Babywearing Interview and Giveaway: Kozy Carrier

 Today is the last day of the Babywearing Bonanza, and here is my last interview and Giveaway. I didn’t discover the “mei tai” style of baby carrier until my daughter was over a year old, and so independent she hardly ever wanted to be cuddled, much less worn! If I do have another baby someday, one of my first purchases will be a Kozy Carrier. Kelley Mason created the Kozy in 2002, and it’s still considered the “gold standard” of “mei tai” carriers. No wonder, it’s marvelous! I totally covet Kozy Carriers, and I appreciate the fact that this company, like all the companies I have featured this week, was brought into being by an innovative mama who saw a niche in the market and has filled it wonderfully! Kozy Carrier is truly a family business. In fact, Kelley’s sister, Kristi, is her partner and runs the business aspect of the company. I love that these two sisters work so well together and believe so much in their product!

Please enjoy this interview, and read on to learn how you can win your own Kozy Carrier.

 Andrea: I am amazed by the fact that you came up with the wonderful design for the Kozy carrier all by yourself! How much trial and error was involved? How many carriers did you make before you were satisfied with the results?

Kelley: I was definitely inspired by pictures of mei tais I saw online, and back then I didn’t even know what a mei tai was (not many people did). I started when I was desperate to get my daughter on my back. I was home alone as dh worked out of town and I had a 4mo old and 25mo old, 2 giant dogs and our only heat was a wood stove and I had to bring in the wood etc. Piper needed to be carried ALL the time, and the ring sling wasn’t cutting it with my bad back. So when I saw a picture of a mei tai online I knew I needed one, I just couldn’t afford it. So I took fabric scraps I had at home and pieced something together. After learning how to use it, I put her on my back by myself . . . that was definitely a life changing moment for me, because it gave me so much more freedom and comfort!! I wore her on my back pretty much every day after that. I worked on the design for several months and was able to try another mei tai in the meantime, which helped me realize what it was I was looking for in a carrier. I added things to mine that I hadn’t seen before on a mei tai (because they were all more ‘traditional’ in design) but that *I* wanted. I padded the straps, reversible body, padded head support, body pocket etc. Of course all those things are standard on many mei tais now, but back in 2002 and early 2003 when I made my first and was working on the design, no mei tais available had those features. I experimented with different fabrics, top and bottom strap angles, body sizes and widths, strap placement etc. over about 6mo. before I came up with what I thought would work best for me. I say for ME because I was designing it for me and Piper. I had no intention of selling them. Most of my testers ended up being used by family and friends. I did my sewing while Piper slept on my back for her morning naps (Xian was usually playing) and kept very crude notes of my likes/dislikes etc. I was still searching for the best material to use for the padded curved top when people online found out what I was doing and wanted to start buying them. I was more than a little reluctant to start a business but I knew I had stumbled onto something and moms wanted it, and I just have a very hard time saying no, LOL!! Since then the only changes I have made were to make the straps a tad wider and longer and the body about 1” taller. And mostly it was because people wanted that (well *I* needed a longer body because Piper was getting bigger). Oh and we later added some added perks like the strap pocket and embroidery etc.Andrea: Could you tell me a bit about your fabric selection process? How, where, and why do you choose the fabrics you do?Kelley: The Kozy is mostly made up of solid colored 100% cotton canvas. That is what we use for the straps and back. I am really picky about this because I want something that is sturdy, strong and will last. I don’t want the fabric to start to get holes in it where it is turned, and I want to make sure it can hold up to the tugging and pulling that the straps do to it. Canvas is wonderful for being strong and long lasting. It is good about not folding or twisting and staying flat. This is important for the straps that go over your shoulders/back and even over baby’s body . . . they stay flat well when you spread them and don’t roll etc. Canvas also makes a slightly larger knot that is easier to untie. The downside of canvas is that it is a bit stiff at first, but it breaks in really well (kind of like a pair of jeans). Also the dyed canvas can fade, which is something that I would love to remedy in the future.Most fabrics will be ordered directly from the manufacturer or occasionally from one of their distributors at wholesale prices.   

Nursing

 

 

 

 

Andrea: For readers who might not be familiar with the Kozy Carrier, could you tell me what’s unique about your product?
Kelley: The Kozy has often been referred to as the most versatile of the mei tais because it works well for all sizes of babies and parents. The body size of the Kozy allows you to use it for newborn to toddler and beyond. The larger body cradles a newborn and yet is wide enough to fully support the legs of a larger toddler. The fact that the straps simply tie on means that it fits a wide variety of different sized parents. The lack of buckles means that you can do any number of different things to it, scrunch the body, fold the body, wrap the straps around, tie them any number of ways. You can really tweak it to get the most comfortable fit. The sturdy fabrics mean that it is comfortable and supportive for heavier kids and that it will last for many years and through many children. You can wear your baby on your front, hip, back and even nurse in it. And though everyone is different when it comes to how easy they think a certain carrier is to use, or how much practice they need before they feel comfortable with it, carriers like the Kozy (mei tais) seem to be easier to use in general, than other types of carriers that allow you as much versatility.
I think though what makes the Kozy the most ‘unique’ among other mei tais out, is the fact that it was the first modern mei tai, has changed very little (hasn’t really needed much changing) and has still managed to last and be called by others the “gold standard” of mei tais, despite the enormous amount of competition that has emerged in the last 5 yrs since we first started selling them online. I could say I was lucky, considering that the design wasn’t intended to be one that worked well for everyone, I was just making it for myself . . . but I really think that God had a little something to do with it.

Andrea: What is the best thing about owning a babywearing business?
Kelley: The best thing is definitely being able to help others. I LOVE the praise e-mails we get and seeing pictures of moms carrying their babies . . . it is the greatest!!

Andrea:

 What is the hardest thing?

Kelley: The hardest is trying to balance the business with family life, and it is nearly impossible. And trying not to feel guilty for time spent doing business stuff when I would rather be doing stuff with the kids (or sleeping). Something has to give, because though we don’t want to admit it, we are not superwomen! Thankfully I was able to balance by giving over some of the business responsibilities to my sister/partner. 

 

Andrea: Do you have any personal babywearing stories/anecdotes you’d like to share with my readers?
Kelley: I keep thinking back to a picture of us at the zoo back when Piper was a baby, shortly after I started making them and back when I was still testing out the design. She is on my front and we are looking over a fence at an animal. She is right up there with a great view, able to interact etc. Around us are other mothers and babies also looking through the fence, but those babies are down low in strollers with a blocked view. We stand out for sure, and I think it just kind of summed up all the great things about babywearing in one picture. Now if only I can remember where I put that durn thing, LOL!!

Thank you, Kelley, for taking the time to answer my questions, in the midst of mothering your four beautiful children and having a computer crash! You and your sister are warm, wonderful people, and the pride you have in your product is well deserved.

To win your choice of  Kozy Carrier, simply click over to Kozy Carrier and have a look. Then, come back here and leave a comment on this post, telling me which Kozy Carrier  you like best.

To Obtain Extra Entried for all This week’s Babywearing Giveaways, you can do one or all of the following things:

•  Blog about the Babywearing Bonanza

• Grab my Babywearing Bonanza Button (see my sidebar) and place it in your sidebar
• Email five people about the Babywearing Bonanza, and Cc me at: wamcmann(at)telebeep(dot)com

If you choose to earn extra entries, be sure to let me know, so I can give you credit for your hard work!

This giveaway ends on September 13, 2008, at 11:59 p.m. CST.

 

Babywearing Non-Profit: H.U.G.S.

This amazing non-profit was started after the infamous Indonesian tsunami that occured in December of 2004. Help Us Give Slings (H.U.G.S.) sells Indonesian slings to help tsunami and earthquake affected mothers. They also gift slings to mothers in Indonesia. The photo above says it all, really. These slings, sold by an internet boutique, would easily sell for four times as much as H.U.G.S. is asking. If you, or anyone you know, is in the market for a baby sling, consider this worthy cause! If you don’t know anyone who needs a sling, consider buying one and donating it to No Mother Left Behind!

 

This is the final installation of this week’s five-part babywearing non-profit profiles. If you’d like to read about the other four parts, here are the links:

• No Mother Left Behind
• Attachment Parenting International, Part I
• Attachment Parenting International, Part II
• Babywearing International

 

Ethnic Babywearing Slideshow

I love this kind of stuff! I have to thank Susie Spence from Babywearing International, for making me aware of this wonderful slideshow! I can’t get it to embed in this post, and I’ve grown weary of trying, so I’m going to at least give you the URL: http://www.flickr.com/groups/ethnicbabycarriers/pool/show/

Please take a moment to click over there. I really enjoyed seeing the different baby carriers from cultures all around the world! So interesting, and it makes me feel a common bond with mothers worldwide.

 

Babywearing Interview and Giveaway: Sleepy Wrap

Elizabeth and the Kids

Today, I have the pleasure of introducing another interview and giveaway. I had the opportunity to speak with Elizabeth, the founder of Sleepy Wrap. She has also graciously agreed to sponsor the giveaway of one wrap for my Babywearing Bonanza.  Read on to learn how you can win your own Sleepy Wrap.

As I mentioned in My Babywearing Journey, I used a wrap baby carrier extensively during my daughter’s first year of life. To this day, I still don’t know what I would have done without my wrap! I highly recommend wrap carriers; they are they are so comfortable and versatile! I admit that I did use a different brand, because I didn’t know about Sleepy Wrap back then. Since those days, I’ve become enlightened, and if I am ever blessed with more little ones, the Sleepy Wrap will be my wrap carrier choice. For one thing, the fabric of the Sleepy Wrap is far superior to the wrap I used. My other reason is the last paragraph of this interview. Read on to discover what I’m talking about!

Andrea: How is your wrap different from all the other wraps out there?

Elizabeth: The “no guess” tying method that gets mom and her little one the perfect fit.

Andrea: How did you go about finding the perfect fabric for the Sleepy Wrap?

 Elizabeth: I wanted ultimate comfort for my aching back and for my son, I did not want anything that would bunch up, pinch or sag.  While gorgeous hand woven fabrics lured me in, I opted to go and check out the knit section instead. Ultimate comfort for my aching back and for my son was my priority. I compared single interlock, double interlock, and french terry knits.  When I saw how durable the french terry was and that it retained its original shape when I stretched it and pulled it in different directions I imagined how snug it would hold my son.  And although it was nearly twice as expensive as the other knits, I knew that my son and I were worth it.   

Andrea: What is the best thing about owning a babywearing company?  

Elizabeth: The best thing has got to be that we bring moms and babies together.  It makes the deepest impression on me to see a mother effortlessly nurture and calm her baby as she holds her little one close in the wrap.   That baby grows in love and simply thrives.  It is truly rewarding to know that we help facilitate this incredible bond between mother and child. 

 Andrea: What is the hardest/most challenging thing?

Elizabeth: The most challenging part of running the company is not having direct physical contact with the moms who are trying out the wrap for the first time.  Although the internet is incredible and it’s possible to communicate pretty effectively through cyberspace, there’s nothing like a smile or a helping hand when a mom might need just a little extra encouragement.

 Andrea: What is the best feedback you’ve received about your product?

Elizabeth: I just read through our long list of testimonials to see if I could find the best feedback and to tell you the truth- each one is truly so touching.  Here I was, a mother simply trying to find the best way to carry my son, and now almost every day since we started selling the Sleepy Wrap I have gotten an email from a mom who can’t imagine her life without the Sleepy Wrap.  One mom said that it was the only thing that comforted and put to sleep her “insomniac baby”.  That made me laugh.  The testimonials section is pretty extensive, I reread them sometimes and it really puts me in awe and makes me feel so good that we decided to put all of our energy into building this business.

Andrea: What is your best piece of advice for parents who are new to babywearing?

Elizabeth: Get something that is comfortable and that goes over both shoulders so you won’t end up crooked.  Remember that your baby needs good support too.   And don’t give up to easily!  Once you get the hang of things you’ll never consider lugging around a car seat again.  As one mom said in her testimonial “it makes mothering sweet”. 

Andrea: Do you have any personal stories about babywearing that you could share with my readers?

Elizabeth: I’ve sat in the movie theater through a three hour movie. Bounced on the turf and explored the cliffs of Ireland. Walked through lush meadows in Slovenia.  Nursed on a camel while visiting the pyramids.  Haggled in the bazaars in Turkey.  Rode in rickshaws in Pakistan.  Explored ancient cities in Iran.  Walked the labyrinth streets of Venice in the rain.  Sat through the Nutcracker.  Fought with the guards in Alexandria to allow me to take a baby into Alexander’s great library.  Hopped over to the islands of the Adriatic. Not to mention swept the floor, did the dishes, and danced like nobody was watching-all while babywearing.  You honestly can do mostly anything and bring your baby with you- and still feel free.

Thank you, Elizabeth, for your awesome words and for putting your heart into a product that has helped so many parents!

To win your choice of  Sleepy Wrap, simply click over to Sleepy Wrap and have a look. Then, come back here and leave a comment on this post, telling me which color of Sleepy Wrap you like best.

To Obtain Extra Entried for all This week’s Babywearing Giveaways, you can do one or all of the following things:

•  Blog about the Babywearing Bonanza

• Grab my Babywearing Bonanza Button (see my sidebar) and place it in your sidebar
• Email five people about the Babywearing Bonanza, and Cc me at: wamcmann(at)telebeep(dot)com

If you choose to earn extra entries, be sure to let me know, so I can give you credit for your hard work!

This giveaway ends on September 12, 2008, at 11:59 p.m. CST.

 

Babywearing Non-Profit: Babywearing International

This is the fourth in a five-part series, profiling babywearing non-profits. I recently had the chance to speak with Susie Spence, President of Babywearing International, and a leader of Magic City Slingers, a Birmingham-based babywearing non-profit. If you haven’t already, take a look at my posts about No Mother Left Behind, and Attachment Parenting International, Parts I and II. If you love babywearing like I do, please consider donating some of your time or money, or both, to one, or all of these wonderful organizations.  I hope you find the following interview as informative and inspiring as I did!

Susie Spence

 

 

 

 

Andrea: How did Babywearing International come about? What does Babywearing International offer?

 

 

Susie: Here I must give a lot of credit to Jennifer Rosenberg and Vijay Owens for starting Nine In, Nine Out, or NINO, as the original babywearing organization. The NINO leadership had a great vision, but the organization dissolved in 2007. There was nevertheless a tremendous need for an organization to serve as a central resource for babywearing clubs, and Babywearing International Inc. was formed to fill that void. Organizationally, it’s very different from NINO, but the vision of volunteers sharing information about babywearing through nonprofit groups is similar. Glenda Criss-Forshey was really the driving force in assuring that there was a central organization to support nonprofit babywearing groups even if it couldn’t be NINO.

Babywearing International (BWI) has recently launched its chapter affiliate program, and we’re providing our volunteer babywearing educators with insurance and other resources to manage those chapters, including discussion forums for each chapter, sling library assistance, and other general support and help. Additionally, BWI is developing informational resources for the general public, health care providers, and our volunteer babywearing educators. Our big program this year is presenting the first-ever International Babywearing Week, a focused opportunity for babywearing outreach, with help from TheBabywearer.com and our sponsors. Babywearing advocates around the world are seeking official recognition of the week as well as publicity in the media, and there are several awards with fantastic prizes, thanks to our sponsors. It’s very exciting!

Andrea: What are your plans for Babywearing International in the next 5 to 10 years?

 

 

Susie: I think there will be many, many BWI chapters in 5-10 years, throughout the U.S. and around the globe; babywearing will continue to gain popularity; and BWI will have some fantastic resources to help parents and caregivers learn babywearing skills.

Andrea: How did Magic City Slingers come about? Do you have any advice for parents who would like to start their own local babywearing groups? What happens at a typical meeting?

 

 

Susie: Magic City Slingers was one of many local babywearing clubs that formed when NINO was in existence. I met Kristen Stewart online at www.TheBabywearer.com because she was moving to Birmingham, and it was her idea to start a group. We publicized at first just to a local breastfeeding support list, and we had two whole people (plus the two of us) come to the first meeting. Within a few months, though, we had a dozen or so, and now we have 30 or more adults at meetings. We and several local volunteers have put a lot of time and energy into the group … really, a lot! But we think it is work worth doing because babywearing is so empowering to families. At a typical meeting, we welcome newcomers (and there are always several) and show them a variety of carriers and give them one-on-one help. We always have a short presentation on a particular topic (for example, “wearing a newborn,” or “using a short wrap”). Also, our dues-paying members return slings they have borrowed from the sling library and choose different slings to check out for the next month.

As for advice for parents interested in starting a local babywearing group, I’d recommend checking into the resources available through Babywearing International; we will launch our general chapter affiliate program very soon, and we provide personal liability insurance to our volunteer babywearing educators, which is a significant benefit to a lot of people. We also have a public Babywearing Advocacy & Educator Support discussion forum where people can ask questions and get advice from folks who’ve already set up groups; there are also quite a few good resources posted in that forum.

Andrea: What is your most valuable piece of babywearing advice?

 

 

Susie: Babywearing is a parenting skill worth learning. There are lots of parenting skills: changing a diaper and feeding the baby come to mind. Babywearing isn’t necessarily more difficult to do than either of those, and its benefits are so tremendous that it’s worth it to spend some time learning the skills to comfortably carry a baby. A few minutes learning from an experienced babywearer can make a huge difference in a parent’s quality of life (and the baby’s too).

Andrea: What is the most important thing you’d like people to know about Babywearing International?

 

 

Susie: This is hard to answer! At the moment, I want people to know that BWI is an all-volunteer organization with a highly-credentialed and dedicated board of directors, and we’re going about things slowly and methodically so that we have a solid foundation for each program we build.

Thank you, Susie, for working so tirelessly to promote babywearing. Your organizations are wonderful, as are you, for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer my questions.

For more information:

• Babywearing International
• Magic City Slingers
• Magic City Slingers Blog
• International Babywearing Week

 

Review and Giveaway: Peekaru Original

Read on to learn how to win a Peekaru Original!

If you haven’t figured it out already, I’ll confess: I am a babywearing fanatic! I truly do love all things babywearing, and I get almost absurdly excited when I find a super-cool new babywearing product, especially when you consider the fact that neither one of my kids will allow me to wear them any more!

Recently, I made what I consider to be a tremendous babywearing discovery. It’s called the Peekaru Original, and -call me a nerd if you must- it’s one of the coolest things I’ve seen for quite a long time! There are several basic types of carriers out there, and although each brand modifies and individualizes, the carriers can still be classified into a certain group (slings, mei tais, wraps, etc.). However, once in a while a fresh, completely new baby carrier or accessory will come along and make me think, Wow, I’ve never seen anything like that before! That’s how I felt when I saw the Peekaru Original. This baby carrier accessory looked so cool that I just had to try it out and see how it worked first-hand. Thanks to the good folks at TogetherBe, I got my chance to try out a Peekaru Original, and I’d like to give you a chance, too. But first, my review:

The Peekaru Original is a fleece vest that fits over any soft baby carrier, when baby is on your front. Approximately 85% of this fleece is recycled, saving about 25 plastic bottles from lanfills with each Peekaru made! I found the Peekaru very easy to use. The packaging includes detailed instructions in both words and pictures, which made slipping it on a breeze! It was very warm and cozy, and the mom and baby head holes fit just like shirt openings, with a zipper at the collar of mom’s (or dad’s). In colder weather, a coat can be worn, unzipped over the Peekaru Original. Best of all, the Peekaru is available in several sizes and colors, perfect for women or men. My only regret is that I didn’t discover this amazing product earlier. When my daughter was a happily worn baby, there were many times I had to stick her in her car seat -kicking and screaming- so that I could keep her warm when we went somewhere. If I’d had a Peekaru back then, the car seat would have been reserved for car trips only!

Now, I’d like to offer you the chance to win a Peekaru Original! To win a black Peekaru Original in size Large (12-14), read more about the Peekaru. Then, come back here and tell me what you like best about this product.

To Obtain Extra Entried for all This week’s Babywearing Giveaways, you can do one or all of the following things:

• Blog about the Babywearing Bonanza
• Grab my Babywearing Bonanza Button (see my sidebar) and place it in your sidebar
• Email five people about the Babywearing Bonanza, and Cc me at: wamcmann(at)telebeep(dot)com

If you choose to earn extra entries, be sure to let me know, so I can give you credit for your hard work!

This giveaway ends on September 11, 2008, at 11:59 p.m. CST.

 

 

The Story of Attachment Parenting International

 

 

 

Lysa Parker, co-founder of Attachment Parenting International, had so many wonderful things to say that I decided to break my API post into two parts. See yesterday’s post to learn about API Here’s part two, the story of how Attachment Parenting International was formed, in the words of Lysa herself:

Lysa Parker

 

“Barbara (Barbara Nicholson, the other co-founder of API) and I met 29 years ago at our first La Leche League meeting in Nashville . She had just moved to Nashville from Texas , she was a leader applicant with her second child and I was a new mom with a 6 month old baby. We were every LLL leaders nightmare going on with side conversations because we found so much in common; we were both special education teachers, both of our husbands were struggling songwriters, both our husbands were from Texas and they knew some of the same people in the music business, we were both breastfeeding and we both had sons. So you can imagine how quickly we “attached” to each other.  Ironically I wasn’t able to attend too many LLL meetings after that but because our friendship blossomed I learned a lot from Barbara as she went through her leadership process and afterward. I managed to attend LLL area conferences over time and after moving to Alabama , I became a LLL too. After five years of being a leader I went back to teaching in the early 90s and became very discouraged by what I witnessed with my students in 7^th and 8^th grades- drugs, gangs, sex, fighting, dysfunctional families, abuse and neglect etc.

 

Barbara and I actually got to know each other better long distance because after the boys were in bed we would talk on the phone, or go visit each other and stay up late at night trying to figure out what we could do to get the message of AP out to the mainstream as a prevention model for so many social ills.  It finally evolved into API– we knew that AP support groups were popping up here and there but each had their own interpretation of what AP was that usually included lifestyle choices. As we educated ourselves we learned about attachment theory and were amazed that there was actual science to back up the benefits of AP practices (the Baby Bs that the Sears created.) We wanted to crystallize the essence of AP that related to the baby-parent attachment process that could be supported by research. We were amazed that this research had been in existence for over 50 years yet parents had no clue- it wasn’t being integrated into popular parenting advice. So we decided API would do just that- get the research into the hands of parents as well as professionals through our journal. Currently we have adapted and expanded the Baby Bs into API’s Eight Principles of Parenting which we fully describe in our soon-to-be-released book Attached at the Heart: 8 Proven Principles for Raising Connected and Compassionate Children. We eventually started a leader development process and affiliating support groups around the country. The rest is history…it’s been a real challenge learning how to create, manage and fund a nonprofit organization…still is a challenge. Right now we are solely supported by memberships and donations but are seeking grant money too. We have over 100 leaders, 60+ groups, and right now about 40 leader applicants, most of whom will be starting a new support group. We have approximately 1,000 members and over 6,000 subscribers to our Enewsletter.”

Thank you, Lysa and Barbara, for bringing this wonderful, needed organization into reality, and for putting so much love, thought, and effort into your daily work.

This is the third of five posts I plan to write about babywearing charities. You might also be interested in reading Part I of my interview with Lysa, and my interview with Andrea Howard, owner of No Mother Left Behind.

 

Babywearing Non-Profit: Attachment Parenting International, Part I

 

 

 

 

This is the second in a series of interviews that feature babywearing-related charities. You might also be interested in reading about No Mother Left Behind.

Lysa Parker

Recently, I had the chance to speak with Lysa Parker, co-founder of Attachment Parenting International. Actually, she is so eloquent, informative, and interesting (and so is her fellow founder, Barbara Nicholson), that I feel compelled to split this interview into two parts. This interview will focus on Attachment Parenting International (API), and what the organization stands for. Tomorrow, I will post Lysa’s account of how API was formed. Please enjoy the following interview. I hope it inspires and informes you as much as it did me!

Andrea: How do you technically define “attachment parenting?” Why are so many parents turning to this parenting philosophy?

 

 

Lysa: Attachment Parenting is based on a psychological theory called “attachment theory” that was proposed by Dr. John Bowlby back in the 1940’s (read about in our book) stating that babies are born with a biological drive to form a strong emotional attachment to a primary giver- ideally the mother. In order to do that the baby elicits what they call “attachment promoting” behaviors that also play into the baby’s survival needs too such as clinging, crying, sucking etc.

We believe so many parents are turning to this style of parenting because they see that current popular beliefs about childrearing aren’t working, that children’s emotional needs aren’t being met causing a host of mental and societal problems; they finally feel validated that their instincts are correct and they can nurture their child the way the feel best and they see the payoff in their connection with their children that they may not have felt with their own parents. There are many reasons and we feel so inspired that so many families are adopting this way of parenting. We know this because we are now receiving over a million hits a month on our website. Parents are seeking answers and we hope they are finding it on our website.

Andrea: What does Attachment Parenting International offer?

Lysa: API offers parents and professionals validation and hope; it offers education, advocacy and support that can’t be found anywhere else. API appeals to parents seeking information about parenting as well as supporting/validating those who already embrace AP. We hear from so many parents who say they feel like they are the only ones in their area that believes the way they do about nurturing their children; they feel unsupported and invalidated by their community and culture. If nothing else our website provides a lifeline to these parents but we really want to empower parents to be active in their community, join a local API support group or become a leader and start their own group. It’s parent-to-parent support that keeps our momentum going. We love the fact that so many fathers have gotten involved attending the meeting and even becoming support group leaders. Too often only mothers benefit from a social network and reading parenting books but we find that many fathers want to get involved too. API is a clearinghouse as well for parents and professionals, offering materials, research, referrals as needed.

 

Andrea: What is the most important thing that people should know about attachment parenting, and Attachment Parenting International?

 

 

 

Lysa: People should know that AP gives parents the knowledge and tools to help them provide a loving home environment for the optimal development of their children; that by doing so they will build a strong connection with their children that will last a lifetime and carry over into their adult relationships and grandchildren; finally that they can help change the world by the way they consciously raise their children. Children who learn empathy and trust from their relationship with their parents become adults who are better able to empathize and feel compassion toward others. The world needs these children! It’s important for people to know that API is a grassroots organization that started with an idea and operates on a shoestring budget- solely funded by memberships and donations. Most of our staff is paid very little and they put in many more hours they are paid for because they are passionate about what they are doing. They have experienced the benefits of AP in their own lives and want to give that to current and future parents.

Barbara Nicholson

Andrea: Is there anything else you’d like to mention?  Any exciting events/happenings on the horizon for Attachment Parenting International?

Lysa: Barbara and I just participated in the first Webinar hosted by Mothering Magazine last Friday, Aug. 22 with Dr. James McKenna and Dr. Paul Fleiss. We are in the planning stages of scheduling our own Webinars and teleseminars for this fall, likely beginning in late Sept. and throughout October. October will be a big month for us because API will launch our second annual AP month in collaboration with Dr. Bill and Martha Sears. Local groups will join API in hosting special events throughout the month. Of course we are all very excited about the release of our book, slated for October as well. Initially it will be available for purchase off the publisher’s website at www.iuniverse.com/bookstore .

Andrea: What is the ultimate goal of Attachment Parenting International? What do you think will be going on with your organization in 10 years?

 

 

Lysa: The ultimate goal of API is make AP mainstream- nothing short of a complete cultural paradigm shift in the way we perceive and treat children. We want to raise parents’ consciousness about the importance of their relationship with their children. We want to make sure every parent is given the information they need to give their child the best start possible. No one really feels prepared to be a parent- so until we know more and our consciousness is raised, we will default to parenting the way we were parented. That is the key problem in perpetuating the intergenerational cycles of abuse & neglect. In ten years, API will be a strong force in advocating for children and families helping to change government policies and making family issues a priority. We want to empower parents to be their child’s best advocate and make informed decisions rather than giving that power to others. Many AP parents have a long range vision and want to change the world from one of violence to one of peace. They know it can be done but first peace must begin in the home. We’re all just trying to do our little part.

Thank you, Lysa and Barbara, for caring enough to create such a wonderful organization, and for taking the time to answer my questions.

If you’d like to know more about Attachment Parenting International, visit their website.

 

Babywearing Interview and Giveaway: Slinglings

It’s time for another wonderful babywearing interview and giveaway!

Have you ever tried a pouch baby sling? They are, by far, the easiest baby carriers to use. Completely fuss-free, they are adjusted easily, without any straps, buckles, bulky fabric, or complicated tying methods. Slinglings pouches are oh-so-beautiful, with tons of fabric choices, ranging from classically cute to hip and sophisticated. Slinglings customer service policy is excellent! Since pouches must be sized for an individual wearer, they will gladly exchange any new-condition pouches for another size, no questions asked. Please enjoy this interview with Sara Gower, founder and owner of Slinglings. Read on for details on how to win your own Slinglings pouch!

On the Slinglings website, Sara has written a wonderful account of how Slinglings got its start. Here is an excerpt:

“When our daughter came along in 2005, she LIVED in my pouches. Having an older son made it necessary to wear Katie on my body while tending to him. My husband coined the nickname “slingling” for her, as in, “one who lives in a sling”. It was on a vacation in July 2005, traveling around the Pacific Northwest, that he decided that I should start a business selling my slings. He was so surprised at the attention that a baby in a sling attracted. People stopped us on the streets to ask where they could buy one. He also hadn’t thought about the fact that if Katie had been in a stroller, we wouldn’t have been able to do half of what we did on that vacation! We went hiking up mountain trails with Katie sleeping in a sling, while we watched other parents with strollers turn around when it got too rough. We waded in the frigid waters off the Washington coast while other parents with babies stayed up by their cars with their babies bundled in car seats. We played miniature golf with our son while Katie watched from the sling. Steve even had Katie in a sling while playing pinball with Nicholas.One week later after arriving back home and settling in, Steve had bought the domain name Slinglings.com and our business was born. Steve is a programmer so he immediately went to work on our website.

 

Katie was such a happy slingling that I decided ‘Every baby should be a Slingling’. Our goal is to make parenting easier and babies happier.”

 

 

 

 

And thus, Slinglings was born! Isn’t that a wonderful story?

 

 

 

Now, on to my questions:  

Andrea: Slinglings offers so many wonderful fabric choices. Could you tell me a
little bit about your fabric selection process?

 

Sara: Our most recent batch of fabrics were designed and printed exclusively for us. We started the process in 2007. We put up polls with many different fabrics swatches on our website for customers to vote on for several months. Once the basic designs were picked out, then the colors had to be picked…which may have been harder than picking the designs! We finally decided on 3 designs, 2 of which are available in 2 colorways, for 5 exclusive fabrics total. It was an expensive and long process, but all 5 fabrics have done really well! Two of our best selling fabrics are Apollo and Azul, which my husband designed and we chose the colors for together.  

When we first started, we bought any (and I do mean ANY) suitable fabric that we could find at a reasonable price, whether it was at local fabric stores, online fabrics stores, or from fabric wholesalers. We really made some mistakes in our fabric selections in the first year. We still have some mistake fabrics hanging around on our website. 🙂

Andrea: Why pouch slings?  

 Sara: They are easy, quick to put on and take off. Compact to fit in any bag. The hardest part is finding your correct size! It is really common for new sling users to wear a pouch too loose, so half the battle is just teaching people how they should actually fit. Pouches are also lower in cost than many other baby carriers, and they are often referred to as the “gateway baby carrier”, because many parents start with a pouch, and then go on to other more advanced, more expensive, or more supportive carriers.

 

 

Andrea: What is the best thing about owning a babywearing company?

 

 

 

Sara: I love meeting with local customers and getting to wear their babies! I am done having babies, my youngest is three-and-a-half, so this gives me a chance to hold and wear tiny babies again. When I can’t meet with customers, I love seeing pictures and hearing about how our slings have helped them. I also love the flexibility that owning my own businesses gives me and my family. Both my husband and I work at home and we can work almost any schedule we like, around our children’s schedules.

Andrea: What is the hardest/most challenging thing?

Sara: For me, the hardest part of owning a babywearing company is trying to teach customers how to use their new carriers by email or phone. I truly wish that I could meet with more customers in person, especially for pouches, because they are much easier to size in person.

 It is very hard to work around our two kids sometimes. We have a seven-year-old son, Nicholas, and a three-year-old daughter, Katherine (Katie). They don’t understand that even though their parents are right there with them, we can’t necessarily drop everything and get them a snack or make them chocolate milk right when they want it! It is a struggle to get them to respect the time that we need to accomplish what we need to do in order to support our family. We have recently moved our business out of our home finally, into a warehouse about a mile away. I thought that I would hate having to “go to work”, but it is so much more efficient and relaxing to go there, get what I need to do DONE, and then go home to my family. I still do all of my computer work at home, but almost all other work is done at the warehouse. 

 Andrea: I actually discovered Slinglings through the No Mother Left Behind
website. Could you tell me a bit about Slinglings’ charitable donations?

Sara: In addition to No Mother Left Behind, we also donate to sling “lending libraries”, La Leche League groups, Attachment Parenting International groups, and other similar groups. All of these groups are non profit organizations that generally promote sensitive, attentive parenting and breastfeeding. Babywearing is a great tool in facilitating attachment between baby and parent, and encourages frequent, extended breastfeeding. We have worked with a few hospitals and county health departments, offering higher than normal discounts on our slings, so that they can provide low income new moms a sling at no cost if they would like one. Instead of the “formula diaper bags” that so many get in the hospital after giving birth, they get items that promote breastfeeding and attachment. 

 

 Andrea: What is your best piece of advice for parents who are new to babywearing?

Sara: Have patience when you and your baby are trying out a new carrier. It takes time and practice for both you and the baby to get accustomed to babywearing. New parents often buy a sling, try it once, then return it saying that their baby cried when they put him in. If I could meet with every customer in person, I could show them just how much their baby will love being worn. It’s often the parent’s inexperience and tension that causes the baby to cry; babies can sense it! When I calmly and expertly 🙂 put their baby in a carrier, the baby is generally so content. I have never met a baby that didn’t like being worn. It’s just a matter of finding the position that the baby likes best (usually upright against the wearer’s chest) and giving the baby time to get used to being in the carrier.  

Second piece of advice, wear your baby high and snug! Your back and shoulders will thank you. It is really common for new users to wear any carrier too low and loose. Even Baby Bjorns that I see being worn out in public are usually worn too low. Baby’s bottom should be at your belly button! When the baby is in an upright position, you should be able to easily kiss the top of your baby’s head.

 

 Thanks, Sara, for sharing your advice and the story of your wonderful product.

I would like to congratulate Sara on the purchase of AttachedToBaby.com! Surf on over there to see some more great baby products!

Sara has graciously agreed to sponsor the giveaway of one in-stock Slingling. To enter this giveaway, click over to Slinglings. Then, come back here and leave a comment below, stating which Slingling you like best.

To Obtain Extra Entried for all This week’s Babywearing Giveaways, you can do one or all of the following things:

• Blog about the Babywearing Bonanza
• Grab my Babywearing Bonanza Button (see my sidebar) and place it in your sidebar
• Email five people about the Babywearing Bonanza, and Cc me at: wamcmann(at)telebeep(dot)com

If you choose to earn extra entries, be sure to let me know, so I can give you credit for your hard work!

This giveaway ends on September 10, 2008 at 11:59 p.m. CST.

 

 

 

Posh Papoose Announcement

I’d just like to say a big thank-you to all the wonderful sponsors and participants who have already made this babywearing celebration a week to remember. Stay tuned for another giveaway today!

I have two Posh Papoose announcements:

• The giveaway details have changed somewhat. The sling to be given away is any non-silk sling. Bamboo and bamboo-cotton blends will be available, if in stock.
• Here’s an announcement from Rachel: “Anyone who places an order by 11/30/08 and mentions the Posh Papoose blog post will get a free diaper pouch with a sling order. I’ll match if available and if not, it’s joker’s wild!”

Thanks, Rachel! The wipe pouches are really, nice BTW. They’re made out of the same high-quality fabric that Posh Papoose slings are cut from.