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Volunteer Spotlight: April Kinney

1/30/2015

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In order to better get to know the volunteer educators for BWI of Southern Maryland, we will be featuring an interview with a different volunteer every week. 

This week’s volunteer spotlight is April Kinney!

Name: April Kinney
Children: Madeline, 2
Volunteer Type: ABE (Advanced Babywearing Educator)
BWI Meetings attended: Anne Arundel County – Odenton/Annapolis
Other Jobs/ Volunteer positions:  Real life job -  I work in Cyber Security.  I'm an ISSO for SCI/SAP with the Navy.  I am also a CPST (Child Passenger Safety Tech)


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How did you discover babywearing?
I always knew I wanted to do some kind of wearing, so when I was pregnant we registered (and received) a Britax SSC, very similar to the Bjorns.  I met a momma online in the CD community who introduced me to the FB wearing community, Babywearing 102, she sent me her Tula to try. From there I purchased my first wraps and instantly fell in love.

Has a particular person been influential in your babywearing adventure? If so, what did they do that was so influential?
Rachel was the first major influence on my babywearing journey.  I met her at my first BWI meeting in Waldorf.  She was so friendly an encouraging, it made me eager to learn more! If it weren't for Rachel I wouldn't be an educator.
Autumn has been the biggest influence in expanding my wrap choices. Because of her I left my comfort zone, tried other brands and blends, learned about textile terms and all the other geekery that comes with the world.

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What is your favorite type of carrier (wraps/ ring slings/ SSCs/ MTs, etc.) and why?
I love and use all carriers, but SSCs are by far my favorite carrier right now.   My daughter is in the toddler phase and SSC are quick, supportive and she's unable to pop out of them ;)  Ring slings also get a lot of love from us, great for quick ups and downs and small enough to store in my bag.
What I also like about both of these carries is that I can "wear" them on my body while she’s not in them, snap a SSC around my waist and let it hang, loop the RS over my shoulder, and they are there waiting for me when we're ready.

What is your favorite carrier you have owned?
My pink elephants Kinderpack. 

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What is your favorite carrier from the lending library?
I love the Nati Swallows RS! It's so soft and supportive.

How has babywearing benefited your life?
April: It has allowed me the freedom of having free hands while shopping, extra room in grocery carts, naps on the go and knowing my toddler is safe and close by. 

Do you have a story about a specific time that babywearing saved the day?
Madeline and I flew out to AZ for the IBWC.  It was her first time flying and I was loaded down with bags. Being able to wear her through security, traveling the airport, terminals and boarding was a life saver! I don't know how I would have managed trying to rein her in and do all that. On the trip home, we took a redeye and I came down with food poisoning (or whatever bug spread at the conference).  RIGHT as we entered the airport, I was hit with a wave nausea, got weak and could barely walk. I didn't have the energy to chase her down.  Thankfully she was in the KP and even slept. I was so grateful for babywearing during that trip!

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Do you have a funny babywearing story?
Sometimes when wearing, kiddos can reach items in the store and get them in their little claws before you realize it.  One time in Kohls, she snatched a pair of sunglasses and had them on upside down. I didn't realize it until we passed a mirror.  Gotta watch those little kleptos!

When do you babywear most often (either during a particular activity, time of day, or place)?
Mostly grocery shopping after work or trips to the mall, any store really!

You are having a baby and you can pick any carrier (but only one) to last from the newborn stage to the toddler days, what do you pick?
ONLY ONE!!! I'd choose a long wrap. A blend, cotton/linen, cotton/hemp or tri blend. Something that's soft enough for newborns and supportive and comfy with toddlers.   I can front, back and hip carry with them.

There is a zombie apocalypse. You have time to grab only one carrier, what do you grab?
April: SSC! Much better with long term wearing, quick and no fuss!

You just woke up from a babywearing dream – what carrier were you dreaming about and why?
A Madhatter or Heartstring handwoven. They are gorgeous!

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Why did you decide to become a VBE?
Because I enjoy teaching and helping others.  I wanted to be involved with the community and the outreach.  I think babywearing has so much to offer and want to share it with everyone.  I take pride in knowing we're able to show safe, comfortable ways to make parenting a little easier.

What is your favorite thing about being a VBE?
I really enjoy helping caregivers find that carrier that works for them, when I assist them and see them later posting success stories or pictures I get the warm fuzzies <3  Also, meeting other VBEs, collaborating and learning from them.

What do you love most about BWI of Southern Maryland?
The ladies are laid back, friendly and down to earth! 


Is there anything babywearing related you are still learning or looking forward to improving?
I am *hoping* to gain personal experience with tandem wearing ;)  And newborn wearing.  Also looking forward to the next International Babywearing Conference!

What are your other hobbies/ interests/ passions?
Running, softball, field hockey and other various sports. I don't have much time for lately but they are my passion.  I'm also a CPST and car seat safety is very important to me.

What do you like to do when you are not babywearing?
Talk about babywearing?? LOL.  Read, shopping, going to the movies, dinner out are things I like to do, but working mom hours mean mostly I'm doing house stuff.

Tell me something about yourself that has nothing to do with babywearing or children or your Mom status.
I played intercollegiate softball and field hockey.  I was a bio major and later became a cyber security major.

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Thanks to April for sharing.  If you want more information on how to become a VBE or are interested in volunteering in some other way, please let us know!
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Volunteer Spotlight: Rachel Boarman

1/25/2015

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In order to better get to know the volunteer educators for BWI of Southern Maryland, we will be featuring an interview with a different volunteer every week. 

This week’s volunteer spotlight is Rachel Boarman the founder and leader of our BWI group!

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Name: Rachel Boarman
Children: Anna (6), Matthew (3), Ellie, (7 mos)
Volunteer Type: MBE (Master Babywearing Educator) and also serves as the Education Coordinator on the Board of Directors for Babywearing International
BWI Meetings attended: St. Mary’s County meetings

How did you discover babywearing?
My next door neighbor gave me a hand-me down Snugli and I LOVED it and wore my daughter in it everywhere for the first few months. From there, I wanted to try all the carriers! So I tried pouch slings, soft structured carriers, ring slings, and then found my favorite, woven wraps.


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Has a particular person been influential in your babywearing adventure? If so, what did they do that was so influential? 
My first BWI leader was a huge influence. I lived near Silver Spring and attended the meetings of DC/MD/VA that were held in the area. I went regularly while I was on maternity leave with Matthew. She taught me a ton and pointed to me to a lot of wonderful resources. She told me about thebabywearer.com where I found an amazing community and a ton of resources like carry of the week threads. She also showed me that I could find videos for how to do carries on YouTube and told me about a few reliable YouTube Channels.

What is your favorite type of carrier (wraps/ ring slings/ SSCs/ MTs, etc.) and why?
I love woven wraps the best. I like that you can create a perfectly customized carry and that there are infinite ways to adjust. I also love learning new carries and new tricks.

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What is your favorite carrier you have owned?
My favorite is a Storchenweige Leo size 6 wrap that was my first wrap. It was the first wrap I wore each of my babies in and I intend to keep it forever. Maybe some day I'll be lucky enough to wrap a grandbaby in it.

Do you have a story about a specific time that babywearing saved the day?
A few years ago, I took my daughter (then 3 years old) to play in the creek down the hill from our house (about a half mile away). My son was a newborn at the time and it was an unseasonably warm November day. My daughter was having a blast throwing in rocks and sticks into the creek. Suddenly she slipped down the bank and fell in. She was completely soaked. Although it was warm out, the water was really cold. I stripped my daughter out of her soaked clothes, took the baby out of the wrap for a moment, and then wrapped my daughter to my back and my son on front. We walked back up the hill home and everyone was snug and warm. I even had my hands free to carry her soaking wet clothes.

When do you babywear most often (either during a particular activity, time of day, or place)?
I find myself wearing most often around dinner time. That time of day is always tough at my house with no-nap toddler having a meltdown and the baby needing a nap at exactly the time dinner must be cooked.

You are having a baby and you can pick any carrier (but only one) to last from the newborn stage to the toddler days, what do you pick?
My Trusty Storch Leo.

There is a zombie apocalypse. You have time to grab only one carrier, what do you grab?
My Trusty Storch Leo.

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Why did you decide to become a VBE?
I decided to become a VBE because I wanted to share my love of babywearing. Friends had been asking me for babywearing info, so I planned a few park meet ups. These started to get larger and larger. We decided to move them indoors to the library and start an official chapter. I met Jenn Shabe and she started it with me. We studied to become VBEs, sent hundreds of donation request emails to companies, created the website and facebook page and launched the group in November 2012.

What is your favorite thing about being a VBE?
I love the community of parents/caregivers in Southern Maryland. I enjoy meeting people at meetings and then running into them out and about wearing their babies. I also think babywearing gives a parent a wonderful tool for bonding with the baby and for caring for the baby while also meeting the demands of every day life. I love seeing people's photos and hearing how babywearing has made their life easier.

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Is there anything babywearing related you are still learning or looking forward to improving?
I am always learning something new. New carries, new teaching tricks. I really like watching other people teach and picking up tips and ideas from their babywearing instruction.

What do you like to do when you are not babywearing?
When I'm not attending babywearing groups or doing babywearing work behind the scenes, I home school my first grader and preschooler (while wearing the baby of course). I take weekly yoga classes,and enjoy reading in my (rare) free time.


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Breastfeeding and Baby Wearing Your Toddler

1/7/2015

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by Christina Fowlkes, ABE
Breastfeeding and baby wearing are two of my son's favorite things, so it's only natural that the two are so very compatible. I love being on the go and it's so nice to get the grocery shopping done and feed the baby at the same time--and now that he's a toddler, it's nice to have him occupied instead of trying to eat or open everything in the cart.

Breastfeeding while baby wearing seemed easy, but the first time I gave it a shot, I realized the moms I saw so effortlessly feeding their babes in Becos had a few tricks up their sleeve. We already have a great post on tips and tricks with links to some great videos here.

I've also made a series of how-to-nurse-your-toddler-while-baby-wearing videos. The basics are still the same, but now that he's more in charge these days than I am--things are a bit different! Mostly we both just have to be a bit more flexible. He's taller, but has more control. He's more demanding, but tends to be all business at the breast. Eating solids sometimes means cleaning clementines and ginger snaps out of my bra! Whatever age your little one, I hope you find these videos helpful! Wear them close and enjoy those milky smiles!
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