International Babywearing Week 2016: Best Seat in the House!

International Babywearing Week 2016 Logo: Circular image of a baby in a sling with the text "Best Seat in the House"

It’s that time of the year again! International Babywearing Week (IBW) 2016 begins next month—taking place October 5 through October 10! This year’s the theme is "Best Seat in the House” and we will have activities in D.C., Maryland and Virginia with the hope that you can attend at least one. We also plan to have virtual activities for those who cannot participate in person.

IBW is observed annually by Babywearing International of DC-MD-VA and by babywearing groups around the world. The week is a great time to connect with babywearing friends outside of the frenzy of our monthly meetings. And chapter leadership also use the week as an opportunity to raise awareness about babywearing, to reach out to others who are less familiar with babywearing and to raise funds to support our mission.

We would not be able to celebrate IBW without you. We rely on members and friends to plan and host activities, to donate goods, services and skills for the auction, and to spread the word about our events. As we finalize and share our IBW plans, we would love for you to spread the word by posting about our events in your favorite online community group or parenting forum. We can even get you physical fliers to leave at the pediatrician’s office, to pass out at your next parenting meeting or to hang on the board at your library or favorite coffee shop.

As a final note, IBW is also a time that Babywearing International of DC-MD-VA ramps up promoting our participation in the Combined Federal Campaign of the National Capital Area (CFC) that takes place annually for federal workers. We are a CFC charity and our number is 60645. We ask that this year you “Show Some Love” and keep us in mind during the giving season. And please share the word with the federal employees in your life.

circular logo of white text on blue background reading 'show some Love"

Please check back with us here and on the events tab on Facebook for further details!

Supporting your local babywearing group, the simple way

The chapter’s group leadership is very excited to announce an upcoming fundraising

campaign with hopes that members and friends will offer their support. It’s the easiest

fundraiser the group has initiated in a while—there’s nothing for members to buy, bid on,

buy a ticket to, or show up for! You simply make a donation and know that your local

babywearing community is grateful for your contribution, no matter how big or small.

• $5 can cover the cost of having a carrier cleaned
• $20 can pay for two months of online software subscription
• $30 can pay for a budget carrier for one of the “learning libraries”

Ways that you can support the chapter during this fundraising campaign

From July 10 through August 8, the chapter will host a fundraising campaign. During that

time the goal is to raise $400 ($100 each week of the campaign). And there are easy ways

for you to make a contribution to the organization’s mission:

• Send an electronic payment via to Paypal DCMDVA@babywearinginternational.org
• Mail a check or money order to the group at P.O. Box 3551, Merrifield, VA 22116
• Give cash or a check in-person at one of the following monthly meetings:
• Thursday, July 14 at Bethesda
•  Saturday, July 16 at D.C.
• Saturday July 23 at Bethesda
• Thursday, July 28 at Springfield
•  Wednesday, August 3 at Tysons
•  Friday, August 5 at Centreville

What happens to the funds that the group raises?

You may be interested in knowing what will happen to any donation you send during this

fundraising campaign. Below are some of the ways that the group spends money.

• Support for the national organization
• All affiliated chapters remit a portion of their membership fees and donations to Babywearing International.

• Technology
•  Affiliated chapters pay monthly fees for online software to track who has borrowed a carrier, when the carrier is due, to help figure out overdue fees for carriers not returned on time, and to track membership.
•  A couple of years ago, the chapter found a great sale and invested in tablets so that group volunteers did not have to use personal devices at meetings.

• Carriers
•  Did you know that the group has over 350 carriers spread among its multiple “learning libraries?” Group leadership takes advantage of special discounts targeted to babywearing educators, and volunteers have a special knack for finding quality carriers at modest price. Carriers more than five years old have recently been removed from the lending libraries.

•  Demo dolls
•  These are weighted dolls that simulate a real infant or child. They come in handy for teaching demonstrations and for use by families who are expecting and who come to meetings without an actual baby to wear. Recently, the group bought some professional demo dolls. Chapter leaders often use their own money and resources to convert a regular doll into a demo doll. Leaders sometimes find that at the busiest monthly meetings that there are not enough demo dolls around for the hands-on portion of the meeting.

• Written materials
• The chapter maintains a supply of brochures, pamphlets, and business cards. The written material is made available at the monthly meetings and at outreach events that the group attends.

Why you should feel great about donating

Think about the caregivers who are new to babywearing and come to a meeting just to

figure it all out. What about the person who comes to troubleshoot a carrier they own, but

can’t figure out how to use? And there are also parents who come to meetings to take a

break from being inside and to see new faces or hear an encouraging word. Some families

are experienced babywearers looking to borrow a carrier to use for a special event or

family outing.

This community has existed so long because of enthusiastic members, loyal friends, great

supporters, and tireless volunteers. Collectively, this chapter is supported by everyone’s

efforts in a number of ways. We advertise the meetings by word of mouth and in

parenting groups, attend member-initiated play dates to get to know one another better,

and show up to chapter-supported events. We have impromptu after-meeting meals

together, seek and share advice and tips online, and volunteer our talents and resources as

time allows.

The reality is that it takes more than people power and our love of babywearing to keep

our group running effectively. Sometimes the group has fundraisers in order to pay for

the supplies and tools needed to support our mission. And we hope that you will support

this community by giving to this fundraising campaign.

More Red, White, and Blue--worn by you!

Marion shared with us a few photos.  This is her with a baby on her front in a wrap conversion Oscha Cairis.  Lovely shades of blue.

Next shows the same mom and baby in a Tiny Tiger Baby American Beauty, a white wrap in a front cross carry.  THe baby is asleep with a hand tucked by the cheek.  So adorable!

 
The baby is looking at the camera and does not appear to be impressed while mom wraps in a Kokoskaa Marshmallow Pebbles.  Let's home the baby was unhappy with the time of day and not the wrap itself.

Jordan shares a snuggly photo of her in a 2012 white/offwhite pamir with an adorable sleeping baby

 Stephanie H and son look calm and serene in a blue ssc standing near trees and runing water.

Araceli shared a selfie of her and and child in a Lillebaby carryon in blue and white hearts.  Both are wearing blue with a bright white background.  I feel like I'm looking at a modern minimalist blog the colors are so vivid.

Lindsy M shows us her her Glory wrap and bamberoo wc.

 

Genevieve shares a photo of a one day old baby in a red mei tai; a six month old baby in the same red Snugli used by her grandmother and the baby wrapped on her front in a blue Storch warp 

Morgan shoes us its possible to wear patriotic colors and be a Wisconsin cheese head at the same time while she stands in the airport wearing a Lenny Lamp stars blue and grey ssc.

Meredith confirms the headgear makes the photo as she stands with her daughter in a blue wrap.  The baby is wearing a patriotic headband in blue and white stars with red and white stripes!

 

Lacey wraps in a wool Natibaby autumn blaze for extra cush and wicking in the summer heat while running errands

Ellen manages a toddler and a baby on a walk in a light colored Didymos Indio

Thank you to all the members who shared photos with us in celebration of Independence Day.  Are you snapping any photos today?  We'd be happy to see and share more of our membership's activities with you!

Happy Birthday America!

The members of our Facebook chatter group responded enthusiastically when we asked for photos of green carriers for St. Patrick's Day and were just as enthusiastic posting pictures for July 4th, the US Independence Day.  They posted pictures of red, white, and/or blue carriers and we're happy to share them with our readers!

Laura M

Lincoln Memorial in the background with brown haired woman in a Pavo Otomi Geranium wrap facing away from the camera in the foreground

Washington Monument  and reflecting pool in background.  Crowd of pedestrians in middle ground and brown haired woman in a Pavo Otomi Geranium wrap facing way from the camera in the foreground

Terri L

Terri stands in a parking lot with her daughter in a front carry in a whales kinderpack

Terri takes a selfie with a toddler in a red Didymos wrap

Terri's mom wears a newborn in a blue linen ring sling

This is just a few of the pictures submitted for the Independence Day celebrations.  Look back later in the day for more photos from our membership!

The Wearing o' (or in) the Green

It's St. Patrick's Day!  We asked our members to share their photos of using green carriers, and you all obliged with a wide variety of greens.  Maybe even 40 shades of green?

The backs of a man and woman wearing a baby and toddler in a St. Patrick's Day parade

A mom wears a toddler in a green Ergo

Only the baby is visible in this green and yellow sling

Baby worn on back in a green wrap with brown birds

A mom takes selfie over her
shoulder of baby on back in light green wrap

Mom wears in a green wrap off camera.  Baby and llama and
another woman are visible

Mom wears newborn in dark olive sling

Mom wears dark skinned toddler in green dot KP

Dad in kitchen wears toddler in front in a
green starry night wrap conversion carrier

Smiling mom wears
smiling young toddler in white and green Tekhni

A toddler is worn by mother in green MT posing with
2  police officers, and another woman wearing a T-shirt.  Target seems to be the background

A mama wears a baby on her back
in a green wrap in front of the Cherry Blossoms

A woman wears a newborn in a green silk sling
in the stands of a ball game

A dark haired mama wears a white older toddler in a green
wrap with Celtic designs

A young toddler is seen on the back of a woman out
of frame.  Toddler is in a dark and light green Ellevil wrap conversion carrier

A newborn is seen in an olive green sling.

A brown haired mom wears a blond baby in front in a light blue/green wrap

A mom wears a baby in a multi-green
striped sling in front of the white house

A dad with tattoo around his arm
wears a sleeping baby in a multi-green and
brown striped wrap

A mama wears her young toddler in a light
green and white wrap.  They are in the grocery store

Mom in green shirt wears a baby on front and
toddler on back in green tone KPs.

Photo over shouder at grocery.  Toddler asleep in light green wrap with white stars

Mom poses with Cat
in the Hat while wearing baby on back in
shamrock wrap

Family photo of family all in green posed
at the St. Patrick's Day Parade

Mom with red hair poses in green wrap with
small baby in front of lake.

Dad in ball cap wears baby in front in light
olive green Ergo.

We hope you have a fantastic St. Patrick's Day!