Well, it’s time to do my part to say something about the recent uproar about baby carriers. Our slings, mai teis, and various carriers are being looked at as possibly unsafe by the CPSC. There was the recall a few months ago that got everyone that wasn’t already “in-the-know” about baby carriers scared of slings. SCARED. Scared of something that could be the most wonderful thing to discover for you and your child. From this singular recall, all other similar carriers are getting lumped into the issue. There might even be a entire recall on all slings. We need to do something to let the CPSC know that babywearing is safe.

It’s very sad that something that promotes closeness and attentiveness with your child is under scrutiny.  Of all things that we use for babies, carriers should not be taken off of the market.  We have millions of these plastic “containers” to keep baby happy while out of the caregiver’s arms that are sold every day.   Some of these products get recalled, but the basic design is still used and sold to families.  Cribs, strollers, car seats, etc. have all had their share of recalls, but we still are able to buy these products.  Slings should also still be available to the public.  Faulty designs like the Slingrider should most definitely be taken off the market, but the whole general group of slings should not.  They are undoubtedly safe.

In our family, discovering babywearing has been a saving grace. It made everyone happy. My son wanted to be close to me, and I with him, but sometimes there are other things to do. You have dishes to do, laundry to wash, meals to be prepared. My son didn’t really like sitting in a little bouncer while I was taking care of all these things. So, in came the answer to the equation: the sling. I wore him, which made him happy, and I as well because I couldn’t bare to listen to my baby cry for his Mama. And all the while, we were bonding and having a great time! And because my son was so close to me, I was able to care for him and be more in tune with his needs. I would recognize when he was hungry easily, I could tell when he was ill, and I avoided a lot of crying because he was getting everything he needed. And at the time, all he needed was his Mama and nourishment.

So, what can we do? The first thing you can do is visit the Baby Carrier Industry Alliance (BCIA) website. There you can find out more about what exactly is going on in legislature that concerns baby carriers. You can also post any positive stories or pictures on their facebook page. I also came across the post below that gives phone numbers of people to call in your state to tell them you feel this recall on all slings is unwarranted.

Here is a re-post from thebabywearer.com

Dear Babywearing Enthusiast:

It is time to BRACE YOURSELF!

A recall of a major baby carrier is being forced through this week. We want you to understand how this has been handled and to appreciate the immediacy of the problem!

* Company was informed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that, after several years, a closed investigation of their product was being reopened.

* Company was told by the CPSC to issue a recall of every product back more than ten years, and to discontinue sales, while admitting that there is no product flaw.

* Company stopped all sales, with the intention of clearing up the matter and reopening shortly.

* Company asked for the Health and Science report that the CPSC later claimed to have, indicating the need for a recall.

* CPSC has NEVER complied; inside word is that there is NOT a Health and Science report.

* Company was sent two draft press releases and asked to voluntarily recall their product or the CPSC would issue a unilateral recall (a forced recall) which included inflammatory language as well as a threat to pursue action against entire class of baby sling products.

* Company held fast, knowing that the product is safe and a benefit to babies and stated they would be willing to work with the CPSC on a public education campaign about sling safety.

* CPSC asked for Company’s financials.

* Company complied.

* CPSC said to company “You are no longer in business, we don’t need your cooperation in order to recall! Prepare to DESTROY all product next week!” Next week is International Babywearing week!

PLEASE NOTE: *THIS IS AFTER THE CPSC FORCED COMPANY TO STOP SELLING!

The CPSC has overstepped their bounds, and are bullying small, family businesses who make safe products!

This is only the beginning, according to the CPSC’s own words they want to eradicate the whole class of product!

A line has been drawn in the sand! Will you help fight the good fight with us? If you care that these products are available to you, to babies, to families across our country, ACT NOW!

If you are represented by any one of these legislators, please call and write to them NOW, before this recall happens. We are asking just a few simple things:

1. Stop all recall actions against baby sling companies until

2. We can finalize the ASTM voluntary sling standards (scheduled for November) and

3. Force the CPSC to follow their own internal procedures, stop using bullying tactics, and use sound science.

• SENATE: Mark Pryor – Chairman, AR (202) 224-2353
• Byron L. Dorgan, ND (202) 224-2551
• Barbara Boxer, CA (202) 224-3553
• Bill Nelson, FL (202) 224-5274
• Claire McCaskill, MO (202) 224-6154
• Amy Klobuchar, MN (202) 224-3244
• Tom Udall, NM (202) 224-5941
• Roger Wicker – Ranking Member, MS (202) 224-6253
• Olympia J. Snowe, ME (202) 224-5344
• Jim DeMint, SC (202) 224-6121
• John Thune, SD (202) 224-2321
• Johnny Isakson, GA (202) 224-3643
• David Vitter, LA (202) 224-4623
• HOUSE: Bobby L. Rush, IL, Chairman 202-225-4372; 773-224-6500
• Jan Schakowsky, IL, Vice Chair 202-225-2111; 773-506-7100
• Ed Whitfield, KY, Ranking Member 202-225-3115; 270-885-8079
• John P. Sarbanes, MD 202-225-4016; 410-832-8890
• George Radanovich, CA 202-225-4540; 559-449-2490
• Betty Sutton, OH 202-225-2266; 330-865-8450
• Cliff Stearns, FL 202-225-5744; 352-351-8777
• Frank Pallone, Jr., NJ 202-225-4671; 732-571-1140
• Joseph R. Pitts, PA 202-225-2411; 717-303-0667
• Bart Gordon, TN 202-225-4231; 615-896-1986
• Mary Bono Mack, CA 202-225-5330; 760-320-1076
• Bart Stupak, MI 202-225-4735; 231-348-0657
• Lee Terry, NE 202-225-4155; 402-397-9944
• Gene Green, TX 202-225-1688; 281-999-5879
• Sue Wilkins Myrick, NC 202-225-1976; 704-362-1060
• Charles A. Gonzalez, TX 202-225-3236; 210-472-6195
• Tim Murphy, PA 202-225-2301; 412-344-5583
• Anthony D. Weiner, NY 202-225-6616; 718-520-9001
• Phil Gingrey, GA 202-225-2931; 770-429-1776
• Jim Matheson, UT 202-225-3011; 801-486-1236
• Steve Scalise, LA 202-225-3015; 504-837-1259
• G. K. Butterfield, NC 202-225-3101; 252-237-9816
• Robert E. Latta, OH 202-225-6405; 419-668-0206
• John Barrow, GA 202-225-2823; 912-354-7282

More food references:  watching Food Inc. on PBS last night.  Wow.  I knew about the crazy industry treating animals in ways I can hardly think about without tearing up, but seeing this film and being reminded of it was something I was in need of.  Seeing these poor animals and farmers being brought into this horrible machine of get-the-most-food-by-any-means-necessary-for-big-profit totally sickens me.  And seriously, I want to cry thinking about it.  So, I try not to, but I do act on my feelings.  We already have cut meat out of our household, but we do eat it when we are out.  Now?  After watching this film and seeing not only the horrible treatment of the animals, but these messed up, money hungry, and also GIGANTIC companies running the “food show”, I really want no part of it.  I want nothing to do with a company that treats animals this way.  I want nothing to do with a company that treats their employees this way.  (I’m referring to the companies rallying Mexican immigrants to the U.S. to work for them, and then turning a blind eye when these fine folks are getting arrested for illegally being in our country!  Infuriating!)  And, I really want nothing to do with a company selling this crap they call “food” to consumers.  So?  No meat for me.  I don’t even want to buy anything in a box after seeing this movie!  Veggies all around for me!

Oh, and one more thing!  Check out the Eating Locally page I added to another website I write for with great ways to eat local and organic food.  (For the Lafayette/West Lafayette folk, of course!)

1. Reduce Waste

• Use re-usable shopping bags
• Use loose tea as opposed to bags
• Buy local milk and re-use container (preferably glass)
• Buy snack foods and cereals from bins and use re-usable bags
• Re-use glass jars
• Make our own bread
• Use mainly produce for meals
• Buy local cheese
• Ask for re-usable glass/plate/silverware at restaurants (Snobby?  I think so!)

2. Less Electricity Use

• Wash clothes by hand (in bath tub) (This won’t be the heavily soiled loads, such as dirty diapers)
• Wash clothes after a few uses as opposed to one day of wear
• Dry clothes on line outside
• Use less lights/Use more candles
• Look into occasionally eliminating our need to use the refridgerator
• TV only on in the evenings

3. Store Rain Water

4. Catch water in sinks and use for clothes washing and toilets

5. Buy only used clothing (Not very hard for thrifters like us!) or any other necessity

6. Can or Freeze vegetables from garden

7. Ride our bikes more often

8. Make safe household cleaners/personal hygeine products

• laundry soap
• dish soap- Castile Soap with Rosemary and Peppermint
• dishwasher soap
• bathroom cleaner
• floor cleaner- Vinegar and water
• shampoo / conditioner
• body soap- Castile Soap with whatever essential oil combination I’m in the mood for!
• toothpaste

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup borax
• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 1 grated bar of soap

Boom!  Done.

Grating a bar of soap

Adding baking soda

Finished!

And, from the one load I’ve done with this soap, it seems to do a good job. I’ll have to report later on my first load of dirty diapers. That will be a true experiment!

Other things we are doing is starting a vegetable garden. My Step-Dad and Mom came over the other day and helped us till up our new garden area. It was so nice of them to come help! My Mom also brought over some ferns to help fill in our empty flower beds. Each year the beds get fuller and prettier, and I think this year after the ferns and hostas bloom, it’s going to be gorgeous! Anyway, back to the garden! It’s a fairly small garden (18′ x 10′), but it’s what fits in the area we chose. Yesterday, I was able to get all the rows made and the seeds and starts planted! I made the mistake of buying WAY too many seeds and starts, so I think we are going to till up another garden on the other side of the house. I still need room for peppers, tomatoes, and other things that aren’t ready to be planted, so another small garden would work out well. I am so excited! I’m learning things here and there about gardening, but really, this is just a big experiment. I’m sure I’ll learn a lot along the way.

the rows!

So, all and any advice would be great! We are doing this as organically as possible, so I’m going to be weeding all summer long. But, that’s fine! I’d rather be out in the yard with my kids anyway!

And next, John is building our compost bin tonight! I’ll post later about this project!

It’s Sunday morning, and I have been stricken with Mastitis as of the late evening before. I go to Urgent Care to get my antibiotics. The doctor working comes in to talk with me about the whole situation. I tell him about the new issues that may have attributed to my getting Mastitis for the second time. Archer has been spacing out nursing more and more, and sometimes we get busy and miss feedings. (After really looking at what’s going on, I need to to pay more attention to the space between feedings. I also need to be pumping when I’m away from him for those few hours when I’m home alone to sew.) So, anyway, his advice is as follows:

I need to continue breastfeeding through the remainder of my illness, and then switch Archer over to cow’s milk. (!) This advice came from hearing that Archer is over the age of 1, and that he nurses mostly of the evenings and through the night. This to him spelled out weaning, but to me, weaning will happen naturally, and does not mean switching him over to cow’s milk within his advised “2-3 weeks”. 2-3 weeks! Weaning could be a year long process! Also, apparently since Archer is 1 now, he’s only gaining comfort from breastfeeding! I guess that all the immune boosters and nutrition that are daily adapting to my son’s needs suddenly disappear after the age of 1.

Anyway, I was appalled by the horrible advice, to say the least. I contacted my Midwife, Penny Lane CNM, to see if the Breastfeeding Coalition she is in had some sort of packet of information to send to doctors when situations like this arose. And, she did! So, this doctor has some information and a letter from me being sent to him. I can’t tell you how good it felt to write this letter.

Here it is:

Dear Dr.,

I came into Urgent Care on Sunday, March 7 at the Greenbush Arnett Clinic. I came in with Mastitis and needed antibiotics. I appreciate the prescription for the antibiotics, but I feel your recommendation to quit breastfeeding my son was horrible advice. I understand that my son is weaning, and my choice is to let that process happen naturally—which could be a year long process. We are going through a rough patch in our breastfeeding relationship, but the issues that we are having can easily be resolved. I, The American Academy of Pediatrics, The American Academy of Family Physicians, the US Surgeon General, and the World Health Organization feel breastfeeding is the BEST thing I can be doing for my child. And, it is recommended to breastfeed AT LEAST through 2 years and longer if both the mother and child are still interested. So, stopping breastfeeding should be the LAST resort, considering my son’s age. There are many reasons for getting Mastitis, and I really think that my situation should have been looked at a bit longer than the 2 minutes you spoke with me to advise quitting breastfeeding. Or maybe, I should have been referred to a Lactation Consultant. If I’m going to take anyone’s advice on the breastfeeding relationship I have with my son, it is going to have to be someone with a firm background of experience and knowledge on the subject. It’s apparent to me that knowledge about breastfeeding is not something you have. To say that because my son is past the age of 1 year his sole benefit from breastfeeding is comfort, is absolutely false. He is still getting the nutrition that has been his ONLY source of nourishment for the past 12 months. Any lack of nutrients in his solid food diet is supplemented with my breast milk. Also, his immune system highly benefits from breastfeeding. I found it quite ridiculous to offer advice to switch from breast milk to cow’s milk. Cow’s milk has far less–nutritionally speaking– to offer than breast milk. Not to mention, my milk adapts to what my son needs daily. Overall, I feel your recommendation was detrimental to the health of my son.

Luckily, I am knowledgeable about breastfeeding and know when someone is giving ignorant advice. I feel sorry for the young mothers that are coming to you for advice that aren’t as knowledgeable. To recommend to a mother to stop doing the best thing she can for her child, because you are uninformed on the subject is quite sad. I do hope you will enlighten yourself on this very important subject before offering any more advice.

Sincerely,
Katie Fry