Babywearing: the magazine | June/July 2015

men of Babywearing

Danny the Babywearing Dad, Slingdad Dom, The Kilted Babywearer, Ryan of Tiny Tiger Baby, Craig of Heartstring Handwovens, & Alex from Beco

+OUR TIPS

for SUMMER

WEARING

JUNE/JULY 2015

BABYWEARINGTHEMAG.COM

table of contents

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in every issue

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2 FROM THE PUBLISHER 4 EDITOR’S NOTE 6 TRENDING Inspired style for the babywearing world.

This issue: Baby, it’s hot outside!

8 CARRY ON Wrap carries to expand your repertoire. This issue: Wrapping in the summer 10 RETAIL THERAPY Items that make your life easier. This issue: Keep your cool

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26 HIP, HIP, HOORAY! Seasonally inspired babywearing items.

This issue: Let’s hear it for the boys 28 #BWTHEMAG Pics from you, our readers.

This issue: Real men of babywearing 30 CARRIED AWAY Wrapscapes that inspire. This issue: Surf’s Up

features

32 WRAP UP Chat with inspiring industry insiders. This issue: Alex of Beco

18 TINY TIGER BABY

12 BABYWEARING SUPERHEROES

22 HEARTSTRING HANDWOVENS

from the publisher

publisher SARAH ZEENBERG sarah@babywearingthemag.com editor NOVIA CHANG editor@babywearingthemag.com

THE MALE

perspective

In this issue we salute all the babywearing men out there. I’m proud to be a babywearing father and couldn’t be happier my wife introduced me to such an amazing lifestyle.

I remember my father was always willing to carry me as a child. He would have probably carried me until he could no longer lift me if I’d continued to ask. I always remembered feeling safe and feeling loved and I still associate those feelings with my father to this day. When my wife suggested the idea of babywearing there was no hesitation. “Just show me how, pick a color and let’s do it.” I’ve since been blessed with mustaches and pirate ships battling krakens, but I won’t hesitate for a second to don my wife’s rainbow hearts if it’s the difference between uppies and an upset toddler.

Today, we have so much going on and are always looking to multitask. Babywearing affords me that ability to stay connected and close with my son — like my father was with me — and still make it through the day. Every parent understands the struggle, whether it be a wrap, a carrier, a stroller, or even a shopping cart. And every babywearing parent understands the unique connection you feel when you can hold your child close enough to kiss and never have to put them down.

This issue is for every babywearing dad I’ve high fived, fist bumped, and proudly acknowledged with a slow nod and for all those I haven’t had the good fortune to meet yet.

ENJOY!

Danny

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.

on the cover

Danny Lebron is a husband to wife, Cleo, and father to toddler daughter, Luna, with a new arrival expected in September ‘15. Danny enjoys sharing his ordinary experiences as he braves parenthood one day at a time; he especially enjoys advocating for babywearing, breastfeeding, co-sleeping, and other natural parenting lifestyles that his family has embraced. Both he and his wife have a love for photography while his solo hobbies include music and most recently, surfing. Danny and his family reside in Puerto Rico.

Danny is wearing a Pavo Form Aquaria Plum Pudding.

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editor’s note

LullabyLinks everyone, WEAR ALL THE BABIES When my daughter was tiny, I wore her constantly. At home and when we were out, I wrapped her, kept her snug, safe and secure in the warm cocoon of cloth I had made for her in my arms. I never wanted to put her down. We were happy.

As she grew from baby to toddler, she began in tell us, in her own way that she wanted to be carried by my husband who was more than happy to oblige. At first, I missed feeling the comforting weight of her body against my chest, but as I watched them, I saw her put her tiny hand on his shoulder, tell him

Preci o us met a l jwiewelth rbabiy foesr wear facebook.com/LullabyLinks

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her stories and snuggle into the warmth of his back. I realize that this is how it is supposed to be. It is just as important, as necessary, and as critical for him to wear her as it is for me. Now we both wear her, and we are happy.

ENJOY!

Novia

trending

baby, it’s

HOT OUTSIDE!

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Stylish carriers to keep both you and your babe comfortable while on the go this summer.

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WATER CARRIERS Water carriers are lightweight,

breathable, fast drying and ideal for the beach, pool or shower, but they can be great for summer wearing in general. By using a water wrap, you don’t have to worry about ruining your more expensive woven wrap with sand, sunscreen and chlorine on water play days. 1. WrapDuO: Sport and Water Wrap, $69.50, wrapsodybaby.com 2. One Size Beachfront Baby Wrap, $39.99, beachfrontbabywraps.com RING SLINGS Many babywearers prefer ring slings

on hot days. They are easy and convenient for quick ups while out and about, and a lot less fabric around you and baby. Ring slings made from linen and linen blend fabrics can be very cool and breathable.

3. Sakura Bloom Simple Linen Ring Sling, $148, purpleelmbaby.com 4. Comfy Joey’s Linen Sling, starting at $87.50, comfyjoey.com

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WOVEN WRAPS No need to pack away your longer woven wraps for the summer. Thinner cotton or cotton and linen blend wraps can be breathable for summer wearing. 5. Mary EllaRoo Wraparound Baby Carrier, $115, wrapyourbaby.com 6. Didymos Azur Linen Indio, starting at $111.35, wrappedbaby.com SOFT STRUCTURED CARRIERS SSCs can be very

comfortable, especially when wearing larger babies and toddlers. SSCs with ventilated panels can allow you carry in comfort during warmer months. 7. Ergo Performance Baby Carrier, $140, store.ergobaby.com 8. LÍLLÉbaby CarryOn Toddler Air, $139.99, heart-hugs.com

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MEI TAIS Mei Tais are another great carrier for warm

weather. They offer support and comfort without lots of fabric around wrapper and baby. 9. Infantino Sash Mei Tai 3 Position Baby Carrier, $25.99, target.com 10. Catbird Baby Indri Mei Tai, $99, catbirdbaby.com

carry on

wrapping in the

SUMMER

By Diana Rosenfield of Wrap Your Baby Photography by Lee Anne Roquemore of Petal & Vine Photography

After having three babies in Florida, where summer lasts most of the year, I have learned how to stay cooler while wrapping in hot weather. I’d like to share my tips with you so you don’t have to abandon the closeness, convenience, and comfort of babywearing whenever the mercury spikes!

Thin wraps and wraps with open weaves: A wrap can be a cooler alternative to carriers made with padding or heavy canvas, but for the coolest carry, avoid denser weaves and try thin, airy wraps like Wrapsody Breeze, EllaRoo, and Ellevill.

Short wraps and carries with fewer layers: Another cooler option for hot days is a shortie in a single layer carry. A heavier wrap in a single layer carry can be as cool as a thin wrap with multiple layers. Try a Kangaroo Carry (newborn through toddler) or a Rucksack back carry.

TIP #1: For older babies, a back carry usually feels cooler than a chest to chest carry, but you want to be able to see and interact with them enough to know if they are doing well or getting too hot.

TIP #2: A carry that does not tie around your waist can keep you cooler. Kangaroo TUB (tied under bottom), Semi Front Wrap Cross Carry (Semi FWCC), Rucksack TAS (tied at shoulder) and Half Jordan’s Back Carry (HJBC) are all good options.

TIP #3: If you only have a long wrap, try doing Front Wrap Cross Carry (FWCC) with the crosses bunched instead of spread over baby to keep your little one from getting too warm.

6 TIPS TO AVOID OVER-HEATING: Keep yourself hydrated – drink plenty of water Keep your baby hydrated – if breastfeeding, allow baby to nurse as often as they want, and switch sides as frequently as they like. They will instinctively switch more often when they need more of the watery foremilk; if using formula, baby may need extra when out on hot days or even supplement with water; babies who are eating solids should drink water frequently Stick to the shade – Staying out of the sun makes a huge difference Make a breeze – use a small clip on fan with foam fan blades, or carry a paper fan with you (or improvise with a magazine) Use a cooling towel – but be attentive to your baby to ensure that he or she is not getting too cold, especially with young babies who are not yet able to regulate temperature well and do not use ice packs or cloths soaked with ice water directly on babies Take breaks – remove baby from wrap and use the wrap as a blanket for you and baby to hang out on for a few minutes in a shady spot Diana is a mother of three, has been wrapping for ten years, and founded Wrap Your Baby in 2005 to share the joy of including babies and toddlers in an active life without the heavy, bulky trappings of babyhood that the big box stores try so hard to sell us. She keeps her business focused on simplicity, service, and making wrapping accessible to all families. The wrap brands mentioned above and tutorials for the suggested carries can all be found at www.wrapyourbaby.com

Diana’s Pic

WRAPSODY WR k: AP DuO WATER WRAP: Stretc

hy wraps are popular fo r newborn ba by and parents new to babywearing.

If your little one is du e in Summer, check out the Wrap DuO : similar to othe r stretchy wraps on the market, but SO MUCH COOLER, and they do doub le duty because they are made from swimsuit material and ar e intended for use in water as wel l as dry. $69, wrapyourbaby.c om

6 TIPS FOR SUN PROTECTION: Even the FDA recommends against using sun screen on babies under 6 months old so here are some old fashioned methods of protecting yourself from excessive sun exposure.

• Find shade frequently or provide your own by using a wide brimmed hat or parasol • Cover baby’s legs and arms with light, loose clothing • Use your wrap or wrap tails to cover baby (but not baby’s face) while still allowing airflow

• The WrapDuO mentioned above provides UPF 45 Sun Protection • Shea Butter and Coconut Oil are safe for babies and both provide some protection • Avoid being outside for prolonged periods between 10am and 2pm

june/july 2015

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retail therapy

cool KEEP YOUR

As the temps heat up, having the body heat of two can be overwhelming.

These are our favorite products for regulating the weather.

COLOR WHEEL UMBRELLA Babywearers love

a good rainbow and this one is comprised of 24 gorgeous hues. Use this parasol to block the sun for a distinctly cooler wearing experience. $40, uncommongoods.com

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O2-COOL DELUXE WATER MISTING FAN A cooling mist and a soothing fan

FROGG TOGGS速 CHILLY PAD速 These are essential on sweltering days. Chilly

combine for a one-two punch to the heat. Pack it in your diaper bag for an immediate burst of cooling power. $9.95, amazon.com

Pads work through evaporation, so putting them between you will not cool you off, but they are perfect around your neck. Cut them in half for the perfect scarf size. As a bonus, they come in lots of fun colors to match your favorite carrier! $12.95, froggtoggs.com

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babywearing

superHEroes

DADS of babywearing

The Cornerstones of the Tula Story

danny the

BABYWEARINGdad

Daniel and Cleo Lebron are a husband/wife photography team residing in Puerto Rico. Danny’s Facebook page, Instagram and YouTube channels are all about advocating for babywearing and sharing the babywearing love. The Lebrons are a small but growing family who will be welcoming their second child soon. {BWTM} Please tell us about your family: {DBWD} Well, there’s my queen, Cleo, who means the absolute world to me. We’ve been circling the sun together for 12 years of which we have been married for six.

Then we have our first child, the sweet, the beautiful, the wild: Luna. We are also currently pregnant with our belly baby arriving in September. We opt to wait to find out the sex so I can’t tell you if it’s a boy or girl. We are currently located in Añasco, Puerto Rico.

We moved here in December which is one of the biggest decisions we’ve ever made. I’m so in love with simple living and just enjoying the beach everyday. We plan to live around the world and make babies so we can babywear forever. {BWTM} How and when did you start babywearing? {DBWD} Cleo introduced me to everything related to babywearing. She really got into the idea when she was pregnant with Luna and after a morning at Caribou Baby (now known as Wild Was Mama), we went home with a wrap, ring sling, and mei tai. I wore Luna for the first time in my Didytai just hours after she was born. I could tell right away that wearing her would help us grow a special bond. From there, babywearing became my lifestyle. {BWTM} How has babywearing impacted your parenting? What do you like most about it? {DBWD} It makes parenting so much easier with so many different obstacles in life. Simple things such as washing dishes, walking in the mall, meltdowns, and countless other situations are all made manageable with babywearing. It’s not just making life easy, it’s also a fun hobby with all of the different brands, designs, carries, groups, photography, etc. Not only do I babywear with my wraps, I use them for tents when we play, blankets when we are laying around, shade on sunny days; wherever we go, there’s at least one wrap with us.

{BWTM} How are you working to change this and showcase more men wearing babies? {DBWD} I think it goes back to the silly notion that men work and women take care of the children. For me, being not only male but a Black male, goes against the grain in a lot of ways and shows the positivity of men being caretakers. What you see on my social media is real life: I love being a father and babywearing is one (big) part of that. Through my Facebook page, I try to showcase anything positive regarding babywearing, and I especially love when I see other men trying babywearing. {BWTM} Why is it equally as important for male caregivers to babywear as female caregivers? {DBWD} I think it’s just as important to be a father as it is to be a mother. In our marriage, everything is 50/50, so it’s equally a priority that I care for our children as it is for her to care for them. Each of us brings different things to the table so we feel that we are giving our children the fullest childhood experience we can by us both actively parenting them. Nap time, playtime, and even down time with Cleo is a different experience than it is with me; we have developed our own relationships with one another and babywearing has greatly helped to shape those relationships. {BWTM} How are you using social media to bring awareness to male babywearers, and babywearing in general? {DBWD} I use my Facebook page “Danny the Babywearing Dad” and my Instagram @DannyTheBabywearingDad to show that babywearing is normal. I share photos of our daily lives and also like to share photos or information showcasing other babywearers as well. Basically, I’m just being myself.

What you see there is plain old Danny simply

doing everyday things. {BWTM} How has social media impacted babywearing? {DBWD} Social media has impacted the world. It is such an easy way to broadcast anything and gives you access to things outside of your personal points of reference.

Facebook groups give people a chance to connect and learn from one another and easily share information to have bigger discussions. YouTube is also an excellent learning tool, I love making tutorials and sharing them there. {BWTM} What are your favorite types of carriers and why? {DBWD} Woven wraps are my favorite type of carrier; I like knowing about how they’re made, the different designs and learning new carries. It all makes it fun for me. I also like buckles for the quickness and ease of use. My favorite wrap ever is Pavo’s Gotham. The design is so awesome; I’m a big Batman fan and I feel it is the closest I can ever be to actually being him. Haha! {BWTM} If you are a wrapper, what are your favorite carries? {DBWD} If you know me you know that Front Wrap Cross Carry (FWCC) is my favorite and will always be my favorite carry. It’s so simple and so comfortable. The perfect carry for snuggles and it’s quick to tie off. {BWTM} What’s next for you? {DBWD} The Danny & Cleo Show is what’s next for us and I’m so excited to launch. It’s going to be a podcast about parenting as a whole, babywearing, marriage, social justice issues, and tons and tons of silliness. I want to save the world and really show that superheroes don’t wear capes, they wear babies!

facebook.com/dannythebabywearingdad june/july 2015

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{BWTM} Please tell us about your family. {SDD} I’m Dom from Reading, Berkshire. I live with my incredible wife Zena, our smart and funny five-year-old daughter Eden and our fiercely determined and cheeky two-year-old son Ezra. {BWTM} How and when did you start babywearing? {SDD} When we first had Eden, I tried it a few times in the first year but never for more than a couple of minutes and it was always with Z putting Eden on me in a carrier. Z had learnt this from a friend she met whilst pregnant. I was interested and loved the practicality of it, but because Z was really excited about it, I just left her to do it. Z went back to work part time when Eden was around 14 months old. My shifts meant I often had Eden on my own in the week. I tried Z’s Mei Tai one day when in a rush to get to a musical tots group and loved the way it felt and how easy it was to get about and have my hands free to carry other things.

I showed Zena my achievement when she got in from work (I was strutting around the house like a peacock actually!) and she showed me ways to make it more comfortable and other ways of wearing.

slingdad

DOM

Dominic Facherty is a babywearing dad from England. He strives to promote babywearing to as many people as possible, especially dads. His Facebook page, Slingdad Dom, has a huge following and he uses it as a platform to enable others to give wearing their little ones a go.

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{BWTM} How has babywearing impacted your parenting? What do you like most about it? {SDD} The amount that Eden and I bonded and grew closer when I started carrying her in slings was phenomenal. I was suddenly able to be more responsive to her. We would walk in the woods and she would get excited by looking up at the trees, and I would be able to see that excitement immediately.

When Ezra was born, I started wearing him from the very beginning. At 1-day-old, I wore him in front in my old and soft wrap conversion Mei Tai and taking him down stairs so Z could get some rest. I realized what I had missed out by not wearing Eden at this early stage.

My favorite thing will always be how much fun it is. It is such an easy way to bond with your children. There is nothing better than walking along with them on your back, listening to them talk about everything they can see.

Without babywearing I would have missed so many wonderful conversations. Slings allow us to discover together and be together. With slings, your children gauge your reactions in unfamiliar situations. This results in them being happy and confident and involved in the world at our level. {BWTM} How are you working to change this and showcase more men wearing babies? {SDD} I think some guys have struggled with it because they may think of it as something quite feminine. Whether it’s because of some of the prettier, more flamboyant patterns and colors of the carriers, or because of a daft sense that

somehow wearing a sling makes you less of a man.

I want to let other dads know that I think the least masculine thing you can do is worry so much about what makes you look manly or not. If you want to try it, go for it. If you would rather try it with a darker color, fair enough, but please don’t let silly thoughts about what others may think or how you may look come in the way of holding your children close at a time of their life when it is most important and when they crave that physical connection the most. I feel as a 6 foot 6, 20 plus stone, proud babywearing dad I can be a positive advocate and encourage other dads to try this. {BWTM} Why is it equally as important for male caregivers to babywear as female caregivers? {SDD} More and more research is being done into the importance of the relationships between fathers and children. The mother child relationship is indisputable, but the relationship of the second parent is also vital. I really think babywearing can be a massive part of creating and assisting with building a huge bond between any caregiver. At a time where your child is a tiny baby and can be reliant on the mother for nourishment, as well as comfort, there are still times when a dad could help. During Ezra’s first few weeks, whilst I was on paternity leave, I would get up with him first thing in the mornings. After he had been fed, had his nappy changed and checked he was comfy and dry, I would put him in a sling on my chest and take him downstairs away from Z for a short while.

This wasn’t just great for me as I got to have this amazing time with Ezra, it also meant Zena could have a bit more sleep, or just some time to herself. It also meant Zena could have some one-to-one time with Eden, which I think is a really important thing when a new baby arrives. We all gained from me being able to take Ezra for a while and keep him soothed and happy so easily.

The practical benefits are the same for male babywearers as they are for women.

You will still have your hands free to carry on with other tasks. There is also the plus that you are able to maximize your time with your children, and be more use to your partner. I work full time and do 12-hour shifts either day or night. If I’m on three nights in a row, it can feel like I only see Eden and Ezra in passing. If I can do something that will not only have a practical benefit, but also means I get to have some amazing time socializing and playing with the kids, then I see that as a

huge benefit and something that is really important for dads to do. I strongly feel that using slings maximizes, and can even increase, the quality time truly spent with your children. {BWTM} How has social media impacted babywearing? {SDD} I am a huge fan of social media. It can help connect families and friends around the world. I also really believe that regardless of who you are and no matter what you are into, you can now find a group of like-minded people. It’s the same with babywearing and parenting in general.

Becoming a parent is amazing, but it can be quite isolating. Sites like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter can end up being a big part of peoples social lives and can really help get through those early lonely days and nights.

As for babywearing specifically, it is HUGE! I was surprised at the amount of support I got, and friends I met, when I first started posting things online. Now I get messages every week from people all over the world saying that they wouldn’t have been as confident trying babywearing, or wouldn’t have even thought about it if they hadn’t seen or been shown my page. I adore that and love hearing that because of something I’ve posted with my phone whilst I sat on the bus on the way to work in Reading UK, someone in India, or Australia has been inspired to start using a sling to carry their child close. {BWTM} What are your favorite types of carriers and why? {SDD} My favorites are wraps and Mei Tais.

I thought it would be simpler and more suitable for me to use buckled carriers when I first started, but I quickly learned that they were actually harder for me to use than wraptype carriers. With wraps you have freedom to do so much more. I used to struggle to get buckles high enough and would find it hard to get the straps on and the back pulled up. With a wrap or Mei Tai you have lots of material there so you can do this so easily.

I would encourage people to babywear by whatever means they can, I don’t think there is any one type of carrier better than the rest, but just be open to try everything. {BWTM} What are your favorite wrap carries? {SDD} I love simple rucks. A lot of people think that past a certain size and with some wrap materials, you have to do more complicated multi layered carries, but I have never found I need more than a simple ruck. All I do different since my kids have gotten bigger is I tend you tie with some kind of chest belt so that

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the shoulder straps are held in place and the weight is spread more at this point. My favorite is a ruck with a candy cane chest belt.

I have had a lot of people come to me and say they can’t get on with a ruck because they have a leg straightener and keep losing the seat of their carry. I tend to get them to show me and almost always they aren’t getting a good seat to begin with. Once shown a couple of hints and tricks, they were able to tie a good tight ruck and were comfortable. {BWTM} What’s next for you? {SDD} I wish I could be at every event — from the biggest conferences to the smallest sling meets, but unfortunately I just can’t do it all whilst working full time. That being said, I do have some amazing things lined up that will keep me busy.

I’m running a ‘Relaxed Rucking and Wrapping Workshop’ at the European Babywearing Conference in Bristol on June 20th. I’m also going to be running two similar sessions at the Natural Mamas Big Camp in Oxford at the start of August, but this is more geared towards me helping beginners learn to wrap and use Mei Tai carriers. I hope that I can pass on some of what helped me to learn and show some techniques and relaxed methods to give them the confidence to learn to use woven wraps to carry their children close.

I am also participating in “I Will Walk With You,” a short film from independent filmmaker Ricardo Lacombe (Great White Shark Legend) who is a babywearing dad from Sheffield. I am collaborating with him to make something truly unique. The film is a celebration of the bond, love and joy that people of all ages and backgrounds experience in the process of slinging, wrapping and being close with their children. Featuring babies and their loved ones in a wide variety of environments and activities, the filmmakers are striving to capture the intimacy and love expressed in this simple act of closeness that is babywearing — from the majesty of open countryside to the hustle and bustle of city life. Told in a visually poetic style, with a truly haunting song “I Will Walk With You” by the Sheffield band Outroads, the film aims to premiere at a major sling conference in the later part of 2015 and is an approach to slings and wraps that has not been celebrated in such a way on screen before. All shot in 4k for a stunning and truly immersive feel.

And finally, I have also been busy creating a website www.slingdaddom.com that I’m hoping will be a really useful and simple to use resource for babywearers of all levels.

Sean Bourke, The Kilted Babywearer, learned how to babywear from his partner, Erin, who wore her older son. With their younger son, Sean decided to wear him from birth. He started with a Moby wrap then shortly afterwards found out about woven wraps and was hooked. Sean has been wearing kilts for over 10 years. You can find him on Facebook and Instagram where he talks about all things related to kilts and babywearing.

KILTEDbabywearer

the

{BWTM} Please tell us about your family: {TKBW} We are a crunchy, bed-sharing, and attachment parenting kind of family. We enjoy traveling, the arts, we are always up for an adventure and march to the beat of our own drum. We have two boys—a sixyear-old and a two-year-old (biological). My partner, Erin, introduced me to babywearing and she has been wearing since the birth of our older son. She believes so strongly in the benefits of babywearing, she has been trained as an educator from both the Center for Babywearing Studies and the Canadian Babywearing School. I have a small Chainmaille jewelry business called SPB custom creations and I sell my jewelry through FB and Etsy. {BWTM} How and when did you start babywearing? {TKBW} When my younger son was a couple of days old, Erin taught me how to pocket wrap cross carry, with a Moby wrap and I have been wearing him since. We both truly believe in the benefits of babywearing and Erin has been wearing our older son since he was born.

{BWTM} How has babywearing impacted your parenting? What do you like most about it? {TKBW} Babywearing has allowed me to foster closeness and create amazing bonds with my sons. At home, I like to do skin-toskin with my younger one since it helps him to be a calm and happy baby. When he gets upset or his teeth are hurting, I can wear him to calm and soothe him. Babywearing allows me carry my little one while freeing my hands to perform other tasks, like working around the house or being able to care for my older son at the same time. I truly believe that babywearing has helped me to be a better dad, especially since I didn’t take on that role for my older son until he came into my life when he was three-years old.

Babywearing eased me into that role and has allowed me to provide the support for his specific needs on the Autistic spectrum, since it helps calm him and allows him to feel safe when he’s overwhelmed. {BWTM} How are you working to change this and showcase more men wearing babies? {TKBW} In the past it was expected that the mother was the nurturer and the father, the hunter-gatherer so it wasn’t seen as being “manly” to wear their children. Fortunate-

ly, I am seeing the roles changing as more men are becoming primary caregivers. And with more mothers working full-time outside of the home, fathers are expected to take on more and share with childcare roles. To inspire other dads, I created a Facebook page, The Kilted Babywearer, to show people that it can be “manly” to babywear and nurture their child.

{BWTM} Why is it equally as important for male caregivers to babywear as female caregivers? {TKBW} Babywearing creates a bond with your child that is hard to get any other way.

The mother can breastfeed to help bond with her child. They get the skin-to-skin and closeness that creates that bond. For a dad, babywearing allows him to create that close bond.

Babywearing allows the dad to comfort and nurture his child and helps the child feel safe and secure whenever they are with dad. {BWTM} How are you using social media to bring awareness to male babywearers, and babywearing in general? {TKBW} I have created a Facebook page, The Kilted Babywearer, and also have an Instagram page. I want other men to see that babywearing isn’t just for women, and I encourage them to post their own pictures there. I provide a visual tutorial each week of a different carry and also post links to different articles about babywearing. I created my page to bring awareness to babywearing for both men and women and especially to encourage men to babywear. The page was created for education and shared babywearing experiences, but I also enjoy talking about kilts and tartans, music, blacksmithing, knifes and knife making along with other hobbies and interests I have. {BWTM} How has social media impacted babywearing? {TKBW} Social media has had a huge impact on babywearing. There are now hundreds of Facebook pages and groups for babywearing that have helped to bring it mainstream.

It has also allowed people all over the world from different cultures and lifestyles to meet, talk and build communities with a

common interest. My own Facebook page has helped me connect with people in different places that I may not have otherwise met. When I first started babywearing a little over two years ago, my local group only had about 300 people in it. Now there are over 6000 people in the group. Tutorials on Youtube have also allowed people (who might not have a babywearing group near them) learn how to wrap/carry their babies. I have learned a few different carries from YouTube and other online resources, but also believe it’s best to learn from an educator in person whenever possible.

{BWTM} What are your favorite types of carriers and why? {TKBW} That’s a hard question! I love many different types of carriers for different reasons. I like SSCs for their quickness and ease when we’re out. I like to use woven wraps because they are versatile, and my little one enjoys napping close to me. I also have a few mei tais and half buckles that are great when Erin and I are out for the day.

Because of our size difference, we only need one carrier that doesn’t need to be constantly adjusted whenever we switch.

{BWTM} What are your favorite wrap carries? {TKBW} My go-to front wrap carries are front wrap cross carry (FWCC) and kangaroo, and back carries are ruck and double hammock. Since I have been doing the carry of the week on my Facebook page, I have started branching out and am enjoying hip carries as well. {BWTM} What’s next for you? {TKBW} I want to learn more about babywearing and related fields, so I plan on training with Center for Babywearing Studies this year and would also like to train with other babywearing schools in the future. I also plan on attending conferences and conventions to learn from different experts in their respective fields, including attached parenting, kangaroo care, breastfeeding and extended breastfeeding. I’d love to share my own knowledge about the benefits of babywearing as a dad and my take on fatherhood, with others.

facebook.com/pages/The-Kilted-Babywearer facebook.com/SPBcustomCreations june/july 2015

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baby TINY TIGER

Photography by Kristy Weldon Photography

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Tiny Tiger Baby is a family owned and operated business. The company started out making hand-woven wraps (the KHR Wraps brand) and have recently expanded to machine woven wraps. The company is run by Kat and her husband Ryan, and is very much a family affair. {BWTM} Where did the name Tiny Tiger Baby come from? {TTB} When we were contemplating name choices, we agreed to not use certain words in the business name. Using words like weaving, textile, fiber, yarn, or wrap in the name would create product recognition limitations for us and for what we create.

If we ever wanted to expand our product line, we wanted to make sure our name, our brand if you will, would grow with us.

Kat has an affinity for cats, and early on in our relationship, when she would get really excited about something, I would tease her and say “calm down tiger”. We lovingly tease our daughter when she gets excited, and call her our Tiny Tiger. Tiny Tiger Baby seemed perfect for our new business, since our daughter was the catalyst that started us weaving wraps in the first place. {BWTM} How and when did you start babywearing? {TTB} We started babywearing with the birth of our first child Hazel in 2012. Like most first time parents, we researched everything baby related. Early on we knew we wanted to wear her close. {BWTM} What was the defining moment that led you to start Tiny Tiger Baby? {TTB} The defining moment that led us to start Tiny Tiger Baby was when I found our vintage shuttle looms. Not long after we started making hand-woven wraps, I

started looking into making machine woven wraps. We wanted to make a machine woven wrap, that wrapped just like a hand-woven wrap. We also wanted to make it more affordable, as hand-woven prices can be a bit much to swallow. We feel like most people want the wrapping qualities of a hand-woven, but can’t afford the price. It took me over a year and a half to find the right looms, as I had a very specific type of loom in mind. {BWTM} Why did you decide to start a machine woven wrap company, in addition to your hand-woven wraps? {TTB} We wanted to make an affordable alternative to handwoven. One of the reasons handwovens are so pricey, is because the amount of fabric an individual weaver can weave is limited. The quality of handwoven fabric is very dependent on the skill of the weaver. If we were to buy more handweaving looms and hire people to operate them, we could make more wraps, but we couldn’t reduce the cost for the consumer or guarantee consistent quality. {BWTM} Tell us about Tiny Tiger Baby wraps {TTB} Tiny Tiger Baby wraps are woven and finished in Sacramento, California. We are a family owned and operated business.

Not long after high school, I joined the Army and was deployed to Iraq. I served in the Army for eight years, so making an American product and sourcing from oth-

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er American companies is very important to me. Given the state of the American manufacturing system it is sometimes hard, if not impossible, to source within the US. If more people would support American companies, then maybe one day all my supplies would be made in the US. Currently yarn, tags, printed materials, and most of my machines are made in America. The looms we use to make Tiny Tiger Baby wraps are the last model made by the Draper Corporation, before modern loom technology made them obsolete. The heart of what makes a Tiny Tiger Baby wrap is using vintage machines and techniques in cloth manufacturing that is on the verge of being lost forever. {BWTM} How are the wraps produced? What makes them so different than other machine woven wraps on the market? Why did you decide on this type of production, instead of working with a traditional mill? {TTB} Tiny Tiger Baby wraps are produced just like their handwoven counterparts, only on a more automated scale. Please note “automated” does not mean “automatic”.

There is no button to push that allows the weaver to walk away from the loom, expecting the woven wrap fabric to be produced on its own. The weaver has to be there every step of the way operating the machines.

Right now Tiny Tiger Baby wraps are woven on one of our two vintage Draper looms.

The second loom still needs work before it can start weaving. The looms are just a part of the process. We have and use winders, a warping machine, a knotting machine, a braiding machine, several sewing machines, and other equipment. Most of the machines are vintage, with the newest from the 80’s and the oldest from the 30’s. I have had to rebuild each machine from the ground up.

In the process of rebuilding the machines, I have learned their history, educated myself on how they work and on how to adjustment them. Because they are vintage, literature on them are scarce and very few people know how to operate them. Most everything I have learned to get the machines working has been by trial and error; however, I did receive guidance and instruction from a loom fixer. His 35 years experience, working on Draper looms, helped shorten my learning curve with the looms and was essential to the success of the Tiny Tiger Baby wraps weaving process. We start with minimal raw materials and use it to make a finished product, all in one building. If we were to outsource to a regular mill, it would add cost to our bottom line, which would increase cost to the consumer. There are very few mills that can duplicate hand-woven wraps because of modern loom technology. Even if they could, they don’t because it is not cost

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effective for them. Since we own and operate our own mill, unnecessary outsourcing costs are avoided, and we have direct control over the entire production process, up to and including the finished product. {BWTM} Do Tiny Tiger Baby wraps have different wrapping qualities due to this production method? {TTB} Tiny Tiger Baby wraps do not have different wrapping qualities than handwoven wraps due to the production method.

Changing things like tension, density, yarn fiber, yarn twist, and weave structure will change the wrapping qualities.

Our vintage looms are fundamentally no different than handweaving looms. Everything that has to be done to produce wraps on a hand loom is exactly the same as on the Draper looms. The major difference being that the vintage Draper shuttle loom is more automatic. {BWTM} How do KHR Wraps differ from Tiny Tiger Baby wraps? {TTB} Currently Tiny Tiger Baby wraps are only woven in a plain weave pattern, using 8/2 cotton. KHR Wraps are woven in a twill weave pattern, using both 8/2 and 10/2 cotton. For Tiny Tiger Baby, we are working with our supplier to obtain parts for our vintage Draper looms to be able to expand their weaving capabilities. We are also in the market for a different type of warping machine, which is used to put yarn on the loom beam, to be woven. The warper I am looking for will allow us to use any size yarn at any density. Once we have the loom parts and the warper, there will only be two differences between KHR wraps and Tiny Tiger Baby wraps. The first being, how the bobbin changes are done during the weaving process and how the cut yarns from the bobbin changes look in the finished product, and the second is the type of loom on which the wrap is woven. {BWTM} How does your experience as weavers influence designs and color choices? {TTB} We are relatively new weavers, so design and color choices are really hard.

Weaving is an art form and while most art forms are relatively fluid, weaving is not. A fluid art form is one that changes and adjusts what the finished piece will look like, as it is being made. In weaving it is hard to change the color and/or design once its started. A weaver has to start with a vision of the finished product, then methodically plan in reverse, how everything will go together and put that plan into action. It is not until everything is done that they see if the finished product is the same as the vision.

Choosing colors is one of the hardest parts

of weaving. There are lot of factors to consider. Our biggest limiting factor comes from suppliers. If they don’t have the size/fiber/ color we want, we have to change our vision. Another big factor is how we perceive color. Our minds do not automatically look at the individual color of each strand of yarn, our minds see the colors of several strands of yarn blended together. If a wrap is woven with alternating red and blue yarn, chances are, most people will see it as purple. In addition to that, 50% of a wrap is the yarn woven perpendicular to the selvage edge called the weft, which is one solid color. If we were to cross 50% of the alternating red and blue with white, the wrap would look like a pastel purple. If we used black instead of white, the wrap would look like a deep purple. This example uses four colors, imagine how complicated it gets when juggling ten colors in your head. Not too mention that the only way to see how the colors will go together, is to finish the product. {BWTM} How do you assist each other and work together in the weaving process (for KHR Wraps) and the production process (for Tiny Tiger Baby wraps)? {TTB} Kat and I take turns doing almost everything. There are only a few things we both can not do and there are things one of us is better at then the other. Kat and I are lucky to have multi-talented families who are always willing to pitch in when their expertise is needed. {BWTM} Can you give us hints as to what your next designs will be, for both brands? {TTB} We have notebooks full of designs to inspire our imaginations. A design we made four months ago, that spoke to us then, might not speak to us now, but might just inspire the perfect design for today. We like to tweak, add, remove, and change colors.

Chances are, we won’t even know the next design until just before ordering yarn. {BWTM} Do you have any other big plans up your sleeve (that you don’t mind sharing)? {TTB} We are always planning and have big plans for our future. We really love the natural yarn we are currently using to make American Beauty, our Tiny Tiger Baby natural wraps. The yarn is ring spun and combed so it is softer and stronger then its open spun and carded counterpart. A huge plus for us is that it is grown, spun, and twisted in the US. Our plan is to dye this yarn, in house, before weaving. We are working with a dye house that can dye bolts of fabric and dye complex images on fabric. Assuming they can work with our material, and we can work with their prices, you might soon see wraps like nothing else on the market.

facebook.com/KHRWraps facebook.com/hustontextile tinytigerbaby.com

heartstring

HANDWOVENS

Heartstring Handwovens, Inc (HSHW) is owned and operated by Tsasa and Craig, a dynamic husband and wife team of weavers. Since they began their business in 2013, their wraps have become highly sought after and developed a devoted following.

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{BWTM} How long have you been weaving? How did you first become interested? {HSHW} We first took an interest in weaving in the summer of 2013. I found a loom for my wife on Craigslist, and I ended up putting in an initial 40 hours refurbishing the wood, replacing broken parts, and repairing the mechanisms to make it usable. I began weaving along with her in the Fall of 2013. {BWTM} How does being a babywearer prepare you for weaving baby wraps? {HSHW} I feel that wearing my kids affords me the knowledge base on what are the pros and cons of certain weaves and fibers. I prefer a wrap that is light, strong, and breathable. {BWTM} Does your background influence your design process? {HSHW} My background is in building, hobby woodworking, and a general “jack-of-all-trades.” Tsasa ends up doing the majority of design, but I would say my main role is creating and inventing ways to streamline the design and setup process. {BWTM} Where are your favorite places to draw inspiration from? {HSHW} Creation. Nature. Culture. The world. The majority of HSHW wraps are based on colors of the world, though we do occasionally deviate from that. The world quite literally has a never ending array of inspiration, and that inspires us to keep weaving. There is always another color combination challenge; another piece of art to create. {BWTM} What was your first loom? First project? {HSHW} Our first loom was a spur of the moment purchase; an old S&R jack loom Hearthside. It had very warped wood and was in poor working condition. We didn’t know much about looms, and it was the only one in our area, so with no real knowledge, we just purchased it. Honestly, I supported all my wife’s hobbies, but I felt this would be a bit of a “start and stop” that would die off. Soon, I could see that this was a bit different for her, so I began the process of refinishing and repairing the loom. We began to spend many evenings watching videos on loom function and setup our first project, a rug warp. It was a miserable failure. It fell completely apart in the washing machine! {BWTM} How long does a typical warp take, start to finish? {HSHW} This varies widely. We have two looms that we work with. We dub them “Big Loom” (high yardage) and “Small loom “ (lower yardage).

The big loom average takes two to three working days to set up, and is a sectional system that maxes out at 110 yards. The small loom takes an average of four days to write pattern, measure, sley the reed and thread the heddles and the beam. On the small loom, we do between 30 and 40 yards, finished.

{BWTM} What is your least favorite part of weaving? Most favorite? {HSHW} This is a hard question to answer. I’m always ready for the next part of the process.

By the time a loom is “stripped” and ready for a new colorway, I’m ready to begin setup.

By the time we are done with setup, I am ready to weave. At the end of a colorway, I am ready for setting up something new. {BWTM} What is your favorite type of weave? {HSHW} Currently, we only work with plain weave, but we are excited to be looking into purchasing a new loom that will enable us to weave patterns with more ease. {BWTM} How do you assist each other and work together in the weaving process? {HSHW} We find we work best when we can interchange roles. We both need to be able to weave the same quality, inspect and repair fabric, wash, dry, cut to specifications, and many more roles that come with being production weavers. Our main focus is quality, and we both need to be able to do all processes with no distinction or variance between each other.

{BWTM} Please tell us about your design process. How do you decide on color, fiber and weave structure for each piece? {HSHW} From the beginning, we have never done mock ups. Our design basis is that we have full design control, though we do of course listen to ideas from the customer. Colorway design is my wife’s outlet, her “thing” for lack of better word. She sees a photo, and begins to visualize and translate it to fabric. We like to do an extensive weft testing per colorway and allow each person with an assigned slot the ability to choose fiber and color. {BWTM} Do you have a favorite wrap? Why is it your favorite? {HSHW} My all time favorite colorway that we’ve created is Australian Dreamtime. I liked how the colors contrasted and flowed together. I will wrap on occasion, but I really like Mei Tais when our kids are smaller, and buckle carriers when they are older. My favorite carriers right now are Bamberoo, Liinalapsi-Wearababy, and Tulas, though I prefer fulls to halves.

facebook.com/heartstringshandwoven

{BWTM} As babywearers and weavers, how have you seen the handwoven wrap market change since you started the business? What other changes (if any) would you like to see? {HSHW} We started our company at the beginning of the weaving expansion. Previously, there were only a few well known companies. It is refreshing to see such a wide variety of talent and we have had many excellent wraps come through our home from other weavers. It’s broadened our horizons a lot.

Not necessarily a change, but we would love to see the market continue to grow, and education geared towards the benefits of safe babywearing becoming even more mainstream. {BWTM} What does HSHW have planned for the rest of 2015 and beyond? {HSHW} Currently, we are working through our semi-customs list we took on early summer of 2014. Once that is completed, we plan on continuing to weave wraps as our mainstay, but our goal is to take handwoven into other mainstream realms. A lot is in store for 2015 and beyond!

hshwtextiles.com

hip, hip, hooray!

let’s hear it for the

BOYS

Who says guys don’t like to show their babywearing pride? Here are a few things we think the babywearing man in your life will appreciate.

RUTH AVRA WRAP SCRAP BELT BUCKLE Wear your heart on your belt with your favorite wrap that snuggles your little close. Even when you’re not wearing you can remind yourself (and others) what’s most important. With finishes from silver to bronze and your choice of Italian leather, this is one of the finest ways to display your pride. $660, etsy.com/shop/RUTHAVRA

UP IN THE AYER DESIGNS HANDS FREE BABYWEARING SHIRT Show your babywearing pride and practicality with this awesome shirt. Who has two thumbs (and hands) he can still use? This guy!

Starting at $20, etsy.com/shop/UpintheAyerDesigns

WRAP SCRAP FRAME Remember your favorite wearing moments with a sentimental scrap. Let the fleeting moments of wearing live on forever in a memorial frame. $28, etsy.com/shop/wrapscrapframes

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#bwthemag

real men of

babywearing Dads, brothers, uncles and grandfathers, all joining in the babywearing fun!

mrsdewees

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follow us on instagram {BWTHEMAG} and tag your photos with #bwthemag for a chance to be featured in the next issue! june/july 2015

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carried away

surf’s

UP!

it’s summer, go catch a wave!

All wraps featured are by Natibaby. SKY: Delin Sky. OCEAN: Bubbles Turquoise and Blue Ducks. SURFBOARD: Wine Hemp Balloons. BOAT: Luna doll RS and Notes and Jaffy scraps.

ISLAND: Tulips. COCONUTS: Notes. PALMS: Green Hemp Clovers. TREE TRUNK: Kangaroos. BEACH TOWEL: Milky Way Violet scrap. A book of wrapscapes and nursery rhymes is available for purchase at etsy.com/shop/CarriedAwayBook

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wrap up

{BWTM} Tell us about your role with Beco and how you started in the babywearing industry. {ALEX} We’re a small team at Beco, so we each wear a bunch of hats. I don’t really define myself by my roles, but instead my goals. From a product perspective, the overall goal is to limit discomfort. Babywearers should not worry about wearing the child and dreading the lack of support and feeling the child’s weight. Babywearing should never be a chore, instead, we want you to just share your day with baby. We really focus on getting a perfect combination of comfort (so you can power through your mommy/daddy duties while keeping baby comfy and safe along with you) and style (so you actually WANT to wear all day because you’re confident in a look and style that fits you).

From a company and outreach perspective, the ONLY goal is INCLUSION. No qualifiers necessary to be a ‘Beco mom / dad / grandma / caretaker / older brother / sister / linebacker.’

a sit down with

ALEX of Beco

Beco is a modern soft structured baby carrier from a company committed to creating products that are practical, well crafted and aesthetically pleasing. Alex Kaslowitz, from Beco’s sales and marketing team, sees the changing face of babywearing first hand.

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{BWTM} Beco began in 2005, how has the industry changed since the company first started? {ALEX} Wow. Well, conversations are much easier now. Back then, it was such a foreign concept, from a mainstream parent’s perspective. Babywearing was perceived as too “crunchy,” too “granola”… In 2005, a baby carrier was only understood as a lifestyle purchase. Fast-forward 10 years, and it’s a GET MORE S**T DONE purchase.

The industry has since blossomed with so many amazing options available for parents and caregivers. It was difficult to convince an expectant parent to own ONE, and now it’s difficult to keep them from only owning ONE. {BWTM} What role is social media playing in the evolution of the industry? {ALEX} Social media certainly plays an impactful role. Sometimes (and hopefully most times) it’s for the better- new parents have so many more places to go online for help and support. We host a Facebook community page called Becommunity (facebook.com/groups/becommunity.babywearing) where you can discover all of the amazing parenting tools available, learn about babywearing safety and get tailored advice from trained educators, share your own stories and feel confident knowing that you’re not alone in the chaos.

Sometimes it’s for the worse — new parents also have so many more places to potentially get ridiculed for their choices. It’s heartbreaking to see when seemingly polite conversations take this turn.

{BWTM} In the past, babywearing men haven’t been seen as prevalently as women. Why do you think that is? How is Beco working to change this and showcase more men wearing babies? While doing outreach for Beco, have you noticed an increase in men who are interested in babywearing?

If yes, what do you think is causing this important shift? {ALEX} This goes back to how the carrier industry has changed over the last 10 years, and I couldn’t love this part more. DUDES ARE WEARING BABIES IN 2015! It’s hard to say exactly why it wasn’t generally “accepted” or “regarded” in the past, but a babywearing dad is pretty much the ultimate highlight these days. We’re so proud to see such a shift in this paradigm, and feel that our hard work in creating a more inclusive space for males is finally paying off. I tip my hat to every guy that owns it and takes pride in babywearing for his family. Showing that kind of support helps in so many ways, sometimes even including the potential for an improved breastfeeding experience if applicable. {BWTM} Beco recently launched toddler carriers. Why do you think this product is important to your market? {ALEX} It’s funny — I feel like we’re now having the same convincing conversation about “toddlerwearing” now as we did about babywearing years ago. It’s difficult for folks to visualize the concept of wearing a 45 lb kid, until you present a theme park nightmare scenario quickly avoided.

Mix in hiking trails, parks, beaches or any outdoor adventures, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a toddler carrier. To most, toddlerwearing may end up looking a bit different than babywearing. It may happen less often, but when it does, it’s a lifesaver. Since our launch of Beco Toddler (becobabycarrier.com/cat-25/toddler), which offers a weight range 2060lbs, we’ve been able to help parents with children up to seven-years old find a way to continue wearing them in a comfortable and safe seat.

This has been an especially invaluable asset for special needs families — it brings me to tears when I see one of our toddler carriers helping a physically limited child to be a part of family events and activities that they may not have been able to otherwise. I just love it. We’re so thrilled to continue helping families everywhere — from all walks of life — in making life just a little bit easier with Beco Baby & Toddler Carriers.

“

From a company and outreach perspective, the ONLY goal is INCLUSION... No qualifiers necessary to be a ‘Beco mom / dad / grandma / caretaker / older brother / sister / linebacker’.

”

facebook.com/becobabycarrier & facebook.com/groups/ becommunity.babywearing becobabycarrier.com