, psychologically, neurobiologically …. the benefits to both baby and caregiver cannot be understated.  I think parents should remember that they are babywearing experts and should not be shy about sharing the information they have with others who can benefit.