The Clemson group welcomed some brand new mamas with their newborns this month.  It is always wonderful to see new moms getting out, nursing, and wearing their babes.  These moms had such confidence!  We didn’t really talk much about babywearing.  What did we talk about?  We had three pregnant moms in the group so there was a good bit of discussion about choosing birth locations and care providers. 

The Greenville group discusssed making a no-sew ring sling.  Sarah, a new mom, had whipped together a wonderful no-sew ring sling for a wedding she was planning to attend.  She used this link and found some great fabric at Hancock.  I wish I’d snapped a picture.  Have I mentioned how great it is that dads attend the Greenville group?  We also spent some time talking about infant sleep.  Seems like everyone is reading Elizabeth Pantley’s No Cry Sleep Solution.  I loved that book when I was a sleepy new mom because it made me feel normal and it encouraged me that sleep *issues* were only a problem if they were a problem for my family. 

I hope to see you next month at the August meetings.  I might be birthing sometime around our meeting and Carey has several births she’ll be attending around that time.  But we have a back-up who will be leading the meetings in case we are absent.

Sorry–I’m a little late on this reminder!

We are meeting tomorrow.

Clemson:  10am at the Central Library meeting rooms.

Greenville:  6pm at the Greenville Main Branch Library (Hughes) meeting rooms. 

See you there!

First–congratulations to Kristin, a member of the Clemson babywearing group!  Kristin gave birth at home to an 8lb 14oz baby girl over the weekend.  Hoorah!  We can’t wait to meet her new sweetling. 

The Clemson group will meet, as usual, at 10am on June 4th.  We meet at the Central Library in the room beside the restrooms/water fountain.  The group usually meets until around noon with moms popping in and out as naptimes permit. 

The Greenville group will be back at the Greenville Main Library (Hughes) at 6pm on June 4th.  We meet in the rooms beyond the coffee shop.  Please no food or drink permitted.  The Greenville group welcomes dads! 

Babies and children are encouraged to attend our meetings which are informal and sometimes merely big playdates. 

Clemson Group:  will meet as usual at 10am,  Central Library.

Greenville Group:  the library was not available so we will meet at the downtown Children’s Garden at Linky Stone Park.  6pm.  Bring a blanket.  Dads are welcome!  Our topic will be babywearing in the great outdoors.  Feel free to bring snacks.  The Children’s Garden is located on the Reedy River under Hwy 123.  There is free parking available.  If it is raining, we will not meet in May.

Clemson Group:  We had a few new faces at the Clemson group and some we had not seen in a while.  It was an informal time of chatting and swapping parenting tips.  One new face came to learn how to wear her 5 month old on her back in a Moby.  That was exciting!  Her baby seemed to really enjoy riding on his mama’s back! 

Kristen showed us the Mei Tai she’s been sewing.  I can’t wait to see the finished product.  And Kristin, sporting her growing belly, got a refresher course in wearing a newborn (in this case, a teddy bear) in a ring sling. 

Greenville Group:   We always have a mix of new and familiar faces at the Greenville group.  As the familiar babies grow, their mamas and papas come to try out new carries.  Some are ready to tackle the back carry.  Some simply want to turn their baby around to see the world.  We had one new couple who brought their 12 day old little one for some help with a ring sling.  Once settled in a snug tummy-to-chest position, the newborn went right to sleep. 

Our topic at both groups was DIY babywearing.  We saw examples of homemade wraps, mei-tais, and pouches.  If you are interested in making your own inexpensive carrier, check out the DIY link under each type of carrier on this website. 

See you next month!

Our Clemson meeting was a cozy affair.  We have two new mamas stop by for some quick help.  Then three veteran members chatted while the little ones played.  I guess the highpoint was Jackson giving Suzi a kiss!

The Greenville meeting was a larger group.  Our topic was nursing while wearing and we spent some time swapping tips on that skill.  The super-duper nursing hold for wraps that was demonstrated can be scrutinized here.  Again, we had a great turn-out of dads at the Greenville meeting. 

Now for the drama.  Someone (not naming names) was caught by a security guard drinking coffee in the Greenville mtg room.  I know.  *Gasp.*  Though she tried to apologize after the meeting, it was too late.  The group was reported to the authorities.  I received a call from the library the next morning.  This incident is our third “infraction.”  However, after much pleading and grovelling, we will be given one. more. chance. 

So, those attending the Greenville group–be on your best behavior.  No food or drinks (other than breastmilk dispensed from the breast and bottled water).  No horse-play.  No fights.  All slings must be used in the appropriate manner.  

Both groups will be meeting as scheduled this Thursday. 

Clemson-Central at 10am (although this group is really unstructured–so come and go anytime). 

Greenville group at 6pm:  our topic will be nursing while babywearing.

See you there!

It was so nice to see the Greenville group again!  We had some new faces and some newborns since the last meeting in November.  I love how many dads come out to the Greenville group. 

Since we had not met in a few months, our topic was a general overview of carrier types.  Then we broke up to let folks try out carriers and to get help with their own.

I love when expectant moms join the group.  I wish we had more women checking out babywearing before their babies are born. 

Meanwhile, I learned something new at this group.  Did you know a product  exists to hang your baby on the bathroom stall?? 

Let’s see.  The Clemson group began at 10am.  I think I left at 1:15! 

We talked about babywearing maybe one time.  Crystal had a new MamaBaby sling that she wanted some help with.  I wish I’d gotten a picture of her sleeping newborn snuggled in it.  He was so adorable!

The older children fought over played with Eli’s dinosaurs.  Sweet Suzi watched with much hesitation as the big kids ran rough and tumble.  I may have missed some highpoints since I had to remove Norah from the room three times to calm down and regroup.  

The conversation ran from montessori to breastfeeding to more interesting topics (and we’ll leave it at that).

Come join the fun next time!

Hoorah!  We’re finally meeting again! 

The Clemson group is scheduled for 10am Feb 5.  The Greenville group is scheduled for 6pm Feb 5.  Visit our “about” page for more information.

We can’t wait to see all you babywearing mamas and papas again!

Ben babywearing over the holidays in the Costa Rican jungle