Companies, P.R. Firms, Marketing Gurus hear this loudly “Social Media and Marketing…it can bite you in the butt if you aren’t careful.” Take a lesson from Motrin, owned by McNeil Consumer Healthcare and a brand of Ibuprofen that is learning the hard way and will need plenty of their own medicine.  Two powerful lessons can really be gleamed from a distasteful “mom-aloague” ad running at the Motrin website (until they take it down). The first being that social media and marketing, it works and it’s powerful but that also it can work against you if you don’t watch what you do and say. Second, don’t mess with moms and what they are capable of. Just visit fellow blogging pal, Katja’s site for some very evident facts to prove what I am saying. It’s not good for Motrin, not good at all. If you’re a mom blogger and you want know what you can do next (besides the blogging and tweets) visit Amy over at Crunchy Domestic Goddess.

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What is a Peekaru?  Peekaru is essentially a fleece vest you wear over a soft baby carrier, such as a Baby Bjorn or Ergo Carrier.  The fabric is stretchy, so it fits comfortably over you and your babe, and best of all, the fleece is made from 85% recycled material!

Made from 85% recycled high quality Polartec fleece, each Peekaru Original saves approximately 25 plastic bottles from reaching the landfill. In addition, Polartec fleece is Oeko-tex Standard 100 “for textile products of all types which pose no risk whatsoever to health.” Feel good knowing that while you are holding your baby close, you are also helping the environment.

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I am a big advocate of baby wearing and either I or my significant other wear our daughter on a daily basis. Studies and experts have proved that baby wearing encourages natural bonding and it’s a great colic reducer. If you have a fussy or a high needs baby defined by Dr. Sears; then baby wearing is a must. Wrapping is a type of baby carrier that seems to have a highly emotional attachment both to the mother and the baby. Like a big blanket or comforter that comforts; wrapping is a great way to keep your baby close to you while leaving your hands free to do other things. Wrapping is an art that is used by many indigenous countries; however it has taken modern societies by a storm. Mothers who wrap can attest, there’s an invisible cord of attachment that surrounds the act of wrapping.

Didymos, a german company that produces these beautiful woven wraps, are the best of the best in the world of woven wraps. Didymos, a company started by Erika Hoffman in 1972 makes the finest wrap that utilizes organic fabrics such as wool, cotton, and even silk. Didymos also released a limited edition of ultra luxe cashmere wrap that’s highly sought after.

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So what exactly is baby wearing? Baby wearing is exactly that. Wearing your baby to your body. There are numerous ways to achieve this. A Psling to a long wrap (pictured above) can achieve baby wearing. Many primitive cultures baby wear and scientists have discovered that in those societies, colic is virtually non-existent. Keeping your baby close to you also have great benefits. It frees up your hands so you can get on with your life, WITH the baby in tow. One of the most inspiring thing I heard was from Ergo Baby DVD. A woman worked FULL TIME while keeping her baby in the Ergo Baby. I must say that I was highly impressed with this. Anyone with a newborn knows; there are days when taking a shower is a struggle. So imagine working full time while wearing your baby. This is one of the tenants of attachment style parenting which I am a proponent of. I knew from the beginning that I would baby wear perhaps because It was so common in Korea, seeing halmonies (grandmothers) carrying their grandchildren on their back wearing a podeigi (a korean style wrap). So it was ingrained into my brain that this is what I would be doing when I grew up and had children.

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After my disaster with the Eco-friendly gdiapers; I decided to transition into cloth diapering. I ordered some Organic cotton cloth diapers before my little one was born; however, it wasn’t enough to go into full time cloth diapering. Buying cloths can be a costly investment in the beginning, (You will eventually save thousands of dollars compared to ’sposies especially if you have more than one baby) but now with Diaper Swappers; Cloth Diaper Exchange Forum; you can mitigate the initial expense.

I came across the Diaper Swappers when I was looking for a used Psling. It was interesting to find a community of cloth diapering moms who traded diapers (along with baby carriers) with each other. There’s a rating system sort of like Ebay, and there’s also a Wall of Shame of banned users. (could be anything from too many negatives to having too many different user names) The forum moderators seem to have a good system in place to protect the cloth diapering, baby wearing mothers to have a safe and friendly place to exchange their unwanted items for something they need. I really dig it.

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Top Ten Eco-Friendly Baby Shower Gifts

1. Moby Wrap Baby Carrier: This wrap is perfect for carrying newborns. It is the most comfortable baby wearing apparatus, and it keeps the baby snugly held against your body and protected from curious strangers and their germs. It is made from a large piece of stretch cotton and can be used as a blanket as well as a wrap. It is available in an organic cotton material too.
2. California Baby Shampoo and Bodywash: This all natural, SLS-free baby soap is perfect for a newborn’s first bath. It is so gentle and safe, and it will not irritate eczema and cradle crap.

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A common complaint of new parents is that they can’t get anything done. Baby wearing is the solution! Newborns are use to being inside their mother’s body and feeling the rhythms of the mother’s heart, breathing, walking, etc. Baby wearing allows the infant to still feel these rhythms by firmly holding the baby against the mother’s/father’s body. By wearing my babies, I have been able to cook dinner, do the dishes, teach preschool and art, rototill, hike, grocery shop, etc.

My favorite baby wearing device for both of my children is the Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier. There are many other cheaper made versions of this front style carrier; however, the imitations do not hold up to the comfort of the Baby Bjorn. Using the Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier, newborns are snuggled close facing their mother’s chest. As the baby gets older, they can be placed facing outward in the Baby Bjorn. The straps on the Baby Bjorn are adjustable to fit the growing baby and the various caregivers that will use it. In fact, after carrying two infants in our Baby Bjorn, I have grown quite attached to it and have saved it for my sister. I could not have survived my children’s infancy without the Baby Bjorn!

Once my babies outgrew the Baby Bjorn, I switched to the backpack by Kelty. These backpacks are expensive (thank goodness for grandparents), but essential if you plan to hike with your child. Of course, I used mine for more than hiking but taught preschool and art, mowed the lawn, shopped, etc. while keeping my growing child happy. The backpack also comes with a shade, which is great for keeping the sun off your child. With the shade on, it looks like your baby is in its own little tent.

I have tried several slings for baby wearing, including the 100% organic one by New Native Baby, which perhaps is the most green option in baby wearing. I have never been comfortable with slings, as I do not feel like my baby is securely held by the sling. However, I was given the Maya Wrap for my second child, and it felt more secure with the adjusting rings. Maya Wraps are made of the most beautiful fabrics and are adjustable. They also work well to support your baby on your hip, once he/she has the ability to sit up. A good friend of mine uses her Maya Wrap constantly, including getting her son to sleep for his nap.

The Ergo Carrier is another great baby wearing product that a friend of mine recommended when I started having back trouble. This carrier adjusts from a front pack to a back pack as the child grows, so it lasts longer than the Baby Bjorn and may be the only baby wearing device you will need. I don’t have personal experience with this product, as I couldn’t justify the expense for my second child when I already had other baby wearing products; however, it has received rave review!

Each person is different in what they feel comfortable with for their baby and their body, and some women with large chests may have trouble with front carriers. Unfortunately, many of these products are expensive, so it is hard to try them out. If you can borrow one from a friend and wear it for an hour, you will know if it is the right product for you. Many of these products are available in resale shops, as they are durable and sustainable; however, it is important to check for recalls before purchasing. Of course, it is essential that whatever baby carrier you decide upon, it must be easily washed!

Links to articles about baby wearing:
Mothering Magazine
Dr. Sears
Eco Child’s Play