Fair Trade Wraps: Girasol Weavers Traditional Practices
All my exclusive Girasol wraps – and all of the wraps that Girasol makes – are fair trade items and their manufacture supports amazing skilled artisans.
Here’s what Girasol says about their production with partners in Guatemala:
“GIRASOL stands for more than 30 years of experience in fair trade trade with partners in Guatemala and Mexico. This means that our relations are based on dependable terms of business. The most important part is that we pay our partners always in advance and that they can count on an assured income – also in difficult times.
“Furthermore, it is important to us that above all our partners in Guatemala where an intricate net of people is involved in the production of or wraps and carriers are able to work as independently as possible and are included in all questions regarding the production. Hence we try, for example, to do without plastic parts for the MySol as far as possible parts since these cannot be procured in Guatemala.” Read More
What is GSM? Woven Wrap G/M2
What is GSM? What does it have to do with woven wraps. I was asked to talk about GSM and woven wrap weight, which I do in the video just below.
I made this to complement a wrap training I did a few years ago. I now have an even better training and you can watch my Wrap With Confidence Workshop for beginner wrappers in my free FB group Wrap Club. Read More
Comfortable Babywearing Without Shoulder Pain
5 Rules of Comfortable Babywearing
Babywearing shouldn’t hurt!
This isn’t the act of a martyr mom – doing what’s best for her baby at her own expense.
A good baby carrier should make your life easier and better and more comfortable.
So what if it does hurt? Read More
Housework and Woven Wraps
You got your wrap and now it’s easier to care for your baby (and yourself). There’s less crying in your home and everyone is happier.
Babywearing for the win!
Is it possible that there are more benefits that could be had from your woven wrap?
Is it just possible this wonder cloth might also help you do something about:
- toys all over the room?
- stacks of laundry (unwashed or unfolded)?
- dishes piling up in the sink?
- and dust bunnies in the corners?
Oh, yes, mama (or papa)! Read More
Valentines Day with Small Children
How to Celebrate
Valentines Day with Small Children
3 Tips in this Blog Post Will Change Your Valentines Game:
- easy Amazon Prime gifts to order in advance
- trade babysitting with a friend
- dates when you can’t get a sitter
Read on for all the details to make V-Day easy for you! Read More
Storch Inka Roadtrip for Fulltiming Family
Storch Inka wrap – 3 babies and fulltime RVing
We’ve loved our Storch Inka wrap with Ada (born September 2004), Annabelle (born Christmas 2009) and Cassidy (born April 2011)!
Yes, I’ve wrapped baby goats and many other borrowed babies, too!
And in 2011 we moved into an RV called Benny the Brave full-time and traveled the country with a newborn, 1 year old and a 6 year old! Read More
Storchenwiege Wrap Sale
Update: Sale is over now.
Storchenwiege Wraps Leave the US Market😮😥
Otherwise Known As:
I wanna cry but I’m having a BLOW OUT SALE instead!
Why do I want to cry?
Storchenwiege wraps are known for being one of the highest-quality, most supportive, indestructible, and beloved woven wraps on the market for decades (longer than almost any other wrap company). Read More
Easiest DIY Advent Calendar
Easy DIY Advent Calendar
It’s not too late to make an advent calendar to help countdown the days until Christmas with your kids!
Time Needed: minimum (perfect for us last minute moms)
Budget Needed: nada
Supplies Needed: 24 clothepins and either string or cardboard (paper plate works)
How to do an Easy, Free Advent Calendar of Books
Advent Calendar of Books
What’s great about the Advent Calendar of Books besides how easy it is and that you don’t need a budget, is that it can be customized to your family’s seasonal traditions very easily.
You can use Religious books, Santa stories, Winter books, or a combination of any appropriate books that you like! Read More
Best Natural Baby Gifts for Baby Shower or Christmas
7 Best Natural Baby Gifts on Amazon
Natural baby gifts are always appreciated by new moms and by babies, too. If mom already has a fair trade woven baby wrap, here are some fun natural baby gifts she is sure to appreciate!
I tend towards baby minimalism. But when I do get a natural baby toy, it better be aesthetic, quiet (no electronics, please), and get a lot of use or it’s got to go!
Get Away from Electronic Toys with this Natural Wood Clutching Toy
Babywearing Science – 23 Evidence Based Benefits
Babywearing: What the Science Says
Babywearing Science – If you are curious about wearing your baby, now is the perfect time to get educated on the topic. You see, the first week of October is a nine-day babywearing celebration, mothers from all over the world are taking the time to advocate for the use of slings, wraps, and carriers.
While anecdotal evidence about the practical benefits of wearing babies is both abundant and accessible, it can feel like a challenge to unearth studies that provide hard facts as to whether or not babywearing offers any developmental or health advantages.
As it turns out, though, there is plenty of evidence! You just need to know where to look and be prepared to go beyond the limited number of specific babywearing studies. In actual fact, there are plenty of scientific studies that measure the effects (on mothers and babies) of things like touch stimulation, close physical contact, holding infants upright, and skin-to-skin contact – all things that are naturally promoted when babywearing. Read More
Woven Wrap Passes – Anatomy of a Back Carry
There are so many wrap carries but they are made up of combinations of a few standard woven wrap passes.
Understanding woven wrap passes offers you these benefits:
- it’s easier to remember different carries
- you can customize carries to solve difficulties
- you can invent new carries to suit your needs
- your carries will be more comfortable
So here’s a primer on the different wrap passes that make up nearly every back carry: Read More
Breastfeeding Front Cross Carry How-to
Why a breastfeeding Front Cross Carry? This carry is easy to adjust into a nursing position and then back again when baby is done.
Nursing in your wrap is about the handiest thing you’ll ever learn – or rather, the most hands-free thing you can learn!
It’s the most convenient way to breastfeed your baby when you’re out and about or when you have other things to do or kids to take care of!
In this video tutorial, Kristy shows how she wraps her baby in Front Cross Carry (FCC) and then lowers baby to breastfeed in Front Cross Carry in an upright position: Read More
Side Gigs and the Single Parent
image courtesty of http://thoughtcatalog.com/
As a single parent, money is always on your mind. Even if you’re earning a comfortable income now, as the sole provider you can’t help but worry about what would happen if you lost your job. Whether you need extra cash to make ends meet today or a back-up plan for peace of mind, a side gig is a great way to increase your family’s financial security. Read More
Rucksack TAS is Cool for Summer Babywearing
If you’re wrapping but want to keep from overheating this Summer, then Rucksack TAS (tied at shoulder) is your best bet for staying cool while wrapping up!
- Back carries feel cooler than front carries. Chest to chest is just HOT!
- Rucksack is a single layer carry over baby, and with no passes crossing over your chest.
- When you do this shorter Rucksack variation that ties at the shoulder, that means you avoid having the wrap around your waist at all.
You can do Rucksack TAS with a short wrap up to 3 sizes shorter than your base size. Here’s how to do it: Read More
Too Hot to Wear? A Thin Wrap for Summer Babywearing
The best baby carrier for Summer is one that will keep you comfortable in the heat.
You’ve been babywearing for months and you’re not willing to give it up:
Your baby calms immediately once wrapped.
You love the freedom it gives you to get things done.
But suddenly . . . Baby, it’s HOT outside!
Keep Wrapping Comfortably Throughout the Summer Months
Your wrap makes all the difference! Read More
A Perfect Mother’s Day for Mom’s of Young Children
For moms with young children, a perfect Mother’s Day will have a fun activity with the kids which is fairly (and unusually) relaxing for mom.
Followed by some luxurious time away from kids.
If you do this right, I guarantee she will remember this day forever! Read More
Poppins Carry with a Woven Wrap
Wrap Lingo Wednesday
definition and origin of Poppins Carry
Poppins Carry <noun> a hip carry that surfaced in 2007 when Louise shared pictures of her new wrap in her favorite hip carry. While the wrap was nice, everyone wanted to know what that carry was and how she did it!
Not surprising because Poppins Carry is very distinctive and doesn’t look like any other carry. Read More
