New Policies Explained

Recently Idaho Babywearers became an official BWI chapter and changed their name to BWI of Southern Idaho.  With that exciting change, we also launched our new policies.  What appears to be lots of changes really isn't.  It's lots of what we already have been doing in a neat little written out package.  And since we decided to focus on our policies at our August meetings, we also thought we'd explain them some here, too.


We strive to maintain a lending library of carriers that are current models, affordable and from reputable manufactures.   Nothing may be more irritating than falling in love with a product and find that it is no longer available or super hard to find or $500--or all three.  We also have some industry experience and know many of those in the business.  Therefore we do try to support the folks we know are good folks.  

Meeting attendance is free. Trying out a carrier at a meeting is free. Checking out a carrier to take home and try for a month is free.  As an advocacy group, we think this is important.  We do fundraisers instead of charging for our services.  We encourage you to support us in those efforts!

Our library is meant as a "try before you buy" resource. It is NOT meant as a "borrow instead of buy" resource.  As a group we strive to maintain the library to the standards stated above.  One of the ways we do that is by supporting babywearing businesses, and they support us in a way.  So, we encourage you to support those businesses by purchasing their awesome products because in all honesty, we only have awesome carriers in our library.

To keep the carriers available to people who want to try them, you can only check out a specific carrier model once every six months. Example: you cannot check out a Red Moby one month and the Twilight Moby the next month. However, you CAN check out a red Moby one month and a Wrapsody stretch the next.  We have people who come to meetings in order to check out specific carriers.  But if someone checked out that carrier for the fourth month in a row (or hasn't returned it and it's overdue), they can't even try it at the meeting.  This kind of defeats the purpose of our group and we need our carriers available to the next prospective parent or caregiver. 

You are only allowed to check out one carrier at a time. Not one carrier per meeting.  One carrier at a time.  If you go to one meeting and check out a carrier and two weeks later go to another meeting and return that carrier, you may check out another carrier.  If you think you need two carriers, bring your husband.  We love having guys at our meetings and are thrilled when they want to check out carriers!

You must attend a meeting in order to check out a carrier. While we love what we do and we love babywearing, we are also volunteers.  Every month we carve time out of our busy schedules to run meetings and we ask the same of you.  We are happy to help, but these are our personal boundaries and they keep us happy with our decision to volunteer our time.

As an official chapter of Babywearing International (BWI) we are required to encourage BWI membership. To do that, after your first two check-outs you must join BWI and pay the membership fee in order to check out a third carrier. Membership is good for a year. You are still able and encouraged to attend meetings and try carriers at meetings without joining BWI.  In our experience, it is quite rare that a person coming to a meeting and looking for a carrier does not find one they love within two check-outs.  If after two checkouts they cannot find what they want and cannot afford the membership fee, they can still try carriers for free at meetings.  By joining BWI you are supporting babywearing advocacy both on a local level and on an international level.  It's a win/win situation for everyone.  And quite affordable.

Our leaders are subject to these same policies. We pay the fees and are limited to one carrier at a time and we are also on the hook for replacement if we lose or ruin it. 

If a carrier is lost or stolen or damaged while in your possession, you are responsible for the full replacement value.  Quality baby carriers like the ones in our library are not inexpensive.  And they are worth every penny.  But as a group we work hard to be able to put them in your hands.  We aren't asking you to treat them as if they are gold.  We are asking you to be respectful of them.  Please think twice before taking them camping or giving your child a red sucker while they are in the carrier or even throwing it on the floor of your car.  We know that you have a life, but we also know that some of our carriers have been damaged because of misuse and abuse.  In fact, at a recent leaders meeting we examined several carriers that had been stained or otherwise damaged. 

Here is Frances, a Wrapsody stretch that now has a hole in it the size of a quarter. 

The hole started as a small puncture, but then a finger went through it.  This particular carrier is valued at $75.  Here's a picture of it in comparison to the width of the wrap.

Frances is no longer a carrier that we can lend out because of safety issues.  Another carrier we examined was the Sequoia Waves Didy Tai.  This particular carrier is valued at nearly $200. 

One of the loops on the shoulder strap that works as part of the hood was ripped half way off.

While this isn't a safety issue, the main issue is that there was damage.  If you have an issue with your carrier, whether it is staining or other damage, please call us as soon as possible so we can try to help you not have to pay for the damaged carrier.  We cannot stress this enough.

Also, we re-vamped our check-out forms.  There is a place on the form to note any damage you or your leader find in the initial inspection when you check the carrier out and when you return the carrier.  Both inspections are super important and they are in place for your protections. 

If a carrier is not returned by the due date, you may be charged for the full replacement value.  You can return the carrier at a meeting or you can mail it to the address on your check-out reminder form.  If something happens, like you go in to labor and are giving birth during the meeting, we do ask that you communicate with us as soon as possible and get the carrier back to us as soon as possible.  Communication, communication, communication.  But we do understand that life happens. 

If you cannot make it to the next local meeting and your carrier is due, you may mail the carrier to the address on your check out form or make arrangements to return the carrier to Babywearing International of Southern Idaho on or by the due date stated above.  Again, communication, communication, communication.  It makes the world go 'round and keeps all the BWI of Southern Idaho leaders from asking you for money.  We don't want your money.  We just think everyone should wear their babies.

If a carrier is not returned on time, you risk losing your check-out privileges and may be charged for the full replacement value. We can't stress it enough. Communication, communication, communication.  We want to loan you carriers, but if we don't get them back on time, we can't send them off to the next family.  That makes us kind of cranky.  Please get on our email list, follow us on facebook, get on our blog.  Call us.  Get those carriers back to us on time or we can't let you take them home with you any more.

Babywearing International of Southern Idaho reserves the right to request a check for the replacement value of the carrier when you check it out. They will only cash the check if the carrier is not returned in a timely manner and in good condition.  We really don't want your money.  We just want our carriers back.  Pretty please.

Babywearing International of Southern Idaho knows that babies are messy. If the carrier is soiled in my care, we ask that you spot clean it, but not wash it as washing it may damage the carrier.  Some carriers don't get along with wash machines very well.  And we would rather we ruin our carriers by washing them than you ruin them.  Then you don't have to pay for them.  But do try to get the stain out.  And call us if it isn't coming out like you want it to.  Communication is so very important!

By checking out a carrier to you, Babywearing International of Southern Idaho agrees to show you how to use the carrier safely. And by checking out a carrier, you agree to use caution and common sense while using it with a child. It is your responsibility to use the carrier responsibly.  We cannot be everywhere all the time.  And we are not telepathic or omniscient or any of those things that require super natural powers.  So, we need you to be smart and cautious.  If you are really struggling, we have several meetings a month and you are welcome to come to another one or you can call a leader and we are happy to help you.

Babywearing International of Southern Idaho cannot be held liable for any injury that may occur to you or a child while using this carrier.  This is the last thing we want to happen.  Please be careful with your baby and the carrier.  Better safe than sorry.

HAPPY BABYWEARING!

Babywearing Fashion Show!

In place of our traditional Idaho Falls Saturday meeting, we're kicking off August with a Babywearing Fashion Show at the Jefferson County Fair (Rigby)! We're excited to show off many of our new carriers and share the babywearing love with the audience of the fair's Cutest Baby Contest. The contest begins at 10am at the fairground's main stage, and our BWing fashion show will be featured as entertainment while judges deliberate from 10:45-11:00am.  As we sport our most fashionable accessories (our babies, of course!), we'll bring new meaning to the question, "Who are you wearing?" Come join the fun!! (And the lending library will be available for carrier checkout directly after the show.) Join us this Saturday, August 6th for all the fun!!

Check out our new Catbird mei tais!

Literally!  You can check these Catbird mei tais out at a meeting this month!

Top to bottom: Astrid, Spring BE mei tai, and Chocolate Lollipop!

I (Heidi) am a big fan of these carriers.  They are solid and versatile, and the company is a great company.  The fabric is a brushed, sturdy canvas, which is what makes the carrier soft and supportive.  Catbird's new Babywearing Essentials line is a solid colored, less expensive collection that still gives you all the comforts of the regular line in a simple package, including head support and the elastic loop for gathering the base so it fits tiny babies who want their legs out.

Here's me with my Mr. Chunk 11 month old in the BE mei tai.  So pretty and supportive!

Come check them out this month!

And coming soon--Catbird's soft structure Pikkolo!

Ethnic Babywearing

We all know babywearing is great, but it is by no means a new trend in the world! Check out this awesome slide show of babywearing in its ethnic origins...

Check it out!

NEW Lending Library Information and Policies

Since we are now an OFFICIAL chapter of Babywearing International, we must implement some new policies.  We promise they won't be painful and they are still super user friendly.  Here are all of our policies all in one place (though still in draft form).  You saw them here first!

• We strive to maintain a lending library of carriers that are current models, affordable and from reputable manufactures. 
• Meeting attendance is free.  Trying out a carrier at a meeting is free.  Checking out a carrier to take home and try for a month is free. 
• Our library is meant as a "try before you buy" resource.  It is NOT meant as a "borrow instead of buy" resource.
• To keep the carriers available to people who want to try them, you can only check out a specific carrier model once every six months.  Example: you cannot check out a Red Moby one month and the Twilight Moby the next month. However, you CAN check out a red Moby one month and a Wrapsody stretch the next. 
• You are only allowed to check out one carrier per month. 
• You must attend a meeting in order to check out a carrier.
• As an official chapter of Babywearing International (BWI) we are required to encourage BWI membership. To do that, after your first two check-outs you must join BWI and pay the $30 membership fee in order to check out a third carrier.  Membership is good for a year. You are still able and encouraged to attend meetings and try carriers at meetings without joining BWI.
• Our leaders are subject to these same policies.
• If a carrier is lost or stolen or damaged while in your possession, you are responsible for the full replacement value.
• If a carrier is not returned by the due date, you may be charged for the full replacement value.
• If you cannot make it to the next local meeting and your carrier is due, you may mail the carrier to the address on your check out form or make arrangements to return the carrier to Babywearing International of Southern Idaho on or by the due date stated above.
• If a carrier is not returned on time, you risk losing your check-out privileges and may be charged for the full replacement value.
• Babywearing International of Southern Idaho reserves the right to request a check for the replacement value of the carrier when you check it out. They will only cash the check if the carrier is not returned in a timely manner and in good condition.
• Babywearing International of Southern Idaho knows that babies are messy. If the carrier is soiled in my care, we ask that you spot clean it, but  not wash it as washing it may damage the carrier.
• By checking out a carrier to you, Babywearing International of Southern Idaho agrees to show you how to use the carrier safely.  And by checking out a carrier, you agree to use caution and common sense while using it with a child.  It is your responsibility to use the carrier responsibly.
• Babywearing International of Southern Idaho cannot be held liable for any injury that may occur to you or a child while using this carrier.

Saturday's Meeting

Hey Baby-wearers!

Tis' I, Kayla Bailey!!

Due to our nation's great holiday we will be canceling our Idaho Falls meeting this Saturday @ The Methodist Church.

Remember there is still a meeting in a couple of weeks!

ENJOY YOUR 4TH!! Practice safe babywearing and I'm eager for you to email some pictures!!

Here is mine:

Okay, so this is my neice, "Jewels," She was falling asleep, so I wapped this jacket around her head...

WELL! This morning I attended a meeting (taught by Melissa and Hamilton!!) and learned so much more of how to secure babies asleep in a Mei Tei carrier! Please come to the meetings so all of us can show you some awesome new tricks!

Do you know what I'll be doing this holiday weekend? YUP! Sporting some babywearing!

I challenge you to take a picture of your babywearing for the weekend!

Red, White, and Blue!!!!

Special Babywearing Meeting

Wednesday, June 29th at 10am.

Come on over and meet with Melissa, Hamilton and the crew as they tell us about their babywearing adventures, show us their awesome carriers and let us ask all sorts of questions about babywearing, their business and how the dog they found last year (named Rigby) is doing!


We are lucky they are coming to visit us and this will be a great experience for any family. Kids are welcome (but please help clean up Marie's house afterward).

We are official!

We have been welcomed into Babywearing International!
Watch for more official chapters opening throughout the country and an exploratory committee is working to bring BWI to Canada soon!

In other events, International Babywearing Week is this October 10-16! Watch for more information in the next few weeks!

This upcoming Wednesday at 10am Melissa and Hamilton from Freehand Baby Carriers and Togetherbe will be coming to speak with us. They will be at 470 Annis Hwy in Rigby.
They will talk to us about their carriers, their family and pretty much anything we want to talk to them about. We hear they may have a few new carriers for people to try on too!

Come and have some fun (and maybe score a goodie here or there). We're celebrating being official finally!

The History of the Mei Tai (More fun than history class.. I promise!)

            mei -  to carry on the shoulders

                                                                  tai -  belt; band/ bring

 
The mei tai (pronounced “may tie”—as in “May I tie this baby on you?” Thanks Kimber!) originated in China and has been around for possibly thousands of years. It is what is also known as an Asian Baby Carrier (ABC) It is a simple, yet strong and effective design, consisting of a square or nearly square piece of cloth with parallel unpadded straps emerging from the sides of each corner. Traditionally the ends of the straps were secured by twisting and tucking them.  These carriers were usually made of simple cloth and typically used by peasant women working in the fields. Weren’t they smart women? They knew even back then that happy baby= more work done!

Apparently you can teach about/draw fish in a mei tai too.

 
Aside from the mei tai, there are other Asian baby carriers. Many are similar to the mei tai and found in other countries all over the world, such as the  Japanese onbuhimo or the Korean podaegi. (check ‘em out, they are pretty nifty too!)

A variation on the traditional mei tai was popularized in Australia in the 1960s, coming to the US in early 2000s. There are now hundreds of different brands of mei tai available with a variety of features, but the 4 long straps from each of the corners, main squared fabric section, and wrap style tying method are found in almost all of them. Many today also have features such as head supports, pockets, sleeping hoods, and padded straps, among many others. Mei tais are suitable for front or back carries with children ranging from birth to around 35 to 45 lbs (or about a toddler at 3 years.)

And the rest is history!

Check out our young Kimber posing in her Ball Baby Mei Tai with her stylish kidlet in a mohawk.

Meet the Leaders: Kimber Tower

Kimber Tower began her babywearing journey in 2002 when her first child was born. She had no idea what she was doing but knew she needed a way to keep her baby close to her while she was working. She aquired a ringling that was way too big for her and used it.

With her next child Kimber knew there had to be something more to this baby carrier thing.
She began to research and decided to try a pouch. She found a Hotsling pouch on ebay, put the baby in it and the heavens sang.

Kimber was the designer of the Ball Baby mei tai (now owned by Taylormade Slings) and her pattern is still available for anyone to make free of charge.

Kimber formed the Idaho Babywearers in 2006 and has been happy to see it grown and expand.
In 2008 she taught at the 2nd annual International Babywearing Conference in Chicago.
In 2010, Kimber was lucky enough to help the Idaho Babywearers organize and host the 3rd Bi-Annual International Babywearing Conference in Rigby Idaho.
Kimber is looking forward to attending and assisting with the 2012 conference in Washington D.C.

Kimber is currently serving as secretary for the Board of Directors of Babywearing International. She is a Volunteer Babywearing Educator through BWI and is thrilled to see more leaders certifying in her area.

Kimber lives in Rigby with her husband, 4 children and way too many pets. They believe in attachment parenting, serving their community, forming healthy eating habits and changing the world, one family at a time. Kimber is currently reading "Radical Homemakers" and is loving it.

Kimber tries to attend any meeting she can make it to.

Idaho Falls June Saturday Meeting

This month was the smallest meeting we have ever had at our Saturday meetings! It must be the lovely weather!
Sorry this pictures are blurry, the camera wasn't willing to cooperate.

For some the part ended before it even began.

Natalie trying a double hammock back carry in a Wrapsody Gauze wrap with Katie spotting her. Katie is wearing a Boba (they are new to our library and awesome!)

Corey was thrilled at what he was learning.

Katy and Katie!
Look at the beautiful Sakura Bloom!

Natalie cleaning up the mess with Liam in a Silly Goose. We love our geese!

Next meeting is tomorrow in Rigby and then Thursday in Idaho Falls.
Our Pocatello meetings will start this June or in July and we cannot wait!

Rigby and Idaho Falls Meetings

June is Mei Tai month.  We will be discussing this fabulous Asian baby carrier and show you the many ways you can wear it.

The Rigby meeting is this Wednesday at 10am.  If it isn't really windy or cold we are going to meet at the City Park.  If the weather is bad we will meet at Marie's house 470 Annis Hwy.  Check facebook in the morning and we will have the location posted.

The Idaho Falls Daytime meeting is this Thursday at 10am. 537 Valley Drive.

Hope to see you there!

Meet the Leaders: Jentri King

Jentri is an Idaho native who was born and raised in Twin Falls. She wound up in Rexburg 8 years ago for school and just can’t seem to get out.  She is the leader of the Rexburg meetings.

Upon preparing for her many adventures of rock climbing, backpacking, and camping with her husband and a new baby, she was directed to what she later learned was “babywearing” by a fellow outdoor mama. She was introduced to stretchy wraps and mei tais as a way to get from the car to the crag and still be able haul all your gear. She was intrigued and found out more than she ever thought there was to know about babywearing at the 2010 International Babywearing Conference that was held in Rigby, Idaho. Her enthusiasm was palpable and she was sucked in by the Idaho Babywearers leadership and became a group leader several months later.

Jentri lives in Rexburg in her tiny apartment with her husband (who is going to school) and little boy (who thinks it’s his job to get into everything). She spends most of her time attempting to clean her house while getting ready for the next adventure and cleaning up after the last one.

Lending Library Addition--BOBA soft structure carriers!

We're super excited to add Boba to our already fabulous library!  These soft structure carriers have some super awesome unique features!  I tried one with my 2-year-old for about an hour around the house and it was awesome!

Come see them first at the Ashton meeting this Thursday at 9:30 am.





The biology of kissing babies

When I wear my babies on my front, or even just hold them close, I find myself nearly constantly kissing them.

It's just what mothers do, or should do.  Biologically, it is essential.

When a mother kisses her baby, she ‘samples’ those pathogens that are on the baby’s face...Those are ones that the baby is about to ingest.These samples are taken up by the mother’s secondary lymphoid organs like the tonsils, and memory B cells specific for those pathogens are re-stimulated. These B cells then migrate to the mother’s breasts where they produce just those antibodies that the baby needs. -Lauren Sompayrac

Wearing our babies, kissing our babies, and nursing our babies is what nature intended. 

And now you have one more reason to wear your baby, kiss your baby, and nurse your baby!

Idaho Falls meeting this week o nTHURSDAY (daytime meeting)

Yay! We now have 3 meetings in Idaho Falls for all the busy schedules!
This week is our daytime meeting.
It will be at 10am.
Address is: 537 Valley Drive.
We will talk about pouches again at this meeting in case you missed it and then of course have the lending library available!
Feel free to bring the kiddos and we look forward to seeing you there!
If you have questions feel free to call the number on our sidebar or email us!

(Next week is our Nighttime Idaho Falls meeting for those who are looking forward to the night meeting.)

Meet the Leaders: Heidi Donnelly

Heidi Donnelly is an Idaho transplant, having moved here in 2009 with her family from Washington state. She soon discovered that Idahoans wear their babies just like Washingtonians and felt right at home nearly immediately. 

Soon after her first child was born, Heidi discovered babywearing, but she could not figure out how to make it work.  Only after her second child when she discovered mei tais, pouches and wraps did she realize that she was simply a ring sling ding-a-ling, and babywearing quickly became a passion.  Since then she has mastered the ring sling and uses all types of carriers with comfort and ease. 

She lives in Ashton with her husband, three girls, one boy, one dog, several cats, one horse and a flock of chickens.  You can find her many days cooking, sewing and baking up a storm and wasting away on facebook while ignoring her laundry and other housework.

Heidi is the Ashton Idaho leader and Rexburg Idaho co-leader and is the resident wrapping queen of our Leaders.  She is a certified Volunteer Babywearing Educator through Babywearing International. She was one of the main organizers of the 2010 International Babywearing Conference held in Rigby Idaho and is a well respected babywearing expert. Meet her anytime at an Ashton or Rexburg meeting.