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New EC Resource -- EC Simplified: Infant Potty Training Made Easy

2011-08-16T07:39:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to announce that a fantastic new e-book has just been released - you've got to check it out! It's called EC Simplified: Infant Potty Training Made Easy and it's written by Andrea Olson, Diaper Free Baby Mentor in the SF Bay area and fellow WAHM.

I'm just working my way through this book now and boy, I wish I'd had this to read when first starting out with EC eight years ago! It's amazingly hands-on and visual, and features tons of photos and diagrams. It's loaded with great information and tips in over 160 pages. And I love Andrea's warm style of writing.

ECSimplified is available as both an e-book and an audiobook. And, when you purchase, you get access to great bonus material – an Exclusive Book Owners Site featuring a private 25+ Video Library Collection (over 45 min of instruction); a variety of hands-on tools; special guides for caregivers, Dads, etc.

If you're like me, you like to be able to see what's in a book's Table of Contents to get a feel for what sort of information is in the book and whether it's what you're looking for. Andrea has kindly given me permission to share EC Simplified's Table of Contents:

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EC Simplified: Infant Potty Training Made Easy

by Andrea Olson

Table of Contents

Welcome!

Who I Am

Who This Book is For

Why I Wrote This Book Backward...

Helpful Icons

Chapter I: How To EC

The Basics Part 1: When Does Baby Need to Potty?

Breakdown of Part 1, Step 1: Observe

Breakdown of Part 1, Step 2: Cue

Common Cues

Breakdown of Part 1, Step 3: Notice Baby's Signals

Types of Baby Signals

Babywearing Signals

Breakdown of Part 1, Step 4: Notice Baby's Natural Timing

Breakdown of Part 1, Step 5: Become Aware of Generic Timing

Generic Timing: Common Times That babies Need to Go

Breakdown of Part 1, Step 6: Notice Your Intuition

The Basics Part 2: How to Potty Your Baby

Breakdown of Part 2, Step 1: Notice It's Potty Time

Breakdown of Part 2, Step 2: Acknowledge, Undress, & Go to Potty Space

Possible Potty Environments

Possible Potty Receptacles

Breakdown of Part 2, Step 3: Position & Cue

Breakdown of Part 2, Step 4: Be Patient...

Breakdown of Part 2, Step 5: Notice When Baby Says “I'm Finished”

Breakdown of Part 2, Step 6: Reflect or Say Nothing

Breakdown of Part 2, Step 7: Clean Up

The Positions & Other Photos

Indoor EC Positions

Outdoor EC Positions

Car Pottying Positions

Pottying While Breastfeeding: Soaker Pad Setup & Positions

Aiming the Boy Penis: Positions

Diaper-Free Observation: Setting Up a Soaker Pad

Other Photos of Babies in Various Positions

Important Tips for Ecing

14 Tips for Your EC Practice

Chapter II: Unique Potty Situation How-to's

Unique Potty Situations and How-to's

Pottying While Breastfeeding

Pottying in Nature

City Pottying

Car Pottying (Next to Parked Car)
Car Pottying (Inside Parked Car)

Cold Weather Ecing

Nighttime EC

Key Points & Tips for Success

How to Protect Your Bed

Night Pottying Troubleshooting

If You Choose Not to Night Potty

How We've Done Our Nighttime EC Routines, Stage by Stage

Some Things to Remember

Late-Starters (5-12 mos) & Early Start Potty Training (12 mos+)

28 Tips for Starting Later

EC for Working Parents (& Other Part-Timers)

Tips for Maintaining a Part-time EC Practice

Caregivers & EC

Example: “A Day in the Life of a Working EC Parent”

How to Diaper with EC

Cloth Diapering Vocabulary

2 Cloth Diapering Methods

How to Pre-wash & Wash Cloth Diapers at Home

2 Disposable Diaper Options

Chapter III: Background & Philosophy

Defining EC

Baby Instincts

But How Could One Possibly Know a Baby Needs to Pee?

All Over the World... Except Here

Us Compared to 1/2 of the World

Many Names

Some Simple Definitions

Well, What About Conventional Toilet Training?

What EC is Not

Philosophy

Why EC Works

Social Conditioning

Why Ecing in Modern Society May Be More Difficult & Take Longer Than In Tribal Community

A Tribal Example (Balinese) from Jean Liedloff, author of The Continuum Concept

The Continuum Concept, EC, & Child-centeredness

Vocabulary

15 EC Terms Defined

When to Begin EC

What “Starting Early” Can Involve

Do I Have to Do EC 24/7?

But What If My Baby Doesn't “Ask” Me to Go?

A Gentle Commitment

What to Expect (Outcomes)

An Encouraging Note for Late Starters (5 months +)

Why Is It A Challenge to Start at 5 Months or Later?

Reasons Parents Don't Start Early

Keys to EC

13 Keys for Ease & Grace

Do I Have to Do Away With Diapers?

The Importance of Diaper-free Time

Benefits of EC

Over 18 Benefits of Doing EC

Chapter IV: Troubleshooting

Potty Pauses

Defined (Again)

Possible Reasons for Potty Pauses

How to Get Through a Potty Pause

An Alternative View on Potty Pauses – Just Part of the Learning Process

Troubleshooting

When It Stops Working

Why A Younger Baby Might Cry Every Time You EC

If a Non-newborn Baby Protests When You Offer a Pottytunity

Boy Babies & Aiming Penises

We're in Position & Cueing but Nothing is Happening

How to Deal with Your Own Frustration

How to Assess Your Situation

Chapter V: Gear

EC Gear: Clothing & Other Great Tools

Clothing

Potties & Accessories

Diapers & Accessories

Wipes

Creams

Pads

Baby Carriers

Miscellaneous Gear

DIY Gear

Chapter VI: Resources

Resources

Books About EC

Books About Related Parenting Styles

DVDs

Videos

Websites Featuring Info on EC

Websites that Sell EC Gear

EC Forums

Groups

Email Lists/Groups

More Online Resources By Subject

Bonuses

Fill-in-the-Blank Forms

Fill-in-the-Blank Signs

Reminder Signs

Bonus Guides & Letters

Exclusive Video Library

Thank You!

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Looks fantastic doesn't it?!

For more information and to order, please visit EC Simplified. Your purchase through this link will support both Andrea's and my family business, so thank you in advance!

Continuum Family Needs Your Vote By April 15!

2011-04-13T22:34:00.000-07:00

We've just entered into a contest to win a $15,000 website makeover courtesy of Pixel Sweatshop. The contest closes at midnight on Friday, April 15 and the winner will be the one with the most votes. Now, I've never liked popularity contests, but I've been wanting a site redesign for over a year now and we just don't have the time and resources in-house to deal with it. Winning this prize would be amazing!

Please take a minute and vote for me over there - I'd really appreciate it. :)

Thanks.

Continuum Concept Book Giveaway Winner!

2011-03-23T07:56:00.000-07:00

The winner of a copy of The Continuum Concept is....

Moriah who said...: I've been wanting to read this ever since I first heard about it :)
March 21, 2011 10:07 PM

Congratulations Moriah! Please contact us with your mailing address and your book will be on its way shortly.

The Continuum Concept Book Giveaway - RIP Jean Liedloff

2011-03-19T19:38:00.000-07:00

One of the most important books I have ever read was The Continuum Concept. I first heard about it on a natural family life email forum when my first born was four months old, almost eight years ago. Even though I was already headed down the path of attachment parenting, I was blown away by the insights in this book. It introduced me to the whole concept of evolutionary and biological expectations that we as humans are born with. It all made so much sense, intuitively, but goes so counter to what mainstream Western parenting has become. My wish would be for every parent to read this book. RIP Jean.

In memory of the recent passing of Jean Liedloff, author of The Continuum Concept, I am giving away a copy of her book. To enter for your chance to win please leave a comment in today's post. Please note that comments are moderated. Comments from "anonymous" will be deleted. You will not see your comment immediately after posting so please don't post again thinking your post didn't go through. I will be approving comments several times a day.

Contest is open until 11:59 p.m. PST on Tuesday, March 22 and I'll close comments and announce the winner on Wednesday, March 23. Winner to be chosen by random number generator. To get extra entries (please leave an additional comment for each extra entry):

~ Follow us on Twitter
~ Add our Facebook Page to pages you like
~ Blog about this giveaway and leave the link in your comment
~ Tweet about the contest (tweet ONCE PER DAY ONLY for extra entries and leave the link in your comment(s) please.

Spring Fling Sale at Continuum Family!

2011-03-19T08:47:00.000-07:00

We will have some great specials happening the week of March 21-27 as we say hello to spring! We're planning a Deal of the Day where we one item will be deeply discounted just for one day. Maybe we'll even have some giveaways on our Facebook page. Plus many other things will be on sale all week, so visit us often! :)

Black Friday/pre-Christmas Sale!

2010-11-25T22:35:00.000-08:00

Please join us for our Black Friday/pre-Christmas sale running from Friday, November 26 to Friday, December 3!

Here are the details:

-- all in stock Beco Baby Carriers, both the Butterfly II and the Gemini, are 15% off from Nov 26-28 only!
-- all CF Pouch Slings on sale for 30% off!
-- get a fleece carrier cover for only $25 OR a FREE babywearing support belt with the purchase of a Pikkolo baby carrier (difference in price will be refunded)
-- FREE SHIPPING to US and Canada on orders over $59 USD (shipping charges will be refunded on qualifying orders)*
-- HALF PRICE SHIPPING to outside North America on orders over $59 USD (shipping charges will be refunded on qualifying orders)
-- lots of other items in our Clearance section on sale at 25% off!

We will also be having some Facebook Exclusive deals throughout the week, so please join us there to get in on those!

*Please note that Beco Baby Carriers do not qualify for free shipping or any other specials while they are 15% off (Nov 26-28) but will after that

Wonderful Wool!

2010-11-08T11:23:00.000-08:00

Wool has so many great properties that make it the ultimate textile for baby and mama items. Wool is a natural insulator and will hold moisture without feeling cold or wet. Diaper/trainer covers or undies made from wool are breathable and naturally anti-bacterial. They are also somewhat self-cleaning, as lanolin in the wool neutralizes the ammonia in urine. Ammonia is what causes diaper rash, so switching to wool covers and changing promptly should eliminate diaper rash completely. Damp wool can simply be aired out and reused, and only needs laundering every couple of weeks unless soiled.

The wool interlocks and jerseys we use are the softest around and all Oeko-Tex 100 certified. Check out all the wonderful wonderful wool products we make and carry:

Melton Wool Pad


Natural Felted Wool Pad

Hocosa Footed Baby Pants

CF Split Crotch Wool Chaps

CF Mama Pads with Wings (wool backed)

CF Merino Wool Nursing Pads

CF Wool Prefold Belt

CF Merino Wool Diaper Cover

CF Merino Wool Undies

CF Merino Wool Trainer Cover

CF Wool Jersey Tunic

and of course we carry Eucalan Wool Wash and Lansinoh for wool care.

Oct 2-3: Our FREE offerings for International Day for Empathic Action!

2010-10-02T11:08:00.000-07:00

October 2 is International Day of Empathic Action

What is empathy? Empathy can be likened to standing in someone else’s shoes, understanding the feelings and values of another person’s perspective at any given moment. It begins with an internal choice to see from a different point of view, to understand another side of a story. Empathy is the state of being fully present to each other's feelings and needs. Empathy is not agreement, but rather a willingness to fully understand how things look from someone else's point of view. (from http://worldempathy.org)

To celebrate this day we are offering:

With orders over $45 (prior to shipping charges):
A FREE book! Your choice of either Parenting From Your Heart or Raising Children Compassionately

With orders over $90 (prior to shipping charges):

Either a FREE book -- Respectful Parents, Respectful Kids or a FREE Feeleez game!

Please indicate in the notes at checkout which freebie you would like with your qualifying order. This special will run for October 2 and 3 only!

Beco Gemini Release!

2010-08-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

As of today, the long-awaited and much-anticipated Beco Gemini baby carrier has finally been released to the public!

If you haven't yet heard of it, the Beco Gemini is Beco's newest baby carrier design. It's a 4-in-1 baby carrier that will allow you to carry your baby comfortable in the front (facing in or out), back and hip.

The Gemini has a few key differences to the Beco Butterfly. Most notably, the Gemini does not have an internal harness, which is one of the key features of the Butterfly. This will appeal to fans of the Beco 4th Generation (retired in 2008) and more experienced babywearers and will also allow for easier nursing in the carrier. A unique design feature of the Gemini is that its base adjusts narrower through snaps to accommodate smaller babies or to allow for an ergonomic forward-facing front carry.

Mainstream babywearers unfortunately often turn to crotch dangling, front facing out carriers like the Baby Bjorn, mostly because they don't know there are better options out there. But now that the Gemini has arrived, there will be no excuse! To those that say the front facing out carry is overstimulating, ergonomically dangerous and/or uncomfortable for the baby, I agree that in general it is best to wear your baby facing in to your body. But some babies do seem to prefer facing outwards at least some of the time. So if you do it, please make sure you do it in a carrier that supports your baby properly (such as the Gemini or Pikkolo, but NOT the Baby Bjorn), pay attention to your baby's cues and turn him back inwards when he shows signs of overstimulation (neck turning, hands coming up to the face, fussing).

Other differences? The Gemini does not include a removeable hood like the Butterfly, but it has a padded headrest that can flip up if need be for support, and which will make the body of the carrier longer to accommodate toddlers. With the Gemini, there is also the option of crossing the shoulder straps in the front carry, to distribute baby's weight more comfortably than in backpack style. This option also facilitates using the Gemini to do a hip carry. The Gemini is a lighter-weight carrier, weight tested to 35 lbs as opposed to the 45 lbs of the Butterfly, but 35 lbs will still take you well into toddlerhood.

Sound good? Our shipment of Beco Geminis will be on its way to us very soon, and you can pre-order yours today! We also have a layaway option available.

Happy Babywearing! <3

Giveaway Winner Announcements (Baby Buddha and Animalz set)

2010-07-05T08:25:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone had a good weekend! Without further ado, let's see who the winners of our giveaways are:

For the Baby Buddha Stretchy Baby Carrier in Organic Bamboo, the winner is post #3:

Katherine says:

July 1, 2010 5:49 AM

Would LOVE to win the Buddha wrap in plum!! :)

Congratulations Katherine!!

For the Animalz set, our winner was drawn from all orders placed on our site between July 1 and 4, and the winner is....Michelle A., of Seattle. Congratulations Michelle!!

Thanks to all who entered! We will likely have another giveaway yet this summer so stay tuned...

And don't forget to follow us on Facebook -- as of this writing we are at 183 followers and once we get to 200 we will be giving away a $25 gift certificate for Continuum Family to a random follower.

Canada Day Specials and Giveaways!

2010-06-30T22:06:00.000-07:00

9:49 p.m. July 1, edited to add: We realize that many of you are away at family or other events today instead of at the computer (and so you should be!) so we have decided to extend our giveaway offers through the weekend to give more of you a chance to participate!

Help us celebrate Canada Day, no matter where you live! We are promoting our favourite Canadian-made products and want to spread the love by giving them away!

So ~~on Thursday July 1st ONLY~~ between 12:00 a.m. PST Thursday, July 1st and 11:59 p.m. PST Sunday, July 4th:

spend $40 or more and get a FREE Ringley natural teething toy!

spend $75 or more and get a FREE Family Pastimes cooperative game of your choice!

spend $100 or more and get a FREE Continuum Family Pouch Sling of your choice!

Just let us know in the notes at checkout which free item you would like and we will confirm your choice before shipping.

plus, ALL orders (no minimum $) placed ~~on July 1 (between 12:00 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. PST)~~ between 12:00 a.m. PST July 1 and 11:59 p.m. PST July 4 will be entered into a draw for this adorable brand-new set of Animalz (valued at over $40):

Animalz are Australian-designed and made from sustainable maple wood and textile products that have the unique function to bend in different poses. They are hand painted using waterbased paint and the fabrics are azo dye and formaldehyde free. Recommended for ages 3 and up due to small parts.

Fine print: July 1 giveaways limited to 5 in each spending category, first come first serve, from available stock. Specials cannot be combined with any discount coupons.

And, Canada Day will also be the kick off for our next giveaway: a Baby Buddha Organic Bamboo Stretchy Baby Carrier!

I absolutely loved this carrier with my son when he was small. As a newborn he didn't like the cradle hold, wanted an upright tummy-to-tummy exclusively. Now, I've never been much of a wrap lover, I could never get them tied right and always hated the ends dragging on the ground while I was getting it on. The Baby Buddha solves those issues with its 3-piece system (2 pouches and a support sash). All the comfort of a wrap with the ease of a pouch sling. You can wear this carrier in several different ways (wearing instructions included). And their organic bamboo stretch fabric is so soft and supportive.

To enter for your chance to win this carrier, please leave a comment to this post, telling us which colour you would like to win (choices are plum, charcoal, forest green and warm sand). Please note that comments are moderated. Comments from "anonymous" will be deleted. You will not see your comment immediately after posting so please don't post again thinking your post didn't go through. I will be approving comments several times a day.

Contest is open to all until 11:59 p.m. PST on Sunday, July 4 and I'll close comments and announce the winner on Monday, July 5. Winner to be chosen by random number generator. To get extra entries (please leave an additional comment for each extra entry):

~ Come follow us on Twitter
~ Add our Facebook Page to pages you like
~ Blog about this giveaway and leave the link in your comment
~ Tweet about the contest (tweet ONCE PER DAY ONLY for extra entries and leave the link in your comment(s) please.

Happy Canada Day!

Soft Structured Baby Carrier Comparison Chart

2010-06-11T14:10:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting to put this chart together for some time, as we get so many questions from people asking about the differences in features among the various soft structured carriers out there. Choosing the right carrier for your needs can be an overwhelming decision to make, and I'm hoping this chart helps make that decision a little easier.

I have chosen to include in this comparison chart the two that we sell (Beco and Pikkolo) and two that we don't (Ergo and Baby Bjorn). I include the Ergo and Baby Bjorn because they are probably the two most well-known carriers -- BUT they are not the most well-designed soft structured carriers out there (in fact the Baby Bjorn is probably one of the poorest designs out there in my opinion).

I used to use an Ergo and loved it at the time, but then discovered Beco and Pikkolo and you will see that both of these come out above the Ergo based on the chart features. I've never used a Baby Bjorn, so cannot speak from experience on this one. I include it because it's mass-marketed but in my opinion a it's a very poor option that I would like to prevent people from choosing if at all possible. I just cringe every time I see a baby dangling in one of those things! Baby Bjorn, you make a good potty but please, get out of the babywearing market!

So, without further ado, here's the chart. I welcome constructive feedback in the comments.

SOFT STRUCTURED BABY CARRIER COMPARISON CHART

	Beco Butterfly	Pikkolo	ERGOBaby	Baby Bjorn
Price	$139 USD $149 CAD	$129 USD plus $22 USD for Babywearing Support Belt	$105-135 USD plus $25-38 USD for infant insert accessory	$80-145 USD
Wearing Positions	Front carry (facing in only), back carry (made easier than with other carriers due to internal harness)	Front carry (facing in or out, ergonomically), back carry, hip carry (not recommended for long periods of time due to uneven distribution of weight)	Front carry (facing in only), back carry	Front carry only, facing in or out BUT does NOT allow baby to be carried in ergonomically correct seated position; instead baby hangs suspended by the crotch which concentrates pressure at base of baby's spine
Age/Weight	Newborn through toddler with removable infant insert (included in purchase price) 7 to 45 lbs	Newborn through toddler 8 to 40 lbs	Newborn through toddler but need infant insert for babies <4 months (purchased separately) Up to 40 lbs	Newborn to about 1 yr maximum but more likely 6 months 8 to 25 lbs stated but due to its design it is likely to be very uncomfortable by about 16 lbs
Carrier Fabric	Shoulder straps and carrier lining are 100% organic brushed cotton as of 2010 collection; select organic options in prior years' models;gorgeous printed panels (non-organic) on body of carrier as well as solid color options	No organic fabric options at this time; 100% brushed cotton straps with gorgeous printed panels on body of carrier as well as solid color options	Both organic and non-organic options; solid colors only, some with embroidery	Both organic and non-organic options; solid colors only
Carrier Height	16" from top of waistband	15" when worn folded at the bottom with apron-style waistband; 17" from top of waistband when Babywearing Support Belt is attached	13" from top of waistband; wearer may find it too short in the body for older babies	11.5"
Carrier Body Width at Seat	13"	8" when cinched to narrowest setting; 13" at widest setting	14"
Infant Insert	Yes, removable insert for babies 8-15 lbs (included in purchase price) that holds them higher in the carrier and allows for minimal leg spread	No, but carrier body cinches narrower at base to accommodate smaller baby	Yes, purchased separately, a bit awkward and bulky	No
Harness System	Yes, baby is buckled into carrier and carrier is then put on; baby can be passed from one person to another while in the carrier	No, parent buckles carrier on and then puts baby in; baby cannot be passed to another wearer while in the carrier	No, parent buckles carrier on and then puts baby in; baby cannot be passed to another wearer while in the carrier	No, parent buckles carrier on and then puts baby in; baby cannot be passed to another wearer while in the carrier
Sleeping Hood	Yes, elasticized and snaps to shoulder straps; detachable with snaps for storage in sleeve on carrier base	Yes, elasticized and attaches with snap hooks to D-rings on shoulder straps; detachable with velcro but no storage on carrier; height not adjustable	Yes, hood-shaped to hold baby's head; elasticized sides; non-detachable with snaps; height adjustable	No
Shoulder Straps	Always worn backpack style and held together with height-adjustable chest clip; single direction pull to adjust strap	Can be worn with straps crossed at the back for front carries or backpack style with a height adjustable chest clip for front and back carries; dual adjustable straps can be tightened from either direction and buckle can be relocated forward or back for customized comfort	Always worn backpack style and held together with height-adjustable chest clip; single direction pull to adjust strap
Ergonomics	Weight is distributed to wearer's lower body via padded hip belt and balanced on wearer's shoulders with nicely padded shoulder straps	Weight is distributed to wearer's lower body via unpadded hip belt (padded belt is an optional accessory) and balanced on wearer's shoulders with comfy memory foam shoulder straps	Weight is distributed to wearer's lower body via padded hip belt and balanced on wearer's shoulders with fairly bulky padded shoulder straps	Does not have a hip belt and therefore does not distribute the weight to the wearer's lower body; the baby's weight is almost entirely borne by the wearer's shoulders and upper back
Ease of Nursing	Possible for most moms: loosen shoulder straps and lower baby down to latch on then tighten straps to get baby back in proper carrying position; T-shaped harness might be in the way for some wearers; high carrier body and sleeping hood (if attached) provide good privacy	Easy for most moms: loosen shoulder straps (easy due to placement and dual-adjustment straps), lower baby down to latch on then tighten straps to get baby back in proper carrying position; sleeping hood provides good privacy if attached.	Fairly easy for most moms: loosen shoulder straps, lower baby down to latch on then tighten straps to get baby back to proper carrying position; sleeping hood provides decent privacy coverage but shorter carrier body means less privacy than with other carrier	Possible,but likely not very secure, comfortable or private (due to small carrier size and lack of sleep hood)
Where Manufactured	California	Chicago and Estonia	China	Sweden

Winner of the Carnival Beco Butterfly II!

2010-06-01T08:03:00.000-07:00

Wow! What a great response to this giveaway! So nice to see all the comments-- lots of bECO fans out there, but also many fairly new to babywearing and wanting to get into it. Love it! :)

Anyways, without further ado, we have a winner with post #174:

Laura Beth said... I like your page on fb.

Her original comment was:

Laura Beth said... I am in love with this carrier, it just looks so cute! Thanks for the chance!

So, Laura Beth, I'll contact you through Facebook and we'll get that bECO out to you right away! Please note that I need to hear back from you within 72 hours (so, by 8:00 am PST on Friday, June 4) or I will redraw.

Edited: I almost forgot I have two organic bECO shoulder bags that I meant to give away as well.

So here are the draw results for those:

1) Post #50: Laci said...
following you on twitter
laciboudreauRMT from original post: Laci said...
I'm sure whoever the lucky winner is will be delighted!

and

2) Post #210: Stephanie said...
I am a Facebook fan of Continuum Family from original post: Stephanie said...
I just borrowed a bECO from a friend for a weekend trip and fell in love. I would so LOVE to win this! Great giveaway!!!

Thanks so much everyone, and stay tuned for more giveaways and summer specials!

bECO Baby Carrier Giveaway!

2010-05-20T22:23:00.000-07:00

To kick off the summer, we are launching another giveaway and this is a big one... a bECO Butterfly II Baby Carrier!! This is the must-have soft structured carrier, featuring:

an internal harness that makes it possible for baby to remain in the carrier while putting it on, moving it from person to person or changing from the front carry to the back carry. This feature is especially popular with less confident / brand new babywearers. It makes the back carry very easy and very safe, although we still firmly suggest baby be at least 5 months or older before doing any sort of back carry.
a removable infant insert that is sold with the carrier, which allows the carrier to truly be used from newborn to 45lbs.
tall and wide body that supports baby in the proper ergonomic position.

We are giving away one brand new in the box bECO Butterfly II carrier in the Carnival print shown below:

To enter for your chance to win this carrier, please leave a comment in today's post. Please note that comments are moderated. Comments from "anonymous" will be deleted. You will not see your comment immediately after posting so please don't post again thinking your post didn't go through. I will be approving comments several times a day.

Contest is open to Canada and the US only until 11:59 p.m. PST on Monday, May 31 and I'll close comments and announce the winner on Tuesday, June 1. Winner to be chosen by random number generator. To get extra entries (please leave an additional comment for each extra entry):

~ Follow us on Twitter
~ Add our Facebook Page to pages you like
~ Blog about this giveaway and leave the link in your comment
~ Tweet about the contest (tweet ONCE PER DAY ONLY for extra entries and leave the link in your comment(s) please.

Winner of Mother's Day Giveaway!

2010-05-09T08:13:00.000-07:00

Our contest is now closed - thanks to all who entered! The winner (picked by random.org) is... Angela A.! Angela, please contact me within the next 72 hours with your mailing address.

Happy Mother's Day everyone! Hope you all have a joyous and blessed day with your families!

Mother's Day Giveaway!

2010-05-02T11:55:00.000-07:00

In honour of Mother's Day, we are giving away a gift set featuring two wonderful products from LuSa Organics body care. The gift set (shown below) includes: Ylang Ylang and Lavender Goat Milk Soap, Lemongrass Lotion Bar, and we're also throwing in a luxurious 12" washcloth made from organic bamboo velour on one side and hot pink cotton terry on the other (an exclusive item, not found on our website...yet!). This sent would make a perfect gift for any mama!

To enter, please leave a comment in today's post. Contest is open worldwide until 11:59 p.m. PST on Saturday, May 8 and I'll close comments and announce the winner on Sunday, May 9.

To get extra entries (please leave an additional comment for each extra entry):
~ Follow us on Twitter
~ Add our Facebook Page to pages you like
~ Blog about this giveaway and leave the link in your comment
~ Tweet about the contest (tweet ONCE PER DAY ONLY for extra entries and leave the link in your comment(s) please.

Earth Day Sale at Continuum Family!

2010-04-22T08:14:00.000-07:00

Our third annual Earth Day sale is on for today only!! Get 15% of many, many items storewide, including all organic and eco-friendly products. I've only got a few slots open for many of my CF custom items so shop early for your chance to get these at a great price!

Children and Nature vs. Technology -- The Garden

2010-03-28T13:03:00.000-07:00

I just came across this great little short -- a must watch! "A young girl briefly escapes her mother’s grasp, discovering nature within the city’s chaos."

My favourite part is the look she gives her mother at the end when her mother is trying to get her to take back her video game...:)

The Garden from Jason Stefaniak on Vimeo.

EC with a Newborn

2010-02-17T08:45:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to pass along this great blog post on newborn EC from a customer of ours in Quebec, Canada. EC from birth is such a fantastic experience!

Where to Find Continuum Family Around the World

2010-01-30T20:35:00.000-08:00

I am often asked if we offer our CF line of EC-friendly baby clothing and accessories at wholesale. The short answer is "sorry, no". While I love the idea of having other small businesses support us in bringing our custom items to as many places around the world as possible, we have made a conscious decision to keep things small here at Continuum Family. For now at least, it suits us best to be a family-sustaining business. We have embraced the business practice of smallering, which means we plan to grow the business only as much as we want to grow it, running our business instead of letting it run us.

That being said, there are currently two companies, Dream Nappies in Japan and Windelmaus in Austria, that are carrying select CF items. Dream Nappies carries our prefold belts and T-shirt tunics/gowns and Windelmaus carries our tiny undies and pull up training pants.

tiny undies order destined for Austria

While we will remain the exclusive distributor for our CF line in North America, we will review any requests for other international companies to carry our CF items on a case by case basis.

EC Essential -- The Tunic!

2009-11-28T21:42:00.000-08:00

Even though I have 3 weeks of sewing orders in the queue, I took a half hour today and whipped up a tunic for Malcolm out of some lovely camel colored wool jersey that I just got in:

For an almost-11-month-old who's now walking (aacck!!), this is a really handy piece of clothing. It's long enough to keep him warm with only trainers underneath (and he would be discreetly covered if he was nakey butt) but it's not so long as to get in his way when he's crawling or sitting on the potty. And, add a pair of matching wool pants (not yet sewn) and we're ready to go out and about.

In addition to the tunic length, I also make these as a regular shirt length (4" shorter) and a gown length (6" longer), in either long or short sleeve. They are currently available in both cotton and bamboo, and I will be getting more wool jersey colors in a couple of weeks.

Affirmations for Peaceful Parenting

2009-11-23T22:09:00.000-08:00

Take a few short minutes to read these -- very inspiring!

NVC Book Giveaway Winner!

2009-10-03T09:56:00.000-07:00

Wow! I really enjoyed reading all your comments and seeing that NVC has inspired many of you already. So nice to read that many are open to learning about it as well.

So without further ado, the winner of the NVC book giveaway is...

Jess said...
I've only heard of NVC, but I'm hoping to read more soon!

So Jess, please get in touch with me here to give me your contact information. I need to hear from you by October 9 or I will redraw for the books. ETA: Again I had to redraw and so the new winner is...

Lisa said...
this is some of the first I've really seen about NVC, but I'm hoping to read more and learn more about it. Thanks for doing this!

Thanks so much everyone! I'm having a lot of fun with these giveaways, so stay tuned for future ones. :)

Non-Violent Communication Books Giveaway!

2009-09-30T23:02:00.000-07:00

Being introduced to Non-Violent Communication (NVC) a few years ago was a real eye-opener for me. The idea that one could be compassionate while still recognizing and asserting one's own needs seemed so foreign. Striving to create win-win solutions and really hearing the needs behind my children's behaviour takes a lot of patience and effort and I fall short often, but it is so worth the connection and cooperative spirit it fosters.

As October 2, 2009 has been designated International Day of Non-Violence, I decided I would like to have another giveaway -- a set of two booklets that combine parenting and NVC: Raising Children Compassionately by Marshall Rosenberg and Parenting From Your Heart by Inbal Kashtan.

All you have to do to enter is make a comment on this post (entries from "anonymous" will not be accepted). I'd love to hear whether you've heard of NVC before and if so, how it has affected your parenting.

You can get bonus entries for:

posting about this giveaway on Facebook with a link to this post
blogging about this giveaway with a link to this post

Winner will be decided using a random integer generator. Giveaway closes October 2 at 11:59 PM PST.

And when you're done entering here, go on over to my friend Annie's blog and enter her giveaway for Scott Noelle's book The Daily Groove!

Organic Pouch Sling Giveaway Winner!

2009-09-29T21:50:00.000-07:00

The winner of the Organic Pouch Sling Giveaway is...

Robin said...
I like the looks of the Feeleez, myself. :)

(winner was drawn using a random integer generator)

Robin, please get in touch with me here to give me your full name and address so I can send you your sling! I need to hear from you by October 5 or I will redraw for the sling. ETA: I did not hear from Robin by the deadline so the redraw has resulted in Kyre being the new winner. Kyre, please get in touch with me ASAP to arrange to receive your sling.

Thanks to all who entered - it was fun seeing all your comments about what products you think are unique or interesting at our store.

Please stay tuned tomorrow for an announcement of our next giveaway which will be in honour of International Day of Non-Violence on October 2.

Organic Pouch Sling Giveaway for International Babywearing Week!

2009-09-20T22:51:00.000-07:00

I'm a really avid babywearer and would love to see more babies being worn. So, in honor of International Babywearing Week this week (September 21-28), I'm doing our first ever giveaway -- a CF Organic Pouch Sling. This sling is a (now sold out) Sage Smoke 100% organic colorgrown cotton in size medium (25"). It features both light leg padding and a handy outside pocket (good for your phone, wallet, spare diaper, or toy).

If you'd like to be entered to win this sling, all you have to do is visit Continuum Family and make a comment back here about what you think our most unique/interesting product is.

You can get bonus entries for:

posting about this giveaway on Facebook with a link to this post and Continuum Family
blogging about this giveaway with a link to this post and Continuum Family

Giveaway closes September 28 at 11:59 PM PST.

Parenting… a Radical, Political Act

2009-08-22T19:47:00.000-07:00

On a day recently when I was questioning my decision of 6 years ago to quit the office 9-5 and become a stay-at-home/work-at-home mom, a link to this article found it's way into my inbox. I felt immediately re-inspired...

The only thing I would add is: “Each time I take my baby to the potty and put reusable cloth on his bum I am sticking it to the disposable diaper industry and feeling good about minimizing my contribution to the landfill”.

Which Training Pants for EC?

2009-06-24T22:10:00.000-07:00

Jane in Australia writes:

Hi,

I would love to order some of your training pants for my 10 month old daughter, Alice, and wanted to see which ones you would recommend - I haven't used training pants before, but was wanting some to hold one wee when we're out, and so not to wet Alice's clothes, but not too extra absorbant that I won't be able to tell if she's done a wee or not?

Thanks for your help,

Jane

For training pants, it's a bit of a trade off -- if you want something that won't wet outside clothing then you need to get ones with a waterproof (PUL) outer, yet these ones make it difficult to tell if they have gone without checking inside the pants. However, something that you will be able to see or feel easily that she has gone will likely wet the outer clothing to some degree. Training pants with a PUL layer inside give you the best of both worlds -- they generally won't wet outer clothing unless they're left on for a bit. Yet you should be able to feel them and see that she's gone. I would recommend going with bamboo training pants, as they are more absorbent than cotton. In particular, my CF Side Snap Trainers in bamboo, with optional PUL layer inside and bamboo velour inner are a very absorbent option. And I've just added some cute print outer options in bamboo interlock. I will also soon be getting some solid color outers in bamboo french terry.

Another good choice if you want a pull up option would be the EcoNix by BongoBaby. These have bamboo velour and inner PUL layer on the soaker section, although the body is cotton (organic).

In general, I recommend going with a side snap trainer unless you and your baby are fairly consistent with catching poops. ;)

Cooperative Games a Hit at Our House

2009-06-21T20:35:00.000-07:00

Whenever my six-year-old daughter has a playdate at our house, one thing that invariably comes out at some point are the cooperative board games. We have several of the Family Pastimes games and have spent some great quality family time playing them. It is so nice to play a game where no one has to be the loser and everyone is working together towards a common goal. And it's so encouraging to see her and her friends choose to play these quality games over other activities.

We've recently restocked these games in our store with all the best-selling ones (Princess, Caves and Claws, Secret Door) and added a couple of new ones that we've recently been playing and enjoying (Ogres and Elves, Dark and Dangerous Skies).

EC Gift from Japan

2009-04-07T09:22:00.000-07:00

I was touched and absolutely thrilled to receive this gift in the mail the other day:

It was from three of my Japanese customers -- a ceramic chamber pot and lid. In case you can't read the card, it says:

Dear Deirdre,

Hi. We hope you and your baby Malcolm are spending the sweet and intimate time! This chamber pot is a gift from the three of us. We find it extremely helpful in ECing baby boys :). Good luck!
Sincerely yours,
Keiko, Chiharu and Maiko from Japan
P.S. We love your hand-sewn baby gears. Thank you always.

I am really loving this pot! It is perfect for nighttime pottying. It is so much more stable than the plastic ones (no worry about spilling the potty contents all over the bed in the dark) but it's not that heavy. And, it is perfect for pottying a boy because it is deep enough that I can lower his bum right down inside without touching bottom and he doesn't pee over the top! :)

I will definitely be getting some of these for my store in the near future. They will be a great alternative to the plastic potty.

EC in Brazil

2009-03-12T13:43:00.000-07:00

Tamara H. wrote:

Congratulations to your beautiful baby! I'm so glad I found your shop. I'm a German midwife living in Brazil and I'm looking forward to showing your things at Brazil's first and only EC group that I'm leading.

Warm wishes,
Tamara
http://www.slingando.com/

I'm so glad you found our shop too, Tamara! I love that my EC products are making their way around the world. Although I've had some go to Chile, these will be the first ones going to Brazil.

Tamara has chosen a great selection of EC trainers and undies to show parents interested in EC. I will be most interested to hear how her talk goes. For now, I must get back to sewing, before baby wakes... :)

New Member of Continuum-Family!

2009-01-04T15:52:00.000-08:00

We are thrilled to announce that our baby boy, Malcolm, was born on January 3, 2009 at 11:05 a.m. weighing in at 8 lbs 10 oz and measuring 21 inches long.

This was our third home birth and we are so glad that we were able to be all together, with his two older sisters (Madeline, 5.5 and Zara, 3) on hand for the last 10 minutes to see him arrive.

Here's Malcolm at one day old, snuggling up with his two sisters:

It's still pretty much business as usual at Continuum Family, but we are estimating that custom orders (most items from our CF line, especially pouch slings and baby clothing) will be about 3 weeks from date of order to date of ship for the rest of January.

Consciously Parenting and FREE Teleclass

2008-12-14T09:19:00.000-08:00

I can't remember how I came across the Consciously Parenting website, but I wanted to share it with you all. It's a great resource and at this time of year, with all the stresses and pressures of extended family, travel, excess consumerism and the like, parenting consciously can be especially challenging.

A special bonus is that Pam Leo, author of Connection Parenting: Parenting Through Connection Instead of Coercion, Through Love Instead of Fear is offering a FREE one-hour teleclass on Parenting Through Connection, on either Monday, December 15 or Tuesday, December 16. Connection Parenting is a book I highly recommend and I'm looking forward to tuning into the teleclass.

Store-Wide End of November Sale - Get 10-15% Off!

2008-11-28T08:32:00.000-08:00

This weekend only (Nov 28-30) EVERYTHING in the store is 10% off!! Also, all instock Beco Butterfly II and Pikkolo baby carriers are 15% off!

Free Ship Day - November 17, 2008

2008-11-16T22:10:00.000-08:00

We will have a FREE SHIP day -- on Monday, November 17th -- all orders over $50.00 USD placed between 12:00 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. PST on that day will have the shipping charges refunded. Please note that this offer applies to orders shipping within North America only, but we will refund 50% of the shipping charges to international destinations. Please also note that this offer cannot be combined with any other specials or discounts.

Big in Japan

2008-10-28T07:09:00.000-07:00

One of the things I love about having an online business is the opportunity to make contacts with people in many other countries. So far, I have had the pleasure of doing business with many European countries, Australia, and more recently Japan. In fact, this past month I had a surge of orders from Japan for some of my EC-related items such as our Continuum Family baby gowns, diaper belts, and split crotch pants. I found out through one of my Japanese customers that she is going to be one of the main presenters at an upcoming EC conference entitled "Babies do not need diapers -Quest for the lost physical abilities of human body" on November 2nd at Tsuda College and she wanted to have some of my supplies available for people interested. How exciting is that?! I was also able to facilitate a connection between this customer and Christine Gross-Loh, author of The Diaper Free Baby, as they both live in Japan. I had the song "I'm Big in Japan" by Tom Waits running through my head all day after that... :)

Update: Here's a picture she sent me after the conference of her makeshift EC store:

FREE SHIP DAY Extended

2008-10-13T21:39:00.000-07:00

Due to some technical difficulties and power outages in our area, our site was unreachable part of yesterday and much of the day today. So, we have decided to extend our FREE SHIP day until 11:59 p.m. PST tomorrow (Tuesday, October 14th). All orders placed up until that time will have the shipping charges refunded. Please note that this applies to orders shipping within North America only, but we will refund 50% of the shipping charges to international destinations.

We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your ongoing support and business!

Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving -- October Specials

2008-10-11T11:40:00.000-07:00

Thanksgiving is an especially celebratory time for us. Our second daughter, who just turned 3, was born at home on October 9, 2005, the day before Thanksgiving that year. Continuum Family online was launched a year later, on October 3, 2006. We are thankful for two beautiful, healthy girls (and have a boy on the way, due in January 2009!). We are thankful for the great success of Continuum Family. We are thankful for the opportunity to be able to work and be home with our children. I get a lot of fulfillment out of being able to provide families with information and products to support them in their natural parenting journey.

So, please celebrate with us this month! We will have a FREE SHIP day -- on Monday, October 13th -- all orders placed between 12:00 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. PST on that day will have the shipping charges refunded. Please note that this applies to orders shipping within North America only, but we will refund 50% of the shipping charges to international destinations.

Also, we have new shipments of both Beco Butterfly II and Pikkolo baby carriers arriving later this month. Both are available now for pre-order. For the rest of October, with the purchase of either of these carriers, you can receive a FREE basic pouch sling in any size from our Everyday collection. Just let us know in the notes at checkout which one you want. Please note that this offer is good for a basic sling (without padding or pocket) but you can upgrade to these features as well as upgrade to one of the Designer/Luxury or Organic fabrics for an extra charge. Also, sorry but this offer cannot be combined with the free ship day on Monday, October 13th.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

New Beco Butterfly II Model Released!

2008-09-08T08:31:00.000-07:00

We are excited to announce the release of the Beco Baby Carrier Butterfly II! This new model has the same great features as the current Butterfly carrier, plus several brand new features resulting from Beco design efforts and customer feedback.

Main new features:

Removeable infant insert is adjustable in size (recommended for infants 7-15 lbs)
Removeable head rest (hood) -- design changed from a square to a more complex shape with flexible sides which attaches to the body with resin snaps in a faux pocket. Hood/shoulder straps also attach with snaps.
Webbing part of the shoulder strap is the same length as the current Butterfly; fabric part is 2" longer
New retail packaging, DVD and printed instructions
Butterfly 2 is proudly produced exclusively in the USA

Fabrics available for the Fall 08 season are:

Avery
Carnival
Espresso
Jacob
Metro Black
River
Sara
Trinity

We will have our first shipment in mid-October - they are available for pre-order now!

Our Top 20 Products

2008-08-24T19:44:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder what other people buy when they visit our site? Here's a list of our Top 20 Best-Selling Products:

1) "Shi Shi Nix" EC Baby Pants -- these trim yet absorbent pull-up trainers from Australia come in a variety of very cute prints
2) CF Bamboo or Hemp Prefold Diaper Belt -- our lightweight diaper belt is a quick and easy way to secure a prefold diaper
3) Little Beetle Learners - Organic Training Pants -- these sporty trainers provide full coverage in a side-snapping trainer that can also be easily pulled up/down
4) Eco Nix - Organic EC Baby Pants -- these are the luscious, organic version of the Shi Shi Nix - the optional groovy embroidered spiral makes them unique
5) Unbleached Indian Prefolds --a soft and absorbent cloth diapering staple
6) Gauze Diaper Doublers - these economical inserts can be used to boost absorbency of diapers, training pants, even regular underwear
7) T-Shirt Gown -- this ever-popular, economical baby gown fits young babies up to toddlers
8) Papoose Cloth Training Pants -- inexpensive, all-cotton training pant
9) CF Tiny Undies - Cotton Interlock/Jersey -- our tiny underwear is geared for babies from 6-24 months
10) Transparent Potty -- this cute potty has the added benefit of being able to easily see when your little one is finished
11) CF Fleece Prefold Diaper Belt -- the polar fleece version of our diaper belt
12) CF Potty Cozy - Polar Fleece Solids -- handy for keeping the potty warm at night or in the car
13) CF Split Crotch Pants - Bamboo or Hemp -- functional and cozy, these pants make pottying easier
14) YES! Maternity/Nursing Bra -- my all-time favorite nursing bra!
15) Baby Potty Bowl - Red or Blue -- very handy for infant and nighttime pottying
16) CF Trainer Cover - Merino Wool -- light and breathable protection over any cloth trainer or trim diaper
17) Snappi Diaper Fastener -- the easiest way to secure a prefold diaper (besides the diaper belt)
18) CF Side Snap Training Pants - Cotton -- released in May 2008, our non-waterproof bikini-style trainer is fast becoming a favorite
19) CF Tiny Undies - Organic Bamboo Jersey -- organic version of our baby/small toddler underwear
20) CF Side Snap Training Pants - Bamboo -- organic version with buttery bamboo terry outer and bamboo velour inner option

Continuum Family is Moving!

2008-07-17T17:31:00.000-07:00

We are excited to be relocating to beautiful Victoria, British Columbia next week! To celebrate, we are offering 4 days of FREE US/Canada shipping on all orders placed between July 19-22 inclusive. No need to enter a coupon at checkout -- we will refund the shipping charges on all qualifying orders placed on those dates.

Please note that we will not be shipping between July 23-27 and our site may be offline for a couple of days between July 24-26. Order shipping will resume July 28.

For Victoria area residents, we will be offering free pick up or delivery, so as of July 28 you'll be able to save on shipping costs when ordering from us. If you're in the area you can also contact us to book an appointment to come and "try or see before you buy" on a number of our items, as well as get babywearing assistance for any of the carriers we sell.

Beco Butterfly: June 2008 Prints

2008-06-17T16:10:00.000-07:00

Here's a preview of the two gorgeous new Beco Butterfly prints for June 2008.

On espresso straps, Jacob:

and, on black straps, Avery:

Pre-orders are available now in our store, for shipping in first week in July for these prints as well as more Abby, Allison, Carnival, Natalie, and Sara. Currently in stock in limited quantity are Emma, Espresso, Isabella, Martini, and Metro Black.

Beco Butterfly or Pikkolo?

2008-05-28T07:20:00.000-07:00

Julie writes:

"Hi There! Just looking for a little advice... I have been trying to decide between the Beco and Pikkolo for some time now. A friend of mine has the Beco 4th generation and LOVES it. I have tried it a couple of times with my 21 lb. 6 month old son and found it pretty comfy- it didn't hurt my back at all which was awesome! However it did push the top of my pants down and I kept feeling like I should scoot my son's behind up so it stopped pulling down on my waistband. My son loved it- both times he fell asleep within about 10 minutes- and was totally content while I walked, talked, played with my niece. I am buying it for this summer as a convenient way to keep him close and get things done around the house and as we run errands, take day hikes, etc. As for the pikkolo- the reviews are fabulous. I was just unsure about the unpadded waistband- and I know you are supposed to wear it on your natural waist- which I would think dug in- and may not distribute the weight as well as your hips would?? Cool thing is it looks like the baby can see out better- but can they sleep or feel as secure because they aren't as supported? We are planning on having another baby in the not too distant future- so I'd like something that can last me for a couple years if possible. If you had to but only one- what would it be?... Thanks for your advice in advance!" Julie

Hi Julie,

Hmmm, a Beco or a Pikkolo? Really good question! :)

I loved the Beco 4th Generation too. As I'm sure you are aware, Beco has discontinued making it in favor of the Butterfly model, which is quite a bit different than the 4th Generation.

I know what you mean about the padded waistbelt pushing the top of your pants down. I also find this a minor annoyance of that feature, despite it making the carrier very comfy to wear for long periods. I too was skeptical about the unpadded waistbelt of the Pikkolo... until I tried it! I found it surprisingly comfortable. It didn't cut into me at all and the top of my pants stayed put! You do wear it a bit higher but I find that once my toddler is in it ends up settling right on top of my hipbones anyways, so it still distributes her weight evenly and properly. The body of the Beco and Pikkolo are about the same length, so baby will be equally supported in either.

The Butterfly takes a bit of getting used to, especially if you're not used to putting baby in the internal sling of the carrier first, then putting the carrier on. A nice thing about the internal sling though, is that baby is perfectly positioned in the carrier every time. The Butterfly is a great carrier for those new to doing a back carry, and makes it easy to do a back carry with a very young infant using the built-in infant insert. The internal sling also allows you to adjust the distance of baby from your body, totally separate from the shoulder strap adjustment. Wearing baby very close with the sling buckles tightened up, but keeping the shoulder straps fairly loose, makes it so that baby's weight sinks down and is supported by your hips, not your shoulders.

I really like the unique cinching mechanism in the body of the Pikkolo. Not only does that enable you to do ergonomic forward facing front carries (only with babies under 20 lbs though, otherwise it kills your back!), but smaller babies don't have to spread their legs as wide while riding. The Beco Butterfly achieves the same thing with their infant insert, which is narrower than the main body of the carrier. Oh, and you can do hip carries with the Pikkolo, but not with the Butterfly.

The Pikkolo has great memory foam shoulder straps which I found really conformed nicely to my body. The Butterfly has narrower, ergonomically curved shoulder straps which makes for a very nice fit and is especially great for narrow-shouldered wearers. The fabrics used in the Butterfly are softer quilter cottons and twills. They are gorgeous, unique and colorful designer prints. The Pikkolo fabrics are more neutral, subtle, heavier canvas-like fabrics that soften up great with washing and are ultimately probably more durable.

Also, you will be able to get a padded waistband sleeve for the Pikkolo as an accessory option that will attach to current models -- should be available in the next couple of months and will make that carrier even more versatile.

As for which one I'd personally choose? Hard to say - they're both great! I do reach for the Pikkolo more often at this point because my youngest is 2.5 and I find it too awkward to get her into the internal sling of the Butterfly. I'm also an experienced babywearer so don't like having to put her in the carrier first, I like to just quickly hoist her onto my back. But, if we were to have another baby, I think I'd lean towards the Butterfly as the fabric is softer and I like the idea of the built in infant insert to do early back carries.

Another important consideration for many when choosing a carrier is -- which one has the fabric/pattern you like best?

Hope this helps you some!

Beco Butterfly: May 2008 prints

2008-05-15T13:37:00.000-07:00

Here's a preview of the start of the long-awaited Butterfly summer collection. They are due to ship from Beco soon and I hope to have my first shipment the week of June 9.

On espresso straps there's:

Allison:

Martini:

Natalie:

As well, the ever-popular Carnival print will be available again:

On black straps there's:

Abby:

Isabella (which first came out in March and is available again now):

Morgan (which came out in April, and is still available):

and Sara:

I think this is a beautiful collection with something that's sure to please everyone.

I believe there will be two more prints released in June and possibly a couple more in July/August. These will be previewed here as soon as I am able to release them.

I will be offering presales on my site once I get the shipping notice from Beco around May 21. It's always a bit sketchy as to what's actually coming in a given shipment so I don't want to presell until I know what's actually coming. Please be sure to contact me if you are interested in a specific pattern so I can make sure I order enough.

Happy Babywearing!

What Mother's Day Should Really Be About

2008-05-07T07:48:00.000-07:00

Pinky McKay Newsletter
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This newsletter is brought to you by Pinky McKay, International Board Certified
Lactation Consultant, certified infant massage instructor, mother of five and author
of 'Sleeping Like a Baby', 'Parenting By Heart' and '100 Ways to Calm the Crying'.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The hand that rocks the cradle!

Hello,

Are you getting a little sick and tired of the commercialism surrounding mothers
day? Especially when it can seem that for the rest of the year - at least in the
day to day doings of mothering - the status of mothering seems very low.

Just to give ourselves a wee value boost, let's consider some meaning behind our
special day: Mother's day, as first conceived by Julia Ward Howe in 1872, was
a time to re-dedicate oneself to the task of world peace.

Howe said, " our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have taught
them of charity, mercy and patience. We, women of our country, will be too tender
to those of another country to allow our sons to be trained to injure others."
While Howe's sentiments are just as pertinent today, there are now many choices
around mothering and how - or how much - we do this. At a workshop I did a short
while ago, we were discussing the values each person wanted to impart to their
child. One woman had a lightbulb moment - "how can I model these values when I am
only with my child a couple of days a week?"

While our choices about how we parent are personal and will reflect our own personal
values, it is worth consciously taking time to think about what really matters and
how our choices will influence the values that we want to model for our little ones.
It is also worth remembering that we will never get this moment, this hour or this
year back - ever again.

So this mother's day, as you eat your chocolates - or cold toast - please spare
a thought for Julia Ward Howe's vision thatMother's day should be dedicated to world
peace.

While the superpowerful, unencumbered with children, blindly assume that mothers
spend their days sipping lattes or watching daytime television while their little
ones quietly amuse themselves, you are in fact, nurturing tomorrow's world: giving
sons and daughters healthy bodies, agile minds and compassionate spirits.

Because we value the lives of our children and children everywhere, who but mothers
can more effectively teach the next generation to care for each other and to care
for our planet. Because we are mothers we have a larger stake in the world!

Pinky

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Beco Butterfly: April 2008 Prints

2008-04-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a preview of the new prints Beco will be releasing later this month. They will be shipping from Beco at the end of April, so I hope to have my shipment by May 9 or so. I will not have all prints available -- see details below.

On espresso straps there's:

Emma:

and Chloe:

and Olivia, which was first released in March but now due to fabric supplier problems will not be available again in the foreseeable future:

There's also still Ethan, which was released in February.

On black straps there's:

Morgan:

And Aubrey, which was released in March:

and Isabella, which was released in March but again due to fabric supplier problems will not be available again until end of May:

I will also have some more Metro Black and Espresso for those who prefer an unpatterned carrier. Oh, and for those that have been asking, the Carnival print will be available again in late May so I should have some by early June.

I will be offering presales on my site once I get the shipping notice from Beco around April 28. It's always a bit sketchy as to what's actually coming in a given shipment so I don't want to presell until I know what's actually coming. Please contact me if you are looking for a pattern that I don't have coming (Ethan and Aubrey are currently not on order) and I will check to see if it's still available from Beco and can be added to my shipment.

Happy Babywearing!

Waterproof vs. Non-Waterproof Training Pants

2008-04-03T08:31:00.001-07:00

Koyuki writes:

"I am EC'ing my 3-month-old. Currently, I just use cloth diapers - a snappi'd prefold at home, and a prefold in a Bummis cover when outside. It's OK at home, but a little bit of a pain when out and about - taking it all off and putting it all on again. So I want to look into training pants, which I feel like would be easier. My main question - what's the advantage of a partly-but-not-fully waterproof pant like the Shi-Shi-Nix (perhaps worn with a wool or fleece cover) versus a fully waterproof pant like the Bongo Baby pullup...? Also, would something like the Shi-Shi-nix fit under a wool cover like Lanacare/Aristocrats/MamaBless?"

Hi Koyuki,

I definitely recommend moving to training pants when you're in the EC'ing groove, as they are infinitely more convenient to use (and less laundry to wash) than diapers. If you're still having poop misses, a side-snapping trainer is a good one to choose, but if you're down to only a few pee misses a pull up trainer is the ultimate in ease and trimness.

The advantage of a partly waterproof training pant such as the Shi Shi Nix, Eco Nix or Little Beetle Learner is that it will absorb a full pee without getting outside clothing wet (provided you change it right away) but it's still relatively easy to tell when you've had a miss because it will feel damp on the outside. This enables you to to keep in tune with your baby and communicate about misses promptly but not have to be wiping up puddles.

A fully waterproof training pant like the Pull Up Pocket Pants is useful when you want more protection for outside clothing in the case of not being able to change your baby right away, such as when you are out and about or during the night if you are not EC'ing at night. The wool or fleece trainer covers that I have designed are a very handy and economical way to add more protection to your stash of non-waterproof trainers, so you don't have to buy (as many) separate waterproof trainers. Also, many people do not like the PUL outer of many waterproof pants and prefer to use the more natural wool cover for the extra protection.

My trainer covers are cut lower in the rise and are trimmer than regular diaper covers. They will fit over many types of trainers, including Shi Shi Nix, Eco Nix, Little Beetle Learners, Papoose, Gerbers, Imse Vimse, Bright Bots and other trainers of similar cut. (Note: I will also soon have my own version of a bikini cut side snapping trainer similar to Poquito pants which will also fit under my covers. And, I am also currently working on designing my own version of a pull up pocket trainer since Bongo Baby is no longer wholesaling these).

You can certainly use a cover such as the LANACare, Aristocrat or MamaBless wrap over a trainer. We found with the LANACare (which I used before I thought to design a wool trainer cover) that we could size down when using over a trainer. It was still fairly long in the rise, but did the job nicely, if being somewhat overkill. It's a trimmer and softer cover than Aristocrat, which is why I carry it. Although the Mamabless wrap is beautiful and soft, I wouldn't recommend it for use over trainers because it is cut very large and is quite stretchy. It's really designed to be used over fairly bulky cloth diapers. Plus the wrap/tie design makes it a bit cumbersome to take on and off quickly for EC. I recommend it more as an overnight cover.

Hope this proves helpful!

pikkolo™ Coming Soon!

2008-03-14T14:16:00.000-07:00

I received my sample pikkolo™ soft structured carrier from Catbird Baby the other day and finally had a chance to test drive it on a hike yesterday. Here's my review:

Overall... what a great carrier! I was really skeptical that the unpadded waistbelt would be comfortable but in fact I think I might prefer it to a padded waistbelt now. The downside of a padded waistbelt (and maybe this is just me) is that it pushes the top of my pants down. I didn't have this issue at all with the unpadded waistbelt, and I really liked how un-bulky it is. And it didn't dig in to my middle at all, even though it seems like it should.

Another thing I LOVE is the memory foam shoulder straps - what a dream! The straps are designed to cross in the back when used for a front carrier but when using as a back carrier it comes with a removeable chest beltto cinch the straps together in front. The chest belt is a bit awkward and doesn't attach to the shoulder straps so would be easily lost, but I believe this is a feature that will be improved in future releases.

I personally don't find the pikkolo™ as pretty as the Beco, but the patterns are neutral and muted enough to appeal to those who don't want a solid color carrier but don't want something that clashes with their outfit or won't be worn by Dad. The pikkolo™ fabric is much stiffer and canvas-like, although I have read that with washing it softens up nicely and it's probably a more durable carrier fabric overall.

Another very cool feature of the pikkolo™ (which I don't get to test as my youngest is 2.5 years old) is a cinching mechanism on the carrier body to make it narrower. This allows for carrying very young babies without an separate insert. It also allows for a comfortable forward facing front carry, which is very handy and not do-able with any other soft structured carrier I don't think (but I wouldn't recommend it once your baby is over 20 pounds as it will throw off your center of gravity and kill your back).

So, I will be carrying the pikkolo™ in addition to the Beco and should be getting my first shipment in mid-April. Please feel free to contact me to get added to an interest list.

Beco Butterfly Voluntary Recall

2008-03-12T22:39:00.000-07:00

If you haven't already heard, Beco has voluntarily recalled their Beco Butterfly model carriers produced and sold in January and February 2008. If you bought a Beco Butterfly during this period please read up on the issue and how to resolve it.

Custom Orders at Continuum Family

2008-02-22T22:53:00.000-08:00

I'm getting more and more requests lately for custom orders for baby clothing, which is exciting. I love hearing about what people want that they can't find out there and seeing if I can help bring it to them. Here are some recent examples:

1) When Cathy in Australia wanted some split crotch pants for her baby daughter, she mentioned she was looking for something in a wind-resistant fabric. I happened to have some Solarweave on hand that I use to make pouch slings as well as summer baby blankets. Solarweave is a 100% nylon fabric that is wind and water resistant as well as having a minimum 30 SPF. I knew it would be too lightweight on its own to use for the pants, but I suggested to Cathy that we could line it with either a cotton interlock or polar fleece - she opted for polar fleece.

So, here's a picture of the finished pants with the cuff rolled up to show the coordinating fleece lining. I thought they turned out quite nicely, even though Solarweave is not easy to sew with as it has absolutely NO give to it. It was tricky to get it to fit well over the polar fleece.

However, Cathy was very pleased with the pants and sent me this photo and message:

Hi Deirdre,

Just a really quick email to tell you how much we love the pants!! Just tried them today during our unseasonably cold weather (meant to bet he hottest month!) and they fit well, soft and comfy, look great (much more discrete than I expected too), work well for pottying, and misses easily sopped up from the material. Although we don't yet have the cold winter wind I'm so happy to have some pants that are a bit wind resistant. We do lots of walking with her in the wrap, little legs hanging out. And then she is all for exploring - starting to crawl and walk - and the water resistance might make them a bit easier to clean, and definitely to dry them afterwards (I'm envisioning lots of muddy pants this year).

Thanks so much for making them,
Cathy

2) Another custom request we had was from Gloria in Bethlehem, PA who wrote me saying: "I loved the weight of the fleece in the split-crotch pants ... would it be possible to do custom fleece jogging style pants as well?"

I adjusted my pattern a bit and designed what I hoped would be a trim baby jogging pant that fits nicely over training pants or undies. Gloria was pleased with the final result and sent me this message:

Hi, Deirdre.

Thanks so much for the terrific fleece pants. Got them today - and so far, we LOVE THEM. I'd say the pants are an absolutely perfect fit. There's more room through the legs than in a more-fitted straight-leg or legging style pant (love that). The ankles are perfect. The waist is perfect. The rise is perfect. I'd say there might be enough room for a trim-fitting fitted diaper underneath. Not certain. Certainly enough room for diaper belt + prefold. They are by no means too baggy. I love them. They fit like sweat pants are supposed to fit. Perfect! Thank you!

Gloria

I will have these slim-fit fleece pants available on my site in the near future, as either a jogger with elasticized leg as these are or a straight leg pant.

3) Leslie in Honolulu, Hawaii wanted to order a bunch of potty cozys for her attachment parenting mother's club, but wasn't crazy about polar fleece. She wrote "I know this probably doesn't exist, but I would love to have a cozy that isn't made from plastic!" I told her I could make them for her from hemp/cotton fleece, which wouldn't have the water repellent qualities of polar fleece, but is a very durable and naturally antibacterial fabric. She was thrilled with the idea and promptly ordered a bunch of hemp fleece cozys and prefold diaper belts. I thought it was a great idea for a product, so have now added the hemp cozys to my site, for both the potty bowl and the regular potty.

I've also had some requests for custom items from the gorgeously soft merino wool interlock I'm using for trainer covers, which I'll be working on when I get my next order of wool in later in March. Keep those custom requests coming!

New Beco Butterfly Prints for Feb 08

2008-02-07T13:32:00.000-08:00

Wow! Interest in the Beco Butterfly has been amazing! My initial order was obviously too small, as it is now 90% sold as of this writing and I've only had them in stock for 5 days! I've just put in another order for more, which I'm hoping will arrive in early March.

Beco is introducing 5 more prints this month. I've only ordered 4 of them because, well, I think the 5th one is kind of ugly and I don't want to sell something that I wouldn't wear or use myself.

Here's a preview of the new prints:

1) Ava - on black straps:

2) Ethan - on espresso straps:

3) Sophia (pink version of the now-sold-out Addison) - on espresso straps:

4) Joshua - on black straps:

Also still available is the ever-popular Carnival print, and I will be getting a few more of those.

I'll be offering these for pre-sale once I get notice that they've shipped from Beco, so check back with us often or contact me to get put on my interest list.

Beco Butterfly vs. 4th Generation Carrier

2008-01-31T07:44:00.000-08:00

Tasha writes:

"Hi, I was wondering if you could tell me what the difference between the Beco 4th Generation and the Beco Butterfly Carrier is?"

Good question! And one that many people have been asking me...

Now, keep in mind that I haven't actually seen or tried the Butterfly yet, as I'm still waiting for my first shipment to arrive. Once I get them in I'll be able to write more of a review.

In the meantime, here's what I've been able to glean from the information out there as to how the Butterfly is different from the 4th Generation:

Shoulder Straps:

The Butterfly features ergonomically curved shoulder straps that are adjustable at both the top of the carrier and at the sides of the body. This is supposedly to enable easy nursing access. The 4th Gen straps only adjust at the sides. Both carriers feature dual adjusting buckles though, a huge plus over other carrier brands.
Another feature of the Butterfly shoulder strap is that the base of the strap is not attached directly to the body of the carrier (as with the 4th Gen) but to an inside panel (see next point) that attaches to the waist belt. The other end of the shoulder strap attaches to the body of the carrier.

Body:

The most innovative and unique feature of the Butterfly is that it has an inside panel of fabric which keeps baby securely inside the carrier even when the waist belt is open. The baby can be put in the carrier first and then the carrier put on the wearer (although you can still put the carrier on first and then the baby if you prefer this order, but it seems like this would be a bit more awkward). The panel of fabric is in a "Y" shape so your breasts are apparently not covered up. This would make nursing possible but probably not as easy as with the 4th Gen.
Another feature of the Butterfly is a built-in infant insert. With the 4th Gen carrier you had to purchase a separate infant insert. With the Butterfly, it's built in but it lays flat against the back of the carrier if it's not used. The insert is narrower than the actual carrier base so small infants can comfortably spread their legs while retaining the recommended position of knees higher than their bottom.

Other Features:

The Butterfly also has an attached chest strap that's not independent from the shoulder straps as on the 4th Gen (a minor annoyance!). Instead, it's connected to the shoulder straps and slides along their length.
Although both the 4th Gen and the Butterfly have sleeping hoods, the 4th Gen carrier has a storage pocket for it on the body of the carrier. The Butterfly has a storage sleeve at the back of the waist belt.
The Butterfly comes with an instructional DVD included in the price.

In summary, I would say that you should probably choose the Butterfly if:

you are new to babywearing in general
a bit nervous about putting your baby on your back by yourself
want to be able to do back carries with a very young baby
like the idea of being able to pass the baby from one wearer to another or to switch easily from front to back carry
you prefer the prints the Butterfly is offered in

and you should probably choose a 4th Gen carrier if:

you have an older baby and thereby no need for the infant insert
you are a fairly experienced babywearer who is used to simply hoisting your baby onto your back and strapping a carrier on and would find the inside panel bothersome
you like being able to easily nurse your baby while in the carrier
you prefer the prints the 4th Gen is offered in

New Hemp Pull Up Pocket Pants

2008-01-26T19:43:00.000-08:00

One of my customers recently asked me about getting some non-waterproof Pull Up Pocket Pants. She really liked the design, but she wasn't fond of PUL and prefers to use a wool cover for those times when she wants more protection. So, I asked Bongo Baby to do a custom order and here's what she sent:

Aren't these gorgeous? They're made of hemp terry on the outside and either hemp terry or bamboo velour on the inside. She dyed them with solar dyes to make them a little more interesting. In addition to the purple she also sent some done in an indigo tie dye:

I got a few extra pairs for my store, 'cause I think these are a great option for a stuffable but non-waterproof trainer.

Beco Butterfly is (almost) here!!

2008-01-21T22:50:00.000-08:00

I've just been notified by Beco that my shipment of Beco Butterflys is officially on its way! Yay!! I've only got two or three in each fabric coming though so if you see one you like, don't delay! They're available for pre-order as of today!

I've also put the Pony Express and Avocado Feathers 4th Generation prints on sale on a whim so if you fancy one of those, better grab it!

Welcome!

2008-01-14T20:11:00.000-08:00

Since I just can't seem to add any more hours to the day, I'm creating this blog in the hopes that it will be a more efficient means of:

Keeping you all up to date on new and upcoming products
Answering all your questions
Sharing articles and links of interest
Providing other information such as book or product reviews

Enjoy!