Monday, October 4, 2010

Brace Yourself!

I'm copying this from The Babywearer and the original post can be seen here as well as on their FB page.

I'm sure you can imagine how upset I am. I don't really have much more to add as my thoughts just sound like this in my head: ARRRRRGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! REALLY???? UUGUHHHHHHHHH!!!

And, if this isn't enough for you, I'll add a few interesting quotes from the comments and responses to the original posts.

From Krisi Hayes-Devlin (owner of Wrapsody by GypsyMama and a founding member of the BCIA) in response to some questions:

"It is unclear whether SSCs will be impacted. One concern the CPSC has is babies in contact with mother's bodies, so possibly."

Yup, you read that right. They're concerned about babies being in contact with mother's bodies! The safest place on earth for a baby to be and the want to regulate it away!

"Why isn't the BCIA releasing more details?

Answer: Most importantly, the company at issue has not wanted full details released publicly. We are working hard to stop or at least delay this recall. It is unjust and unwarranted and makes a farce of the recall process. If we can stop it, we do not want to have created public problems for the company in question. We are acting on the company's wishes as well as legal and PR advice from experts. "

And from TBW on their FB page: "TheBabywearer.com The real "proof" will unfortunately come with the verbiage of the impending recall. If we wait for that, it may be too late to do any good."


Brace Yourself!
Dear Babywearing Enthusiast:


It is time to BRACE YOURSELF!

A recall of a major baby carrier is being forced through this week. We want you to understand how this has been handled and to appreciate the immediacy of the problem!

•Company was informed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that, after several years, a closed investigation of their product was being reopened.
•Company was told by the CPSC to issue a recall of every product back more than ten years, and to discontinue sales, while admitting that there is no product flaw.
•Company stopped all sales, with the intention of clearing up the matter and reopening shortly.
•Company asked for the Health and Science report that the CPSC later claimed to have, indicating the need for a recall.
•CPSC has NEVER complied; inside word is that there is NOT a Health and Science report.
•Company was sent two draft press releases and asked to voluntarily recall their product or the CPSC would issue a unilateral recall (a forced recall) which included inflammatory language as well as a threat to pursue action against entire class of baby sling products.
•Company held fast, knowing that the product is safe and a benefit to babies and stated they would be willing to work with the CPSC on a public education campaign about sling safety.
•CPSC asked for Company’s financials.
•Company complied.
•CPSC said to company 'You are no longer in business, we don’t need your cooperation in order to recall! Prepare to DESTROY all product next week!'

Next week is International Babywearing week!
PLEASE NOTE: *THIS IS AFTER THE CPSC FORCED COMPANY TO STOP SELLING!

The CPSC has overstepped their bounds, and are bullying small, family businesses who make safe products!


This is only the beginning, according to the CPSC’s own words they want to eradicate the whole class of product!


A line has been drawn in the sand! Will you help fight the good fight with us? If you care that these products are available to you, to babies, to families across our country, ACT NOW!


If you are represented by any one of these legislators, please call and write to them NOW, before this recall happens. We are asking just a few simple things:


1. Stop all recall actions against baby sling companies until
2. We can finalize the ASTM voluntary sling standards (scheduled for November) and
3. Force the CPSC to follow their own internal procedures, stop using bullying tactics, and use sound science.


SENATE: Mark Pryor – Chairman, AR (202) 224-2353
Byron L. Dorgan, ND (202) 224-2551
Barbara Boxer, CA (202) 224-3553
Bill Nelson, FL (202) 224-5274
Claire McCaskill, MO (202) 224-6154
Amy Klobuchar, MN (202) 224-3244
Tom Udall, NM (202) 224-5941
Roger Wicker – Ranking Member, MS (202) 224-6253
Olympia J. Snowe, ME (202) 224-5344
Jim DeMint, SC (202) 224-6121
John Thune, SD (202) 224-2321
Johnny Isakson, GA (202) 224-3643
David Vitter, LA (202) 224-4623


HOUSE: Bobby L. Rush, IL, Chairman 202-225-4372; 773-224-6500
Jan Schakowsky, IL, Vice Chair 202-225-2111; 773-506-7100
Ed Whitfield, KY, Ranking Member 202-225-3115; 270-885-8079
John P. Sarbanes, MD 202-225-4016; 410-832-8890
George Radanovich, CA 202-225-4540; 559-449-2490
Betty Sutton, OH 202-225-2266; 330-865-8450
Cliff Stearns, FL 202-225-5744; 352-351-8777
Frank Pallone, Jr., NJ 202-225-4671; 732-571-1140
Joseph R. Pitts, PA 202-225-2411; 717-303-0667
Bart Gordon, TN 202-225-4231; 615-896-1986
Mary Bono Mack, CA 202-225-5330; 760-320-1076
Bart Stupak, MI 202-225-4735; 231-348-0657
Lee Terry, NE 202-225-4155; 402-397-9944
Gene Green, TX 202-225-1688; 281-999-5879
Sue Wilkins Myrick, NC 202-225-1976; 704-362-1060
Charles A. Gonzalez, TX 202-225-3236; 210-472-6195
Tim Murphy, PA 202-225-2301; 412-344-5583
Anthony D. Weiner, NY 202-225-6616; 718-520-9001
Phil Gingrey, GA 202-225-2931; 770-429-1776
Jim Matheson, UT 202-225-3011; 801-486-1236
Steve Scalise, LA 202-225-3015; 504-837-1259
G. K. Butterfield, NC 202-225-3101; 252-237-9816
Robert E. Latta, OH 202-225-6405; 419-668-0206
John Barrow, GA 202-225-2823; 912-354-7282
Joe Barton, TX 202-225-2002; 817-543-1000


Sunday, October 3, 2010

Why I do what I do

Apparently it's been over 2 years since I started this blog. I have no idea how that happened. Father Time did not ask my permission for time to move on or my babies to become big kids.

Way back when, I posted an introduction to my babywearing journey here . For me, it was like yesterday. My first baby is now 9 1/2 - a bright, loving, wonderful, maddening girl who loves animals and will nurse and wear her babies as naturally as she will breathe. My second baby is 4 1/2 now - a strong, smart, snuggly, kissy boy who likes the color pink, Star Wars and anything he can "sword" you with. He wears his babies and wants to be just like his sister.

A little later in my journey, I posted this about how babywearing has changed me. It's given me a reason to come out of my shell. It's changed my life to such a degree that even though I don't have any more babies to wear (unless a certain big boy gives in for a short ride with his nostalgic mama or someone invents a way to comfortably carry a 9 1/2 year old) I'm still continuing on my babywearing journey. I've taken the Babywearing Institute's Beginner and Advanced courses and will soon be a Certified Babywearing Educator. I may even go a step further and become a teacher's teacher - creating more Certified Babywearing Educators to spread the babywearing love.

I'm continuing on my babywearing journey because babywearing holds such an important place in my heart. I want mamas to follow their instincts to wear their babies. I want wearing your baby to be as normal to everyone as kissing their warm, soft cheeks. I want you to know how to wear your little ones safely, comfortably, practically. I want you to have access to good, accurate information - and find it more easily than I did. I want my babies to wear their babies because...well, that's just what parents do. I want them to have access to wonderful, soft, squishy, safe slings and wraps and Mei Tais.

And now, at this point in my babywearing journey, I'm writing posts and making calls; writing emails and sending letters to make sure that these things will even be a possibility. You've seen my posts (and those of many others, I'm sure) about some vague and cryptic threats to our babywearing futures - to our choices in carriers - to our rights as parents to wear our babies. What's the big deal lately? Well, the specifics will come in the next week or so - the specifics being the name of the business currently affected as well as the details of how they were put in this position. But, the generalities are these (and I'll post these because they've been posted elsewhere by others): In the next few days you'll hear of another sling being recalled courtesy of the CPSC (the same folks who just saved your lives by recalling 10 MILLION toys because 7 kids got stitches). I don't know what the news will say about the sling or about the reason for the recall but I hope you come back here to find out what really happened. What I do know is that most of the parents out there won't find out the truth without searching for it...and that's wrong. I can tell you that the sling and slingmaker aren't at fault or faulty. There's no basis for the CPSC to recall this product. Babywearing is safe.

Your first good sling is often referred to as your "gateway carrier"...the one that get's you hooked, the one that opens the door to the world of babywearing. What I (and many others) fear is that this recall is the "gateway carrier" for many more (unjustified) recalls in our future - for reasons that will be commented on down the road. As someone in an online forum offered when speculating on which company is being affected, 'a Hotsling is just like a Peanut Shell' which is just like a...If it affects one pouch, it can affect them all. If it affects one ring sling, it can affect them all...and mei tais...and wraps...and... I'm all for conspiracy theories but, once the facts are available, you'll find this one is less theory and more conspiracy.

OK...this is leading to the beginnings of a rant and I've been so good so far :)...only one snarky bit.

I do what I do because I want all parents to have the knowledge to look at a sling or wrap or mei tai or SSC and make an informed decision and say "Yes, that one will hold my baby in a safe position and I know how to use it". So, I learn and I teach. Everyone from parents to lawmakers to goverment agencies to commercial giants has a lot to learn on this subject. There needs to be some logic employed and some resposibility taken. Maybe if their parents had worn them, certain decision makers would be able to make better decisions...

Babywearing is Natural

I have a lot to say this weekend. I have several posts partially written because I just have so much I want to say in the face of some news and conversations about babywearing I've been part of this weekend.

This one I can write easily. It's so clear to me, so obvious - as it is to most babywearing parents, it seems. But there's always that nagging of old "wisdom"...or old in-laws. Are we going to spoil them by holding them all the time? By picking them up every time they cry? Will they ever learn to walk if we carry them in these "things" all the time?

Here's your ammo - your support to prove you are right...you do know what's best for your baby!

Human babies are designed to be attached to a parent (primarily mama who has the food, but daddy is critical too). We are born with a natural reflex to grasp onto our mamas, we naturally raise our legs into the ideal position for hip/spine development when picked up - the same position that is ideal for being carried on mama's hip. Human babies require an additional 9-12 months of additional time to fully develop their brains, senses and bodies AFTER birth. Humans are not designed to be "complete" and independent at birth the way other mammals are (like a calf who's up and around on his own feet shortly after birth, can regulate his body temperature, escape predators and go to mama for food). We can't walk. We can't see well. We have no concept of object permanance - if we're not touching you, we don't know you're there. We feel abandoned and know we're in danger.

Human babies need to be nursed on demand, always carried along for safety - a baby left alone is at risk and signals their needs and fears with cries. Babies only have one way to communicate a need and need us to respond immediately to meet those needs - including providing security, comfort and warmth.

Babywearing meets all of these needs and many more.

Babies who are worn feel secure. They become independent and confident children. Human babies require touch to thrive.

Babies who are worn have constant and immediate interaction with an adult. They can read your face and learn communication skills earlier, are expressive, sensitive, empathetic, curious, engaged, sociable.

Babies who are worn experience natural human movement. Their muscular and skeletal systems are strengthened with every movement of the parent. When worn in a correct spread-squat position, their hips and spines are able to develop securely. They will walk and run and be more sure-footed than the kids who learned "movement" in a battery powered swing.

Babies who are worn sleep deeper, regulate their heart and breathing rates better, gain weight faster.

So, take a deep breath. Remind yourself that you do, in fact, know your baby best and know what's best for your baby.

Have those nagging voices read the BCIA's position paper and point out all of the doctors who agree with you! Point out all of the scientific research that supports babywearing as a NEED. If they're up for entire books, offer them Ashley Montagu's Touching, the Human Significance of the Skin and Jean Liedloff's The Continuum Concept. If they read German, give them Eveline Kirkilionis' Ein Baby will getragen sein and Bindun staerkt.

No Such Thing as Too Much Love: 'Spoiled' Babies Grow Up to Be Smarter, Kinder Kids

It's wonderful to find support in print for what I know in my heart. If you have someone in your life who has said to you "You're going to spoil them if you keep carrying them in that 'thing'." Here's just one study you can show them to prove that meeting a baby's needs is not going to spoil them. Touch, movement, connection, interaction, immediate response are needs and requirements for healthy kids who become healthy adults. Babywearing does it all!

Read the article: No Such Thing as Too Much Love: 'Spoiled' Babies Grow Up to Be Smarter, Kinder Kids