How To Use A Ring Sling With A Newborn

Getting the hang of a ring sling can take some practice, but they’re such great carriers once you do. I love ring slings because they’re super lightweight and fold up small making them perfect for tossing in my diaper bag or purse, so I’m always prepared while we’re out and about. Kind of essential with 4 kids ;)

Join me and my 5 week old baby Freddy to learn how to use a ring sling safely and comfortably. In this video I’m featuring a linen ring sling by Potter & Pehar. I absolutely love the soft neutral colour of this Elora sling, but to be honest it’s hard to choose a fav from their gorgeous collection. Potter & Pehar products are beautifully designed to simplify motherhood, and I love that they’re all made locally in Toronto. Plus the business is owned and run by two kick ass women (Shelley & Tina), who are always available for customer support via email, facebook, and instagram. I have several Potter & Pehar slings, and have personally used them with my babes and while teaching at my monthly Free Community Babywearing Drop In. This is definitely a biz that feels good to support. You can use Code WITHCARE10 for 10% off Potter & Pehar.

I hope you enjoyed my video. Please comment below with any questions, and let me know if you have any topics you would like me to cover in the future. Don’t forget to Subscribe to my YouTube channel to stay up to date of all of my new videos.

- Care

In This Post:

“Elora” Ring Sling: Potter & Pehar *Use Code WITHCARE10 for 10% Off | How To Thread A Ring Sling Video

*This is a sponsored post which means I was provided compensation and/or products/services for this post. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. I only partner with companies that I genuinely love and want to recommend

*The information in this video is meant to help you learn about safe babywearing. There are many ways to safely use a carrier, but I demonstrate how I typically teach ring sling use. Please always refer to your particular baby carrier manual to ensure proper and safe use. The information provided does not constitute individual advice or consultation and should not be used as such. 

Potter & Pehar Sling + Sip Social - Register Now! (Free Event With Care)

Babywearing is a lifesaver for so many parents, but only when you know how to use your carrier safely and comfortably. As a Babywearing Educator I love helping families learn how to make the most of their carriers. That's why I'm so excited to join Potter & Pehar at their upcoming Sling + Sip Social to offer a FREE Ring Sling 101 Workshop. (Full Details Below *Space is very limited so don't wait to register. RSVP to hello@potterandpehar.com)

Ring slings are one of my favourite carriers from infancy right through toddlerhood. In the early days they are perfect for our little babes who need to be kept snug up on our chest. As our baby grows and develops, ring slings are ideal for quick trips using a hip carry. Ring slings are great because they fold up nice and small for travel, can be put on and adjusted relatively quickly, are lightweight for hot weather, and are great for wearing to fancier events. I have worn all of our babies to weddings in my ring slings. I also love ring slings because they are one of the easiest carriers to nurse in. 

Even with all of these amazing qualities I find that ring slings often get a bad wrap. I have spoken to lots of parents at my community events and on social media who just couldn't seem to make their ring sling work. They often reported pain, or felt insecure about their baby's position. Neither of which are any fun. The majority of the time some minor adjustments to the carrier would make a huge difference, and impact both the wearer's comfort, and the baby's comfort and security. Learning the basics of how to use a ring sling properly is essential to your long term enjoyment and safety while babywearing with one. 

If you're a local parent join me at the Potter & Pehar Sling + Sip Social on Thursday August 17th to learn all about ring slings. This FREE event takes place from 11am-2pm at 1830 Bloor St W (3rd floor event room).

Pop by to enjoy some light refreshments and get your photo taken by Jamie Mack Photography for $15. Come and check out Potter & Pehar's beautiful collection of Canadian made ring slings. As a special gift to all attendees they will be offering sale prices on their end of season slings. *Please Note: No purchase is necessary to attend this event. 

*Remaining Space is very limited so please don't wait to register. Email hello@potterandpehar.com to reserve your spot. Feel free to ask any questions below in the comments 

Happy Babywearing!

Care 

In this post:

Potter & Pehar Berkeley Ring Sling    |    Tiny Trendsetter Saltwater Sandals     |     H&M Care's Dress 

*This is a sponsored post which means I was provided compensation and/or product for this post. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. I only partner with products and services that I genuinely love and want to recommend. 

Starting Solids Favourite Products GIVEAWAY!

Every month when I teach Starting Solids I get asked about my favourite products for feeding baby. So I thought it would be fun to host a little GIVEAWAY for a few of my favourite feeding products. These are products that I use every day in my home with Penny, and some that have been favourites since I started solids with Ben over 5 years ago! 

This amazing prize pack includes:

An ezpz Mini Mat - I love all of the amazing ezpz mats, so I knew I had to include them in my favourites giveaway. We have pretty much every size they make, and use them daily now that Penny is a solids champ. I love that they suction to the table so she doesn't throw them, plus they can be tossed in the dishwasher, and stand up to daily use with no fading or signs of aging. When you're first starting solids (especially if you're doing baby led feeding) I usually suggest placing the piece of food directly on the table, as it can be hard for your baby to reach into the mat when they are first starting out. Once they have their grasp down, and are confident picking up food and eating well, then you can add your ezpz mat. 

2 Bumkins Sleeved Bibs - I've been using sleeved bibs since I started solids with Ben and honestly don't know why you would use any other bib. These long sleeve bibs save your babes precious clothes and your time doing stain removal. We still use sleeved bibs on our big kids if they're dressed for an event and need a snack. I especially love that these Bumkins ones have a tie back versus a piece of velcro, as my kiddos love to rip velcro open and smear food all over their clothes ;) 

A Kizingo Spoon - Penny has been loving this curved handle spoon that's easy for little ones to grip. The Kizingo has a shallow tipped bowl and a shorter handle making it perfect for little hands. I have definitely added this to my list of favs for little feeders

A set of NumNum Gootensils - These were one of my favourites at the very start with Penny. She loved to dip the blue spoon into food and then gnaw on the bumpy surface of the spoon. Ideal for little teethers! The orange spoon with the openings was the first spoon that she successfully fed herself greek yogurt with. The thick yogurt gets trapped in the holes making it easy for a small baby who doesn't always keep the spoon upright. 

Set of Bumkins Reusable Snack Bags - I love ensuring that our meals are as eco friendly as possible so these snack bags are a great addition to this giveaway. I haven't personally tried the bumpkins ones, but they look amazing! I love that their Nixi line is made from recycled fabrics and have these awesome prints. 

Enter NOW by simply commenting below with your name and email address, or alternatively you may comment below and submit your email address to care@with-care.ca for entry. Plus make sure to check out our Facebook page & Instagram feed for 2 more ways to enter! 

Contest is open to all Canadian and Continental US residents 18+ and closes Thursday May 18th at 11pm EST. A winner will be chosen at random and messaged within 24 hours. Good Luck!

As a special gift use code withcare for 10% off these amazing feeding products locally and online at Diaper-eez. 

Don't hesitate to get in touch if you have questions about my Starting Solids Workshops and feel free to check out my YouTube for a few Starting Solids Videos. More to come!

Care

*Please note that Num Num spoons will be shipped directly from the manufacturer to winner, while other products will be shipped from With Care. 

*This is a sponsored post which means I was provided compensation and/or product for this post. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Congrats On Your Move Diaper-eez!

Our good friends at Diaper-eez made a big move this past weekend. We're sad to see them leave the Bloor West strip, but we're so happy that they're staying in the neighbourhood. Their Bloor Street location closed on February 19th and their new boutique location at 501 Runnymede Rd (Runnymede & Annette) opened yesterday. Drop by to check out the new shop and mention With-Care for 10% off*. If you can't make it in to the store, head online and use code withcare for 10% off*

Diaper-eez new store hours at 501 Runnymede Rd.

• Tuesday-Friday: 12pm-5pm
• Saturday: 10am-5pm
• Sunday-Monday: Closed

Thanks for shopping small and supporting our local stores. 

- Care 

*Some restrictions apply

Winter Babywearing Essentials

As many of you know, I'm a huge fan of babywearing. I babywear almost 365 days a year and don't know how I would survive life as a Mom of 3 (edited to note: now 4!) without my carriers. Although many people express shock and horror at the idea of trudging through the snow wearing a baby, I can tell you from experience that it's a lot easier wearing baby than trying to push a stroller through the snow on sidewalks and up snowbanks. I've had lots of questions recently about winter babywearing, so I thought I would share a few of my essentials for surviving the winter with a baby (or toddler) in tow.

Must Haves For Parent (Babywearer)

1. Flat Winter Boots with Good Tread

Babywearing is safe in most wintery conditions, but it's essential that you have good footing under you. A flat pair of properly fitting winter boots with a nice deep tread are ideal. You can also purchase boots with special grips or add traction devices to your shoes. I recommend that you don't babywear if there is an ice warning, it's a particularly slippery day, or if you have any injuries that could make you more likely to fall. 

2. Babywearing (& Pregnancy) Coat Adapter

Skip the snow suit and wear baby inside your coat! Bridge the Bump (Made locally by 2 West End Moms - See full review here) makes leaving the house with baby so much easier. All you have to do is dress baby in normal warm cloths (cozy pants, socks, a warm shirt, sweater, hat and booties - see below) and pop them in the carrier inside your coat with the insert zipped up. Having the baby directly in the carrier typically means that it will fit better (vs. if they have bulky winter gear on) and your body heat will keep you both warm. This is ideal for errands and trips where you will be going inside, as you can simply open your coat or take it off and baby can stay in their carrier without the dangers of overheating in their snow suit or trapping you in your warm coat. 

3. Slim Neckwarmer

Having the top of your coat open to accommodate a baby in a carrier can leave a gap around your neckline leaving your skin exposed to the weather. To cover up this gap and stay warm a slim fitting neck warmer is ideal. Be careful of large, bulky, loose scarves and neck warmers that could impede baby's fresh flow of air or cover their face in any way. This beautiful neck warmer from Bridge the Bump is a new fav of mine because it's super cozy but also slim, so it sits close to my skin and doesn't bother Penny. 

Must Haves For Baby

4. Winter Hat for Baby

When wearing our baby we always want them to be visible and kissable. Visible means we never want to cover baby's face with a blanket, carrier hood, or scarf, even in the winter months. Parents are very concerned about their baby staying warm in the cold weather, but when baby is facing in against an adult the body heat created should keep them nice and cozy. A winter hat, ideally something that covers the back of the neck, will keep baby warm, but not impede their fresh flow of air or block your view of their face. If you have concerns about your baby's skin getting chapped in the cold air you can apply a thick barrier cream such as Shea butter before heading out.

5. Winter Booties for Baby

Since your baby won't be in a snow suit in their carrier I recommend some cozy booties to keep their toes and legs nice and warm. There are tons of great booties out there, but I recently found these locally made ones from Mimitens and absolutely love them for little babes who aren't walking yet. They're thinsulate, water resistant, and have a leg warmer attached. This is key for me, because they are less likely to fall off and be lost on treacherous winter walks. It's never fun to realize you've lost one bootie from your favourite pair. I think these might actually survive a whole season!

The real winter weather has yet to arrive, but I know when it does Penny and I will be ready. I hope I've given you some winter babywearing inspiration. If you prep now you can enjoy a winter with your cozy babe in tow. *Don't forget to use code WITHCARE10 for 10% off Bridge The Bump.

- Care

 *This is a sponsored post which means I was provided compensation and/or products/services for this post. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. I only partner with companies, services and institutions that I genuinely love and want to recommend.

Holiday Gift Guide for Babies, Toddlers & Preschoolers

When the holiday sales start to roll out it can be tempting to buy everything you see, but do you really need it? We try very hard to remind our children how fortunate we are, and focus on keeping gift giving small and on things that we truly need.

I love to make DIY gifts for the kids and our friends and family, but also always pick a few special gifts to buy for our little ones. We stick to the rule of “Something you Want, Something you Need, Something to Wear & Something to Read”. This year we added a new category “Something to Give”, and are making sure that we think of little ways we can help our community locally or globally every day.

Here are a few of my favourite gifts to give for little ones. Most items included are locally made or sourced from small local stores so that we can reduce our impact this holiday season, and support our local community. Hope you enjoy!  

*Use Promo Code: Withcare for 10% off purchases at Diaper-eez this holiday season

Something You Want: 

There are so many amazing toys available around the holidays, but I love to focus on buying presents that will be enjoyed over the winter months. A Sled is a perfect gift for kiddos of any age. Canadian Tire and many local hardware stores have excellent selections of beautiful Canadian made wooden sleds. From basic to fancy, single to triple occupancy, you can choose what’s right for your family and your budget.

Something You Need: 

With our frigid Canadian winters kid’s need quality winter gear. Here are a few ideas for necessary items that can double as Christmas gifts. 

My absolute favourite snow suit for little ones are the Mountain Equipment Co-op Toaster Suit. Toasty warm as the name implies, these snow suits are made to last through a few kids and never disappoint. Purchase online or locally at Mountain Equipment Co-op. 

For keeping those little hands warm my new favourite is locally made Mimitens. These brilliant mitts have fabric that extends up your little ones forearm to keep them warm and more importantly to keep them ON! If you have a constant mitt taker offer, you know how frustrating it is. Invest in a pair of these and ditch the daily fight. Purchase online or locally at Diaper-eez.  

A warm toque is always needed and my favourite this year is the Je T’aime toque by Whistle & Flute. Made on the West Coast these adorable hats are available locally from Amelie & Max and come in kid and adult sizes. Perfect for twinning! Purchase online from Amelie & Max and choose shipping or local Toronto pickup. 

Something To Wear: 

Little ones need warm feet whether they are lounging at home, out in the car, in the stroller or while babywearing. Padraig Cottage are by far my favourite Canadian made booties. They are soft, cozy, warm and don’t fall off like most other booties. Great for little ones of all ages and the perfect gift. Purchase online or locally at Diaper-eez. 

Something To Read:

Books are one of my all time favourite things to give as gifts. Reading and interacting with babies from a young age has been shown to be very beneficial for brain development.

For little ones who love to put stuff in their mouths and tear at paper, board books are ideal.  One of my absolute favourites is “On the Night You Were Born” by Nancy Tillman. An instant tear jerker for most parents. 

As your kiddos get older and want longer stories I love anything and everything by the super talented Oliver Jeffers. 

For this category also consider thinking outside of the box. Baby Sign Language Flash Cards and board games can be a great way to practice language development.

 
Something To Give:

If you haven’t heard of Cuddle + Kind yet, you need to check them out. These beautiful dolls are part of an incredible campaign to help decrease child hunger worldwide, as each doll purchased provides 10 meals to children in need. It’s too late to order them to arrive in time for this holiday season. Sorry! You’re probably wondering why I included them if their holiday orders were done a few months ago. The truth is I wanted to share them because I think they’re a great gift year round and knew I would have your attention. So get ordering for your 2016 birthday gift list!

Some other great ways to give back include purchasing a food hamper for a family in need in your community, supporting The Stop Community Food Centre which does amazing work in our city, and supporting local Syrian refugee aid groups like the Lakeshore Syrian Connection.

Hope you got some great ideas for your little ones and stay tuned for Part 2 of our Holiday Gift Guide tomorrow with great gift ideas for Expectant & New Moms! 

Don’t forget to use Promo Code: Withcare for 10% off purchases at Diaper-eez this holiday season

- Care

Shopping With Care - Bridge the Bump!

Welcome to Shopping With Care.  For my 1st instalment I am super excited to bring you a product that I absolutely LOVE! Bridge the Bump Maternity & Babywearing Coat Insert.

Some people would consider this product a frivolous purchase, but I consider it a must have! Our Canadian climate makes it impossible to walk around for several months of the year with your coat open to accommodate your growing pregnant belly or baby & carrier, especially during this epic polar vortex!

Pregnancy & Babywearing coats on the market are extremely expensive and most people have already invested in a winter coat that they want to continue wearing, not one that can only be used temporarily. Bridge the Bump provides the perfect solution, a user-friendly zip in panel that adapts your regular coat to be worn while pregnant or babywearing.

Such a smart design that works flawlessly for Bump or Baby!  

We've been all over town in this baby!

I've been using my Bridge the Bump virtually everyday for the last 4 weeks and am completely obsessed with it. It has made my winter babywearing life so much simpler (and cozier for me and Baby L!) Now when I want to go out I just pop Lucy directly into her carrier with booties and a hat (note: no screaming fight to get said toddler into a snowsuit!!) and do up my coat comfortably around the 2 of us. Game changer. Seriously, so worth it!  

Why I Love It

• Encourages attachment & babywearing in winter, which is almost always easier than battling a stroller in the snow. *Please make sure to wear proper footwear while babywearing

• Open top vs. hooded design, allows for baby's face to remain visible & kissable at all times. Something that is very important to me as a CPR Instructor & Babywearing Educator.

• Works for Pregnancy & Babywearing!

• High-end fabric choices *Matches my Canada Goose almost perfectly

• Custom colours and fun prints available

• Zippers to accommodate almost every coat on the market

• Designed and created by 2 Bloor West Moms! You really can't beat that for shopping locally.

Where Can You Buy Bridge the Bump?

•  Directly from Bridge the Bump

• Love Me Do Baby & Maternity Boutique in Liberty Village

• Diaper-eez in Bloor West Village

• This Little Piggy in Parkdale

Don't waste anymore time being cold this winter. Get out and grab a Bridge the Bump and stay cozy until spring arrives. I've heard it's going to be a late one this year. Hope it's not true!

I really hope you enjoy this product as much as I do and would love to hear any feedback about your Bridge the Bump. If you need any advice or support with Babywearing or assistance choosing baby products please don't hesitate to contact me at carolyn@fifty-seven.ca

- Care