NEW GLARUS - What are fashionable new parents wearing these days? Their babies.
The phrase, "wearing your baby," refers to keeping babies feeling comforted and secure with the use of the numerous carriers available to new parents.
"Attachment parenting" is just one trend among new parenting approaches to raising children. Parents also are more conscious about possible dangers of disposable diapers to their children and to the environment.
On Saturday, Nicki Maynard conducted two free classes, Cloth Diaper 101 and Babywearing 101, at her Planet Wise store, a new children's specialty shop in New Glarus. Mothers from as far away as Madison came to learn and share their baby care experiences.
Crying, fussy babies are no problem at Planet Wise. The store is an opportunity for parents to try on more than a dozen different baby carriers that Maynard carries. Planet Wise has more than 3,000 square feet of cloth diapers and products, including a spacious 400-square-foot community area set up like a living room with comfy couches, toys for the kids and free coffee and tea available. Babies and their parents never had it so good.
Among the baby carrier styles Maynard showed on Saturday were slings, wraps and soft backpacks.
"There are hundreds and hundreds of different carriers out there," Maynard told her class. "There are only a few types, but companies have their own brands, with their own variations."
Slings are wide, circular pieces of cloth worn over the shoulder. Babies can be nestled in a pouch, but Maynard reminded mothers to be careful that the baby's neck is not kinked too hard forward. Older children can sit in the sling's seat as a hip carry.
Wraps are more versatile. The simple long pieces of cloth can be tied in a variety of ways over the shoulders and around the waist, depending upon where the mother needs to position her baby and the age of the child.
"These are the most comfortable things," Maynard said, holding up one brand of tie.
Maynard used ties with her son Cole, 5, and daughter Lily, 2.
"She could snuggle in, I could walk around and she's right against my heart," she said.
Maynard's husband Jesse and Lily, now 2.5 years old, demonstrated a soft carrier for the class. Maynard said Lily will bring her carrier to her father and tell him when she is tired and wants to take a nap. She can even get into the carrier herself while it is on his back. Once she is strapped in, a hood goes over her head and is fastened in front, providing her a retreat from outside distraction.
Jennifer Boyle, New Glarus, and her 5-month-old daughter Anna were trying on the Bundleboo. Boyle said her husband carried their first child so much that he got an injury similar to tennis elbow.
"You can get injuries holding your arm in one place so long; holding a baby's head in one place placed a strain on the wrists," she said.
Cloth diapers also are making an appearance on more babies' bottoms. Planet Wise carries diapers in many colors and styles, ranging from all-in-ones to simple pre-folds.
Patty Peters, Madison, said she never used cloth diapers before, and came to Maynard's store to learn about them.
"A mom's group in Madison told me about it," she said.
One of Peters' main reasons for changing to cloth diapers was for the environment.
"Also, I've read that disposables have chemicals in them," she said.
But the cost of disposables also is an issue. Peters estimated she spends about $60 a month on disposables. With her 8-month-old baby, Peters probably has spent more than $500 so far on disposable diapers.
Maynard calculated parents can save as much as $1,200 using cloth diapers over disposables or diaper services. And Maynard teaches washing diapers in an easy four-step plan.
Pre-folded diapers will last for more than one child, but other styles, like the all-in-one which look and work just like disposables, will fit a child from newborn until they are potty-trained. By then they may be worn out, Maynard said.
The convenient, new-styled cloth diapers can cost around $17 each; and Maynard suggests having two or three dozen on hand. But she said, they have "great resale values."
"A pair selling for $16.75 will resell for $12," she said. Maynard cannot resell the used diapers at her store; but she is setting up an exchange program matching people with diapers to sell with those who want to buy.
Planet Wise carries many other natural parenting items such as natural and learning toys, nursing items, baby shoes, diaper bags, safe baby bottles, swimwear and accessories. The store front is an extension of Maynard's online markets - nickisdiapers.com and myswimbaby.com.
Regular store hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 am.. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. The store is closed Sundays.
The phrase, "wearing your baby," refers to keeping babies feeling comforted and secure with the use of the numerous carriers available to new parents.
"Attachment parenting" is just one trend among new parenting approaches to raising children. Parents also are more conscious about possible dangers of disposable diapers to their children and to the environment.
On Saturday, Nicki Maynard conducted two free classes, Cloth Diaper 101 and Babywearing 101, at her Planet Wise store, a new children's specialty shop in New Glarus. Mothers from as far away as Madison came to learn and share their baby care experiences.
Crying, fussy babies are no problem at Planet Wise. The store is an opportunity for parents to try on more than a dozen different baby carriers that Maynard carries. Planet Wise has more than 3,000 square feet of cloth diapers and products, including a spacious 400-square-foot community area set up like a living room with comfy couches, toys for the kids and free coffee and tea available. Babies and their parents never had it so good.
Among the baby carrier styles Maynard showed on Saturday were slings, wraps and soft backpacks.
"There are hundreds and hundreds of different carriers out there," Maynard told her class. "There are only a few types, but companies have their own brands, with their own variations."
Slings are wide, circular pieces of cloth worn over the shoulder. Babies can be nestled in a pouch, but Maynard reminded mothers to be careful that the baby's neck is not kinked too hard forward. Older children can sit in the sling's seat as a hip carry.
Wraps are more versatile. The simple long pieces of cloth can be tied in a variety of ways over the shoulders and around the waist, depending upon where the mother needs to position her baby and the age of the child.
"These are the most comfortable things," Maynard said, holding up one brand of tie.
Maynard used ties with her son Cole, 5, and daughter Lily, 2.
"She could snuggle in, I could walk around and she's right against my heart," she said.
Maynard's husband Jesse and Lily, now 2.5 years old, demonstrated a soft carrier for the class. Maynard said Lily will bring her carrier to her father and tell him when she is tired and wants to take a nap. She can even get into the carrier herself while it is on his back. Once she is strapped in, a hood goes over her head and is fastened in front, providing her a retreat from outside distraction.
Jennifer Boyle, New Glarus, and her 5-month-old daughter Anna were trying on the Bundleboo. Boyle said her husband carried their first child so much that he got an injury similar to tennis elbow.
"You can get injuries holding your arm in one place so long; holding a baby's head in one place placed a strain on the wrists," she said.
Cloth diapers also are making an appearance on more babies' bottoms. Planet Wise carries diapers in many colors and styles, ranging from all-in-ones to simple pre-folds.
Patty Peters, Madison, said she never used cloth diapers before, and came to Maynard's store to learn about them.
"A mom's group in Madison told me about it," she said.
One of Peters' main reasons for changing to cloth diapers was for the environment.
"Also, I've read that disposables have chemicals in them," she said.
But the cost of disposables also is an issue. Peters estimated she spends about $60 a month on disposables. With her 8-month-old baby, Peters probably has spent more than $500 so far on disposable diapers.
Maynard calculated parents can save as much as $1,200 using cloth diapers over disposables or diaper services. And Maynard teaches washing diapers in an easy four-step plan.
Pre-folded diapers will last for more than one child, but other styles, like the all-in-one which look and work just like disposables, will fit a child from newborn until they are potty-trained. By then they may be worn out, Maynard said.
The convenient, new-styled cloth diapers can cost around $17 each; and Maynard suggests having two or three dozen on hand. But she said, they have "great resale values."
"A pair selling for $16.75 will resell for $12," she said. Maynard cannot resell the used diapers at her store; but she is setting up an exchange program matching people with diapers to sell with those who want to buy.
Planet Wise carries many other natural parenting items such as natural and learning toys, nursing items, baby shoes, diaper bags, safe baby bottles, swimwear and accessories. The store front is an extension of Maynard's online markets - nickisdiapers.com and myswimbaby.com.
Regular store hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 am.. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. The store is closed Sundays.