An International Babywearing Week vacation

Ok, it wasn't really an IBW vacation but it was IBW and it was vacation (if you can call traveling with 6 kids a vacation, but it was for them). And being IBW I did get to show off my babywearing love in 5 states so, as promised, here are the pictures to prove it.


This was us doing the prep work here in SC, state #1. #1 and #3 were at CCD and #2 was already in Pittsburgh with daddy. And I learned I had a blown fuse to my cigarette lighter. Since you have to be able to power the DVD player and GPS we had to go get some. We decided to try Walmart since we had to go pick out some food bribery for the trip anyway. #6 rode in the Bara Barn Salsa, #4 and #5 rode (not happily but they didn't have shoes on) in the cart.


Since we left at 5:30 am we had to eventually stop for breakfast. This is state #2, NC, where #6 had to ride in the Sleeping Baby Productions tencel ring sling so that I could wrangle (with Emily's help) the 2, 3 and 5 yr olds plus everyones breakfast and bathroom help. BTW her cute hat is from Handmade Fuzzy on Facebook, Etsy and Zibbet and no I am not affiliated (though she does live local to me), it's a shame you can't see the cute bumble bee on it but their's a picture on her fan page of Leah in it.



Next picture is a stop is VA, state #3, lunch at Wendy's. Stop to nurse the baby while the kids run in the grass between the restaurant and giant farm and I get to enjoy that great view while nursing. Then secure the baby back in the SBP and off to wrangle the kids back into the car and pass out their frosty bribery.



This is state #5 but the last stop. I missed a picture in WV on the way up b/c we had a fun adventorous stop there on the way up. Kind of a long story so I'll post that in our adventures of traveling on the other blog instead. But here we are, safe in PA visiting the Pittsburgh Zoo. The morning was spent in a mei tai made from a Target tablecloth using the pattern at sleepingbaby.net like the Ball Baby Overall. Then #5 had to be briefly contained in that so #6 went back to the SBP (can you tell thats my favorite?)


OK. here is state #4 from the trip back, WV, a stop at Cracker Barrel where we ate, got some candy bribery then the kids played checkers while I rocked and fed the baby. The weather and rocking chairs were so nice she fell asleep. Thanks to our Comfy Joey pouch she stayed asleep while I loaded everyone up.


As you can tell, traveling 8-9 hrs (which turned into 11-12 hrs) alone with 5 kids (4 under 6 and a very helpful teenager) is made possible by my 3rd hand (aka my carrier collection).

another giveaway

www.bobababycarrier.com is giving away 1 organic and 1 classic. I would love to try one as they are supposed to be great for older kids too

International Babywearing Week

IBW starts today. Just like last year I will be changing my Facebook profile picture daily to feature what I wore and did that day. This year was also fun because Columbia Babywearers also put on an Introduction class on Saturday. Now I will really get to spread the love as I will be traveling this weekend. Since I am driving (and will have a tiny breastfed baby so have to stop very frequently) I will get to babywear in 5 different states this week so look for the pictures when I get back (or watch for them on Facebook).

Everyone else is celebrating too so lots of contests going on. The first one to share is www.sleepywrap.com. To celebrate the website is giving away 1 organic and 1 classic Sleepywrap.

Now what?

Yes, I have a collection, some say its too much and to others collections I can't compare. But there is so much reason behind this. The biggest reason of all is I LOVE my carriers. I love them because I am not sure how anyone lives without them, I sure know I couldn't. If you think this is because I have 6 kids, that is true, but that has not always been the case. When I had only 1 child, I NEEDED that carrier, at 2 weeks old my 1st child "woke up" and for the next several weeks she became overstimulated when we took her out in public. We'd return to our house and by evening she would be screaming about it. Who wants to listen to a baby scream? Noone, because we are designed not to, that is a baby's only way to communicate and we are designed to instantly want to jump through hoops of fire to meet their needs. So a sling shielded her from that overstimulation and she was fine. She didn't have colic as some would have said, I knew what overstimulation was and I knew how to prevent it. Of course now people are thinking, but that was just 1 baby that had a need. But #2 had a need too, #2 had severe reflux and the only way she was comfortable was upright, upright on my chest in her sling. Another need? #3 was laid back, she didn't have that need and would have slept in a swing. But just because she didn't yell forth her need, it was there I am sure. All babies have a need to feel secure, safe, cuddled, loved. And most moms have things to do, #3, #4, #5, #6...all had their own needs, some much less vocal about it than others. But I still had to take care of the rest of the kids. Yes, I cut back when my babies are tiny but the older kids still have to eat. So in the sling they go.

I call the sling my 4th trimester. It is where I can pop a baby and they will sleep peacefully like magic, like I was still carrying them in the womb. They get that feeling and I get that convenience (without them kicking my bladder or the bad backache and loose joints). Could I live without my sling? Sure, because I can tie a bedsheet to be one...do I ever want to live without it? not a chance. So when Adventures in Babywearing had a call to action, to help get the word out about everything going on right now and the need to support the Baby Carrier Industry Alliance I jumped up to share my story. I am also selling off one of my carriers to help me get a membership to support their mission.

Here are some of my happy snuggly babies in parts of my collection