A New Year, A New Leadership Structure

Happy New Year!

In December, the VBEs for BWI of DC-MD-VA voted to move to a board structure.  With this new structure, a smaller number of VBEs will deal with the day to day operations of the local chapter.  As our chapter has grown, the large number of VBEs now assisting our chapter made leadership by consensus challenging.  The new system will have a board of 7 VBEs who will develop policies and make decisions about events, outreach, library, and day to day tasks, then bring proposals for any big changes to the larger VBE pool for a vote.

Now, how does this affect you?  Probably not much at all.  Meetings will continue to be held as they have been in the same locations when possible.  VBEs will continue to be available to assist parents and caregivers at meetings.  Social events will still take place for special occasions such as International Babywearing Week.  The daily operation of the chapter for those outside the leadership will look very similar.  However, it will help streamline systems for the leadership team.

So, without further ado, the new leadership team and their roles.  You can contact the team member listed if you have a question related to their role.  All board members can be reached via email at dcmdva@babywearinginternational.org.

Director/Grand Poobah:  Nicole N.
  - will oversee board operations
Money Czar (aka Treasurer): Angelique M.
 - will oversee and track funds
Scribe (aka Secretary):  Ellen S.
 - will produce minutes, notes, etc.
Education Czar:  Ann Marie R.
 - will handle VBE training and accreditation
Library Czar:  Jessica B.
  - will oversee library acquisition, maintenance, and management
Fundraising/Outreach Chair:  Cynthia C.
 - will oversee fundraising and outreach events and the committees involved
Membership: Reilly D.
  - will maintain membership records and serve as liaison from the board to the members

With this new board we hope that we will continue to provide the quality educational and social outlet that our members have come to expect with increased efficiency.  We look forward to serving you this coming year.

Ann Marie and the board

Meet a VBE: Nicole

Name: Nicole N.

Wrapping the 7yr old for fun!

Name/Age of Child/ren: Kadin(12 years) and Ansel(7 years)

What jobs, activities, hobbies, volunteer work, etc. did you do before kids?  Do you still do that thing?

Before kids.... I didn’t have much of a before kids! I had Kadin when I was 18, and I was thrust into responsible adulthood and had to figure it out as I went. But, I did play a lot of piano and I had various internships at different historic sites in the area.

When did you start babywearing? I started when Kadin was born, so 12 years ago! But I had worn babysitting charges as a teen as well.  

Did you know you were going to wear before you had kids, or what prompted you to try it?

I did. I was pretty accustomed to seeing parents with Bjorns and Snuglis and backpack carriers and it seemed practical to me. I had done a lot of baby-sitting as a teenager, and at times I had worn the kids I was watching, especially in one family that had toddler twins and an infant. So at 14 I was spending every afternoon with an infant strapped to my chest while feeding french fries to toddlers.

Who was the person who most influenced your babywearing and what did they do that was so influential?

I didn’t find the world of babywearing until we were in the process of conceiving our second child. I found lots of resources on the internet and that really opened my eyes. Then I found the babywearing group when Ansel was a baby, and that was it for me! I was amazed by all the options and wanted to learn everything. All of the leaders were great to me and I am so glad to be friends with them still.

The early days

If someone took away all of your carriers and said they were handing you a newborn and you could only choose ONE carrier from birth until the end of wearing, what would you choose?

A cotton 4.6 meter (size 6) woven wrap, hands down. Didymos would be my preference, probably a standard or stripes because they’re rough and tumble wraps and can take a beating.

If you had to choose ONE carrier from what you already own to be the only one you had to use from now forward, what would it be?

My Neobulle Manon Grise wrap. It’s a 3.6 meter(but measures long), if I remember right. I love it and I will never let it go.

Which carrier do you find you return to time and again, whether it be for each newborn, or just a consistent workhorse?

I had a Girasol wrap conversion Sleeping Baby ring sling that just solved so many problems for me. It was great for quick hip carries and I nursed Ansel about a thousand times in it. I have since passed it along on a long-term loan to a friend.

Tell me a story of a time that babywearing made a huge difference in the outcome of a family outing.

Aside from all of them? My family had a fondness for hiking. You can’t use a stroller in these areas, so without babywearing, we simply would not have been able to participate as a whole family. Someone would have had to stay with the baby, and since I have the boobs, that would’ve been me!

An outing downtown rallying for rights for moms

If you were stranded on a desert island, which carrier would you want?

A wrap. The material itself would have a lot of versatility in addition to working as a baby carrier.

What is your favorite thing to do while wearing?

I love cooking and baking, and I was able to juggle so much more in the kitchen by wearing on my back.

What is your least favorite thing to do while wearing?

Yardwork. It’s possible, but so cumbersome!

Why did you decide to become a VBE?

I was attending a lot of babywearing meetings by then, and I really enjoyed spreading the love. There was interest in holding more meetings each month, but there were more leaders needed to make that happen. I just loved watching a caregiver find the sweet spot, and I selfishly wanted to experience that again and again.

What is your favorite things about being a VBE for BWI of DC-MD-VA?

I love meeting so many new, awesome people! I have made so many friends through the group, my kids have made friends, and I think it is just such a great opportunity to share something I love with others.

Tell me a story about a time you helped someone at a meeting that stands out to you.

photo credit: Melody Yazdani

There have been a lot of great moments! There was one time that stands out, though, where a dad was looking for something to wear his baby in. His wife was using a Moby(stretchy wrap) and a ring sling and was happy with those, but they didn’t appeal to him or didn’t work for him somehow or whatever the reason, he was unhappy. He just didn’t understand how this could work. I suggested trying a mei tai. His baby was still very small, so she was just curled on his chest and we tied the carrier around her. When I tied the shoulder straps and let go and he realized that he was hands free cuddling his baby, I could see his facial expression change and in that moment, he got it. It was fantastic! I never saw him again, but I really hope he continued to share that time with his daughter and that they had many great babywearing memories because of it.

Thanks, Nicole!  It was great getting to know you!

Meet a Leader: Gwen

Name: Gwen

Name/Age of Child/ren:

Leo, almost 4.5

Max, almost 2.5

What jobs, activities, hobbies, volunteer work, etc. did you do before kids?  Do you still do that thing?

Before I had kids, I worked on Capitol Hill for 4 years (and notoriously said I would never stay home with children) and then after I got married I worked as a government contractor. Then…wait for it…I stayed home for 3 years with my boys! Now I’m back to F/T contracting work.

When did you start babywearing?

I received a hand-me-down Bjorn when I was pregnant and just kind of assumed that’s what everyone used because that is what you see in the movies. I also registered for a pouch sling from target and it was gifted to me. It wasn’t until my first was maybe around 3ish months old that I read the term “babywearing” on an online baby forum and started countless hours of research discovering this new and exciting world in my parenting journey. I tried wearing a few times but bought my first well-researched carrier 4-5 months in and then expanded from there.

Did you know you were going to wear before you had kids, or what prompted you to try it?

I don’t think I really even considered “wearing” being part of my parenting bag of tricks before or when I was expecting. With my first I was able to spend all day and night at first holding and rocking in my arms so it wasn’t something I felt like I was necessarily missing. I lived in an apartment when my first was born with the laundry facility in the basement. So once the honeymoon stage of letting all chores go to the wayside wore off, I HAD to take him with me sometimes to do laundry so I needed to figure out how to make that happen. I never really felt comfortable with my Bjorn, or my pouch for that matter during the newborn stage.

Who was the person who most influenced your babywearing and what did they do that was so influential?

Once I decided I wanted to learn back wrapping, I went home and spent a few sweaty weeks trying to get it right. Then I took my borrowed carrier back to a meeting where Lindsay K taught me how to do an amazing reinforced ruck. I still remember her techniques to this day and it will be 4 years this Spring since I first learned. I pass those skills on whenever I teach this carry.

If someone took away all of your carriers and said they were handing you a newborn and you could only choose ONE carrier from birth until the end of wearing, what would you choose?

I would pick a mei tai. It was the first carrier I ever bought and with my second I loved how easy it was to nurse in it. I also love how quick it can be to get into a back carry.

If you had to choose ONE carrier from what you already own to be the only one you had to use from now forward, what would it be?

In keeping with my last post, it would be my wrapstar (no longer being sold in the US.)

Which carrier do you find you return to time and again, whether it be for each newborn, or just a consistent workhorse?

I LOVE my natibaby Greece. It is perfect for newborn carrying and still supportive enough for my 4 year old. It is soft but supportive and just makes me happy.

 

Tell me a story of a time that babywearing made a huge difference in the outcome of a family outing.

In my last year at home with my boys I kept my nephew F/T. He came to me when he was 5 months and my youngest was 3 months. It was like having twins. I had one kid in a carrier most of the day and many times they were carried in tandem. I remember one day we went to a friend’s for a play date. I hadn’t anticipated being outside but when the older kids wanted to play in the wet and muddy yard, I put the infants in carriers and was able to push the older kids on swings and just be present. My nephew was crawling so letting him down would have been trying (and ultimately messy) and my youngest was sitting up but I know that without carriers I would have had to juggle two in my arms since they were both pretty needy infants. Using carriers allowed me to attend the playdate and enjoy a nice Spring day without having ask my friend to help me care for the infants or leave them in their carseats.

If you were stranded on a desert island, which carrier would you want?

If I were on a desert island and this island were hot, I guess I would want my bali baby  breeze gauze wrap. I’ve taken many walks on the beach with various sleeping babies in that wrap. It took me some time to figure out how to make it comfortable on my bare (and sometimes sunburned) shoulders but that’s my warm weather wrap.

What is your favorite thing to do while wearing?

My very favorite thing to do while wearing is have the enjoyment of getting out of the car and be able to hold my child close while I run errands. Especially when we have a trying car ride, the only thing I want to do is hold and kiss my child and if we had to use a stroller or sit in the cart, we couldn’t have the same cuddle time. Though they couldn’t tell me when they were young, I think they appreciated the cuddles too.

What is your least favorite thing to do while wearing?

My least favorite thing to do while wearing is potty train. I mean, it’s not on the top of my list not wearing but I spent a lot of time in the bathroom with my second child on my back training the first. Add cleaning up the bathroom after training to that scenario… But I have to say I’d rather have a baby on my back than in my arms while doing this task!

Why did you decide to become a VBE?

I felt a great connection to the babywearing community and met a great network of parents and wanted to carry that on for the next group. It is also a great volunteer activity where you can bring your kids. Of course, now that my boys are crazy and have a tendency to try “kung fu fighting”, I have to limit the number of meetings they attend with me for my own sanity. (note: children of all ages are welcome at meetings!)

What is your favorite things about being a VBE for BWI of DC-MD-VA?

Working with a great group of leaders has really been rewarding! I also adore meeting parents just starting out on their babywearing journey and seeing their needs met by this wonderful skill.

Tell me a story about a time you helped someone at a meeting that stands out to you.

I fondly remember helping a mama tandem wear her 5ish month old twins for the first time. Now she is a tandem wearing fool! 

Meet a Leader: Pamm

Our series on our Volunteer Babywearing Educators continues...

Name: Pamm

Name/Age of Child/ren: I have two boys. V is three and E is 19 months.

What jobs, activities, hobbies, volunteer work, etc. did you do before kids?  Do you still do that thing?
I have been the Director of Children’s Worship at Fairfax Community Church since 2007. I direct three creative teaching & musical worship environments as part of a team that mobilizes 150 volunteers to serve nearly 600 kids each weekend. Before my call to vocational ministry, I worked in corporate writing and editing. I channel those skills into helping our BWI chapter and blogging at More Green for Less Green. I also am an accredited Attached at the Heart Parent Educator.

When did you start babywearing?
 I practiced wrapping while pregnant and I started wearing my oldest a day after he was born. Although I had a woven wrap, I brought a Moby to the hospital and used that. Did you know you were going to wear before you had kids, or what prompted you to try it? Based on raves in the blog of an Australian woman I met in an online forum, I decided that I wanted to use woven wraps well before I was even pregnant with V.  I’d never seen anything so beautiful as a Girasol rainbow wrapped around a baby. Before V was born I received a Neobulle cotton wrap in Simon (blue and brown stripes). I registered for it because of the gender-neutral look and lower price point, but I lucked into something amazing. It was soft right out of the package and had contrasting rails which are great for learning with.

Who was the person who most influenced your babywearing and what did they do that was so influential?
Can I have two?
#1 Ann Marie Rodgerson – I showed up to my first BWI meeting with 5 week old V who wanted to nurse and snuggle 24/7. Because of extreme pelvic instability, I couldn’t hold baby in my arms and walk without excruciating pain. I also couldn’t push a stroller. It was wear him or nothing, but the Moby wasn’t cutting it for comfort. I wasn’t able to eat, drink, or use the bathroom without my little snuggle bug losing it, which meant I was losing it. Ann Marie showed me how to use my woven wrap and how to nurse in it. I left the meeting, went home, and ate food while my baby ate (again). I cried tears of joy and came to as many meetings as I could from them on.
#2 Lindsay Killick who worked with me over and over again on a symmetrical-starting double hammock (DH) as my first back carry. DH is a tricky first back carry, let alone having a different way to start it, but it was a must for my special support needs. DH revolutionized my life! I was able to do so much more with baby a back carry. Since my kids regularly come to work with me, mobility is key.

If someone took away all of your carriers and said they were handing you a newborn and you could only choose ONE carrier from birth until the end of wearing, what would you choose? A woven wrap, for sure. More specifically, I’ll go with Didymos Fire Fish, size 5. I have a buttery size 6 one now that I love, but it is a tad long.

Which carrier do you find you return to time and again, whether it be for each newborn, or just a consistent workhorse?
Girasol Amitola yellow weft, size 5. It is such a cheerful rainbow that it perks up any day, and the cotton does well year-round. It’s my deserted island wrap: breathable, beautiful, hides dirt, would make a lovely hammock, is comfortable from newborn to toddler.

Tell me a story of a time that babywearing made a huge difference in the outcome of a family outing.
Cruising while babywearing has been great. Read about it here and here.

What is your favorite thing to do while wearing?
Working and/or nursing! I love that I get to bring my kids to work with some of the time. Babywearing makes productivity and nursing while on-the-go possible.

 

What is your least favorite thing to do while wearing?
Bending over. Even in a back carry and bending with my knees, my little guy just hates it. He always has. I recently got a grabber to help me pick things up from the floor.

Why did you decide to become a VBE?
 I love babywearing; I love connecting people to resources; I love teaching in large group settings. I think it is important to do volunteer work at every stage of life, and this fits the kid-friendly bill. I suppose the better question is how could I NOT be a VBE?

What is your favorite thing about being a VBE for BWI of DC-MD-VA?
I love those moments when caregiver and child click with the right carrier for them. I can look at them and tell it just clicks. If baby falls asleep out of the perfection of the moment—great! Sometimes these magic moments happen with a carrier the family brought with them that just needed some tweaks and other times it is connecting with an eye-opening library carrier.

What is a VBE?

Hopefully you’ve been enjoying our Meet a Leader series. Maybe you’ve been wondering what exactly it means to be a leader for Babywearing International (BWI).

BWI certifies leaders to be a Volunteer Babywearing Educator (VBE), Advanced Babywearing Educator (ABE), or Master Babywearing Educator (MBE). For simplicity’s sake, we’ll refer to everyone as a VBE in this article.

All of our VBEs are well versed in all kinds of babywearing: one shouldered carriers like pouches and ring slings, Asian-inspired carriers like mei tais, soft-structured (or buckle) carriers, and wraps. While we each have our favorites and our strong suits, each leaders has trained to help you with any type of carrier and is versed in front, back, and hip carries and breastfeeding in each type of carrier.

During a meeting, VBEs may teach in a variety of forms. Many meetings start with a Babywearing 101 session modeling the major types of carriers and safety basics. After that, we like to work in small groups if people with similar questions. It’s a great way to learn through listening, seeing, and doing, and to start to meet others in the group. When one-on-one assistance is needed, we do our best to be available for that.

Only BWI certified educators can instruct at a meeting, but we welcome other volunteers in supporting roles like greeter, librarian, membership sign-up, and behind-the-scenes things like marketing and web support. Having volunteers in these supporting roles is key to allowing VBEs as much time to teach at a meeting as possible.

The V in VBE is key. Each one of us is a volunteer. From the Board of Directors on down, BWI is completely volunteer-run. Our leaders have kids that range from newborns to 12 year olds. Some are stay-at-home-parents, others work part-time or full-time. We volunteer our time because we want you to love babywearing and to be successful with it.  We all look forward to meeting you at a local event soon.

Meet a Leader: Kit

Name: Kit

How old are your kids?
D. 3.5 (7/22/2010)
P. 19m (7/20/2012)

What jobs, activities, hobbies, volunteer work, etc. did you do before kids? Do you still do that thing?
Before kids I danced, nannied, and was in the Marine Corps. We still dance, but it's usually around the house.
When did you start babywearing?
August of 2010!

Did you know you were going to wear before you had kids, or what prompted you to try it?
I knew I wanted to learn more about it after seeing it at a Bradley Class while pregnant, but what really lit the fire to do it was after my husband deployed and D was sooooo clingy (and had food allergies, so her tummy was miserable!).

Who was the person who most influenced your babywearing and what did they do that was so influential?
There have been a few. The moms running the Colorado Springs babywearing group when we first started had a huge impact. I learned all my basics from them, and a lot of other things about how I wanted to parent.

If someone took away all of your carriers and said they were handing you a newborn and you could only choose ONE carrier from birth until the end of wearing, what would you choose?
My Natibaby Warrior's Creed. It's the right width and length to be useful, without being too huge for a newborn or too small for a toddler.

If you had to choose ONE carrier from what you already own to be the only one you had to use from now forward, what would it be?
My Kokadi Melody (old version)- It is super wide, thick, blankety, long enough to tandem but not SOO LONG and has been with us most of our babywearing journey.

Which carrier do you find you return to time and again, whether it be for each newborn, or just a consistent workhorse?
For each newborn it's been a lila ecru indio. I actually sold it when D was 15m old, but bought it back so I could wear P in it as well. We have since sold part of it but kept a wearable scrap.

Tell me a story of a time that babywearing made a huge difference in the outcome of a family outing.
We went to Europe last summer, and T (husband) was still deployed, so the girls and I left without him and had him meet us there. I looked pretty ridiculous on the London tube system wearing two kids and hauling a suitcase with enough clothes for four people for three weeks, a carseat, and a diaper/travel bag, but it got us through! I can't imagine trying to push a double stroller and haul the carseat and suitcase!

If you were stranded on a desert island, which carrier would you want?
A wrap! Blanket, sunshade, carrier, use it to haul things.. all kinds of stuff!

What is your favorite thing to do while wearing?
Dance. We do a lot of dancing

What is your least favorite thing to do while wearing?
Shovel snow! (hmm, aren't you unlucky this winter?)Why did you decide to become a VBE?
To help start the Richmond (Central VA) chapter. They needed more and I thought "Eh, I know a little.."

What is your favorite things about being a VBE for BWI of DC-MD-VA?
The sense of community. It's kind of like insta-family, and as a family that moves around a lot for the military, that is amazing to us.

And since she didn't include this info about herself:
Kit was the driving force behind starting The Carrying On Project.  This amazing organization (which is really Kit and Rachel - another of our local VBEs) provides carriers free of charge to military and veteran families who might otherwise not be able to afford them.  If you are able to skip a coffee or two out this month, perhaps you can donate a little to help out their worthy cause.  You can read more about The Carrying On Project and see this amazing piece that was recently on Fox5 News here.  To date they have provided carriers to more than 1000 military families. 

 

 

 

Meet a Leader: Angelique

Name:  Angelique

How old are your children?

E is 6 1/2yrs old
A is 4yrs old
Q is 14 mo old

What jobs, activities, hobbies, volunteer work, etc. did you do before kids?  Do you still do that thing?

Before Kids:  I was a parent educator supervisor through the Early Head Start program.  I worked with pregnant moms, and families with children between 0-3.

Sadly, I do not do this work any more. It is something that I would like to get back to
when my children are a bit older. I really enjoyed knowing that I was giving back to the community
that helped me and my family out when I was a kid.

When did you start babywearing?

I started babywearing when my first was born.  I did a TON of research to find the PERFECT ONE CARRIER.  (editor's note: I don't think she succeeded)

Did you know you were going to wear before you had kids, or what prompted you to try it?

I didn't know I was going to be a babywearer, per se.  I just knew that I needed some sort of device that would help me make my days at home with a baby easier.

Who was the person who most influenced your babywearing and what did they do that was so influential?

I don't know if I have a single person who made the light click for me.  It was definitely a group of people through a lot of interactions that has made my journey remarkable.

 

If someone took away all of your carriers and said they were handing you a newborn and you could only choose ONE carrier from birth until the end of wearing, what would you choose?

 

I would definitely choose a wrap.  It is the only carrier that conforms to ME.  All of the other carriers, I have to conform to it in some shape or form.  Wraps are also the most versatile.

 

 If you had to choose ONE carrier from what you already own to be the only one you had to use from now forward, what would it be?

I would choose my Girasol Earthy Rainbow.  The colors are beautiful, and rainbows just make everyone smile and happy.

 Which carrier do you find you return to time and again, whether it be for each newborn, or just a consistent workhorse?

 I have been wearing for many, many years now.  My stash is divided into two group:  the tried and true, and the fun/fashionable.

 

I am absolutely in love with my Didymos Natural Hemp indio.  It is soft enough to handle a delicate newborn, yet is able to stand up to the task of wrangling my 6 YO when she wants to be held.

 

Tell me a story of a time that babywearing made a huge difference in the outcome of a family outing.

 I traveled across the country to see my dad with a 2 1/2 year old and a 6 month old by myself.  Had I not had a baby carrier, it would have been a DISASTER trying to navigate the airports with two kids, a rolling suitcase and a diaper bag.

 

If you were stranded on a desert island, which carrier would you want?

I think I would want my hemp indio.  It is light in color, so we wouldn't attract too much heat.  It is strong, so we could use it as a hammock to have a place to sleep up off the ground.  It is washable, so a dip in the water won't hurt it when it gets dirty.  Very practical.

 

What is your favorite thing to do while wearing?

Nothing makes my heart swell more than putting a little one to sleep by just swaying back and forth.  And being able to sniff the tops of their heads, breathing in that intoxicating smell...whether they are a tiny newborn or a stinky toddler. 

What is your least favorite thing to do while wearing?

Using the public bathroom.  You don't know the thigh burn until you have a baby strapped to you and you hover over the toilet.

 

Why did you decide to become a VBE?

Being a VBE is very much in line with what I used to do in my former, professional life.  I enjoy working with parents become better parents to their little people.  I also think that volunteering is something that I want my kids to do when they are older.  Helping others for the sake of having the ability to do so is a characteristic that I want my kids to embrace.  The only way that I feel I would be true to my belief is if I live it out in front of them.

 

What is your favorite things about being a VBE for BWI of DC-MD-VA?

I get to meet so many people, and share with them how wonderful it is to be a babywearer.  We are great at sharing all sorts of parenting information to all types of parents.

 

Tell me a story about a time you helped someone at a meeting that stands out to you.

I had a dad come in, and he was adamant about learning how to wrap.  I must have wrapped along side him a good dozen times to show him the steps to completing the carry.  I walked away from him, leaving him there on his knees, as he maneuvered the material around his body.  Later that evening, I received a message from his wife that he had spent the afternoon practicing and had conquered the fabric.

 

Thanks for taking the time to let us get to know you, Angelique.  You are definitely an important part of our leadership team.  You can meet Angelique and learn her awesome skills at most of the meetings in Northern VA.