April 12, 2012

PAXbaby.com

Victoria’s Secret model Miranda Kerr has been an outspoken and oft photographed babywearing and breastfeeding advocate since her little one, Flynn, was born in January 2011. Husband Orlando Bloom has also been frequently seen wearing sweet baby Flynn in soft structured carriers and wraps out in public – and you know we ALL adore a daddy that loves to wear his babe as much as mom!

In a recent appearance on the Ellen show, she was presented with a custom, tricked out, Kokopax framed baby carrier – fashioned to look JUST like the lovely, decorative wings worn by Victoria’s Secret “it”  runway girls! And check out all those extra’s – the only thing missing is her very own Mai Poketto!

Click here to see a video clip of the segment with close-ups of all the added necessities, and check out those babywearing muscles!

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*happy babywearing*

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April 7, 2012

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Watching the kids at their class today made me think about babywearing not only as a way to tote your baby around, get stuff done around the house, and as an artform, but learning to babywear is like learning a new gymnastics routine – it’s all about safety and physical skills!!!  Learning the right amount of pressure to pull your strap to get it to tighten in JUST the right way! Learning how to manipulate the sling rings to get the tension of the rails pulled snugly and evenly!  And don’t even get me started on the mad skillz needed to wrap!  Babywearing covers all the bases from appearance – lovely – to convenience – very – to stretching your brain and body!!!

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*happy babywearing*

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December 20, 2011

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Most babywearers are introduced to babywearing with the uninspired big box “crotch dangler” style of baby carriers –  the Infantino, the Bjorn, the Chicco – and most babyworn babies are indoctrinated to their babywearing career by being subject to the unsupported and uncomfortable method of FFO (Front Facing Out!)  With these mass produced baby carriers being so common, most civilians don’t bat an eye at a newborn drooping pitifully from its new mother’s baby harness with its wee arms extended over the front flap and its legs in an unnatural & flaccid sag.  Most admire baby’s hair, or lack of hair, or sweet outfit, or cute hat, but what we babywearers know with every babywearing bone in our body is that these carriers are not good for our babies!  They don’t support – they suspend!  They don’t cradle – they dangle!  They don’t hold – they hang!  As a friend of mine says, Friends don’t let friends FFO!

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Front Facing Out is not a popular way to wear your baby in the stricter world of babywearing, however I’d like to point out that there is always the exception to the rule!  I have a handful of exceptions in which case a baby carrier with FFO capability is invaluable!  I was thrilled when Beco introduced to the babywearing population the Beco Gemini which features the ability to forward face because not only will that option lure in the unsuspecting parent who would usually buy a Bjorn but the Beco is “so much cuter,” but the Gemini also allows me to use an organic, Made in the USA, ergonomic carrier in a FFO position without needing to own a “crotch dangler”!!!  These circumstances happen very rarely, but when they do, I’m grateful for my Gemini!

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FFO circumstance #1 - Sitting to view a sibling’s class or play.  You need to be able to sit back so you can’t have baby on your back!  Baby wants to see the happenings as well!  FFO your baby so that they can interact with the world but be very observant of their signals to you of discomfort or overstimulation and limit their FFO time to about 10 minutes at a time!

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FFO circumstance #2 - Wearing an older baby while they are eating.  I can clearly remember the first time I wore my Gemini to Disneyland!  When Baby #5 got hungry and PAXdaddy handed him a messy granola bar, I simply turned him around and all the crumbs went cascading onto the ground outside Pirates of the Caribbean instead of down my cleavage!  What a relief and easy clean up that made!  These days we can use a custom Flat Hat to act like a bib to protect the Gemini itself as well!  Urge baby to finish up quickly because wearing an older baby with his spine against you is NOT going to feel good after a while and certainly is not ergonomic for babywearing participant!

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FFO circumstance #3 - Wearing a baby who wants to be included in a craft!!!  Crafting with children is always a challenge, but add into that messy mix a baby who wants to be involved, and you have a recipe for disaster!  Luckily, by inviting baby to help while being worn lessens the catastrophic demise that usually occurs when baby “helps!”  Strap baby onto your front and put in his arms reach harmless tools that will help him create his masterpiece without damaging your crafting area permanently!  In our case this past week, the kids & I were making a Christmas surprise for the PAXdaddy!  Every year, we make him something with their hand prints, and this year, a friend inspired me to help the kids create Homemade Salt Dough Ornaments featuring their very own paw prints!!!  Of course we couldn’t leave out Baby #6, so into the Beco Gemini he went, and we imprinted his very own ornament with his tiny hand print!

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THANKS for reading, and keeping an open mind when you first read the blog post title!!!  Remember, the main purpose of babywearing is to bond with your baby and remain available to them as they grow so if you need to fudge the rules once in a while, I understand!  I’ve been there & done that, and have made the decision to FFO with a happy baby then try to back carry with a screaming one!  Let baby participate, and you will be a better babywearing team for it!

PAXbaby

Homemade Salt-Dough Ornaments

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Ingredients & tools needed:

• 4 Cups Flour
• 1 Cup Salt
• 1 1/2 Cups of water
• Rolling Pin
• Parchement Paper
• Cookie Cutters
• Toothpick
• Ribbon
• Acrylic paints

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Instructions:

1) Pre-heat oven to 300 degrees F.

2) Prepare your cookie sheets by lining with Parchment Paper.

3) Mix Flour, Salt and Water together. The dough will be sticky at first.   If it’s crumbly, add a little bit more water. If it’s too sticky, add a bit more flour.

4) Knead the dough by hand or use your mixer for  25 minutes. This will eliminate “most” of the air bubbles.

5) Roll the the dough out to about 1/4 of an inch thick.

6) Use cookie cutters to make desired shape, or trace a bowl like we did!  Place cut-outs on the cookie sheet. Don’t forget to make a hole for hanging!  We used the end of a glass straw to make uniform holes in each ornament.

7)  Press baby’s hand firmly into the dough, or use their fingertips to mark the small ornaments.

8 )  IMPORTANT: Salt-dough has a tendency to “bubble”, which will cause the ornament to crack. To help prevent bubbling, take a toothpick and lightly poke tiny random holes all over the ornament or in a creative pattern. This will help release the air.  The holes may be noticeable so make ‘em pretty. Once the ornaments come out of the oven you can poke holes on the bottom as well to release some of the trapped air as well. This may help prevent them from cracking in the future.

9) Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until they are a very light golden brown on the bottom. Keep a close eye on them, because they can burn quickly!

10) Take the ornaments out from the oven and let them cool.

11) Paint them!!!

12) Give them to your loved ones & hang on your tree!

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Hope you have a wonderful time crafting with your little ones, and feel free to use this recipe!  It was given to me by Andrea!!!

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*happy babywearing*

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November 17, 2011

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As a babywearing advocate, we are called to spread the word and distribute as much information as possible!  Thank you sharing this post for anyone who is pro-babywearing whether they are a certified educator, a babywearing parent, or a neighbor who smiles every time she sees you actively bonding with your child!  THANK YOU to each of you for diligently demonstrating how to bond with your baby and teach them the best you can – in your sling, next to your heart, skin to skin!

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Every day, a new mom is wearing her baby in a GREAT carrier because of the efforts you & I are doing as babywearers… tirelessly, endlessly, fighting against the plastic car seat bucket, the mechanical arms of the automatic swing, the vapid playpen filled with meaningless, electronic toys meant to encourage learning and stimulation when all baby needs is to be held and worn and carried for the best exercise, education, and bonding possible!

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We are battling for the right of babies to be tactilely engaged and to returned to a norm for what their bodies are biologically designed – TOUCH!!!  Human touch, what babies need and crave and severely miss when they are toted from here to there in the artificial cradle of their car seat and then plopped into a synthetic swing or seat at home.  As babywearing educators and advocates, we promote this healthy bond between baby and parent which results in the well rounded, happy, curious, & independent child.  Don’t give up the fight for babywearing, these babies need us, and guidance is crucial for today’s ___  parents who are easily swayed by the supposed “expert” advice of doctors being funded by large corporations and well meaning friends who “did it and their child is fine!”  Help this new generation’s mothers and fathers to understand that less is NOT more, that a crying baby is NOT a normal baby, and that a touched baby is more likely to learn faster, grow stronger, and become a more confident kid and eventually, a secure and self assured adult!  If the parent’s goal is to raise a child to be strong and assertive, let’s help to give the parent the skills they will need from their baby’s birth and offer all the best knowledge and advice we have to encourage their bonding relationship through babywearing!!!

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*happy babywearing*

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November 15, 2011

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Do you love babies?  Do you love babywearing?   Please help save a baby’s life by writing an email to discourage people from reselling their Infantino Sling Riders!  And help to save babywearing from getting a bad rep through these accidents and deaths from dangerous carriers!  Although these Infantino carriers have been recalled and are not being manufactured any longer, they are still being passed from unknowing babywearer to naive new mommy! Google Craig’s List and email the national listing addresses with a letter listing the reasons to destroy their sling and NOT to resell it!   Or put up a Want Ad at Freecycle!  I’ve already had 2 responses to my ad and will be picking up my Slings of Death this weekend to dispose of permanently!  Impress upon them the fact that $5 or $10 is a small price to pay when saving a baby’s life!!!  If you see a babywearer still actively using a “bag sling,” hand them one of our print-at-home babywearing cards in the hopes of introducing them to a safer, more comfortable, longer lasting baby carrier!

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If you need ideas on what to do with your Slings of Death after that, just ask!  I have some great ways to destroy these slings and get some aggression out too!  Heeheee!

PAXbaby

*happy babywearing*

PAXbaby.com

October 28, 2011

PAXbaby.com

What does Halloween mean to you?  Pumpkin patches & rustic scarecrows?  Ghoulish makeup & spooky decorations??  Funny costumes & trick-or-treating?  However you choose to celebrate October 31, come on over to PAXbaby’s Facebook page for some babywearing themed Halloween fun!  Partying on Saturday & Sunday, PAXbaby is hosting a virtual Halloween party complete with a Babywearing Costume Parade, AP Pumpkin Carving Contest, Fall Recipe Exchange, PAXprizes & more!!!   Get ready to get spooky & invite your friends!!! *Tallying will occur late Sunday night so we can spend Halloween itself with our families!!!!*

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PAXbaby.com

Each event will be tallied up separately so you may enter in each game – just once!

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Costume Parade: Once you post your Costume photo, invite your friends to LIKE your photograph and of course, whichever picture gets the most likes WINS a PAXprize!  If you have a photo with you and your baby dressed up in a  baby carrier – perfect!  If not, doctor up a babywearing picture of yourselves with a free online program like Picnik, and enter that silliness instead!

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Pumpkin Carving Contest: Get inspired by this artistic pumpkin, and show us your pumpkin creation! Can be carved or painted, but needs to have an AP theme – aka babywearing, breastfeeding, co sleeping….  Post your pumpkin photo, & invite your friends to LIKE your pumpkin and of course, whichever picture gets the most likes WINS a PAXprize!

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Fall Recipe Exchange: Let’s have a bake off!  Post your favorite Autumnal recipe – can be main course, dessert, drink, whatever!!!  Invite your friends to LIKE your recipe post and of course, whichever recipe gets the most likes WINS a PAXprize!

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HAPPY HALLOWEEN & *happy babywearing*

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October 18, 2011

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From Babywearing Mom, Emma: I just wanted to share a little picture with you of my sweet little Lincoln (13 months) in a PINK ring sling! Even boys look good in pink

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PAXbaby.com

*happy babywearing*

PAXbaby.com

October 17, 2011

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Thank you, Alana, for your amusing babywearing story!!!

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My son was born at our
local hospital using a midwife, and we went home ASAP, when he was
about 24 hours old.  When we were being discharged, the nurse asked
about our car seat–we didn’t buy an infant seat because we didn’t
plan to take it in and out of the car, since we planned to wear him
out and about anyway, so we just got a convertible seat that was
already installed in our car.  Surprisingly, they didn’t need to check
our car seat, so we signed the papers and she said goodbye, and we
walked out of the hospital with our little guy in his ring sling.

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PAXbaby.com

*happy babywearing*

PAXbaby.com

October 16, 2011

PAXbaby.com
You have never played a crossword puzzle quite like this before!!  Chock-a-block full of PAXbaby trivia, can YOU solve the PAXpuzzle!?!  Think hard, and when you have completed the exercise in brain stretching, email me a photo or send me the saved image so you can be entered into PAXbaby’s weekly drawing for a PAXprize!!!  Have fun, enjoy your Sunday, * happy babywearing*
PAXbaby.com

PAXbaby.com
Across
2. Carrier with rings
5. Name of the Beco slip covers
7. Years PAXbaby is old!
8. Children in the PAXbaby herd
9. Position for nursing on the go
11. Organic wrap brand at PAXbaby
12. Create a custom carrier at PAXbaby

*
Down
PAXbaby.com
1. New Boba Carrier
2. A brand of linen & silk ring slings
3. PAXbaby #6
4. PAXbaby mom
6. PAXmama’s baby carrier fetish right now
10. Organic baby carrier brand made in SoCal
PAXbaby.com
*happy babywearing*
PAXbaby.com

October 11, 2011

PAXbaby

You say baby wearing, I say babywearing….

You say my-tie, I say may-tie…

You say “want uppies,” I say “up please!”

But we are ALL saying WE LOVE OUR BABY CARRIERS!

PAXbaby.com

PAXbaby.com

*happy babywearing*

PAXbaby.com