Babywearing Meets 2024

Hello Babywearing Community,

We are pleased to announce that BWWA Inc. will continue in 2024.

Our babywearing meets will be held in our Perth NOR - Woodvale and Perth SOR - Riverton locations thanks to the hardwork of our volunteer peer educators and community team leaders.

We hope that our meets will expand to regional areas in the future. Please get in touch with BWWA Inc. Committee if you’re interested in becoming a peer educator and holding a meet in your area

Our Perth meets will resume in February 2024 - please check the website calendar and follow the BWWA Inc Facebook page for updates. If you need babywearing assistance before the meet please utilise the Facebook BWWA Chatter Group - where our volunteer peer educations and other babywearers in the community will be able to assist you.

Many thanks,

BWWA Inc Committee 2024

2023 Annual General Meeting

Notice of the Annual General Meeting of Baby Wearers Western Australia Incorporated

All current members of Baby Wearers Western Australia Inc. are invited to attend and participate in all voting and discussion at the annual general meeting for 2023.

This year the AGM will be conducted in person and via video-conferencing.

Date: Saturday 11 November 2023
Time: 11:00
Place: Vic Park Community Space, 10/660 Albany Hwy Victoria Park WA 6100

At the meeting, members will be asked to vote to:

• accept the minutes of the last annual meeting

• accept the annual report

• accept the financial statements

• and elect office holders for committee roles.

Members will also have the opportunity to:

• find out about the operations and finances of BWWA Inc.

• ask questions about the operations and finances of BWWA Inc.

• speak about any items on the agenda

• and vote on any resolutions proposed.

There are no special resolutions to be proposed at the annual general meeting.

Members who will not be attending the annual general meeting are requested to appoint a proxy (someone else) to vote on their behalf. Proxy voting enables members to influence BWWA Inc.'s operations and structure, with particular regard to the continuation of BWWA Inc. and its services.

There is a form to complete for appointment of a proxy. In this form members may detail any instruction on how their proxy should vote on their behalf. A proxy must be a current member who will be in attendance at the AGM.

Trial of Reservation System

To our babywearing community,

It has become apparent that there needs to be a change to how babywearing meets are facilitated.

Babywearing meets in the past have been friendly and informal gatherings of caregivers, their children and their families and/or friends. People came together to discuss all things babywearing and to try on and get information about different carriers. Some people came to get their own carriers fitted and/or to borrow a carrier from the library for use at home between meets. BWWA Inc. has tried to make all meets as inviting as possible for everyone.

But recent months have left our volunteer Peer Educators overwhelmed and disheartened by some of the attitudes displayed by persons attending meets. We have a small group of volunteers running very busy events and that group is only getting smaller.

To that end, we are trialling a reservation system to ensure our volunteers can leave at the scheduled close time of 11:30. Sessions of 15 minutes will be opened 24 hours prior to a scheduled meet, based on the number of volunteers available. 

There will be at least two calendars open in which you may reserve a slot. Reserving a slot will be on a “first come, first serve” basis. The opening of the calendars will be staggered to allow fair opportunity for everyone to reserve a slot. We cannot guarantee availability of slots nor can we guarantee punctuality on the day. If there is no slot available on any calendar, you may still attend the meet as a walk-in. Walk-ins cannot be guaranteed timely assistance as priority will be given to persons who have reserved a slot.

It is recommended that you watch the recorded demonstration videos that will be linked on the Event page, and can be found in the Chatter Group Files.

We request that the QR code/attendance register is still completed on arrival by everyone, so that a numbered queue can be created to track walk-ins. Our volunteers will attend to the numbered queue as available. Walk-ins arriving after 11:00 are unlikely to be assisted as our volunteers must leave at the scheduled close time of 11:30.

BWWA Inc. volunteers and representatives have full discretion and reserve the right to refuse service. Meets are free to attend but membership is required to loan a carrier. Availability of carriers is not guaranteed.

We thank you for your support and consideration.

BWWA Inc. Committee 2022-23

Updated Infection Control Statement - February 2023

Infection Control Statement 2023

Baby Wearers Western Australia Incorporated (BWWA Inc.) is committed to maintaining the health and safety of our valued community and all people who engage with BWWA Inc. events and services.

BWWA Inc. is committed to following the advice and guidelines provided by the Western Australian and Australian Governments, and the World Health Organisation, based on best practice for good community health and in relation to the COVID-19 epidemic.

The following information relates to BWWA Inc. meet events and the loan of carriers as of 1 February 2023:

1. BWWA Inc., its volunteers and members will continue to adhere to the current health advice and recommendations of the Western Australian State Government and Local Governments.

2. Please follow basic hand hygiene and physical distancing practices during BWWA Inc. meet events.

3. Please do not attend BWWA Inc. meet events if you or your child are unwell and/or infectious. If you have a loan carrier that is due for return and you are unable to attend the scheduled meet, please contact BWWA Inc. Committee to arrange an alternative return as per the BWWA Inc. Library Terms and Conditions.

4. Loan carriers that are returned to meets are not quarantined or washed and will be loaned out again at the same meet, unless they are damaged or require cleaning. Carriers are washed during the Christmas/New Year stocktake period and on an as needed basis as deemed by the Committee.

5. Changes to scheduled meets may come at short notice and we apologise for the inconvenience. We ask that you follow all relevant Facebook events and the website for updates. Anyone with a loaned carrier due for return at a meet that is cancelled will be contacted to arrange alternative return.

6. Any person who attends a BWWA Inc. meet event and wishes to try on multiple carriers must use a demonstration doll rather than their child while trying on the carriers. Once a carrier has been selected for loan, the person will be assisted with fitting their child in the carrier. The use of suck pads whilst using a loaned carrier is appreciated.

7. Please note that we are all volunteers and if you have any questions please contact us on info@babywearerswa.com.au or via our Facebook Group.

Thank you for working together for everyone’s health and safety.

Baby Wearers WA Inc Committee 2023

We're making changes to our library terms and conditions

Dear BWWA Inc. members

We're writing to let you know that we're updating the BWWA Inc. Library terms and conditions for borrowing baby/toddler carriers and accessories.

BWWA Inc. Library Terms and Conditions have been updated to clarify procedure for the recovery of overdue/unreturned library items, how overdue fees are calculated and when a member may be liable to replacement costs. Reference is also made to the BWWA Inc. Constitution and Code of Ethics to highlight the responsibilities of the members, volunteers and management of the Association.

These changes will come into effect from 1 February 2023 and will apply to new and existing library memberships of Baby Wearers Western Australia Incorporated.

You can view the amended policy here: Final draft of BWWA Inc. Library Terms and Conditions policy

If you do not agree with these changes, please let the Secretary know in writing that you will be resigning from your membership as per rule 10 of the Constitution. Email us at info@babywearerswa.com.au.

We thank you for your support.

Kind regards
BWWA Inc. Committee 2022-23

Meets COVID-19 Update - May 2022

COVID 19 Update – May 2022

The managing committee for Baby Wearers Western Australia Incorporated (BWWA) are committed to maintaining the safety of our valued community and adhering to all advice and guidelines provided by the Western Australian and Australian Governments.

In light of the recent changes to requirements and restrictions, BWWA would like to provide the following information in relation to meets and the loans of carriers as of May 2022:

1.            BWWA, its volunteers and members will continue to adhere to the current health advice and regulations of the Western Australian State Government and the Local Governments.

2.            Please do not to attend baby wearing meets if you or your child are unwell. If you have a loan carrier that is due for return and you are unable to attend the scheduled meet, please contact BWWA to arrange an alternative as per the Carrier Loan Terms and Conditions.

3.            Loan carriers that are returned to meets are not quarantined and will be loaned out again at the meet, unless they are damaged or require cleaning. Research has shown that the risk of infection from COVID from contaminated cotton is small.

4.            Changes to scheduled meets may come about at short notice and we apologise for the inconvenience. We ask that you follow all relevant Facebook events and the website for any updates. Any loans of carriers will be extended or alternative return can be arranged.

5.            BWWA meets will require any participant who tries on multiple carriers to only use a demonstration doll rather than their child for trying on carriers. Once a loan carrier is selected, participant’s can be assisted with fitting and wearing with their child in the carrier. The use of suck pads whilst using a borrowed carrier is appreciated.

6.            Please note that we are all volunteers and if you have any questions please contact us on info@babywearerswa.com.au or via our Facebook Group.

Thank you and stay safe,

Baby Wearing WA Inc Committee 2022

2022 Meets COVID-19 Update

The managing committee for Baby Wearers Western Australia Incorporated (BWWA) would like to take this opportunity to address our valued community regarding the current Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.

BWWA is committed to actively monitoring the evolution of COVID-19 and adhering to all advice and guidelines provided by the Western Australian Government and Federal Government.

BWWA would like to provide the following information that relates to its meets and the loans of carriers:

1.            BWWA, its volunteers, and members will adhere to the current health advice and regulations of the Western Australian Government and the relevant Local Governments.

2.            Babywearing Meets are a gathering place for families with children. The youngest children are often at the greatest risk of serious consequences from contagious diseases. To protect yourself and others in our organisation we ask you not to attend baby wearing meets if you or your child are unwell, have been to an exposure site listed on wa.gov.au that requires you to get tested immediately and isolate, have travelled interstate or overseas in the past 14 days. If you have been to one of these exposure sites please contact BWWA to arrange pick up of your loan carrier or an extended loan.

3.            If you are diagnosed with COVID and you have been wearing a loan carrier please contact BWWA for the carrier loan to be extended. Once the carrier is returned to BWWA it will be quarantined, washed and sanitised. Research has shown that the risk of infection from COVID from contaminated cotton is small. However, BWWA will apply a high risk rating to dealing with said carriers.

4.            Changes to scheduled meets are inevitable. These changes may come about at short notice and we apologise for the inconvenience. We ask that you follow all relevant Facebook events and the website for any updates. In the event a meet is cancelled any loans of carriers will be extended.

5.            BWWA meets will require any participant who tries on a carrier to only use a doll rather than their child for trying on carriers. The use of suck pads whilst using a borrowed carrier is appreciated.

6.            Please note that we are all volunteers and if you have any questions please contact us on info@babywearerswa.com.au or via our Facebook Group.

Thank you and stay safe,

BWWA Committee 2022

Healthy Hips Week

As we’re nearing the end of Healthy Hips Week Australia 2021, let’s discuss the importance of an optimally fitted carrier and other safety considerations.

The Hips of an Infant

The skeleton of a newborn is mostly still cartilage (partially ossified) with underdeveloped hip sockets where the head of the femur has not yet settled into its adult position. Weaker muscles and bones that are not yet ossified signify an importance to support an infant’s preferred natural position of the seated-squat/squat-straddle. This position is that of the knees drawn up and in towards the navel, with the lower legs dangling free, so that the femur head can seat deeply into the hip sockets. As the baby grows, the assumption of this position changes with a widening of the knees so that the legs are not so closely pulled inwards to the navel. It is important to support this “optimal position” at all stages of infancy in order to aid appropriate hip development.

Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip

Hip dysplasia in infants is described as the hip socket and head of the femur (the top of the thighbone) not fitting together appropriately and it can range in severity, from slight misalignment to dislocation (the femur head comes out of the hip socket). It does not present only at birth but can “develop” within the first few months after birth, which is why it is called Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) when it refers to infants. The cause of DDH is not known but there are risk factors which may contribute to the development of DDH:

• a family history of DDH

• gender (girls are two to four times more likely to develop DDH)

• first born babies (because the uterus is tighter than in later pregnancies)

• breech position during pregnancy, especially during birth

• babies born over 4kgs

• tight swaddling with legs extended

Treatment for DDH varies but will always focus on restoring the hips to the natural and correct position of the joint. This can be through surgery and/or use of a brace. There are a number of different types of braces available, all of which hold the baby’s legs and hips in a position to more deeply seat the femur head and aid healthy hip development. Treatment is optimised when diagnosis occurs within the first 3 months of life.

Optimal Carriers

An optimal carrier is one which supports baby’s thighs and hips (from knee-to-knee) in the natural position seated-squat position. In this position, baby is better able to move and adjust their own straddle which in turn helps to strengthen muscles and aid development.

Characteristics of an optimal carrier:

• adjustable base of panel to support baby from knee-to-knee at different stages of growth, with the knees higher than the bottom allowing for the spine to curve

• adjustable panel height to support baby’s neck at different stages of growth

• side straps that connect to the waistband of the carrier rather than mid-panel; this prevents an inversion of the spine (if the straps are tightened too much) which can cause the femur head to move to a shallow position in the hip socket

Note: a carrier that does not follow these characteristics is not likely to cause hip dysplasia nor is it damaging to use if there are no risks or definite hips issues identified. It is not ideal to use a narrow-based carrier for a baby identified with hip issues.

Babies should be fitted in a carrier with their feet out of the carrier and their lower legs should be allowed to hang freely with the carrier resting at the kneepad. This prevents upward pressure on the ankles and avoids stimulating the stepping reflex (present during birth in response to a contracting uterus) where baby tries to “stand” out of the carrier.

In appropriate cases (and under professional care), an optimal carrier may be used in place of a harness to maintain hip position in babies that have been diagnosed with DDH. However, this should be reviewed case by case by your specialist.

More information about DDH can be found at Healthy Hips Australia.

Disclaimer: This information is intended to support discussion with your doctor or healthcare professionals and not replace it. Every effort is made to ensure this information is up to date, accurate and easy to understand. Baby Wearers Western Australia Incorporated does not accept responsibility for any inaccuracies or information perceived as misleading.

The Bountiful World of Babywearing Wraps

The most versatile style of carrier that can be found in the world of babywearing is that of the “wrap”. It is a long and narrow piece of fabric that is wrapped, tightened and tied around the bodies of the wearer and the wearee to create a secure carry. There are two types of wraps, a woven wrap and a stretchy wrap.

Image Description: a grainy black and white photograph of a traditionally dressed Japanese woman holding a parasol with a baby wrapped high on her back by use of an obi sash.

Woven wraps and slings have a rich history aided by the development of cloth weaving and skills in sewing and decoration. Many early cultures have made use of lengths of cloth to carry their children in order to accomplish their daily work. These societies relied heavily upon slings and carriers to aid in caring for their children and we can only pay our respects to these traditions; Mexican rebozo, Kenyan kanga/pagne/kikoy, Peruvian manta, Japanese obi sashes, Mozambican capulana, and Indonesian selendang, to name a few. These traditional lengths of cloth are the ancestors of the woven wrap that we see within our Western culture. Western cultures and societies have their own early styles of carriers (Welsh shawls and German Hockmantel garments) but their use dwindled with the introduction of the “baby carriage” which sparked new attitudes toward child-rearing at the beginning of the Victorian Era. In the 1980’s, the term “babywearing” was coined by Dr William Sears and Martha Sears to describe the act of closely holding a child following their use of baby sheets and Rayner Gardner’s ring sling with their sixth child. It was around this time that carrying children in slings started to regain popularity within Western societies. Thus, stretchy wraps are a relatively new addition to baby-wearing and are primarily used within Western cultures.

Stretchy Wrap vs Woven Wrap

The modern woven wrap is made from woven fabric, it is hemmed and often tapered at the ends (to create a parallelogram shape), and it comes in various lengths (2-6 metres); a stretchy wrap is made from jersey fabric, is unhemmed or has serged edges, and is 4-5 metres in length.

The main difference between stretchy wraps and woven wraps is the “stretch factor”. Woven wraps generally don’t stretch (but can stretch on the diagonal based on the open weave of the fabric) and stretchy wraps can stretch in all or some directions e.g. horizontally and vertically; horizontally, vertically and diagonally; or horizontally only. Because of the varied stretch in a stretchy wrap, there are only two carries that are deemed safe, both of which must be front carries and requires 3 spread passes/layers over baby at all times, and has a limited “lifespan” due to degradation of the fabric (stretchy!) and sagging based on the growth of baby. A woven wrap has endless possibilities in types of carries and, if well cared for, there is no end to its lifespan.

Pros and Cons are mostly based on safety, ease of use and care, and lifespan. Spoiler: woven wraps have more pros, even if they can be a bit more difficult to learn to use.

Woven Wraps

Pros

• Multiple carry options including back carries and hip carries

• Many fabric and fibre options

• Multiple size options

• No weight limits; can be used from newborn and beyond

• Can be used in single layer carries and multiple layer carries

• Can become an heirloom or be passed on to another dyad

• Can be converted to other styles of carriers or other household items

• and much more!

Cons

• High learning curve

• Care needs to be taken with washing/maintaining some fibres

Stretchy Wraps

Pros

• Available at big baby stores

• One size fits most

• Easy care and machine washable

• Good for “bigger” newborn stage cuddles

• Gateway carrier

Cons

• Must always have 3 spread passes/layers over baby

• Suitable for front carries only

• Maximum comfort weight of 6-8 kgs

• Minimum entry weight of 3.5 kgs

• Single lifespan; often cannot be passed on to another dyad due to degredation of the fabric

Image Description: Left, a full-body photograph of a woman, who stands side-on to the camera, is wearing a baby wrapped high and tightly on her front by use of a stretchy wrap in FWCC with spread passes; the woman is looking down at the baby. Right, an upper body photograph of a man wearing sunglasses, who stands side-on to the camera, is wearing a baby wrapped to his front by use of a woven wrap in FWCC.

Front Wrap Cross Carry FWCC vs Pocket Wrap Cross Carry PWCC

The Chatter Group is often filled with questions of why BWWA recommends a different carry to that depicted in stretchy wrap manufacturer pamphlets (PWCC). Safety is of utmost importance to BWWA so it is recommended to use FWCC with spread passes when using a stretchy wrap. PWCC is a “poppable” carry and it has the risk of being too loose which presents a chance of slumping/asphyxiation and falling.

“If there is space to pop in baby, there is space for baby to pop out.”

FWCC enables the wearer to tighten the stretchy wrap completely around baby and it also serves as a teaching tool should the wearer wish to continue wrapping when baby maxes out the comfort weight range of 6-8 kgs. Whilst stretchy wrap manufacturers tout maximum weight allowances of 11 kgs or more, it is not comfortable to carry a baby that heavy in fabric that stretches and sags and ultimately digs into shoulders and hurts the body all over. 

Bonus: often, wrapping a stretchy in FWCC with spread passes can last to the higher end of the comfort weight range. If the wearer and the baby are still comfortable and content to use a stretchy wrap with a baby beyond the comfort weight range, then it is quite alright to continue use until the manufacturer’s maximum weight limit.

Note: the maximum weight described by carrier manufacturers is the fail weight, this goes for structured carriers as well. It is literally the point at which the carrier will not do its job anymore. Highlight: safety! 

Image Description: a black t-shirt style carrier is worn on an edited out mannequin.

Another style of stretchy wrap is that of “babywearing shirts”. These are those carriers that are marketed as “no fuss, pull on like a t-shirt, no buckles, no complicated tying” kind of carriers. BWWA discourages the use of these shirts as they aren’t adjustable so will often be too loose (thus not secure enough; “if baby can pop in, baby can pop out”) and are actually considered to be carry-assist babywearing garments. This means that they aren’t hands-free baby carriers. There is also the issue of their marketing and pamphlets neglecting to highlight the importance of the “accessory sash” (a third horizontal pass/layer) that is sometimes sold separately; as mentioned above, stretchy wraps require 3 spread passes/layers of fabric over baby to be a safe and well-supported carry. Babywearing shirts are best suited for “kangaroo care” and facilitating skin-to-skin bonding, where the wearer may still keep their hands on the baby.

Fibres and Densities

Heading back to woven wraps, let’s consider the fabrics that are used to make them. These fabrics generally have clearly visible threads/fibres in a loose to moderately tight weave and have little to no stretch horizontally and vertically. A woven wrap can be made from cotton, linen/flax, hemp, wool, silk, or bamboo, with the most common fibre being cotton for its ease of care and breathability. The density of the weave of a woven wrap is also a consideration; woven wraps are made with fabrics between approximately 160 gsm and 240 gsm, but can go up to 350 gsm. For hot weather in Western Australia, a weight around 200 gsm is recommended.

Have you wondered why woven wraps are often rainbow-hued? What’s with all the stripes? Stripes and colours aid in tightening the wrap evenly and sufficiently, especially when learning to wrap with a woven. Knowing where to pull to remove slack is important for maintaining an even wrap-job. Other characteristics may be that the two hems on a wrap will differ and the wrap may be two-faced to clearly differentiate the “inside” and the “outside” of the wrap. All of these details aid the wrapper in creating a secure and safe carry when manipulating and handling metres of fabric.

For more information and guidance on using woven wraps, please join us at meet near you.

Happy ‘wearing to you and your family.

References

• diana. (2013, February 12). Cultural Babywearing - traditional baby carriers [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://wrapyourbaby.com/cultural-babywearing/

• Knowles, R. (2016). Why Babywearing Matters. Pinter & Martin.

• lovingbeing. (2015, March 11). The cultural history of carrying babies [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://marionrose.net/the-cultural-history-of-carrying-babies/

Acknowledging the Past

Trigger Warning: This post contains reference to racism and ableism within the organisation. 

We, the committee of Baby Wearers Western Australia Incorporated (BWWA), are committed to building an inclusive community, where all peoples are made to feel welcome and supported, where cultural knowledge is respected, and discrimination is called out and removed immediately.

To move forward in this spirit, we need to first acknowledge the mistakes of the past. 

In the past, BWWA has (by ignorance, entitled blindness or by inaction) allowed black, indigenous and people of colour to be marginalised, cultural wisdom to be dismissed and their contributions to be belittled. For this, we apologise.

BWWA’s own past guidelines have been based on very generalised safety limits in Western designed and marketed carriers, without regard for traditional generational knowledge, or consideration of varying physical abilities, with discriminatory ableism. 

Particularly, this discussion of back carrying, has led to discrimination; racism and ableism, and extremely hurtful responses from within the organisation, and on in our social media and physical spaces. For this, we apologise.

These discussions were unintentionally shared from an outdated resource this week and are not in keeping with our current knowledge of cultural inclusivity and population diversity within our babywearing community. For this, we apologise. 

By both action and inaction. We have caused offence and harm. We cannot undo that. We truly apologise and we are working to prevent any repeats of these previous events.

We look forward to continuing education, promotion and facilitation of safe baby wearing in the Western Australian community.

The Committee Baby Wearers Western Australia Incorporated