Facebook Fan Giveaway

Become a fan and invite all your friends for a chance to win a free pair of baby leggings. If KangarooBabe gets 100 fans by August 15th I will randomly choose one lucky fan to receive their choice of baby leggings from the shop.

Troubleshooting Video

Here's a great video for troubleshooting your ring sling.

4th of July Sale for Twitter Followers

Follow me on twitter for $10 off any sling and $3 off any other item in my shop. Excludes sale items. Sale through July 4th. Write 'follower' in the notes to seller.

My First Craft Fair

I had my first craft fair last month. It was a lot of fun. I learned a lot by talking to some veteran crafters. I will definitely set up my booth differently next time. I shared my booth with my friend LeTara. Check out her etsy shop isabumz.etsy.com. She makes the girly onesies, dresses, baby sleeping bags, nursing covers, and embellished burp cloths. LeTara also does custom portraits.

You'll notice that there are lots of new things here; I'll be adding them to my shop soon.

These are my blankie friends; aren't they cute?

Here we have some tutus, baby leggings, tie onsies, dress, tie dye onesie, ruffle but onesie and...

Growth charts....

And of course ring slings!

Sling Review

Donielle from RaisingPeanuts.com posted a review of one of my ring slings this week. She has a great blog so check it out.

Click the link below to read her review.

http://www.raisingpeanuts.com/2009/06/babywearing-review-kangaroobabe-ring.html

Baby wearing videos

The best source if you're having trouble is Youtube. Here are a few links. How to thread and put on a ring sling:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbfWp0c4Zlg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9pfERUpwmg&feature=related Breastfeeding: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkocmgaaXJQ&feature=related Newborn/cradle carry:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF-KzqQ4jGk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvyQE5ij-os&feature=related Tummy to Tummy/Snuggle hold: (legs in) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFJxZYXp5nA&feature=related

(legs out)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bkb9vZklVpk

Kangaroo/Front Facing hold:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yd_wgV3TDJo

Hip Carry:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QQf8e-tWTM

Safety Hip/Back Carry:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ufq_QLjHbFk&feature=PlayList&p=393914C2109C7357&index=0&playnext=1

Attachment Parenting

I came across this blog for Attachment Parenting International today: www.attachmentparenting.org/blog/

I've been practicing attachment parenting.  It's not something that I set out to do.  It's just what came naturally to me.   

I thought I would share with you their Eight Principles of Parenting.  If you are interested in Attachment parenting or just want to learn more about it, I encourage you to click on this link to read more about each principle.  

1.  Prepare for Pregnancy, Birth, and Parenting

2.  Feed with Love and Respect

3.  Respond with Sensitivity

4.  Use Nurturing Touch

5.  Ensure Safe Sleep, Physically and Emotionally

6.  Provide Consistent and Loving Care

7.  Practice Positive Discipline

8.  Strive for Balance in Personal and Family Life 

CPSIA Update

Good news!  The Commission has voted for a “Stay of Enforcement of Certain Testing and Certification Requirements of CPSIA” — which means that the burden of lead testing and certification has been suspended for a year while they take more time to review the rules and plan enforcement! 

It's about time

I'd been putting it off but I finally got around to making my personal sling.  It's not that I hadn't made one for myself.  In fact I re-did my first one 3 times. Then I found the perfect fabric.  I think it really suits my personality.  This one started out one sided and I just got around to making it reversible.  It was too dull before I added the solid side.  I also shortened it and made it a little wider; unfortunately it's about 4 inches shorter than I would prefer.  Note the label;  I ordered them from MonkeyGraphics.Esty.com.  She was wonderful to work with and they turned out great.  Lets just hope the CPSIA gets amended so that I can get some use out of the 150 labels I ordered.  

Save Handmade Toys and Small Businesses from the CPSIA

The CPSIA is the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.  It will take effect on February 10th.  Congress is trying to pass a one size fits all solution for a problem that was caused by mass toy makers who outsourced to China.  It's not only going to affect toys; it regards ALL products for children under 12.   This is something that, if passed as it is currently written will devastate small businesses, artisans, and work at home moms.  The act is retroactive so thrift stores, consignment shops, and used book stores will go out of business.  To save money, Grant and I have always tried to buy our larger baby toys used for Elliott.  We wont be able to to that anymore.  Businesses will be forced to pay thousands of dollars to test each batch of their products before they can be sold.  It will be impossible for small businesses to comply. Prices will rise.  I will not be able to sell my products on Etsy anymore.  Yes, I want toys and children's products to be safe; but punishing small businesses and artisans for mistakes multi-million dollar companies made is not the answer.

I've written my senator and congressman; and you should too.  There is a sample letter, links to contact your congressman and senator, and a petition you can sign here 

So many people can say it better than I can, so check out  this link.

Also, read SuperNaturalMomma's blog about it.  

Look Mom, No Hands

Hands free, doing dishes with Elliott in a ring sling, using a back carry.

Babywearing Safety

• Stay aware of your environment. Watch for tripping hazards and dangerous items that baby may reach out and grab.
  
• Allow more space for maneuvering to avoid bumping into doorways, etc.  (This is especially important when using the safety hip carry.  Trust me, I know)
• Make sure that your baby's airway is not blocked by fabric or the position of his or her head.
• Certain activities may not be safe while wearing your baby.  For instance, when using a knife, cooking over a hot stove or when eating or drinking something hot.
• To prevent a sore back make sure the sling is spread out wide across you shoulder and back.  This will distribute the weight.  When bending over always bend at the knees and keep at least one hand on baby.
• Babywearing takes practice.  Keep one hand on your baby until you feel secure.  You may need to take baby out, readjust and start over if you are uncomfortable.

Benefits of Babywearing

Babywearing may seem like a new fad but it's been practiced for centuries. All over the world, mothers are using shawls, scarves, and long cloths to carry their babies. In fact, in Bali, babies are carried for the first 6 months of their lives. They literally don't touch the ground until their ground-touching ceremony is held. Babywearing declined in the Western World due to the misconception that babies will be spoiled by so much attention.

The Benefits

-- Babywearing organizes and regulates the baby.  Dr. Sears suggests that, "It's easier to understand babywearing when you think of baby's gestation as lasting 18 months -- 9 months in the womb and at least 9 more months outside. By extending the womb experience, the babywearing (parent) provide an external regulating system that balances the irregular and disorganized tendencies of the baby."

-- Babywearing reduces crying and colic.  Dr. Sears says, "Babywearing reduces crying by it's organizing effect on the baby's vestibular system...  Vestibular stimulation (rocking for example) has been shown by long experience and detailed research to be the best crying stopper.  Vestibular stimulation occurs during babywearing, allowing baby to click into the familiar experiences that were imprinted upon his developing mind during life inside the womb.  The familiar overcomes the unfamiliar to which he is now exposed.  This lessens baby's anxiety and lessens the need to fuss."

-- Babywearing enhances learning.  Babies spend less time crying and in a state of quiet alertness.  During this time parents have more opportunity to interact with their baby.  Babies are more involved.  Dr. Sears states, "Baby sees what mother or father sees, hears what they hear, and in some ways feels what they feel.  Proximity increases interaction, and baby can be constantly learning...  Baby learns much in the arms of a busy person."

The following is taken directly from wikipedia:

• Mothers' progesterone (mothering hormone) is increased through physical contact with the infant, leading to a more intimate maternal bond, easier breastfeeding and better care, thus lowering the incidence of postpartum depression and psychosomatic illness^{[citation needed]}.
• Infants who are carried are calmer because all of their primal/survival needs are met. The caregiver can be seen, heard, smelled, touched, tasted, provide feeding and the motion necessary for continuing neural development, gastrointestinal and respiratory health and to establish balance (inner ear development) and muscle tone is constant.^[1]
• Infants are more organized. Parental rhythms (walking, heartbeat, etc.) have balancing and soothing effects on infants.
• Infants are "humanized" earlier by developing socially. Babies are closer to people and can study facial expressions, learn languages faster and be familiar with body language.^[2]
• Contrary to western cultural myths, independence is established earlier.^[1]
• Attachment between child and caregiver is more secure.^[3]
• Decreases risk of positional plagiocephaly ("flat head syndrome") caused by extended time spent in a car seat and by sleeping on the back. Sleeping on the back is recommended to decrease the risk of SIDS. Cranial distortion resulting from non-vehicular time in car seats has shown to be more severe than in children who develop plagiocephaly from back-lying on a mattress. ^[4] Concern over plagiocephaly has also led the American Academy of Pediatrics to recommend that infants “should spend minimal time in car seats (when not a passenger in a vehicle) or other seating that maintains supine positioning. ^[5] None of the babywearing positions require infants to lie supine while being carried. Infants can even be worn while they sleep, also decreasing sleeping time spent in a supine position.

References:

The Baby Book by William Sears, M.D and Martha Sears, R.N.
Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babywearing)