Best Babywearing Outreach Program to Women in Need

Babywearing Calgary

Read the press release:

Babywearing Calagary is the winner of the Best Babywearing Outreach Program to Women In Need 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.

As part of Babywearing Calgary's International Babywearing Week activities, they organized a carrier drive to benefit Elizabeth House. Elizabeth House provides care and support to women in crisis pregnancies. They offer shelter, and education on many aspects of parenting and life to help women become self-sufficient. At the end of the carrier drive, Babywearing Calgary held a class at Elizabeth House on proper carrier use and then match the carriers they had collected with the mothers there to help ensure comfort and safety for moms and babies.

“Educating parents about babywearing and empowering them to do so with free slings is a tremendous benefit to the community.” Criss said.

International Babywearing Week 2010 was celebrated by nonprofit groups around the world. “We had 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 Best Babywearing Outreach Program to Women In need is sponsored by Babywearing Videos, and online babywearing video resource. Babywearing Calgary will receive a prize valued at $100 from Babywearing Videos.

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