What is Babywearing for Birth Professionals?
This offering is a six-hour/one-day course about baby carriers, their technical use, and practical as well as health-based applications.

Who should take Babywearing for Birth Professionals?
Anyone who works with caregivers of infants can benefit from this new workshop. Birth and Postpartum Doulas, Midwives, Chiropractors, Lactation Consultants and Educators, Pediatricians, Retail owners and employees, Day Care providers, and more! Professionals who interact with babies on a regular basis and find a carrier useful as a parenting tool, public health intervention, and skill for breastfeeding and attachment support will find this workshop particularly useful.

Why take this course?
There's a lot to know about babywearing! The styles of carriers available today are ever expanding - from waistless buckle carriers to carriers that grow with your baby, there's so much to keep up with! This workshop serves up just what you need to know for your clients, and leaves the extra stuff behind. With all the information available out there, a professional could easily make learning about the latest evidence a week-long endeavor! "Babywearing for Birth Professionals" saves you time and head space.

What will we learn?

• How to use the 5 main carrier types and their basic differences.
• How to "plant the seed" to encourage babywearing as a solution.
• Language to reduce caregiver's overwhelm.
• How to use and troubleshoot issues with the 5 main carrier types.
• How carriers support goals for Kangaroo Care and are used as a public health intervention.
• Breastfeeding in the carrier and "on the go" to promote breastfeeding success.
• Benefits and drawbacks of each carrier type.
• Safety and positioning guidelines that apply to all carrier types.
• All via evidence-based information from a certified babywearing consultant.

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Who are we learning from?
Amy Rainbow is a Certified Babywearing Consultant (CBC) educated by the Center for Babywearing Studies (CBWS). She has been a babywearing educator since 2015, both professionally and as a volunteer for the non-profit Babywearing International of Portland as a community educator and chair of the Education Committee for the national board of directors. Amy has guest lectured about babywearing for Birthingway College's Postpartum Doula curriculum, as well as presented at the WEAR Babywearing Conference. She is Winner of Babywearing International's Perla Robertson Distinguished Babywearing Educator of the Year award, 2017. Also nominated for WEAR Conference's Babywearing Educator of the Year, 2017. Amy works as a childbirth educator (LCCE) for a local hospital and in private sessions. She has three children and has been practicing babywearing since 2003.

What if I don't have any carriers?
That's fine! All the carriers and dolls that we'll need are provided. Even lunch is taken care of for you. All you need to bring is yourself!

What if I've never worn a baby before?
We'll start with the absolute basics and build our skills together!

What if I'm really good at babywearing already?
You'll learn to apply your skills for breastfeeding support, Kangaroo Care, and attachment success. You'll also learn to "plant the seed" with your clients to encourage carrier use and skill-building.

What do we get out of the class besides baby carrier knowledge?

• Access to Amy for questions and troubleshooting at any time.
• All carriers, weighted dolls, and other supplies provided during class.
• Catered lunch.
• A printed Certificate of Completion at the end of class.

Why is babywearing an important skill for Birth Professionals?
Babywearing is proven to reduce crying, improve symptoms of colic and reflux, encourage attachment and bonding, help caregivers keep up with life's demands and so much more. Read our 11 Reasons for Babywearing on our blog!

Update: Our next offering of "Babywearing for Birth Professionals" is live! Coming up on Saturday, May 26th at 10 am. Register here: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=13432998&appointmentType=2783532​

Our first offering of "Babywearing for Birth Professionals" is coming up Friday, January 26th and is SOLD OUT! If you'd like to be notified of our next offering, email amy@adjoyn.com.

So many NEW incentives for our services that just don't stop at the value of the service itself.
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Now with every at-home car seat safety check or install with Adjoyn you get:

• A FREE universal car seat accessory: a Tula blanket! Up to a $25 retail value!
• Access to our referral program, making you eligible to get $10 cash back for EVERY new client you refer.
• ‎As always, no need to leave your home or wait: next-day appointments are available (most hospitals have a wait time of 3 weeks and you cpuld spend all morning waiting at a free clinic!).
• The same friendly and prompt expert service by our certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST), Amy Rainbow!

You may also be able to use your Health Savings Account funds for this preventative public health service - ask your plan coordinator (our merchant code is 8099).

The referral program benefit applies to ALL clients of Adjoyn, even if you received your service for free!
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Also new in 2018:

• A new babywearing MINI session: short at-home sessions join our existing offerings of online mini sessions and full 90-minute at-home consultations.
• A package deal: reserve a car seat safety check with a 90-minute babywearing consultation and get $45 off with our package.
• Or, add a 30-minute babywearing fit check to a car seat appointment for only $25 (save $20 off scheduling separately).
• Sliding scale fee: a set number of appointments for car seat safety and babywearing will be booked for a reduced rate each month. Email amy@adjoyn.com with interest.
• New donation program: donate all or part of a car seat appointment to a low-income family.

Classes and car seat clinic dates will also be coming soon! And don't forget about our amazing and engaging group for new parents: Beers and Babies will be exploring more breweries and visiting a summer beer fest!

Thank you so much to Dr. Angela Potter for featuring me as part of her Motherhood Insight series! 

Dr. Potter is an incredible asset to the postpartum community of Portland. She brings experience in nutrition, midwifery and women's health medicine, as well as a strong community presence and an intuitive, encouraging personality. 

You can read my full interview about my postpartum experiences here: www.drangelapotter.com/blog/amy-rainbow.

Thank you to Becca Jean Photography for creating these photos!

Lucy hit a big milestone at her seat check - time to switch from rear facing to forward facing! We know she's ready because even though she's just under 40 pounds, her height has reached the rear-facing limit. Because of her weight, though, we had to check a few more boxes on her forward-facing install.

​Here are the 7 things we adjusted, or the rainbow "Roy G Biv" of her big switch! You can also find this info in a post on a Facebook.

# 1/red: When we switched this seat to forward facing, we needed to move the lower anchors of the LATCH system out of the rear-facing belt path.

# 2/orange: (continued from # 1) The lower anchors are now in the forward-facing belt path. Lucy will only use the lower anchors until she hits 40 pounds. At that point, we'll remove the lower anchors and store them in slots on the seat back, then use the lap-and-shoulder belt to install the seat through the same forward-facing belt path. It's important that the seat beat locks the car seat in place so that it moves less than one inch at the belt path.
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# 3/yellow: For this seat (Diono), the rear-facing angle is adjusted using the detachable rear-facing plastic foot and the foam block angle adjuster. The foam block is inserted once babies can sit at a less reclined angle. When we move to forward-facing, BOTH these angle-adjusting items can be removed. On newer Dionos, you'll find an "adjustable bottom" which must be up completely (so it is flush with the seat bottom) for forward facing (and for rear-facing children under 25 pounds as well).

# 4/green: Because Lucy weighs less than 40 pounds, we need to install Diono's SafeStop on the back of the harness. When Lucy reaches 40 pounds, we'll remove this accessory.

# 5/blue: When rear-facing, the harness should sit at or below the top of the shoulders. Now that Lucy is forward-facing, her harness can sit at or above her shoulders.

# 6/indigo: Diono's harness pad is required for all forward-facing harnessed passengers, regardless of weight. It is optional for rear-facing and is not to be used as shoulder padding.

# 7/violet: This one has nothing to do with rear- or forward-facing, we just needed to move Lucy's headrest up to accommodate her growth in height!

** Not pictured: the top tether at the back of the seat is also in use now, secured in the tether anchor for this specific seat in the vehicle.

Lucy loves her new set-up in her familiar seat. Not long now and we'll switch # 2 to a seatbelt install when we remove the SafeStop harness (# 4) at 40 pounds. A fun mini milestone to look forward to!

​Our seat checks can be scheduled just 24 hours in advance, with appointments available from 6am to 10pm. Find out more at adjoyn.com/car-seats!

Thanks to Baby Nest Birth Services for hosting Adjoyn as a guest blogger this month! We're pleased to contribute an article all about choosing the best baby carrier for you, specifically answering the question: who do I ask about babywearing??

Five great resources are outlined - check the post on their site! 
https://babynestbirth.com/2017/09/12/5-ways-choosing-baby-carrier/

Portland is ramping up to August heat waves - starting this week with what has the potential to be record-breaking heat. If you have a baby or toddler, or if you're about to welcome one through pregnancy, it can be a real challenge staying cool. And with many Portland homes not having central air conditioning, finding things to do to get through the afternoon is a must.

Here are a bunch of stay-cool tips and activities. Be safe out there, Portland!

Stay hydrated!!
Above all else, remember plenty of fluid intake this week. Reuseable water bottles are portable and many are insulated as well.

Here are three LOCAL reusable water bottle companies to support! https://www.pdxmonthly.com/articles/2015/5/26/3-local-bottle-companies-beg-you-to-ditch-the-plastic-may-2015 (article from 2015 but all three companies remain in business)

Splash Pads
Stay hydrated on the inside AND outside at one of Portland's many amazing splash pads. Bring that reuseable water bottle, plenty of sunscreen, and some dry clothes for later! Check out PDX Parents' resource: http://www.pdxparent.com/fountains-splash-pads/

Cool Hang-outs
Not a water fan? No worries! There are lots of indoor alternatives: Legos, dance parties, arts & crafts, and ice cream - yum. There are so many possibilities in this list for little kiddos to still get the wigglies out while staying cool! Thanks again to PDX Parent: http://www.pdxparent.com/ten-places-beat-the-heat/

There's also a helpful list of free cooling centers that have been established in the Metro area. This article also has a lot of general heat safety tips, tips on keeping pets cool, and a guide for identifying and treating heat-related health conditions: http://portlandtribune.com/lor/48-news/364055-244846-chill-out-heres-how-to-beat-the-heat-this-week 

Remember when traveling to events - stay in the shade and bring portable shade such as an umbrella if necessary. Everyone except babies under six months can use sunscreen and drink plenty of fluids. Babies under six months should be kept shaded at all times and have extra breastmilk or formula (formula mixed at the same ratio, not diluted).

Escape to Nature
We are blessed to live in such close proximity to natural air conditioning! Explore the rivers, lakes, and woods local to Portland - just get in early enough that you're not hiking in the heat of the day, and make sure to bring snacks, water, first-aid, and a fully charged phone for emergencies. Travel Portland lists several city spots and the Columbia Gorge: https://www.travelportland.com/article/favorite-hiking-spots-in-portland/

Practice Safe and Cool Babywearing
Babywearing is still possible in the heat! And even though the idea of being in close proximity to anyone while so hot, babywearing is the most convenient way to monitor little ones for signs of overheating. Keep you and baby cool by using a lightweight carrier like a single-layer ring sling or mesh buckle carrier. Remember some mesh carriers, like water wraps, are made specifically to be wet while wearing, so they're not always a useful solution on dry land - check your manufacturer's instructions. For all carriers, if you find cooling towels helpful just make sure there's always a layer between baby and any cooling device. Never use ice packs to cool a baby.

If you need help finding a solution for your baby carrier goals, contact Adjoyn today and book a session at your home (or we can find an air conditioned meeting place too!). For lots more hot-weather baby wearing tips, check out this amazing resource from Babywearing International of Portland, including this handy infographic from BWI St. Louis Gateway: ​http://bwipdx.weebly.com/blog/hot-weather-wearing

Newborns Need Extra Care
Babies don't sweat! They rely on their caregiver to help them cool, so be sure to dress baby in light layers, keep baby in the shade with a breeze or fan nearby, and even use damp cloths with room-temperature water to cool baby's hands and feet when needed. If using water, always be sure it is room-temperature: cool water can cause chills which will raise body temperature.

Here's a concise article with tips for newborn's hydration and keeping baby cool indoors and out: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joan-liebmannsmith-phd-and-jacqueline-nardi-egan/keep-your-baby-safe-in-th_b_640028.html#

How do you plan to beat the heat this week? If you need more guidance about baby - for any kind of weather - we'd love to help here at Adjoyn! Contact us today!

Quite simply, a baby carrier is one of the most practical pieces of gear you can have! It allows for multitasking, easy travel, and babies who are carried cry up to 43% less!! (1) Here are ten reasons why using a baby sling, or "babywearing," is right for you.

​11. Babies don't know you want your dinner warm. 
They don't even know you want dinner! They just want to be held. But it's really hard to hold a floppy newborn and cut - let alone eat - your own food. Enter the baby carrier. Eat and even prepare foods without having to use any hands to hold that snuggle-lovin' baby.

6. Babywearers have their ish together.
Strollers are bulky. Carriers are streamlined. Walking toddlers are chaotic (and so fast!). Carriers are calm. An infant seat hanging off your arm is not fashionable no matter what looks you can pull off. A baby carrier compliments your style. It makes you feel put together which in turn may help you feel more capable of caring for your infant. (4)

Amy Rainbow is a babywearing educator and enthusiast. She offers babywearing education for Adjoyn as a Certified Educator, as well as volunteering for Babywearing International of Portland. Find more of her writings at amywrapsbabies.com.

References
(1) Less crying:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3517799
(2) Breastfeeding:
http://www.breastfeeding-problems.com/breastfeeding-hormones.html
(3) Digestion: ​
http://www.nationwidechildrens.org/kangaroo-care
(4) Caregiver Confidence:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12093942
​(5) Postpartum Mood Disorders:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11452667; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20601691
(6) Non-gestational Caregivers:
http://pregnancyandbaby.com/baby/articles/966559/skin-to-skin-father-bonding-with-newborn
(7) Brain Development:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1651-2227.2012.02770.x/abstract
(8) Weight Gain: ​
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD002771.pub2/abstract
(9) Sleep:
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/117/5/e909
(10) Reduce Infant Pain:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1890009/#!po=65.0000
(11) Purple Period of Crying:
​https://birthhappens.com/2015/10/08/the-period-of-purple-crying-what-is-that/
(12) Colic:
https://www.askdrsears.com/topics/health-concerns/fussy-baby/coping-with-colic/10-tips-comforting-colic

Rejoice in reliable care for your precious babies with Planet Nanny! Adjoyn clients get exclusive access to $25 off your full-time or part-time placement to this Portland-area childcare service. Find Planet Nanny on Facebook, Instagram, and online at theplanetnanny.com.

For the full list of Adjoyn partners, visit adjoyn.com/partners.