tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36821423827732816282024-03-13T10:58:25.064-07:00Squish Babywearing EducationHelping parents wear their babies with style, grace, and safety.Mrs. Squishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01027923546899291316noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3682142382773281628.post-43266872517668272612012-02-11T16:53:00.000-08:002012-09-21T08:01:05.659-07:00Squish Babywearing - Fall/Winter 2012Welcome to Squish Babywearing Education!<br />
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Fall is here, and so are the days when our female brains are concocting recipes with pumpkin, apples, cinnamon, and preserving our harvest! Or, if you're more like me, you look forward to eating other people's creations and <i>pretending</i> I want to cook something!<br />
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My squish is now 15 months old. We are going through a definite dry spell right now with wearing - he's not really a baby right now. He is exploring his surroundings and becoming more and more curious every day. Time sure does fly! I find myself reminiscing about the newborn days, and particularly in the fall, about pregnancy.<br />
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Being pregnant and preparing for babywearing is something I've experienced twice. The first time, I just let my senses guide me to what was pretty and shiny! Looking back, my choices would have been not bad. Now, if I were to be pregnant, this is what I would buy (if money was no issue)<br />
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<b>Ring Sling</b> - I would still, today, go out and buy a Maya Wrap. Honorable mention goes to Sleeping Baby Productions and their woven wrap sling conversions. Some people are really into rainbows right now - it depends on my mood, but I prefer patterns or stripes (complimentary colors or contrasting) to rainbows. Go Maya Wrap go!<br />
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<b>Mei Tie</b> - Freehand makes a really cool Mei Tie. I haven't tried one yet with my own babies, but I really like them. Still love my BH (Baby Hawk).<br />
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<b>Woven Wrap</b> - I admit I am smitten with Didymos, just about anything, but I still wish to own a size 7 Indio in a crazy blue or green! I may yet! I'm UppyMama curious, because of the Canadian made uber status (I admit that the unicorn hair stuff is SUPER annoying, considering in the end, I can use a $5 piece of fabric to do the same job).<br />
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<b>Squish Projects!</b><br />
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I'm working on some volunteering - it's frustrating, I'm back at work full time - so, it's busy! I will see some of you at Welcome Wagon this weekend. I am still available for booking evenings and weekends, and some Fridays during the day. <br />
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<b>Ciao for now!</b>Mrs. Squishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01027923546899291316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3682142382773281628.post-78280509519053403382011-12-30T19:05:00.000-08:002012-07-31T22:31:20.732-07:00Squish Cast of CarriersMeet the Squish Cast of Carriers and Product Reviews!<br />
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Time, investment, and quality - babywearing is about the practice and not about the product. Squish looks for used carriers, wherever possible. There are advantages and disadvantages to every product. Every carrier in the library serves a purpose and has lived a life of typical wear and tear of a mostly full time attachment parent.<br />
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HOPPEDIZ PANAMA 5.2 m </div>
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- woven wrap</div>
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- super long length for double layered carriers</div>
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- stripes and hemmed edges<br />
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This wrap came out of the box feeling extremely long, thick, and blanket-like. The only way I could really explain how this feels (now) is that as a wrap it was speaking to me as being useful for other things. This wrap was broken in over a very hot summer weekend, doused in a flash rain, dried out in the sun, and then used as a hammock. Great for the kids to use as a swing as well - they loved it! The wrap carried my three year old daughter with great ease. For my newborn, I found the maxi length to be a little tough to work with, and I found the thickness and heaviness to not work well in the summer. I held onto this wrap into the winter, hoping it would make another appearance with a larger baby in the cold.</div>
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Through the winter months, I still found the wrap to be tough to work with. I opted to send it away to Metamorphosis in Edmonton to be converted into a wrap conversion carrier. With a sling-ring waist, a baby body, and a pointy hood with long wrap straps - this Panama has seen a new life. It is a carrier that works well for work horse babywearing - that is, where comfort and duration of wearing are extended and where the opportunity to readjust isn't always possible.</div>
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If you are looking to convert a wrap to another style of carrier, the process is fairly easy. Contact Shannon at Metamorphosis, and prep your wrap for postage to her. It was only $30 for shipping both ways. I washed my wrap prior to sending it and discussed my wishes with Shannon beforehand. If you want scraps back, you can request that (I am keeping a sample of the wrap for my teaching kit, and it may perhaps find it's way into another creation some day. The cost was reasonable, and Shannon was really great to work with for communication and getting the conversion done in a timely manner.<br />
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OLIVES AND APPLESAUCE</div>
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- soft structured carrier</div>
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- buckles and a sleep hood</div>
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- back pack style straps</div>
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This carrier came to me free from my bff. It was well used by two previous owners. I use this carrier as a sample to show how a carrier can break down (especially SSC's) over heavy use. I know this carrier has seen better days, and it still is in working order. The waist band is floppy but would still be supportive for short periods. As an SSC, the O and A comes highly recommended by many babywearers and continues to be an SSC force to be reckoned with. I would definitely recommend this carrier as a highly valuable member of any babywearing team.<br />
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GYPSY MAMA BABY BALI STRETCH</div>
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- stretch and woven hybrid</div>
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- long length, t-shirt soft</div>
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- batik</div>
If there was ever a single carrier that could "do it all" in the wrap world, this one would be the one that I would recommend. The hybrid stretch is a strong wrap, that needs no breaking in. It's tensile strength and softness is like nothing else. I purchased this wrap from the lovely Groovy Mama and it is in high rotation in my collection (and I will hope to see it move to the hands of a new momma very soon). I will most definitely be purchasing more of this wrap, perhaps in another color or pattern, and not only because I love the colors but also for it's versatility in my teaching collection.<br />
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MAYA WRAP RING SLING</div>
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- woven-like material</div>
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- pocket in the tail</div>
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- old-style shoulder (no padding)</div>
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My favorite carrier? Most used carrier? The one that opened the door? This is my first ever babywearing device. I learned to use it far better the second time around, and discovered that it's a carrier that I can throw into my van and take everywhere I go. There isn't a long wear time for me with a ring sling, no matter what the construction - I do notice that it does tire me out faster and can be less comfortable. But this isn't a carrier I would depend on for extended use anyway. It's a fast carrier, and to me it's meant for the ease of wear and not the duration. I would recommend that every babywearer has a ring sling in their arsenal. It makes breastfeeding easy, and you can use the tails (if you need to) for clean ups, storage of a bank card, etc. I often clipped my keys onto the rings for quick trips in the store as well. I used the sling many times in the grocery cart when it turned into a longer trip - you can tighten the sling around the baby and the cart and have your own shopping cart cover/seat belt combination (not without supervision please). This was also a Groovy Mama special, can you tell I love the store?<br />
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BABYHAWK MEI TIE</div>
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- apron straps for tying</div>
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- fold down head rest</div>
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- minky lining<br />
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If my husband invented a carrier, he would probably have invented this one. It's amazing for comfort, and it came to me used from a very special hyperemesis gravidarum survivor. I purchased it for $70 used and it's probably the most broken in carrier I've ever owned. I lusted about babyhawks for so long, finally got one, and it is on it's second go-round with my own children (a boomerang carrier that was sold and bought back). As far as MT's go, the babyhawk is a strong and well made carrier. Some aren't fans of the high structured head rest, and as a newborn carrier I probably wouldn't recommend it. But beyond four months, this carrier is definitely a standard and a needed carrier in any collection. My husband uses this carrier exclusively and has his own ToddlerHawk!<br />
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GYSPY MAMA BALI BREEZE </div>
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-thin and gauze-like</div>
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-4.0 m</div>
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This was my first purchase when Jonas as born, in fact I ran out to Groovy Mama when I was only a few hours post partum to snatch this one up. It was very hot, and I definitely needed a light carrier to get us through. The width is narrow - perhaps my only complaint about the carrier. I think it's slightly scratchy, and digs in the shoulders with a double layer carry. But, this is meant for hot days and I wouldn't use it for long. I love the colors, though, and it's a great carrier for older kids carrying their siblings (my daughter loves it).</div>
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UPPYMAMA MT/HAND WOVEN IN CANADA</div>
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-Canadian content</div>
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When I first saw this carrier, I was in love. It had my favorite rasta elements, was a MT (that I wanted to add to my collection), and woven in Alberta - how could I not place that order. Becky is a fellow educator and head UppyMama. Careful shopping (wrappers call it stalking) lead me to this beast. The long wrap straps fit me perfectly, and it is a reversing carrier to me (not sure if it was truly meant that way, but I definitely take advantage of that). It is a workhorse as well, and a lovely soft woven wrap MT. It is my official Canadian Content carrier. Shop Canadian!<br />
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DIDYMOS HEMP INDIO (BROWN)<br />
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- 4.2 m</div>
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- a heavy and thick wrap</div>
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This wrap came used and I was hemp-curious... sounds like an epic story, but really there is not much to report. It has all of the qualities a hemp wrap is thought to have - strong, soft, heavy. It's one of my favorites, but I don't use it much because of the weight. With good tightening, this wrap is definitely a much easier wear. This is a pretty weak attempt at tightening in the picture, but remember I am still a novice wrapper myself. It was comfy with my pork-chop little guy, and I would imagine it does the same with a newborn as it would with a four year old.</div>
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DIDYMOS WOOL INDIO</div>
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-4.2 m</div>
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-a light and fragile wrap</div>
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I call this my unicorn hair wrap. Wool is a lovely fiber, but to me - if it can't go into the washing machine when it's got ketchup on it, it's a precious piece of cloth. I hand dyed this wrap with 32 packs of green Kool-Aid (food grade, so that if my boy sucked on the wrap it would be less worrisome than if it was a chemical based dye). As a wrap, I can say that it's nice and soft and airy and comfy. It's a lovely wrap, I would highly recommend wool to a momma who had experience with working with wool items. The risk to wool is that it can felt in extreme temperature changes and can even be picky in hot water - which could change the size of the wrap. When I hand dyed this I measured before and after and was rather gentle with the wrap. It may exhaust dye when I wash it again, but I am okay with that. </div>
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DIDYMOS SILK INDIO</div>
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-3.0m</div>
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-slippery but solid</div>
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Not much experience with this wrap, but being that it's a blend of silk and cotton, I would agree that it is a warmer wrap. It's a lovely color, so shiny - and a wrap that I cherish not only for my baby but also as a piece of clothing. It does run a little warm, but it's a worthy tool. I find this wrap is nice as a comparison for people to feel the difference in fabric types and weaves.</div>
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DIDYMOS BURGUNDY PFAU</div>
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-3.7 m</div>
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-chickens...</div>
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This is the wrap that sold me on Didymos. It's not hot like other patterned wovens. It's a thick and floppy wrap (by floppy, I mean that it literally makes that flopping sound when I fold it and toss it down), but it's not as hot as one would think. It has two sides with contrasting colors. I love it, I will have a heard time ever letting this chicken leave the coop. Pfau does have a great reputation in the babywearing world - whether it's some people think they are tacky and loud to where they are coveted basics in the collectors stash. If you want a wrap that is beautiful and does what it says, the cotton blend Pfau is a lovely addition to your collection or (dare I say) as the do-it-all wrap.</div>
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HOPPEDIZ ANTIGUA</div>
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-4.7 m</div>
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-my workhorse beater snuggler</div>
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My kids love this wrap. It's a swing, it's a carrier, it's a snuggling blanket, it's a go-to, it's a car wrap, it's thinner than Panama and so unlike that carrier... Ah. I love this carrier. If it doesn't eventually become threadbare or repurposed into something else, It may just get vacuum sealed in a closet for the grand children. </div>
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LENNY LAMB SUMMER (cotton)</div>
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-4.7m</div>
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-pretty soft</div>
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This is a very cost reasonable wrap. Unfortunately for the company they had a hiccup with their MT's recently, but this wrap absolutely holds up to anything I've owned. I love the colours, that's my favorite part about this carrier. It's also a highly used carrier and usually stays in the vehicle. It's been camping and well used this summer. Photography in this shot by Ally of <a href="http://purelyfresh.ca/" target="_blank">Purely Fresh</a> (check her out!)</div>
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</div>Mrs. Squishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01027923546899291316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3682142382773281628.post-14302768640785560132011-12-30T18:18:00.000-08:002012-04-16T22:15:32.014-07:00Evidence Based Babywearing<span id="internal-source-marker_0.6026891049982831" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In
our current society, more products than ever are available to take our
newborns out of our arms and into other containers. From the first
moments of birth, our babies are taken from our arms. According to </span><a href="http://home.mweb.co.za/to/torngren/bergman-int.html"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Nils Bergman</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">,
a doctor specializing in Kangaroo Mother Care, behavior of babies is
determined by their environment. As even the full term baby is born
biologically immature, with only 25% of final brain size - evolution has
removed our ability to release our baby from the mother. The
implications of the bucket society are wider than we could ever know,
and likely draw direct links to decreased breastfeeding rates,
dissociation, stress of the newborn, and a loss of mothering instincts. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">If
we disseminate then that babywearing is appropriate for our biology and
directly effects our survival and outcomes in development, then we must
look to how we wear our babies further effects physiological
development, beyond the buckles and beauty. </span><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/spark/2011/05/spark-147-may-8-11-2011/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Evidence of how early humans carried their babies is difficult to find as fibres break down before bones</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">, however we can walk to our museums and look to </span><a href="http://themominformed.blogspot.com/2010/12/babywearing-in-many-cultures-were-i.html"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">cultures all over the world</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
- as well as places where strollers and car seats are not the norm - to
see that infants are carried close to their mothers in many fashions.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Our physiological development is directly affected by how we are carried, worn, and allowed to sleep and feed. </span><a href="http://www.continuum-concept.org/reading/spinalStress.html"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Culturally
significant to today is the terms of how we protect the curvature of
the infants lower spine versus the fashionable and increasingly
marketable way</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Container syndrome is a definite risk to newborns placed in their i</span><a href="http://adc.bmj.com/content/early/2007/07/19/adc.2007.119180.abstract"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">nfant buckets for prolonged periods</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">, and similarly </span><a href="http://didymos.com/index.php?s=bonnet"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">babywearing products can and do put infants at risk</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
for not only asphyxiation - but also impaired spinal development,
improper loads on the groins, and decreased circulation to the lower
extremities. When you consider that the safest place for an infant to
be is in it’s mothers arms, but the reality is that mothers need to be
able to walk, bend, sit, stand, and tend to the needs of others - it is a
reality that a device to wear her baby is important and the
implications go beyond the fashion.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">With the upheaval in the babywearing community relating to the </span><a href="http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/recall-retrait-eng.jsp?re_id=1001"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">product
recall of the Infantino Sling, and widespread notoriety of “the bag of
death”, the safety implications of babywearing is obvious</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Many major retailers carry (and still have </span><a href="http://www.infantino.com/category.cfm?subcategory=1001&group=94"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Infantino</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
products) many varieties of devices designed to carry our babies. As
do boutiques, Etsy, second hand stores and baby sales, your neighbor -
and many times other mothers. To the parent who is beginning to
discover a plethora of products. How do parents select a product? </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">With
so many products on the market, babywearing aficionados have merged the
science, the practice, and the product. Babywearing education -
specifically, a trained individual who has expertise on all of the
important points on how to purchase, how to wear, and the “why”. The
educator works with the family, works in the community, and can work
with health care professionals to promote the practice.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The practice of babywearing itself in North America and European countries today is hampered by an influx of </span><a href="http://www.snugli.com/soft-carriers/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">carriers which are complex</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">, may promote wearing baby in </span><a href="http://www.hoppediz.de/en/wissenwertes/the-art-of-carrying/wrong-carrying-methods/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">physiologically damaging positions</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">,
and with mass production and poor construction - may be putting our
babies into compromised situations. The term “forward-facing out” - if
you consider the research of Nils Bergman - does not keep with allowing
for cues to the mother for when infants need to breastfeed, or for the
bio-social development of the infant brain. Also to be considered is
harness regulations in the workplace for adults - </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suspension_trauma"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">suspension trauma</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
is a serious incident and could cause fainting, re-circulation
syndromes, and orthostatic intolerance. Despite this, many carriers
exist on the market which look like a harness.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Poor
positioning is known to affect our babies, but one can draw much
conclusion to the effect it has on the mother or other parent carrying
their baby. </span><a href="http://www.chiro.org/LINKS/ABSTRACTS/Post_Partum_and_Beyond.shtml"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">For
our own spinal health, we are instructed on how to properly carry heavy
loads. Also to be considered, women after childbirth have weakened
core strength</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">.
Combine poor positioning with the improper carrier, and the normal,
physiological practice of babywearing - becomes one without safety and
consideration.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">These
issues are the basis of any babywearing education training programs.
The normal, physiologically and evolutionary way is to hold our babies
close, between our breasts - yet our culture, our roles as women, and
our instinct all collide to complicate what should be natural and
available to all.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Credits to the </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/CDNBabywearingSchool?sk=info"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Canadian Babywearing School, Arie Brentnall-Compton and Kelly Drury-Laffin</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Nils Bergman</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">CBC radio - Spark (podcast, May 2011)</span><br />
<a href="http://www.hoppediz.de/en/wissenwertes/prejudices/#vorurteil4"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.hoppediz.de/en/wissenwertes/prejudices/#vorurteil4</span></a>Mrs. Squishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01027923546899291316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3682142382773281628.post-77600677714585527422011-12-14T11:08:00.000-08:002012-04-16T22:18:30.743-07:00<b>SQUISH CONSULTS</b><br />
<br />
<b>BABYWEARING CONSULT - $20/hour</b><br />
<b>BABYWEARING EDUCATION - $75/presenter</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>*prices subject to change, tax included</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b></b><br />
<a name='more'></a><b><br /></b><br />
<br />
<b>Cost of a Babywearing Consult</b><br />
<br />
When you are considering a consult, please be aware that each consult is tailored to you. To breakdown what is involved in a consult, consider the time and efforts put into the consult.<br />
<br />
Each consult involves:<br />
<br />
-Research and online time<br />
-Carriers for the library (carriers range in cost between $60 and $150 both new and used)<br />
-Time for travel<br />
-Time for designing presentations (presentations 2-3 hours long require about 6 hours to design)<br />
-The cost of running a home-based business<br />
-Childcare costs if I cannot bring my children<br />
<br />
For each consults, you will be able to try out: numerous woven wraps, ring sling, SSC, stretch and hybrid woven/stretch, and gauze. Also available for comparison are carriers in the non recommended category. <br />
<br />
<b>BABYWEARING CONSULTS</b><br />
<br />
- a basic, simple consult is $20/hour and negotiable with trade (the rate is the same for both the initial and any additional presentations). I will trade for: house cleaning or help organizing, photography, childrens clothing, cooking or baking.<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS</b><br />
<br />
- a flat rate of $75/per presenter, negotiable with trade (up to three hours)<br />
- $25 for one hour, $50 for two hours (per presenter)<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>CARRIER LIBRARY RENTAL</b><br />
<br />
- some carriers may be available for rental or to be borrowed for short periods. <br />
<br /><b><br /></b><br />
<b>SLING RINGS</b><br />
<br />
Squish has sling rings available to those who are looking at DIY sling kits, and are using appropriate fabrics (ie. batik, Osnaburg, linen, and dupoini silk). Squish does not sell DIY sling kits or fabrics, this is only a recommendation. Please check out <a href="http://www.sleepingbaby.net/" target="_blank">Sleeping Baby Productions</a> for more information about making your own sling - and, how to turn your wrap into a no-sew sling.<br />
<br />
<br />Mrs. Squishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01027923546899291316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3682142382773281628.post-28584277270516341372011-12-08T19:55:00.001-08:002012-01-03T15:50:39.554-08:00Babywearing Education PresentationsSquish is also here to provide education to health care professionals, groups of mothers or interested parties, and retailers.<br />
<br />
Your educational discussion can be customized to your needs, or can be a general discussion about babywearing. It can be presented in discussion, with teaching aides (Power Point), and with demonstrations. Squish will bring a variety of carriers or work with your products.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">*Due to safety considerations and in keeping with appropriateness, Squish will not exclusively promote any one business, although if you carry a product and it suits the needs of the client, Squish will send them your way. Squish will not endorse your product if it has been recalled. There are no product endorsements on board at Squish - all carriers have been purchased in good used condition in order to demonstrate flaws and what a well used carrier can do in it's prime.*</span><br />
<br />
BABYWEARING 101 and 102<br />
<br />
If you are a member of the public, or looking for information regarding babywearing, these two sessions are for you.<br />
<br />
101 - types of carriers, why societies have worn babies, basic physiological concerns for the wearer and the newborn, basic carries for each carrier<br />
<br />
102 - how to choose a carrier, historically speaking about babywearing, controversial positioning, marketing and safety<br />
<br />
THE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATION<br />
<br />
If you are working in a profession where you are working with parents, you may benefit from having knowledge of babywearing. Chiropractors, family physicians, nurses, massage therapists, and beyond could all benefit from a little bit of knowledge about babywearing. Considerations include protecting the core and lower back, supporting the shoulders, the implications of breastfeeding, and the newborn spinal development.<br />
<br />
The presentation will be around two hours in total and will include the following:<br />
<br />
-types of carriers and a quick explanation of each, including unrecommended carrier styles<br />
-the physiological concerns of the newborn and the babywearer<br />
-implications to breastfeeding and growth and development<br />
-how to teach your clientele about babywearing<br />
-the effects of marketing on the child rearing industry<br />
-how to help low income mothers wear their newborns on the cheap<br />
<br />
THE BIRTH WORKER PRESENTATION<br />
<br />
If you work in the area of birth, there is definite implications for wearing newborns. Doulas and other birth professionals will benefit from this quick and crisp session.<br />
<br />
-how to promote babywearing to new parents<br />
-birth work, breastfeeding, and babywearing - how they collide and why<br />
-historically speaking - how did birth intermingle with babywearing<br />
-using a sling, carrier, and a wrap in post partum work<br />
-quick and dirty - how to help your client use their carrier<br />
<br />
THE RETAIL<br />
<br />
With the worlds of business and advice colliding, you never know what the future holds for your staff and a new parent asking for more than what is in the package. With more women turning to the online world for support and more people asking for advice - you, as a retailer, are put on the spot. Whether you sell carriers or are fielding questions from the customer, this is the presentation for you. <br />
<br />
-looking at your products - how to work with physiological norms and the construction of your carriers<br />
-common questions about carriers<br />
-positioning<br />
-resources for the retailer - the BCIA and you<br />
-helping families decide on an appliance that works best for them<br />
<br />
THE CUSTOM<br />
<br />
If you have the desire and the need to build your own private educational seminar, Squish is available to help you figure it out. If you require references, evidence based research, and any other custom work - we will work on it together. Topics may include:<br />
<br />
-controversy<br />
-history of babywearing<br />
-evidence based babywearing<br />
-attachment parenting<br />
-lactation information (Squish works with Kim Smith, IBCLC)<br />
-parenting<br />
-special medical concerns and babywearing<br />
-recalled carriers<br />
<br />
<br />Mrs. Squishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01027923546899291316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3682142382773281628.post-59637450834395985792011-12-08T19:45:00.001-08:002011-12-30T18:33:24.091-08:00Babywearing Consultations<span style="font-size: small;"><b>The Initial</b></span><br />
<br />
Welcome! You're convinced, you've got the itch to buy that carrier or have been gifted a lovely contraption that you have no idea how to use. Or, you're ready to throw it out the window and want to renew your faith in your lovely carrier.<br />
<br />
What happens at a consultation? Squish will bring out a selection of basic carriers depending on the age of your baby, or a specific carrier of your request. You can also have your existing carriers ready to go if you need to learn how to use them. Squish may also bring multimedia/technology out as well as a variety of other resources to help guide the consultation. <br />
<br />
Prior to the consultation, please think about what you'd like to cover or choose from the list below. You can book a maximum of two hours for your initial consultation, if you have several questions.<br />
<br />
- How to choose a carrier<br />
- Considerations for babywearing<br />
- Logistics of babywearing (ie. How do I facilitate and arrange my day with my baby on me? Weather appropriate wearing? One or more small children? Carrying a diaper bag? Managing a stroller? Exercise?)<br />
- Multiple users for one or more items<br />
- Babywearing on a budget<br />
- Renewing the Squish love (ie. my babywearing days are numbered if I don't like what I've got or figure something out)<br />
- One specific carry that I want to master<br />
- Special circumstances (disabilities, pregnancy, health issues, etc)<br />
<br />
<a href="mailto:daizyrhonda@gmail.com" target="_blank">CLICK TO BOOK A CONSULTATION NOW</a> <br />
<br />
The second or more consultation may be a continuation of the first, or to add to what was covered the first time. Maybe you wanted to do the consultation in pregnancy and now that baby is here you need to be fitted. Whatever your reasons, a second consultation is welcome!<br />
<br />
<b>The Second </b><br />
<br />
Once you've had your initial consultation, purchased a wrap from your favorite retailer or online, or are dealing with a unique challenge - invite Squish out for a second consult! Reasons why a second consult may be:<br />
<br />
- Learning how to deal with common issues like - leg straightening babies, babies who are reluctant to be worn<br />
- Is your carrier causing you discomfort? <br />
- Time for the next carrier!<br />
<br />
Whatever your reason, Squish can come out again and work through the challenges with you!Mrs. Squishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01027923546899291316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3682142382773281628.post-72463910707808982182011-12-08T19:35:00.001-08:002011-12-14T11:31:52.836-08:00Welcome to Squish!<br />
<br />
Babywearing Education is not a new thing. Women have been passing down techniques for wearing their children for generations in all cultures. As long as women have been having babies, they have been wearing them in some fashion. Anthropological evidence is difficult to find, as fabrics break down long before bones and other permanent items - however, through history evidence has shown that women kept their babies close and safe in many fashions and with various techniques.<br />
<br />
Squish is about our soft little babes being held closely and safely close to our hearts and where it counts. Squish is there to help you learn about the why and come accustomed to the how. As with anything these days (related to children), the practice evolves, changes, and moves with the times. Let someone who is versed and immersed in the culture help to guide you through the times and into the new, the hip, and the appropriate!<br />
<br />
Squish is all about keeping your baby happy, healthy, and safe! Babywearing has many implications for breastfeeding and normal development. There is a reason why history doesn't point to non-sustainable baby products - women through the ages carried and wore their babies.Mrs. Squishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01027923546899291316noreply@blogger.com