Read the press release:

---

 

 

Organization Maternal and Child Circle Mallorca is the winner of the Outstanding Babywearing Outreach Program by a Non-Vendor Award from the nonprofit organization Babywearing International, Inc., as part of its International Babywearing Week 2010 awards program.

 

The term “babywearing” means carrying a baby or young child using a cloth baby carrier. Babywearing allows parents to have both hands free while carrying their children, and research indicates that this practice has numerous benefits for children.

 

A study published in the journal Pediatrics in 1986 found that 6-week-old babies carried at least three hours a day in a soft carrier cried and fussed 43 percent less than others overall, and 51 percent less in the evening hours.

 

Another study, published in the journal Child Development in 1990, found that mothers who were given cloth carriers at birth were more responsive to their babies and had babies who were more securely attached than mothers who received plastic infant seats.

 

“International Babywearing Week is a wonderful time to recognize the advocates who are helping parents learn about and become successful at babywearing,” explained Glenda Criss, president of Babywearing International, Inc., the nonprofit organization that coordinates the event.

 

Since 2009, the Circulo Materno has held free workshops twice a week in Mallorca's hospitals, health centers, and in collaboration with other organizations on the island of Mallorca.  They now have 2000 families registered as members of their group promoting babywearing in Mallorca and Spain.

As part of their activities for the year, Circulo Materno has organized a babywearing photography exhibit in the largest public hospital on the island with more than 20 sponsors.   They also planned several large events in honor of International Babywearing Week consisting of parades, raffles, and workshops.  One of the tasks they are most proud of is translating the carrier guides and sling safety information from English to make guides appropriate for their local population.  Circulo Materno is truly bringing the knowledge of safe, comfortable babywearing to the parents of their small island.

 

International Babywearing Week 2010 is being celebrated by nonprofit groups around the world. “We have Official Celebrating Organizations on every continent around the world,” Criss said. The groups are hosting babywearing workshops, photography exhibits, walks, picnics, and other events to raise awareness about babywearing and help parents and caregivers learn babywearing as a skill.

 

The Award for the Outstanding Babywearing Outreach Program by a Non-Vendor is sponsored by Sleeping Baby Productions, a small company that offers custom-sewn baby slings as well as instructions for do-it-yourself projects through its website, www.sleepingbaby.net. Sleeping Baby Productions is awarding Circulo Materno a prize package of several baby slings for the group’s baby carrier library.

 

International Babywearing Week is supported by funding from presenting sponsors ERGObaby Inc. and ERGObaby EU, and general sponsor DIDYMOS Erika Hoffmann GmbH.