baby carriers in Alaskahttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

It's amazing how much babywearing has "caught on" up here over the last few years. While Christmas shopping I saw lots of pouches, ring slings, sscs, and even some stretchy wraps! It's so great in the cold weather of Alaska to be able to tuck your little one into a carrier and then under a babywearing coat or vest.
I actually took a stroller with me this year and though our toddler enjoyed the ride (and I enjoyed a basket for shopping bags) I really missed talking to him. Well, we chatted and sang but he was so much further away! It was hard to hear. :(

So, we have a new shipment of the beco Obi in stock. I love the simplicity of this design and the fabric is gorgeous. It's wonderful to have carriers that allow for comfortable and safe forward facing-out positions; the pikkolo is also amazingly comfy and new fabrics will be on the way later this winter.

We're getting into the season for cabin fever and claustrophobia...
A great investment for the next few years is a Peekaru vest or Kindercoat. Both are amazingly warm and versatile enough for Alaskan weather. Easy to wear and relatively stylish, they allow for easy winter babywearing.

I'm in the process of listing organic BabyLegs and a new line of nursing necklaces! I love both of these and they make great baby shower gifts too.

Becos coming too!

Wow. It's a busy week. My order of bECO baby carriers (4th generation) are on the way. bECOs are beautiful and high quality soft-structured carriers.
Before I get these posted on the website they will be available by request (first-come first-served) to customers within Alaska. They are $126 each and carry babies from infancy through toddlerhood.
On the way:
Sky Temple (2)
Organic Avocado (2)
Ladybug
Eggplant Bird (replacing Brick Bird)
Cocoa Butterfly

Infant inserts and waist extenders are also available.

ScootaBaby coming!

We'll be adding the Scootababy hip carrier to our line this month. The Ellaroo mei hip has been a great seller but I like the improvements to the generic hip carrier design that Scootababy has made. It's comfortable and easy to use/adjust but the padded waist, like on a Patapum and other sscs, is fantastic. Even with a 35 pound 2 year old it is wonderfully supportive.
I highly recommend it. One thing I love about hip carriers is that you can comfortably sit while wearing your baby or toddler. Last year I took Cormac to a couple of Aces games in the mei hip and we easily fit into the seat. He was cozy and happy and not trying to get down on the icky sticky floor!
Scootababy comes in black canvas with two liner options; the one I have is fleece and the other is a soft cotton print.
These will retail for $107 and are well worth the money for comfort, support, and ease of use.

cold weather babywearing

We snowshoe in the winter, even when it is below zero. We have a couple of different approaches to it.
I dress Cormac and myself pretty warmly, Cormac a bit more so because he's not moving about, and then have a babywearing garment over us. I think that's important because it is a much better fit.
DH dresses them both warmly and wraps those glove insert heaters in socks and puts them inside Cormac's boots and top mittens. The carrier is always shown this way while with my way it's covered.

The most important things are:

• NO cotton next to baby's skin. The mantra from safety experts is "cotton kills" (I used to have that on my site in the winter babywearing article but my brother said it was too morbid) because it will get damp and refreeze, causing hypothermia before you know it.
• Dress in layers and do continual checks on baby's extremities. They will feel cooler than yours but watch for cold and clammy.
• Be very careful if you are getting sweaty, especially of your baby is sweaty, on winter walks and adjust your layers so you are not too warm.
• Watch exposed skin carefully. You can coat your baby's skin with a bit of lanolin for extra protection but watch obsessively for signs of frost nip and frost bite.

Getting outside in the winter is essential. Once you figure out a system that works for you it is really easy and refreshing whether a walk through the neighborhood or snowshoeing on the trails.

Top recommendation for breastfeeding and babywearing

I wrote this in reply to an inquiry last night and I kind of like it. So, here it is!

"My first recommendation for a carrier that will be nice and secure and help with breastfeeding on-the-go is a ring sling. Ring slings have general size recommendations but are also adjustable. The ring sling I carry have medium size rings so they are not too bulky and some light padding in the rails (the two edges that run along your body) to make it comfy when you are on the go and chasing a toddler. I have a two year old too so I know!

You can adjust the fabric in the rings really easily to adjust for a growing baby or even wearing you little one right now in a hip carry. The fabric on the "tail" (the part that is hanging through the rings) on many ring slings is open and so very convenient for covering up a little when you are nursing the new baby and want to feel a little more discreet. You can make it very secure so if you have to jump up all of a sudden at the playground the baby won't be jolted. For most infant carries and nursing you can easily have the baby in a cradle position in the sling. As he/she grows up you can use it for upright carries facing in or out and then for fantastic hip carries and even back carries with a toddler.