Australia & NZ Babywearing Week was quite successful this year with many events running around Australia and beyond. During the week we launched the “I Love Babywearing” competition. Entrants had the chance to WIN an ERGObaby standard carrier to the value of $159.00 in their choice of colour.
Today we excitedly announce the winner……..
We will be in contact to discuss your choice of colour option.
Thank you to everyone for joining in the fun!
Babwearing at Baby and Kids Expo with the Babes in Arms team April 2011
Baby Christa has turned one! Babes in Arms has been extremely privileged to share her journey right from when her mother Jennifer found out she was expecting, through to this milestone. Today we share with you Jennifer’s latest update as we wish them future health and happiness as their journey continues. Don’t worry, we’re not letting go of them completely – we will be keeping tabs on what’s happening through Jennifer’s Twitter Updates – @cubbieberry
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Did you know that Babywearing Week also coincides with Mental Health Week and Down Syndrome Awareness Week? World Mental Health Day is marked every year on the same date: 10th October with this years Buddy Walk on the 16th of October. I thought it was fitting to share our year overview with you during this particular week. It will soon become evident why….
Babywearing at AuctionRooms October 2011
Babywearing and Mental Health. This hits close to home.
It is in this (final) post that I share that I have been battling with post-natal depression since our last guest blog post. It is very difficult when one is in that ‘zone’. One can’t think straight. Things never seem to work according to plan. Often, there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel. Some call it black dog, while others call it the blues. There are even those who are not aware that they have depression. Some cultures don’t have an equivalent word for it (some Asian languages’ closest translation would be “crazy” “insane” “berserk”)
Babywearing at State Of Design July 2011
Babywearing helped me manage my baby blues and I sought help when Christa turned 1 year old. I previously battled with depression with my first child, Jiaana, who is now 5 years old. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness Therapy were helpful. When Christa arrived, and had her open-heart surgery, I couldn’t find my balance, my centre.
Babywearing at National Disability And Carer Congress March 2011
The journey with a child with special needs is a different path than you envisioned and you really need a clear head to work through all the speed humps that slow you down. Together with antidepressants and group counselling sessions at Carers Victoria the pathway became clearer for me. I wore Christa in her ERGObaby throughout my group therapy sessions and one-one sessions with the psychologist.
Babywearing at Puffing Billy May 2011
To be able to kiss and hold my baby within armslength,
To whiff my baby’s scent, the lovely smell of my breastfed baby’s breath,
The babywearing dance we sway to,
The rhythmic steps we take,
Heal and sooth the mind
And calm ones heart
Babywearing while fitting hearing aid headband October 2011
So, off I go, armed with my ERGObaby Performance carrier (which is both compact and light-weight), babywearing my one year old breastfed baby, who has Down Syndrome and other special needs. In just the one year we have survived post natal depression and Christa’s open-heart surgery. We have managed hypotonia (poor muscle tone), hearing impairment and a few curve balls. Yes, we did all that, and that is really amazing.
We were out and about through autumn, winter and now it’s spring. We’ve also hopped on our velos for the first time ever with our ERGObaby carrier when we have a pitstop at nearby café or park
A new year for us, a ‘new normal’ for us begins…….
You can read past posts about Christa’s journey by clicking the links below:
Out and About with Christa – Babywearing & Breastfeeding
World Down Syndrome Day – A Parent Perspective
Hearing Test Made Easy! An Update on Christa
Babywearing and the Special Needs Baby: Meet Christa
Babywearing and Down Syndrome
In addition to your Facebook ‘Event’ page, you may feel your event may be worthy of media attention. To generate free media interest about your local babywearing celebration and to be in the running to win the ‘Media Attention’ Prize, simply download our ‘Press Release Template’ , enter your details and then publish your release by following the helpful advice HERE.
There are further tips on distributing media releases to both the Australian and New Zealand media HERE
Want to share the love of babywearing but can’t make it to an Australia & NZ Babywearing Week event? Why not harness the power of social media to spread the word far and wide?
Simply change your profile picture on Facebook to the image below for the week to show your support. By doing so (and following a few simple steps) you will be in the running to WIN an ERGObaby standard carrier to the value of $159.00 in your choice of colour (you could even choose the latest ERGObaby Purple Mystic)
All entries must be received by Midnight (EST), Sunday 16 October 2011. (please note, that your profile image will be noted at this time)
TERMS & CONDITIONS
We are offering 3 major community grants this year totaling $2000 AUD. The grants will be awarded as follows:
The babywearing event that succeeds in attracting the greatest number of adult participants will receive a community grant of $1000 AUD grant to award to their nominated not-for-profit community beneficiary.
Event hosts will need to forward their completed registration forms together with their supporting images for verification by October 20, 2011 to be eligible for this award.
Secondly, a ‘People’s Choice’ Award will be presented for the most creative concept and will be determined by Facebook fan votes. This award includes a $500 AUD community grant to support the event’s nominated charity.
Event hosts may forward a description of their babywearing event, together with images and/or video illustration of the day to community@babesinarms.com.au by October 20, 2011.
All submitted events will be uploaded to the Australia & NZ Facebook Page for voting. Voting will run until midnight (EST) October 31, 2011 midnight November 21, 2011, at which time Babes in Arms will make a determination of the overall winner. This will be announced within the first week of November a fortnight of voting closing.
This year sees the introduction of the new ‘Media Attention’ Award for those who are successful in gaining the media’s attention to cover their babywearing event. We have made this super easy by producing ‘Media Release Templates’ for Event Coordinators to simply fill in with their local event details ready for submission to the local media – newspapers, radio, TV and community newsletters. This award will be judged by Babes in Arms and the winning group will receive a $500 AUD community grant to support the event’s nominated charity.
Event hosts can upload any media coverage to the Australia & NZ Facebook Page or via email community@babesinarms.com.au by October 20, 2011
To recognize the sterling efforts of the winning event’s coordinators (maximum of two coordinators per event), the latest ERGObaby Performance Carrier (valued at $199 AUD) will be awarded to the coordinators of the three winning events above.
The group that gathers the most number of ERGObaby wearers and photographs them altogether will win the ‘ERGObaby Group Hug’ and be awarded FREE Teething Pads and a Standard Front Pouch to match their carrier (total value $53.95 RRP).
Event hosts must provide photographic evidence of their ERGObaby Group Hug by directly uploading images to the Australia & NZ Facebook page or via email to community@babesinarms.com.au by October 20, 2011.
Please see here for full Terms & Conditions
Australia and New Zealand Babywearing Week will be running from 10-16 October 2011. If you are interested in attending an event, search through the possibilities below and RSVP. Lets celebrate the love of babywearing!
Do you have an event that you are yet to register? See here for full details.
Melbourne Sling Meet
Venue: Melbourne Botanic Gardens
Time: 12.30 – 16.30
Information:
Meeting on the oak lawn, just near gate F. Lets make this the biggest ever Melbourne Sling Meet! Bring your family, a picnic and your stash.
If you don’t have a carrier, someone will be able to help you try some different types and help you work out what suits you.
Everyone welcome – please share widely.
RSVP: http://on.fb.me/nGPurt
Organized by: Brie Gabrielle
Dancing for Birth™: A Dancing for Birth demonstration class will be held.
Venue: Carrington Community Centre – 1 Hargraves Street Carrington
Time: 7.00-8.30 pm
Information contact Melinda Ras 0433 798 843
*This is a lead in to the Hunter Home and Natural Birth Support group event on Wednesday, October 12.
Lower North Shore AP Picnic at Taronga Zoo
Venue: Taronga Zoo – Childrens Petting Zoo
Time: 10am – 12 noon.
Charity: SIDS Australia
Information:
Back up wet weather plan is Bay Play at the Big Bear Shopping Centre at Neutral Bay (enter from either Military Rd or Ernest St). Bay Play is a free indoor play centre. If you park in the shopping centre’s car park you do need to buy something in the centre to get free parking (there is a Coles and an organic butcher).
Organized by: Christina Fielding
FREE Mums and Bubs Dance Class – Flash Mob rehearsal
Venue: Yoganic
Time: 11 am
*This event Is a rehearsal for the Babywearing Flash Mob planned for the 16th of October. See http://on.fb.me/qEul4j for details
NSW – Hunter Valley, Newcastle – Babywearing picnic
Host: Hunter Home and Natural Birth Support
Venue: Jesmond Park, Newcastle
Time: 10.00 am
Charity: Hunter Home and Natural Birth Support
Information: Babywearing demonstrations and a number of slings, wraps and carriers to try. Bring a picnic lunch and/or something to share. For more information phone Chrissy 0418 237 938 or email hhnbsgroup@gmail.com
RSVP: http://on.fb.me/oG2an6
Organised by: Chrissy Grainger
NSW – RYDE – Babywearing for Bears of Hope
Venue: Ryde Park – 26 Argyle Ave, Ryde NSW 2112
Time: 11.00 am
Charity: Bears of Hope
Information: A picnic in the park with baby wearing conversation, sharing, help and fun. BYO picnic (cafe available on site too!) Come and learn about Baby Wearing and Slings and carriers, while raising money for mamas and papas who do not have their babies in their arms.
Bears of Hope provide bears and packages to families going through baby loss. They give you a beautiful bear to hold onto so you never need to have empty arms in the face of such tragic loss.
Bring a donation, bring your slings, bring your babes and enjoy a nice day out.
RSVP: http://on.fb.me/qSzG7G
Organised by: Kristie Tatton
Venue: The playground on Lake Monger Drive (left when northbound on the Vincent St exit)
Time: 10.00 am
Charity: Strike a Cord
Information: Picnic by the lake. Come with your offspring to see the ducks and swans new offspring, enjoy a morning tea picnic and a play in the park. Bring a friend, the more the merrier! If they aren’t a babywearer thats ok as we can show them how great it is!
RSVP: http://on.fb.me/njEKTV
Organised by: Caprice Burrows
NT – Darwin/Palmerston – Darwin’s International Baby Wearing Week Meet 2011
Venue: Mindil Beach Markets
Time: 17:00 – 20:00
Charity: Face of Birth -Australian Birth Documentary.
Information:
Meet at casino end at 4pm for a 4.15pm departure, walking to the grassy area at the opposite end. The walk is pram and child friendly. A short walk through the markets to an entertainment area and playground nearby. Join in for a sling/carrier meet, share, love and play! Parade together or meet us there, rain or not, you can do almost anything wearing your baby! Bring: Wear your fave carrier. Bring any others to share, wear and show. Drink (cold water refill station inside library foyer), and consider a donation to the film Face of Birth. www.faceofbirth.com
RSVP: http://on.fb.me/qSkeGN
Organised by: Tania ‘Doula’ McLoughlin
SA – Adelaide – Babywearing Picnic
Venue: Orphanage Park, Millswood
Time: from 12.00 noon
Charity: The Birth Place
Information: A picnic at Orphanage Park, Millswood to celebrate our babies! Please join us
RSVP: http://on.fb.me/q60NFO
Organised by: Skye Bogdanovic
NSW – Newcastle – Babywearing Olympics
Venue: Lambton Park, Newcastle
Time: from 10.00am
Charity: Newcastle Attachment Parenting
Information: Wear your babies and toddlers and come along for some Olympics fun!
…
- Egg and spoon race
- Ten pin bowling
- Quickest to put on a hug a bub
- Youngest safely worn baby
- Oldest safely worn child (within weight guidelines)
Kid’s Olympics
- Sack races
- Three legged races
- Teddy/doll wearing
& more!
Plus a babywearing wrap demonstration, safe babywearing handouts, the full NAP sling library, lovely NAP friends, new faces and lots of babywearing cuteness. If you don’t have a baby or child but are interested in baby wearing, we’d love to meet you. If you don’t have a wrap/sling/carrier, come along and try out the ones in the NAP sling library
RSVP: http://on.fb.me/o0hQxX
NSW – Blue Mountains – Babywearing Week Picnic
Venue: Meet at Buttenshaw Park, Springwood (on the Great Western Highway) near the play equipment.
Time: 10.30 am
Charity: Blue Mountains Homebirth Group
Information: Come and celebrate the beauty of babywearing, meet other babywearers and learn more about the hows and whys of babywearing. There will be pouches, ring slings, wraps, soft structured carriers and mei tais for you to play with. If you have your own carrier stash, bring it along to show off!
RSVP: http://on.fb.me/mXjvWk
Organised by: Meredith Crawford McKay
NT – Darwin/Palmerston – Darwin’s International Baby Wearing Week Meet 2011
Venue: Meet at Palmerston Shopping Centre food court at 3pm for a prompt 3.30 pm departure, walking to the adjacent Palmerston Library.
Time: 15:30 - 16:30
Charity: Face of Birth -Australian Birth Documentary
Information: The walk is pram and child friendly, a short walk through the Palmerston Friday night markets setting up. Join in for a sling/carrier meet, share, love and play! Parade together or meet us there, rain or not, you can do
almost anything wearing your baby! Bring: Wear your fave carrier, Bring any others to share, wear and show, Drink (cold water refillstation inside library foyer), and consider a donation to the film Face of Birth. Www.faceofbirth.com
RSVP: http://on.fb.me/ocVRRM
Organised by: Tania ‘Doula’ McLoughlin
Northern Babywearers
Venue: 10 McEwans Road, Rosevears
Time: 10.00 am – 12.00 noon
Charity: TBA
Sling meet time!
Organiser: Bell Belinda
Southern Tasmanian Babywearers
Venue: Meeting in Mall (by Target) at 11:30 then walking down to Salamanca – hopefully enabling plenty of market-goers – for a picnic on the lawns.
Time: 11.30 meet
Charity: TBA
RSVP: http://on.fb.me/qVEFVr
NSW – Wollongong – Babywearing Event
Venue: Wollongong Botanical Gardens.
Time: from 11.00am
Charity: Cloth Nappy Initiative
RSVP: http://on.fb.me/qzvpJ9
Organised by: Bek Straughan
NSW – Crows Nest – Babywearing Flash Mob Dance
Venue: In front of the Crows Nest Centre at Ernest Place in the grass
Time: 11.15 and then again at 3.45
Charity: Australia for UNHCR
Information: Here are the times and locations:
11:15 in front of the Crows Nest Centre at Ernest Place in the grass – we’ll face the coffee shops. I’ll stand in front with a 3 year old on my back 
And then for whoever wants to do an afternoon repeat performance we’ll do it at Burlington Street at 3:45 facing away from the stage.
I’ll post a video with some “choreography” very soon. Feel free to practice with us on Tuesday at Yoganic in Willoughby at 11am or on Friday at the Australian Institute for Performing arts – 40 Merremburn Ave in Naremburn.
Or just learn the dance from the video. Or JUST COME ON DOWN AND DANCE WITH YOUR BUB IN A CARRIER EVEN IF YOU DON’T KNOW THE DANCE. I just want lots of mums and bubs beepopping and having a good time. No stress. Just fun!
If you’re confused – please visit my page Kinnect – for more details.
See Kinnect for details: http://on.fb.me/qEul4j
Organiser: Angela Hill
QLD – Brisbane CBD – New Farm Park Babywearing Swap Meet
Venue: QLD, Brisbane CBD, New Farm Park: Opposite the big kids playground. Entrance off Brunswick St.
Time: 14.30 – 17.30
Charity: INTER URBAN ARTS; towards the young mothers in these projects.
Information: To support Australia and NZ Babywearing week (10-16th October) Georgia Brizuela and I are organising the biggest ‘babywearing swap meet’ ever.
We will be promoting Babywearing, and hopefully ‘raise awareness’ of the JOY of closeness, the versatility they bring for active parents and show we can do anything while babywearing (which I know a lot of us do most of the time).
Swap Meet Guidelines:
Gather up all those items (adult clothes, kids clothes, shoes, toys, books, working household items…) you have been wanting to give away or get rid of. Its a great time to de-clutter before Christmas! Bring them along – we will have piles for items, then have a look around to see if there is anything you want or need for you and your family. Have a mingle…meet new friends or catch up with old friends, bring a picnic. All while we celebrate babywearing and the ease and joy its has brought to our lives.
RSVP: http://on.fb.me/phkCJj
Organisers: Heidi Casey & Georgia Brizuela
Australia and New Zealand Babywearing Week is almost here. We suspect babywearing event hosts are busy organising their event. Need any help with ideas? Post your question or shout-out on the ANZBW Facebook Page wall and our community will be sure to provide you with some tips and advice,
We request that event hosts complete the registration page during the course of the event and take images of the event to share on the ANZBW Facebook Page. You will need to provide these (details below) to be in the running for one of our community grants and prizes.
The event host is responsible for ensuring that the registration page is completed and returned to Babes in Arms. You can either:
The event registration is available for download below:
There are a couple of openings for paid demonstrators to join our Melbourne Expo Team due to maternity leave. We’d love to hear from ERGObaby Mums or Dads that would like to join our team to demonstrate the carrier at the upcoming Pregnancy, Babies & Children’s Expo in Melbourne from October 21-23, 2011.
Interested in applying? Please send the following details to anita@babesinarms.com.au ASAP for consideration:
- Contact details: phone, email, skype and address
- Brief summary of your ERGObaby Carrier and general babywearing experience
- Brief summary of your professional experience
- Availability over the expo period
- Your interest in ongoing flexible, casual product demonstrating work?
- A fairly recent photo of yourself (either full length or bust height)
- Contact details for 2 references (ideally one personal, one professional)
Please note that your child(ren) is/are welcome to visit you at the expo over the weekend but demonstrators must ensure that a support person is available at all times to attend to your child’s needs when the stand gets busy (which is very often!)
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