Babywearing: the magazine | January/February 2016

the

SSC Issue LÍLLÉbaby Oscha Slings Kindercarry Gracie and Sam plus Onbu Love

+ a day in the life of

TANDEM TROUBLE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

BABYWEARINGTHEMAG.COM

table of contents

18

24 20

10 in every issue 2 FROM THE PUBLISHER 4 EDITOR’S NOTE 6 TRENDING Inspired style for the babywearing world. This issue: Color(s) of the year 8 CARRY ON Wrap carries to expand your repertoire. This issue: Buckle Onbu Back Carry 10 RETAIL THERAPY Items that make your life easier. This issue: Mug club

12 STEAL VS. SPLURGE Carriers to fit any budget. This issue: Wrap Conversion SSCs 26 WRAP DIARIES A day in the life of our favorite babywearers. This issue: Tandem Trouble

14 features

28 #BWTHEMAG Pics from you, our readers. This issue: Up and away we go

14 LÍLLÉBABY

30 WRAP UP Chat with inspiring industry insiders. This issue: Valerie of Gracie & Sam

20 OSCHA SLINGS — COORIE & CAIRIS

18 ONBU LOVE

24 KINDERCARRY

Photo credit: Three Plus Photogra phy threeplusphotography.com

from the publisher

THE WIDE WORLD OF

Soft Structured Carriers

Quick and convenient, soft structured carriers go anywhere with ease. SSCs are accessible to everyone, and they lack the intimidation that sometimes comes with a size 6 wrap. They are partner/daddy/ grandparent/caregiver friendly. And there are so many types, from the wrap-esque mei tais, or the simple, yet effective onbus, and the always favorite standard backpack-style SSC. There are even patterns to match every personality. You can convert your favorite handwoven to an SSC (with a linen base, converters can use almost anything these days) or customize a ready-to-wear carrier with fun accessories.

The possibilities are endless. There is a reason that the SSC market continues to be a cornerstone of the babywearing industry, and it stems from the function x fashion equation. We think we have included something for everyone in this issue!

ENJOY!

Sarah

publisher SARAH ZEENBERG sarah@babywearingthemag.com editor NOVIA CHANG editor@babywearingthemag.com art director SARAH ZEENBERG art@babywearingthemag.com business development DANNY ZEENBERG danny@babywearingthemag.com All information provided by Babywearing: the magazine, LLC, is intended for entertainment purposes only. Those who are new to babywearing should seek out the help of a local babywearing group or professional babywearing consultant. The publisher, editors, contributors and advertisers are not responsible in the actions or misuse of any individual on the basis of reading information contained in Babywearing: the magazine, LLC. The information contained herein is not a replacement for hands on instruction.

Babywearing: the magazine, LLC assumes no responsibility for the advertisers.

Babywearing: the magazine, LLC is not responsible for typographical or production errors or accuracy of information provided by its advertisers. Babywearing: the magazine, LLC reserves the right to refuse any advertiser.

Unauthorized use or reproduction of editorial content in any way whatsoever without the written consent of Babywearing: the magazine, LLC is strictly prohibited.

we want to hear from you!

Do you have a question about babywearing? A carry you can’t seem to nail? (I’m looking at you front double hammock.)

A question about how to approach a new babywearer? Want to get more invoived in your local babywearing group, but can’t seem to break-in? Email your most pressing babywearing questions to advice@babywearingthemag.com, and our resident expert may pick your question to answer in the next issue!

2

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Instagram

facebook.com/babywearingthemag

BWTHEMAG

babywearingthemag.com

editor’s note

on the COVER

for the love of

SSCs

Welcome to our soft structured carrier (SSC) issue! Without a doubt, SSCs are the most popular babywearing tool. Many love the ease and convenience SSCs offer, plus learning how to use the carriers is usually very easy. As more companies make toddler sized carriers, caregivers can extend their babywearing days if they choose. Carriers made for bigger children can be invaluable to families with children who have special needs.

There is also such a wide variety of SSCs to choose from. With a bit of research (and maybe a visit to your local meeting) every babywearer can find the SSC that works for them and their child. We hope you enjoy this issue and as always, wear all the babies!

ENJOY!

Novia

Sarah Rockwell learned about babywearing from a coworker years before she had her own children. When she became pregnant with her first child in 2009, she registered for a Balboa sling and original Baby Bjorn. When her son, Devin, was born in January 2010, Sarah realized that neither of these carriers was comfortable for hours of wearing a high-needs, colicky baby who needed to be held and bounced constantly. Thus began her babywearing journey.

After browsing MamaToto, Sarah decided to make her own simple piece of cloth (SPOC) , which she happily used for the first three months of her son’s life.

When Devin was four weeks old, Sarah attended the very first meeting of the Gainesville Babywearers, started by Naomi Sandoval, The Ergo Lady and a former NINO (Nine In, Nine Out) leader. Naomi introduced Sarah to TheBabyWearer.com (TBW) and a babywearing educator was born.

By the time Devin was 10 months old, Sarah was co-leading Gainesville Babywearers following Naomi’s retirement. Sarah had also amassed a collection of different types of carriers and was passionate about learning the tips and tricks for using each of them safely and comfortably. Eighteen months into her babywearing journey, Sarah arranged to have Heather Felker come to Florida to provide Babywearing Institute (BI) training to babywearing group leaders from around the state. In the next year, Sarah completed her Ph.D. in Special Education, moved to San Francisco, became a Volunteer Babywearing Educator (VBE) for Babywearing International (BWI) of the Bay Area, and joined the BWI Board of Directors.

Sarah later served as secretary of BWI, became a Master Babywearing Educator (MBE), and welcomed a little girl to her family in September 2013. Sarah has since moved back to Florida and is Vice President of Education for BWI of Gainesville. She also serves on the research and nominating committees for BWI, and on the editorial board of the Journal of Babywearing Research and Practice.

In addition, Sarah provides special education advocacy services and one to one babywearing consultations to families with special needs through her business, Special Connections Consulting.

Sarah is extremely passionate about the value of babywearing. She believes strongly in BWI’s mission of making babywearing a universally accepted practice and believes that free meetings and learning libraries are critical. Sarah is also passionate about social justice, believing that babywearing education and quality baby carriers should be accessible to families of all backgrounds and income levels. She is particularly interested in making babywearing more accessible to families with disabilities.

Sarah is wearing a LÍLLÉbaby COMPLETE in ColorMe.

trending

color(s) OF THE

year

4

3

2 8

1

6

9

For the first time, Pantone has chosen two shades as the Color of the Year – Rose Quartz and Serenity, a warm rose tone and a cool blue.

Want the pink and blue look?

Check out these carriers:

5

1 2 3 4

LENNY LAMB’S ZIG ZAG PINK in small chevron pattern combines pink and blue perfectly. 5mr.com OSCHA’S SEKAILOVE shawl’s teal linen contrasts with an antique rose for a vintage inspired look that can be worn with or without your baby. oschaslings.com PAVO’S HANA RIKA perfectly combines pretty periwinkle blue and light pink. pavoform.com TULA’S CAROUSEL carrier is as sweet as pink and blue can be. tulababycarriers.com While KOKADI’S ERNA IM WUNDERLAND pink and blue tones are bolder than the Pantone shades, this wrap has been a favorite of babywearers for years. heart-hugs.com YARO’S LA VITA ROSE BLUE offers more dramatic tones, but still the gorgeous contrast of pink and blue. facebook.com/groups/SlingoMamaCoop/ or slingomama.nl TEKHNI’S TITAN LENA offers more shades of pink and blue. etsy.com/shop/TekhniWovens DIDYMOS VENEZIA hot pink and teal blue are bright and bold. marsupial-mamas.com FIDELLA FLYTAI OUTERSPACE CANDY is perfect for the space ranger in your life. fidella.org

5

6 7 8 9

7

carry on

buckle onbu BACK CARRY

Onbus are great for diaper bag carriers, they fold up small but are great for carries in a pinch. The simple structure takes a little practice to get used to the lack of a waist belt.

Onbus can even be comfy with heavier kids if you get the positioning right.

NINJABU, A BABY GEEKERY EXCLUSIVE $195, babygeekery.com

HERE ARE SOME OF OUR FAVORITE BUCKLE ONBU TUTORIALS: ONBUHIMO - MADE BY MADAME JORDAN

by The Dukes - Babywearingphotography This lovely video shows all the pertinent details of tightening and adjusting. youtube.com/watch?v=HpQkpRf87TI

HOW TO BACK CARRY USING A FIDELLA ONBU BUCKLE CARRIER

by Chelsea Wybrow The popular chair version. youtube.com/watch?v=DjpqVURNb80

PUTTING ON A QUICK FIT ONBU by vanveenkim How to put on an onbu without a chair. youtube.com/watch?v=4KOw51hX048

*NOTE: Back carries in an SSC or Onbu are safe after an infant can sit well unassisted. Before this important milestone, there is a risk of positional asphyxiation.

8

babywearingthemag.com

the about Lift Memore Up Mamas, AtKristin, Lift Sarah Me and UpRachel, , we are than

www.babywearingtothrive.org liftmeupbabywearing@gmail.com #babyweartothrive @liftmeupbaby Lift Me Up

is a program providing

babywearing carriers to families who have

special needs.

children with

are excited to attend the 2016 International Babywearing are about just providingConference carriers, we in Atlanta!

Collectively and we have nine little boys, a passion education supporting families on for babywearing (6+ years each of babywearing their babywearing journey. Coming this experience), and a love for children with special needs, as caregivers and parents.

2015 Thrive Drive.....a summer....the We cannot wait to share the mission of Lift Me Up Babywearing International scholarship with those in attendance. The Lift Me Up: Babywearing To Thrive program provides babywearing carriers, for families who have children fundraiser education and support to families who have children with with special needs.

Follow our facebook special needs. page for we all of thehave exciting details!

The families serve amazing stories of how babywearing has impacted their lives. Through pictures and written testimonials we will take conference attendees along the recipients’ babywearing journeys.

Stop by the Lift Me Up table and introduce yourself and share your babywearing story with us! Feel free to ask questions about the #BabywearToThrive program, or general questions about babywearing children with special needs.

Lift Me Up, Inc. is an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) organization. Your donation may qualify as a charitable deduction, please consult with a tax advisor or the IRS to determine if your income tax circumstances allow for this deduction.

retail therapy

MUG

club

Parenting is almost as exhausting as it is rewarding. These are our favorite ways to keep our caffeine fix convenient and stylish!

TEXTILE CURATOR MUG This large 16 ounce mug declares your love of fabric for all the world to see. $16, babywearingthemag.com/shop

CASSIOPE WOVEN ETCHED LOGO MUG Show your brand pride with a feathery caffeine fix. $16, CassiopeWoven.com

BABYWEARING INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL MUG This stainless steel travel mug will keep your drink hot or cold. Top handles make it easy to carry when you’re on the go. $19.95, cafepress.com/dd/28547331

10

babywearingthemag.com

steal vs. splurge

wrap

CONVERSION SSC

There are a wide range of prices for SSCs, but there are options for every budget. Find a design that fits your personality (and wallet) and carry your little one in style.

l a e t s

LENNY LAMB ERGONOMIC FULL BUCKLE CARRIER IN CORAL REEF A fan favorite, Lenny Lamb conversions are soft and supportive. $141.99, 5mr.com

e g r u spl ARLO LYRA TULA Tula canvas carriers start at $149, but if you feel like carrying your precious cargo in something unique, then you can’t go wrong with a handwoven masterpeice. $600, tulababycarriers.com

14

babywearingthemag.com

LÍLLÉbaby LÍLLÉbaby was founded by Lisbeth Lehan, a designer who is passionate about products improving our quality of life. {BWTM} Who is behind LÍLLÉbaby? How did the name come about? {LLB} Like many other momtrepreneurs, LÍLLÉbaby started with seeing an opportunity to simplify my own life with the help of a product. When I was pregnant with my first son, I found myself craving the functionality of clean design – at the time, it was difficult to find simple, yet versatile products in the States that were on the same level. Things have certainly changed in the past few years – the opposite is probably true now.

COMPLETE was originally the project name when designing the carrier – I wanted to “do it right, or not at all” and make a carrier that was “perfect” in comfort, functionality, safety, quality and style. So together with a team that included parents, designers, a chiropractor, a pediatrician, a rock climber, and several safety experts, we got to work. We made a vow not to launch until we all agreed it was truly “complete.” That took a long time, with hours of observing and listening to parents, understanding what they wish for, what they need, how they “hack” and adapt things to suit their lifestyle interviewing. As parents, we are all brilliant innovators – we have to be – and this is what we have tried to learn from and build into our carriers. The result is today’s LÍLLÉbaby COMPLETE collection – the name stuck.

The name LÍLLÉbaby reflects the Scandinavian design inspiration (and also my heritage since I am Norwegian). LILLE translates to little, but is often used to describe something precious.

That’s why if you run a Google search for LÍLLÉbaby, you will find pictures posted by parents of their “lille baby” (precious baby) as the search result. {BWTM} How has LÍLLÉbaby grown since it started? What challenges and successes have you had along the way? {LLB} It has taken years to get to where we are today. While many products stay the same for decades, we have kept improving our carriers based on customer feedback, observations and ideas. Changing is hard, and incredibly time consuming, but worthwhile and necessary since our goal was to make the perfect carrier. It definitely takes a lot of energy! Being a perfectionist may be my biggest challenge.

There is never a good time to start a business, but when you are passionate about something, it gives you the drive that’s needed. It has been extremely hard work, but tremendously rewarding along the way. Watching more and more parents fall in love with babywearing, knowing they have a better experience, and continuing to learn from and design alongside them has been very rewarding.

As for successes, our work setup may be one of the things I am most proud of. A possibly little-known-fact is that LÍLLÉbaby is a work-from-home company – we’ve worked hard to keep it that way. My main goal is to allow everyone to be there for their children and work when it works for them. It adds to the quality of life for me, for my colleagues and for our families. It does not feel much different than working in an office, except for the occasional loud children in the background. The members of the LÍLLÉbaby team are some of the most passionate and hardworking individuals I have ever worked with. We have a lot of fun and when we meet, we meet because we want to, not because we have to.

{BWTM} What products do you offer? {LLB} We’ve been having a lot of fun introducing prints and collaborations this year – it has been wonderful to see people’s personalities come through in their choices!

The LÍLLÉbaby COMPLETE is the cornerstone of LÍLLÉbaby: our six-position, ergonomic Original, All Seasons, Airflow, and Embossed versions are at the heart of our mission.

Our toddler carrier, the CarryOn, extends the babywearing experience, designed for larger children who need or want to be carried.

The LÍLLÉbaby ESSENTIALS baby carrier was designed with accessibility in mind - a high-quality, affordable option to our customers in order to reach a broader range of families... and we’re adding many more soon! {BWTM} What makes the COMPLETE unique among SSCs? {LLB} I am very proud of the fact that our success was grown mainly by word of mouth. I think it is because the COMPLETE is different. COMPLETE is a bold name to give a baby carrier, and we have worked hard to make sure it lives up to the claim.

Baby products should be adjustable to fit the size of each individual baby, and soft structured carriers have always been limited in this area, especially compared to the flexibility of a wrap or sling. We designed the adjustable seat as a way to bridge the gap, and it has the added benefit of making six different carrying positions possible.

So much of what I love about the COMPLETE is in the details – for example, the neck support cradles newborn heads that need extra support, but the elasticity in the way it attaches keeps it from being too stiff or restrictive, allowing baby room to stretch and move. And then, as baby grows, the neck support doubles as a way to extend the height of the carrier, which means toddlers are better supported for a longer time. That’s the definition of COMPLETE for me – building as many helpful features into our carriers as possible so that they meet parents and caretakers needs as well as they possibly can!

And, of course, we all are sort of passionately in love with our patented lumbar support. It’s a game changer, and there is no doubt that it’s been helpful to many. {BWTM} How did the CarryOn come about? {LLB} Babywearers know and appreciate how precious and fleeting the carrying years are, and how valuable that closeness is. The CarryOn Toddler Carrier extends the babywearing years and is quite useful for parents of toddlers, both practically and as a way to preserve that extra closeness on the go. We are excited to be part of the movement to continue the babywearing experience

into toddlerhood, when desired and possible.

The CarryOn came about with the intention to create a tool for families with special needs who benefit from the ability to carry a larger child easily. This part of the CarryOn is particularly dear to me, because I spent years as a volunteer working with children with special needs and mobility restrictions. Carriers, like the CarryOn, with high weight limits can open up a world of possibilities for families navigating those challenges - whether it is simply getting some extended snuggling time, or to calm a child with sensory sensitivities, or carrying an alter-abled child on adventures that may have been otherwise unattainable. {BWTM} You’ve collaborated with tokidoki and several other brands – what inspires you to collaborate? {LLB} Collaborations are a way to bring a fun and fresh perspective into our line. Working with tokidoki has been amazing – the people behind the tokidoki brand are so inspired, so much fun, and a true joy to partner with! {BWTM} What does LÍLLÉbaby have in store for 2016 and beyond? {LLB} We will continue introducing new styles and products to complement our current collection. For example, our Tie-the-Knot-wrap, which offers some unique features to simplify and enhance the carrying experience. We’re excited to introduce it to you!

But our main focus for 2016 is education. One initiative is connecting with educators around the country and promoting their services to our customers.

Educators and consultants are amazing resources, but parents aren’t always aware that they can connect with skilled specialists in various areas. I can vividly remember carrying a colicky baby after a long day at work, and I want parents to know they aren’t alone in today’s connected society, they don’t have to figure everything out themselves. The benefit of a session with a sleep consultant, or a babywearing educator, or lactation expert, is immeasurable – more than just troubleshooting, it improves and enhances quality of life during those years. While most parents may understand the basics of baby carriers, educators can enhance and broaden their experience tremendously.

We are in a truly connected industry built up of passionate professionals who want and can make a difference. In 2016 we hope to build even more connections, friendships, and resources, and contribute our very best to this community. From MommyCon to BWI and lending libraries, the Center for Babywearing Studies to independent educators and consultants, there are so many resources that can benefit our customers. The babywearing community is a wonderful place to call home. It is impossible to not be passionate.

lillebaby.com

16

babywearingthemag.com

facebook.com/Lillebaby

january/february 2016

17

KOKOBU BY KOKOSKAA kokoskaa.com

The onbuhimo (onbu for short) is a soft structured carrier that has no waist belt, instead it uses only rings and wrap straps. Recently, onbus have seen a rise in popularity in the western babywearing world. In this issue, we talk to Thao Barrett and the administrators of the Facebook fan group, Onbu Love – All Things Onbuhimo, about this traditional carrier that is new to many.

18

babywearingthemag.com

{BWTM} What is an onbu? {THAO} You pretty much have it right. There are also other versions that use buckles/ladder locks and webbing instead of rings and wrap straps. {BWTM} Tell us about your Facebook group, Onbu Love – All Things Onbuhimo. How long ago and why was it formed? {THAO} In early 2015, I discovered onbus on the Wrap You In Love website. I became somewhat obsessed with finding and trying one of these carriers. At first, I searched Facebook for a group because there is literally a group for EVERYTHING. The only group I found was a German language based Onbu fan group, so I joined. While there were helpful babywearers who did translating for me and answered some of my questions, I found it very challenging to get all the information I wanted due to the language barrier.

I saw a wrap conversion onbu in a brand-specific fan group, so I posted there looking for information on where/how to get one. The converter saw my post and contacted me, and that’s how I met Jaime Franco of Rainbow ‘Stache Carriers. We instantly hit it off and agreed that there was a need for an English language onbu group. I created this group in May 2015 hoping others with more information would join. Ironically, I felt a huge responsibility as the group’s creator to provide that information for people joining since there was so little out there.

New to onbus myself, I researched and used Jaime as my mentor and we collaborated to create the group’s information files. To my surprise, the group’s membership increased pretty quickly! Not long after we got started, we added Meredith, Sacha and then Kate to help out with administration since the group had become so large. I’ve been so lucky to have this admin team from early on. I was definitely the most inexperienced and needed all of their expertise to gain the knowledge I now have. {BWTM} How are onbus different from SSCs? {THAO} The main difference is the lack of a waistband.

This design impacts how the onbu is worn compared to a SSC with a waistband. A waistband distributes your baby’s weight to your hips, so without that support in an onbu, you carry baby’s weight on your upper torso and shoulders. It feels most similar to a rucksack carry in a woven wrap. {BWTM} What is the advantage of using an onbu over other carriers? {THAO} Three words: no muffin top. Haha! I always hated how the waistband of my SSC dug into the top of my jeans. I could never get it to sit right and really never liked the feeling of so much bulk around my waist or that dreaded muffin top. Some people have medical issues that restrict them from wearing soft structured carriers with waistbands. The onbu gives them an option to still wear and keep their baby close. Many pregnant moms love the onbu because they can still wear while keeping the baby

bump unrestricted and happy. Compared to a SSC, an onbu is minimal and compact. It fits nicely into your bag for traveling light. {BWTM} What are the different styles of onbu? {THAO} 1. Traditional ring onbus (rings or loops at the base of the carrier with long wrap/fabric straps at the shoulders. 2. Reverse onbus where the rings are at the shoulders and long straps are at the base. The main difference between the two is how you tighten (pulling up vs. pulling down). 3.

Buckle onbus are most similar to reverse onbus in design, but instead of rings and wrap straps, they use buckles or ladder locks and webbing as the fastening mechanisms.

MILLIEPOD milliepod.com.au

{BWTM} What are the age and weight requirements for onbus? How do I choose a size? {THAO} Since the onbu has such little structure, the recommendation is to only wear if baby is able to sit unassisted. This is generally around six months of age, but the developmental milestone is more important than age/weight/size. Choosing a size can be tricky, but we always recommend taking the time to do so properly as it’s more important with this type of carrier than other SSCs or a mei tai. We have a file in the group that details how to measure your child and size accordingly. {BWTM} How have new regulations regarding soft structured carriers affected onbus? {THAO} I’m not sure there’s been much of a change as the rise in popularity of onbus seems to have somewhat coincided with the new regulations taking effect. Regulations seem to have the most impact on the U.S. market in general (not just with onbus). They make it a bit more challenging for U.S. consumers to get their hands on some of the beautiful onbus out there, but several converters have popped up within the last year (stateside and overseas) that have tested and started selling compliant onbus within/to the U.S. {BWTM} As far as compliance goes, what should I look for when shopping for an onbu? {THAO} Onbus are tested to the same standards as soft structured carriers (ASTM F2236-14) so you should look for all the same things as you would for compliance on a soft structured carrier or mei tai. The three major things to look for: all new carriers should come with safety literature, a product registration card and a warning label that is permanently affixed to the carrier. The literature and warning label have very specific language that is required and the label has specific formatting (down to the font size used) that is required.

BELLA BONILLA CARRIERS bellabonilla.com

2LAMBIE CREATIONS 2lambie.com

{BWTM} In your opinion, what is the future of the onbu market? {THAO} You know, it’s really hard to say, but if our group membership is any indication I think the market will continue to grow.

facebook.com/groups/onbulove

CUTE AWAKING etsy.com/shop/cuteawaking

Oscha

SLINGS Coorie & Cairis Oscha Slings is a family business based in the East of Scotland. For years, the company has been known for their fine jacquard woven wraps and dye work. Recently, Oscha has introduced new products: mei tai carriers, the Coorie and the Cairis.

They combine luxury woven sling fabrics with tailored style & ergonomic comfort. Developed over a number of years, the Coorie and Cairis have been through rigorous testing to ensure they not only meets safety standards, but the high standards of experienced babywearers.

20

babywearingthemag.com

{BWTM} Before we talk about Oscha’s new soft structured carriers (SSC), please tell us about Oscha. Who is behind the scenes of the company and how was it started? {OSCHA} I used carriers with my daughter, but never really got into wrapping, to be honest I didn’t understand why you would go to the bother as they seemed so much more hassle! When my daughter was 16 months I gave birth to premature twin boys and slings truly became indispensable. I also came to understand the benefits of a woven wrap – the perfect adjustability and support they offer - for tiny babies this was especially important, I appreciated the art of tying them and the aesthetics.

At that time (we began researching in 2008) there weren’t many wrap companies out there, none in the UK or the US, and so the available range was very limited. My dad (Mike) and I have both worked as fine artists in our time and we began to talk about the possibility of making a design-led wrap company. We wanted to focus on creating wraps that the parent could feel stylish in – hence the tag line ‘Wrap Artists’, when we first started in 2011.

We worked from our houses to begin with and things grew very fast – it was pretty intense for a time with our homes filled with woven fabric, babies crawling over piles of post bags and me pretty much permanently attached to my computer as I tried to do all of the customer service, not helped by some serious website problems, which some of your readers might remember!

We’ve got a small team now, which includes my partner doing the finances, a good friend from university who is the manager and my mum who is the dogsbody.

We have an exclusive relationship with our weavers, where our loom is installed, and we work closely with them to develop our fabrics and to source ethical and organic yarns.

We manufacture everything in-house and check each sling individually; we found it was the only way to keep on top of the quality, which our customers had come to expect of us. {BWTM} Tell us about the process of designing the SSCs. {OSCHA} It’s been a long road, with a lot of prototypes and testers along the way! My starting point for all of our carriers has been to try to get as close to the comfort of a wrap

as possible, especially to reduce digging at the waist, and to have something that looks aesthetically pleasing front and back.

When I first designed the Coorie waist, there actually wasn’t any ring style waists available on wrap conversions (you can see how long we’ve been working on it!), but the difference and benefit of the Coorie waist is that it utilizes a whole wrap width of woven sling fabric, which flares out from intricate pleats – this means that there are no narrow areas to dig in, there is a wide, naturally padded band of fabric that can be adjusted along the length and width and it provides a flattering silhouette. {BWTM} How have new American regulations regarding wrap converted carriers affected Oscha and the development of the SSCs? {OSCHA} We think that the regulations are fantastic for promoting how safe babywearing is and ensuring everyone understands the simple guidelines for safe babywearing. Apart from this, it was never in doubt that we would have our carriers tested to the new standard as we very much value our American customers and wanted to make them available in the US. I have to admit that the details of the requirements were pretty challenging to get to grips with, luckily the testing company we’ve used has been very helpful. {BWTM} How do you choose which wraps will be converted to Coorie and Cairis? {OSCHA} When our fabric comes back from finishing, I select some that I feel would work well. However, as we’ve found that they take such a long time to make, we are considering other approaches such as semi-custom – in which case we would make available a limited range of wrap fabric and customers could choose from it and select the size they would like. {BWTM} How do your mei tais differ from other SSCs? {OSCHA} Waist comfort and style – I always hated the way the webbing would dig in and give me a ‘muffin top’, I was determined that we would find a way around this! For the Coorie, it is the wide band of fabric and ring closing. For the Cairis carriers, we’ve developed the Strata-linea® Waistband (patent pending) – this has a padded fabric ‘tongue’ that extends past the buckle and

around the waist; it’s deceptively simple but has a big impact on the functionality and comfort of the carrier.

I also wanted to make all the carriers look pretty, front and back, so you don’t just get a load of webbing and buckles on one side – everything should match in and buckles, etc., should be discrete for an elegant finish. {BWTM} What is the advantage of using a mei tai over other carriers? {OSCHA} I would say that the main benefit is that it adds an extra level of adjustability and support – there aren’t fixed strap lengths and you can spread the strap fabric. Mei tais are easy and fast to use and they retain some of that snugly, wrapped up feeling. {BWTM} Do you have any other big plans up your sleeve? What does Oscha have in store for 2016 and beyond? {OSCHA} Right now we’re working on the toddler Cairis – I wanted the baby Cairis to be a really accessible carrier and to be one that can be used from birth, so we designed it specifically to go up to around 18-24 months. I wanted to make the toddler version ideal for carrying bigger kids so we’ve been working on the waistband further, developing the body and the width of the flare straps. We’ll hopefully complete our full buckle carrier too, which has been the longest in development as it’s the hardest to get close to the comfort of a wrap and ensure a stylish look.

My mum, who does all the 100% English linen grad and art dye work from her house will be moving soon and won’t have space for her dye tank! So we’ve been researching silk screen printing for nearly two years now and we hope to be able to move over to that soon, this also opens up some exciting possibilities for these cool summer weight wraps.

We brought out a lot of new products over the last year or two, including blankets, Ceò scarves and the two new carriers, so we’d actually like to spend a bit of time consolidating and really working on developing our core product – beautiful baby wraps! There’s also a project directly related to our wrap design that has been in discussion for some time, that we’re really hoping will come to fruition this year, but I can’t say anything more until we reach agreement!

oschaslings.com facebook.com/Oscha.Slings

january/february 2016

23

KINDER

carry

Kindercarry, a US based family business, has been making baby carriers for close to 10 years.

All carriers are proudly made in the Midwest.

24

babywearingthemag.com

{BWTM} Who is behind the scenes at Kindercarry? How did the name Kindercarry come about? {KC} We have a small staff that consists of friends and family, with myself and my husband. Our team consists of work at home parents who make our carriers for us.

The name Kindercarry was inspired by a trend toward European styled carriers. I wanted a name that reflected the European influence that many of us new makers were looking to as we were designing higher end, fully featured carriers. {BWTM} How did you get started? {KC} I was in the clothing industry for 10 years but stopped when my oldest child was born. I used carriers with her, but when my second was born I looked into other types of carriers and new brands. Babywearing was just starting to expand as new businesses were forming. I had ideas for what I would like in a carrier and was not able to find what I wanted. With my background in sewing and design, I started making carriers for myself, and friends started asking for me to make carriers for them. It grew from there, by word of mouth, and via TheBabyWearer.com. It was a very exciting time in the babywearing business world.

{BWTM} How has your company grown since you started? {KC} I started out as a one woman business in 2005 as Magic Sling, and rebranded at the end of 2007, to become Kindercarry.

For several years, I made each and every Kindercarry mei tai and Kinderpack. I purposely grew it slowly and organically, being careful to never take on debt or take on more than I could handle. I was well versed in risk management and I made sure that my growth was equivalent to the expansion. Kindercarry sales have doubled every year, and with that I had to find new ways to meet that demand.

Every time we expand, the demand increases more! It is a wonderful problem to have.

{BWTM} How do you decide which canvas and prints will be used for your carriers? {KC} We use one line of brushed canvas based on its perfect weight, softness, and strength for the Kinderpack. We are fortunate that the largest provider of canvas products in the US, is local to us!

I personally choose all the prints. It is a simple process. If it speaks to me, then I buy it! My unique business model allows me to use almost an endless amount of prints, so I can purchase as many prints as I love. We are constantly introducing new prints, and some prints may only appear one time, in very limited numbers. It really is such a fun part of my job.

{BWTM} What challenges and successes have you had along the way? {KC} The biggest challenge is balancing motherhood with business responsibilities. Being a work at home mom (WAHM) is NOT a glamorous life. It is extremely hard. Especially when your children are tiny. My children have grown with the business, and as they have gotten older, it has become much easier to run the business. I spent many evenings with a baby on my back, and many late nights sewing after the kids were in bed. I was very lucky to have such a supportive husband, who encouraged me to keep going, and helped in every way that he could so that Kindercarry could grow in the early days.

My business has been a continued string of success. I am so incredibly lucky to have such a loyal fan base, and the ability to remain current and relevant over these last eight years. It amazes me each and every day. I am continually humbled.

{BWTM} Will you ever offer wrap converted SSCs? {KC} Never say never.

{BWTM} What are some of your favorite moments from the past year? {KC} In the summer of 2014, we made the huge move and bought a building for the business. Up until then, I had been a WAHM. It was scary, but necessary. It was the best thing that we ever did! We have a 6000 sq. ft. elementary school converted into our offices, warehouse, distribution center, and production facility. At the same time, my husband retired from our restaurant and began working full-time at Kindercarry. Both of these moves enabled our biggest expansion thus far.

This past September, we had our very first open house event. It was an incredible time for all involved. We can’t wait to do it again! {BWTM} Tell us about the sizes you offer. Very few companies offer SSCs in a preschool size. Why do you offer a carrier in this size? {KC} We offer four sizes based on the child’s size, and two sizes based on the parent’s size, so a total of eight sizes. It can be difficult to keep all of these sizes in production, but we love that our carriers can comfortably fit so many different parents and children. The preschool size is the least in demand, but we never plan on discontinuing it. The families that purchase preschool size, NEED preschool size. We feel honored to serve these families, and want to help provide an important tool in the parenting toolbox for families of children with special needs. We have a relationship with groups that provide carriers to families with special needs as well.

The preschool size is an important resource for these families, and may be the only way that some children are able to feel safe and connected, especially in public. {BWTM} What is Koolnit and why do you use it in your carriers. {KC} Koolnit is a technical mesh fabric that is knitted specifically to wick away moisture, and to disperse heat. Our three-panel design easily lends itself to the Koolnit center panel. Our customers love that they can choose between our full panel print and the Koolnit version. It helps to keep baby cooler in the hotter months, but it can be worn all year long. And we are just now introducing five new custom colors to match our canvas!

{BWTM} Have new regulations regarding SSCs affected Kindercarry? {KC} Not too terribly. We flew through testing with flying colors as we were already doing many of the things that the regulations enacted.

Child safety is extremely important to me, and the Kinderpack was already a very safe product. We are glad that the US enacted the regulations, as it helps to keep babies safe. {BWTM} Do you have any other big plans up your sleeve? What does Kindercarry have in store for 2016 and beyond? {KC} We are dedicated to continue making our high quality, all US made and locally produced Kinderpacks. We plan on expanding again, as we do each year, and hope to be able to meet the needs of our customers even better. We would love to be able to sell a Kinderpack to everyone that wants one. We hope that 2016 will put us that much closer to meeting our production goals.

mykinderpack.com facebook.com/Kindercarry

wrap diaries

TANDEM I am a busy mom of three. When Mother Nature gifted me a set of twins at 35, it was time to dust off some old skills. My oldest, now 16, was attached at the hip as an infant. At the time, we wore ring slings and narrow based carriers.

With the birth of twins, necessity required me to branch out and broaden my babywearing horizons.

Within two weeks of giving birth, dad and all of our help went back to work, and the challenge of keeping both babies simultaneously happy, began. Babywearing was the obvious solution but the real challenge was how to wear them both. The only answer for two tiny, five pound babies was to learn to wrap. Now, not a day goes by that we don’t wear, even at 2.5 years-old, they still ask for “uppy-down.”

Robins Hip Carry in Fidella Rock’n’Rolla Blue Mei Tai and Cari Slings Solidarity wrap scrap tote

trouble Bijou Wear Wild Thing Kiss in Autumn’s Reinforced Rucksack Carry

Our days begin with a morning walk after breakfast. I prefer to wrap so that I can quickly accommodate both girls if someone becomes tired. We usually get about 1.5 miles in for the morning walk, with the girls taking turns for who is up on back. We also use a single stroller for our longer walks.

With a combined weight of up to 56 pounds, tandem wearing is now reserved as car transfers for sleeping babies.

After our morning walk, we head out to run a few errands and storytime at our favorite, local bookstore. My car stash includes one each ring sling, mei tai, and a size six wrap. The mei tai offers us quick ups and a positioning similar to a wrap, so it is one of our favorite carriers. Quick dashes into the shop for some spices, a stop at the pharmacy and storytime are made so much easier with the mei tai. Once inside for storytime, I can easily take my worn baby down to explore and play with her friends. A snack at the cafe next door sets moods right as we hop on to our next adventure.

26

babywearingthemag.com

Front Reinforced Torso Rebozo in Bijou Wear Wild Thing Kiss

On our way home, we need to get groceries for the week, but we are approaching naptime so this has to be a quick trip. The produce manager loves to give the girls fresh fruit, so that buys me about 45 minutes to get the shopping done and get through the checkout. I opt for a size six woven wrap for the grocery store. With the most flexibility in wear, the woven wrap allows me to vary my carries as needed. I wear baby in a front carry for the grocery store to allow her access to nursing if needed. She is shy and prefers to burrow into the wrap and hide from the well meaning retiree.

After lunch and a nap, these active girls deserve a little time to stretch, run, and jump. Our local park is less than half a mile from the house so a short walk gets us there in no time.

The ring sling is my carrier of choice for the park. It allows me to accommodate the up and back down independence of toddlers, including impromptu nursing sessions if needed.

One of my babies loves the swings while her sister isn’t a fan.

Keeping her up and safe from being knocked down is easy with a quick back carry in the ring sling. My hands are free for my toddler who is enjoying the swing while giving her sister the comfort she needs.

Wrapsody ring sling Nerissa

An after dinner walk rounds out our day and allows the ladies time to relax. This is my favorite time of the day, we have taken an evening walk since they were just three days old. I look forward to this time most. They frequently relax and lay their heads against my shoulders, nuzzle in with their thumb and enjoy being carried.

tandemtrouble.com facebook.com/tandemtrouble

Front Carry in Naked Panda Designs Mesh SSC

#bwthemag

away

up and

we go

SSCs are as simple as 1-2-3, making a quick uppy a breeze.

28

babywearingthemag.com

follow us on instagram {BWTHEMAG} and tag your photos with #bwthemag for a chance to be featured in the next issue! january/february 2016

29

wrap up

a chat with

VALERIE of Gracie and Sam

Gracie and Sam combines a passion for babywearing, attachment parenting, quality craftsmanship, and textiles to create handcrafted baby carriers.

The company believes a quality baby carrier is an investment that will be used daily for a year or two – it should be sturdy and beautiful and something you love! {BWTM} Who is behind Gracie and Sam and what is the story behind the name? {G&S} Gracie and Sam are my children.

Sam is six and was born while I was living with my husband in India. While pregnant, I’d learned about babywearing. There aren’t many carriers available in India and locals just tie their scarves into a makeshift sling if they want to wear. I downloaded some DIY instructions for a mei tai. By the time Sam was born, I had three to four mei tais made and tweaked the pattern a bit more after he was born. I also made them for fellow expats in Mumbai, continuing to adjust things as I got feedback. Three years later, we were in the US and Gracie was born.

I went to buy a carrier but when I tried it on, I discovered that I preferred my design for my wearing style and body shape. A few friends suggested I make them available on Etsy. Since Sam started my babywearing journey and Gracie was the start of my earnest effort to make a business of it, it seemed fitting to name the company after them. For the first two years, it was just me, then my husband joined me, and in 2015, my aunt and a long-time family friend began sewing with me. We’ve pretty much kept it a family-style business with the children still

30

babywearingthemag.com

informing style and design decisions. {BWTM} How did you get started? {G&S} I began with a shop on Etsy in 2012. After a couple months and getting a bit of traction, I approached a blog about a review. She asked if I was CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) compliant. I said, “what’s that?” and began my research. I joined the BCIA (Baby Carrier Industry Alliance) right away and, with their help, came into compliance fairly quickly. I started with cotton mei tais and found my niche with indie-designed, geeky prints. From there, I dove into the niche of linen carriers for warm weather wearing.

I explored wrap conversions because I was developing a textile-lovers relationship with the wraps and wanted a chance to play with them more while also bringing my quilting past into the artistic side of it.

That’s where I really found my “voice” in the conversion world and developed my own recognizable style. {BWTM} How have new regulations regarding wrap converted carriers affected you? {G&S} The implementation of the regulations

really drew a line in the sand for how Gracie and Sam, LLC would affect our family’s lives. Until mid-2014, it was a business I had grown on my own and was very proud of, but I didn’t really have a solid vision of its future. As I participated in the chatter amongst other manufacturers and weighed the financial investment it would take to remain compliant in a wide enough variety of carrier styles and wrap choices, we had to make a decision. Take down the shingle, call it a good run, and move along -or- dive in and make this a full-on venture complete with business plan, intentions for growth, and further innovations. In the end, it was more a change in mindset that came from the regulations. There were a lot of really talented, established converters who dropped out of the market. For someone like me who was still relatively new, it catapulted my business and reputation forward. I looked at it as big shoes to fill and worked hard to live up to unexpected popularity that came with being one of the few left in the field. {BWTM} What products do you offer? {G&S} With the original collection of plain and geeky fabrics, we offer the full tie cotton

mei tai, the half buckle linen mei tai, and linen full buckles and buckle onbus.

Within wrap conversions, I do mei tais with a few waist and shoulder styles (using cotton wraps), and full buckle and buckle onbus using any type of wrap (the buckle carriers use an inner skeleton that allow me a great deal of flexibility with the wrap portion) {BWTM} Which of your carriers are most popular? {G&S} The full buckle is hands down our most popular style of carrier. Full buckle wrap conversions are the most coveted. {BWTM} How does one score a slot for a conversion? {G&S} Do all products need a slot? I use a wait list now for conversion slots and am trying to keep it down to a few months after last year’s explosion of a really long list. I release new wait list positions every few weeks and try to do it via different methods. There’s the fastest fingers stocking for the adrenaline rush babywearer with good internet, and random draw because I’m a country girl and know what slow internet does to a competitive cart situation.

Only the half and full conversions (any style) need a slot. Full buckle and buckle onbu semi conversions (panel only) are regularly available as a “Build Your Own” custom carrier, and any of the carriers using shop fabrics (the geeky lines) are also regularly available. The non-wait list carriers are all made to order because they all allow a certain amount of customization in features and sizing but have only a two-three week turnaround time. {BWTM} Do you have a favorite carrier? {G&S} My Gracie and Sam full buckle wrap conversion using a Natibaby cotton-hemp blend wrap for three year-old Gracie is the one I keep going back to. We are expecting another child in May and I’m having a lot of fun narrowing down and deciding what I want for my next favorite carrier, though! {BWTM} What does Gracie and Sam have in store for 2016 and beyond? {G&S} For our regularly available carriers, we’ve decided as a sewing team- all of whom have quilting backgrounds, to start using batik fabrics and bring this aspect of our various textile arts histories into the collections. We’re also playing with expanding some of the print options - creating a “geeky” Sam line and a more whimsical “Gracie” line to reach a wider range of tastes within the babywearing community.

For conversions, we’ll continue to work closely with our customers so each carrier is a couture experience in designing and bringing a vision to life.

We are playing with some other new ideas but we’re keeping those close to the heart for now!

gracieandsamshop.com facebook.com/GracieAndSam