Head over to Nashville, Tennessee on August 29th and 30th for the celebration of Attachment Parenting Internationals 15th anniversary. Attachment Parenting International (API) was founded to provide parents information with the goal of improving the wellbeing of children and thus the community.  API continues to grow and build strong families around the world.  Some of the basic tenets of API include creating a strong emotional bond between parent and child.  A childs emotional needs are responded to which enables them to develop the capacity for secure, empathic, and peaceful relationships throughout their lives.

This wonderful event will feature some of the best known experts in pediatrics, medicine, psychology, anthropology, and parenting.  A panel will discuss “Making an Imapact Now:  Creating a Sustainable Legacy for Children”.  The amazing panel includes:

• Dr. William & Martha Sears – Pediatrician, RN, & Authors
• Ina May Gaskin – Director of The Farm Midwifery Center
• Mary Ann Cahill – La Leche League International Founder
• Dr. Isabelle Fox – Author and Clinical Psychologist
• Dr. James McKenna – anthropologist and Director of the Mother-Baby Behavioral Sleep Lab at the University of Notre Dame
• Barbara Nicholson and Lysa Parker – founders of API & authors
and other special guests.

This event is a mere $10 for the general public.  Other events include fundraising featuring well known performers such as Vince Gill, children’s activities, Attached at the Heart book signing, silent auction, and family fitness.

 Emergencies can happen anywhere in the world.  They could be anything from cyclones in Mynamar, earthquakes in Peru, or civil unrest in Uganda.  Much closer to home is the flooding in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina that left people stranded for entirely too long.  These types of tragedies leave people without access to food, clean water, and other necessities for survival.  Without these things, children and babies are particularly vulnerable to dehydration, disease, illness, and potentially death. 

Breastfeeding is a means of protecting the most vulnerable during emergencies.  Most importantly we must provide support and encouragement throughout our world communities for breastfeeding before disaster occurs.  World Breastfeding Week is being celebrated in more than 120 countries this week.  How do you plan to celebrate?

All other orders will now be shipped using our standard methods USPS Priority Mail (2-4 day delivery) or FedEx Home Delivery (up to 5 business days). If you have special shipping needs, please let us know in your comments during checkout.

Visit La Stella Blu for all of our great holiday deals.

The Holidays are almost here!  So to celebrate from now until January 1st, get a free pair of BabyLegs when you spend $75 or more.  Simply enter your 1st and 2nd choices in the comments section during checkout.

Here are the rules:

In these ads Motrin makes fun of  the “supposed bonding experience”, describes babywearing as some sort of fad, claims that moms who wear their baby cry more than others.  They then go on to state that “these things” put a ton of strain on your back, neck, and shoulders.  The mom voice over says that it is ok to put up with the pain, because wearing your baby makes you look like a official mom.  According to the ads, that official mom look is “tired and crazy”.

It is hard  to know where to start with a response, but mothers everywhere should know that babywearing is not some type of fad, but rather one of the oldest traditions of parenting around the world.  Keeping your baby close simply feels right.  There are have been studies done that show wearing your baby helps reduce crying, is beneficial to premie babies (kangaroo care), and promotes bonding.  It is absolutely incomprehensible that Motrin would degrade the value of bonding between parents and their baby!

Babywearing should not be painful.  There are many high quality carriers available to parents today.  Unfortunately some of the mainstream carriers are not comfortable after ~15lbs.  With proper help a comfortable  carrier can be found for all body types and developmental stages of babies.

The statements regarding the crying babywearing moms who look tired and crazy is definitely the most offensive.  It is offbase and unfounded.  Mothers everywhere make choices based upon what they think is best for their little ones, not based upon what might be fashionable.  Wearing your baby is one of those choices.

 I know the next time I need a little pain relief, I’ll reach for an Aspirin.

November 12th kicks off the start of International Babywearing Week and is brought to you by the nonprofit Babywearing International Inc. and TheBabywearer.com.  The theme for this years inaugural event is Celebrate Babywearing.  Visit Babywearing International this week to nominate your favorite babywearing advocate or group.  There are several contests to enter with $2,400.oo in prizes given away.  You can also find babywearing organizations near you.

Tell us how you plan to celebrate International Babywearing Week, and register to win a free pair of BabyLegs.