Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Celebrities Babywearing

Ok, tak habis-habis lagi isu babywearing ni. Nah I serve uols pics of celebrities with baby-wearing.

[Kate+Hudson.jpg]
Kate Hudson & son, Ryder

http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/cbb/2007/06/21/mr_fp_131945_cbb.jpg
Keri Russell with son, River Russell

http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/cbb/2007/06/24/16085pcn_maggieg01_cbb.jpg
Maggie Gylenhaal

http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/cbb/2007/07/01/juliarobertshenrymoder1_cbb.jpg
Julia Roberts & Henry Moder

http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/cbb/2007/08/28/lievschreiber_l_b_gr_09_cbb.jpg
Naomi Watts + Liev Shreiber and son, Alexander Sheiber

Baby Kingston
Gwen Stefani and baby Kingston

How cool is that? Ni yang I bertambah-tambah feeling tak sudah. Muehehehe..

Monday, January 21, 2013

Choosing a Baby Carrier: Comparisons and Guidelines

*Ini adalah entry copy paste semata, harap maklum*
Taken directly from HERE

Choosing a Baby Carrier
Cloth baby carriers come in an endless array of fabrics and colors, from basic solid cottons to exquisitely embellished silks. Whether you're looking for something to use every day, a carrier for a special occasion, or slings to match every outfit, the choices are yours to make, whatever your personal style. Your baby carrier (or carriers) can be both functional and attractive.The array of baby carriers available today can be a bit overwhelming, but don't let that keep you from finding a carrier (or a few) that work for you! If there's a Babywearing International chapter or other nonprofit, free-to-attend babywearing group near you, you can get free babywearing help and can try several types of carriers, which will give you a better idea of what to buy or make. Another source of help is online communities like the forums at TheBabywearer.com.

How big? How old?
All of the types of carriers shown on this page can be used to carry babies and young children on the wearer's front, hip or back, although some are better for one or the other carry.  Most of these carriers can be used from birth until parent or child chooses to stop carrying.  This can sometimes be age 4 or beyond! 

Whichever carrier you choose, look for a carrier that holds your child in a position you would naturally carry them in arms in front, on your hip, or for a piggyback ride. Most carrier manufacturers list weight limits for their carriers, but there is often a significant discrepancy between the published weight limit and what a particular user finds comfortable. Also, technique makes a difference. Buckling or tying on your hips feels very different from buckling or tying around your true waist.

Wraparound Slings
Wrap newborn front carry
A simple strip of cloth makes an elegant and comfortable baby sling. A little learning is required to wrap and tie the cloth, but basic methods can be mastered in minutes. Wraparound slings can be short, for quick one-shoulder carries, or longer, to distribute the baby's weight evenly over two shoulders and the caregiver's torso and hips. Wraparound slings come in a variety of fabrics, but natural fabrics such as cotton, linen, hemp, wool, and silk are more breathable and have a more appropriate texture than synthetics. Some wraparound slings are specially woven to have exceptional performance as baby carriers, offering strength, breathability, just the right amount of diagonal stretch, and the right texture for holding the baby securely; these highly prized textiles are sometimes known as German-Style Wovens because this type of sling was developed in Germany.  Wraps are an optimal and versatile carrier from birth.




 Ring sling

Ring Slings
In its simplest and most elegant form, a ring sling is a shawl with a pair of rings attached to one end. The rings replace the knot or tuck-and-twist method of fastening used with traditional shawl carriers such as Mexican rebozos or Indonesian selendangs. Some ring slings have padding where the sling rests on the caregiver's shoulder or along the edges of the sling, and some depart further from traditional shawl carriers by having the fabric at the end of the sling folded and stitched into a rope-like tail. Ring Slings are an ideal newborn carrier and are also fantastic for the up-and-down toddler phase.










Pouch hip carry
Pouch Slings
Simply a tube of fabric with a curved seam, a pouch sling is a sleek carrier option. Pouches are sized to the adult wearer, and what they lack in adjustability they make up for in convenience. Few carriers take up less space in a diaper bag or are as quick to put on and take off as a pouch.  While usable with newborns, many moms find these more fitting once their postpartum weight stabilizes and baby becomes stronger, generally around 4mo.








Mei tai front carryMei Tais
The modern take on a traditional Chinese baby carrier with a body panel, shoulder straps, and waist straps still carries the traditional name, "mei tai" (pronounced"may tie"). The new-generation mei tais typically have either wide, padded shoulder straps, or extra-wide, wrap-style, unpadded straps for the wearer's comfort. They also offer a variety of features such as headrests or sleeping hoods for the baby, pockets for diapers or other essentials, and fabric choices that range from strictly utilitarian to truly luxurious. Mei tais can be used from birth and are ideal for sharing among caregivers.







 SSC back carry
Soft Structured Carriers
Also with a body panel and shoulder and waist straps, soft structured carriers replace knots with buckles and add a thickly padded waistband and shoulder straps. The result is a different weight distribution and overall different look and feel from a mei tai, putting this style of carrier into a category of its own. Soft structured carriers offer the convenience of buckles yet are vastly different from framed backpacks in that they hold the baby securely against the wearer's body. Unlike framed backpacks, soft structured carriers are suitable from birth  through toddlerhood and provide the benefits of body-to-body contact for the baby (although some require or include a special insert for newborns).  Soft Structure carriers really shine after about 4-5mo.






I chose mine (ring sling) sebab senang nak basuh, tak payah iron, senang nak breastfeed, hand free, can be wear from newborn up to 15kg, pastu ada banyak positions boleh experimento. Oh and yes, I bought mine from JumpSac!

Friday, January 18, 2013

Baby Wearing is Fun!

Assalammualaikum, hola holi cikebum cikebum semua! Lama tak update. Apparently I'm still in a good piece of shape, alhamdulillah. Cuma everytime beranak je I akan bertambah satu size. Previously before beranak, can wear size S, sometimes XS. Bila dah ada Rizq, upgrade jadi M. Now dengan adanya Ecah dah jadi L. Ok, kena tutup kilang kalau tak upgrade jadi XL terus haaa ko!

Hari ni jiwa terpanggil nak berkongsi tentang baby wearing. Haaa skema kot.  Masa Rizq baby dulu, tak teringin pun nak baby wearing ni. Kononnye beli stroller mahal-mahal dah, rugi tak pakai.  Lagipun dulu jarang keluar merayap. Most free time yang ada spent kat rumah je. Tu pun jarang gak dapat kumpul complete the whole family members. Yela, weekdays hubby kerja sampai rumah pun Rizq dah tido, nak jalan apenye. Weekends I gi makeup pengantin, balik sampai rumah je terus tido. Nak gi jengjalang apenye kan. Haaaa teganu ko. Lening (teganu lagi) tukar sket. Bila adanya cik Zaraaecah ni, hidup bagaikan KLS juggling with anak-anak, houseworks, and my home based business ni. Lalu terbukalah minda pasal baby wearing ni.  Sebabnye, sakit gakla kalau beli twin stroller ni nak hangkut budak-budak ni gi Low Yatt di weekends hari kan. Sesak. Hazab kott.  Dengan adanye baby wearing, tiada lagi kekangan untuk bawa mereka jejalan. Stroller yang mahal sangat tu masih digunakan, letak Rizq dalam tu. Ecah kita pakai ring sling. Senang nak menyelit-nyelit di celah manusia IT.  Ecah pun lebih comfortable nampaknye kena gendong camni. Yela, dekat dengan mother's heartbeat kan. Baby akan rasa comfort bila dekat dengan mother's heartbeat sebab heartbeat kitala yang dia dok dengar 9 buln 10 hari dalam rahim. Katanyer.

Comfy 2 months old Ecah. Sleeps so well :)

Feeling KLS di kota metropolitan di celah manusa IT

Oh yes, baby wearing ade my life so easy. Hands free kan, senang nak kejar Rizq.  Before I purchase ni, gigih jugak buat research. Antara benefits of baby wearing, taken from http://www.naturalchild.org/guest/laura_simeon.html

1. Wearing a baby is convenient.  When we carry a baby in a sling, we can walk around freely and not have to worry about negotiating steps, crowds or narrow aisles with a stroller. Plastic "baby buckets" and removable car seats are heavy and awkward for parents, babies often look uncomfortable, and they are kept at knee level. A sling can block out excess stimuli when breastfeeding a distractible baby, and it allows for discreet nursing in public places. A sling can also double as a changing pad, blanket, or cushion when away from home.
 
2. Wearing a baby promotes physical development.  When a baby rides in a sling attached to his mother, he is in tune with the rhythm of her breathing, the sound of her heartbeat, and the movements his mother makes – walking, bending, and reaching. This stimulation helps him to regulate his own physical responses, and exercises his vestibular system, which controls balance. The sling is in essence a "transitional womb" for the new baby, who has not yet learned to control his bodily functions and movements. Research has shown that premature babies who are touched and held gain weight faster and are healthier than babies who are not. Mechanical swings and other holding devices do not provide these same benefits.  

3. Babies worn in slings are happier.  Studies have shown that the more babies are held, the less they cry and fuss. In indigenous cultures where baby-wearing is the norm, babies often cry for only a few minutes a day – in contrast to Western babies, who often cry for hours each day. Crying is exhausting for both the baby and his parents, and may cause long-term damage as the baby's developing brain is continually flooded with stress hormones. Babies who do not need to spend their energy on crying are calmly observing and actively learning about their environment. Baby-wearing is especially useful for colicky babies, who are far happier being worn, but placid, content babies and children will also benefit greatly from the warmth and security of being held close.

4. Baby-wearing is healthy for you! It can be challenging for new mothers to find time to exercise, but if you carry your baby around with you most of the day or go for a brisk walk with your baby in her sling, you will enjoy the dual benefits of walking and "weightlifting". A long walk in the sling is also an excellent way to help a tired but over-stimulated child fall asleep.

5. Toddlers appreciate the security of the sling.  Slings are usually associated with infants, but they can be very useful for toddlers as well; most slings accommodate children up to 35 or 40 pounds. The world can be a scary place for toddlers, who feel more confident when they can retreat to the security of the sling when they need to do so. Toddlers often become over-stimulated, and a ride in the sling helps to soothe and comfort them before (or after!) a "melt-down" occurs. It can be very helpful in places like the zoo, aquarium, or museum, where a small child in a stroller would miss many of the exhibits. 

6. Baby-wearing helps you and your baby to communicate with each other. The more confidence we have in our parenting, the more we can relax and enjoy our children. A large part of feeling confident as a parent is the ability to read our baby's cues successfully. When we hold our baby close in a sling, we become finely attuned to his gestures and facial expressions. Many baby-wearing parents report that they have never learned to distinguish their baby's cries – because their babies are able to communicate effectively without crying! Every time a baby is able to let us know that she is hungry, bored or wet without having to cry, her trust in us is increased, her learning is enhanced, and our own confidence is reinforced. This cycle of positive interaction enhances the mutual attachment between parent and child, and makes life more enjoyable for everyone.

7. Slings are a bonding tool for fathers, grandparents, and other caregivers. Slings are a useful tool for every adult in a baby's life. It makes me smile when I see a new father going for a walk with his baby in a sling. The baby is becoming used to his voice, heartbeat, movements and facial expressions, and the two are forging a strong attachment of their own. Fathers don't have the automatic head-start on bonding that comes with gestation, but that doesn't mean they can't make up for this once their baby is born. The same goes for babysitters, grandparents and all other caregivers. Cuddling up close in the sling is a wonderful way to get to know the baby in your life, and for the baby to get to know you!

8. Slings are a safe place for a child to be.  Instead of running loose in crowded or dangerous places, a child in a sling is held safe and secure right next to your body. Slings also provide emotional safety when needed, so that children can venture into the world and become independent at their own pace. 

 9. Slings are economical. Slings cost far less than strollers, front-carriers or backpacks. Many mothers consider the sling to be one of their most useful and economical possessions. A sling can also be sewn for the price of a length of cotton, some rings and batting; sling patterns are available.

10. Baby-wearing is fun. Who doesn't love to cuddle a precious little baby? And when your baby is older, having her in the sling makes conversations easier and allows you to observe her reactions to the wonders of the world around her. It's also fun for baby, because when she is up at eye level, other adults notice and interact with her more. Your child will feel more a part of your life when she is in her sling, and you will find yourself becoming more and more enchanted with this special little person.


Ada banyak jenis baby carrier ni.  Find the most suitable for you and your needs.  Contohnya, new born, petite babies, and premmies suitable dengan ring sling rather than SSC (soft sturctured carrier), Mei Tai, etc.  Tapi tak semestinya ring sling ni boleh pakai untuk baby kecik je, sampai 15kg pun boleh tahan. Cuma uols boleh ke tak tahanla carry dengan weight load on one side shoulder je.  Kalau toddler yang besau dah, better pakai SSC, better for mommies also. Cumanya SSC ni bila baby dah pandai tegakkan kepala (3 months and above) baru boleh pakai, rather than ring sling, newborn pun boleh. Nantilah kita cerita lagi pasal types adn comparison between baby carriers ni semua. Maggie saya sudah kembang, baby saya mahu susu. Till then, bubbye!