Eden Velveteen Mei Tai

I am so jazzed! (Doing a little dance here!) I have been adding new baby carriers slowly, slowly, as time and business and life for a work at home unschooling mom of two girls allows. I have never added any Mei Tais before because I wanted just the right one to fit the SoBe image. Something that would have mainstream appeal. Something with style and pizazz. Something both men and women could wear (and kids too!) Something that works well with jeans but can go a bit dressier and still feel elegant. And of course something with rock solid construction and super comfy and easy to use.

The Eden Velveteen Mei Tais arrived today. I think I got to my office seconds after they arrived! I had them out of the box immediately. They are everything I'd hoped for. Wouldn't you know my daughter would not let me try it on because we were going to Starbucks. We do our modeling at home or running errands. But later, she fell asleep on the way to see my aunt at the hospital and I was able to pop her in a front carry.

Aaaagh!

Even though she's 2 1/2, her head rested comfortably on one of the wide shoulder straps. I am by no means a mei tai expert so I did have to tighten it a few times, but in the end, she was in there a good hour napping and I got no back pain even though she was a still a bit lower than I would have liked. Not bad for 25 pounds! Most baby carriers do not work for front carriers for toddlers. This is where a mei tai can shine and particularly one with nice wide straps.

I'll be working on my technique as time allows. I do have an article to write on structured baby carriers so the mei tai may not be my focus over the next few weeks but it is so gorgeous, it may find itself jumping off the hook anyway.

Eden Baby Carrier Velveteen Mei Tai

$90.00

Eden Velveteen carriers are made from a medium weight stretch velveteen that has just the right amount of stretch to cuddle snugly around your little one without being bouncy. They are 97% cotton and 3% spandex, which makes them incredibly soft with a luxurious simplicity that will compliment any outfit. Eden carriers are easily machine washable in cold/warm water and tumbled dry on low. The carriers are also reversible to the "cleanest" side! Eden carriers are sized to fit the majority of bodies.

Eden baby carriers are a contemporary version of the Asian Mei Tai. Eden carriers are created by a happy-to-work-at-home Santa Cruz, CA mama and are sewn in San Francisco by a reputable sewing house. She designed Eden carriers while pregnant with her second child. After developing back issues when carrying her first child, in a variety of one-shoulder slings, she decided that she needed a more ergonomic way to carry her children. She was frustrated with the bulky fabric of some of the current baby wraps and was concerned about the spinal health of her children, which is sometimes compromised in some of the currently popular front packs. She stumbled upon the traditional Mei Tai design and was instantly a convert! She loved the look, the ease of use, and the comfort to both baby and baby wearer. From birth, her babies have been comfortably and safely carried everywhere in the Eden.

Eden baby carriers offer versatile ways of carrying newborns, toddlers and beyond (when the walk is just a little too far). Newborns can be carried safely on the chest. Older babies can be carried on the chest, hip and back. Toddlers are easily carried on the back. I strongly believe that wearing your baby close to your body benefits both you and your child in many physical, emotional and practical ways! Eden carriers are a stylish, ergonomic and comfortable way to optimize intimacy with your wee ones.

Mothering Magazine Babywearing Issue

SoBeBabies: As Featured in the Mothering Magazine Babywearing Special Issue

Check me out! I haven't blogged here in a while because I was just bursting with the knowledge that I'd be in a magazine! I've had articles published before but never my actual photo! What an honor! I am so thrilled that M'liss included me and my two websites in this Mothering Magazine Babywearing special issue.

It was such a scramble to get the photos done. She knew exactly what she wanted but I only had a short time to get set up. Normally, I photograph outside but this needed a neutral background so I had to try to do the best I could with limited resources in a really short amount of time. I duct taped (gawd, I love duct tape!) a sheet to the wall of my balcony, cleared away all the furniture, and brought out all the lamps I own. I put a thin gauze cloth against the screen to block harsh shadows and then I waited for the light to come at the ideal angle. My younger daughter, pictured in the photos was so fussy. It was the third photo shoot in as many days and she really was quite done with all this. It was my older daughter who really saved my sanity. With the camera on a tripod, she patiently took photo after photo when I told her to click.

It turns out that the credit is for Sobebaby instead of SoBeBabies but it's really SoBeBabies! And there is also a mention of The Ergo Lady in the resources section! I am beyond thrilled! I have worked so hard on the Tips and Tricks section and I am so proud of it. That reminds me - I have to update it to include a tip I got from a mom of a four month old who wasn't quite big enough to sit with his legs open in the Ergo. She puts one foot in. Great tip from Michelle! And remember that these tips are good for all structured (soft pack) baby carriers.

Okay, okay, I admit it. I've been zenned!

I have been so madly at work for the last 2 months. Picture a store moving from a very small location to a new downtown location, having to secure the lease, paint and redecorate the new space, move the inventory and order more inventory to fill the new location, set up display shelves and an upgraded checkout system.

Well, that's what I've done, but only virtually. It's so easy to see your progress when you have an actual store with paint cans and ladders. It's a whole different animal when it's virtual, but, no less work.

I have implemented a zencart shopping cart and stepped up to play with the big girls. This is no joke! Everything you could possibly want or need is in there. But it was so much work to get it done, and, just like in the physical world, there were unexpected and time-consuming hurdles and glitches. Simply doing the initial installation was daunting to me. I fly by the seat of my pants when it comes to the online world. Seriously! Well, no, that's not quite true anymore, but let's just say I came into this not knowing HTML, Java, CSS, PHP, or any of that fancy stuff. And now? Nope. Still don't know any of that fancy stuff but I play one on TV.

I admit to an extensive software engineering career back in the day followed by a configuration management career and lots of consulting. I can debug anything. I just didn't think I'd be dusting off those skills. I also have a background in databases. I honestly thought that my skills were outdated and if push came to shove, I would not be worth hiring anymore. As Guy Kawasaki would say, Bull Shiitake! I always walked into my interviews and got hired. When they asked if I knew J-foo-foo, I honestly would say, "No, but I can learn it." And I would. Those that quizzed me on interviews and then didn't hire me because I wasn't quite sure of the bit order on DEC, IBM PC and SunOS were idiots. Why would one need to rattle that kind of stuff off when it is so easy to check? My head is filled with more important skills, not trivia. And it's filled with the gist, which is a critical skill, because it translates into new situations.

I did find myself in some hairy deep messes trying to get the system set up, in no small part because I had the misfortune to have downloaded a version of the software and then not installed it until it was seriously old. Once I was kindly informed that I was about to go live with a version of software that was full of security holes, of course I had to upgrade. Well, a sleepless week terminating in a very late night and a bottle of Jack Daniels for a goddess on the Zencart staff has brought me to where I am now, live and with a gorgeous new store!

I have lots to still do, tidying up in the back of the store, so don't mind me. And the inventory isn't all even out yet so watch out for good stuff coming all the time. Some of it isn't even really set up to buy yet, like the Dadgear and Daisygear Diaper Bags. Those will require some solid hours of effort.

But I'll get there!

DadGear and DaisyGear Diaper Bags

I am in the process of getting some great new products online. I'll leave some surprises to come but I am currently working on adding these really gorgeous and reasonably priced diaper bags. Finally, a dad friendly diaper bag. Of course moms are gonna love it and they thought of that and created a slightly modified more feminine version dubbed Daisy Bags.


Here is the Daisy Sport Diaper Bag. It is so cute! This about makes me want to start carrying a diaper bag again! Well, almost! It's definitely nice to have those days over with but this bag is so cute, I want to find some excuse to have one. Anyone have any suggestions for me?


By the way, I have been meaning to get this info up on my website. All the diaper bags I carry are babywearing friendly. Babywearing is a critical tool in a parents toolbag and having a babywearing friendly diaper bag means hands-free diaper bag wearing and that the strap won't get in the way of the baby or the baby carrier. A messenger bag is ideal. A backpack style diaper bag will limit you to front carries. That's fine if you have a newborn but as time goes on, it's great to have more options than that. A messenger is ideal with a backpack style baby carrier.

Cloth Diapers vs Disposable Diapers

So, have you read your latest issue of Mothering Magazine? I have only gotten as far as the article about cloth diapers with the whole disposable diaper history lesson and already, I am stunned. Simply stunned.

There is a lot of data going the internet around that makes people feel okay about using disposable diapers. There are ridiculous biased studies that claim that if you factor in the amount of resources required to create cloth diapers and wash them, they are comparable in their environmental impact to disposables.

Come on!

Are you buying that?

I did a bit of quick math in my head and was able to get numbers even worse than what these articles say. For example, I have read that it costs $3000 to use disposable diapers over the span of diapering. I did some quick math and realized that this was based on the child being in diapers for 2-3 years and only on about 7 diaper changes per day. The prior is unrealistic and the latter is disgusting. Most children who wear diapers pee way more often than that and if they are peeing significantly less, especially in the first year, you need to be worried about dehydration. It turns out that potty training has been delayed more and more since the popular use of disposable diapers because children are disassociating with their own elimination. So figure on 4-5 years of disposables for many children, with some in pull-ups at night for 6 years and beyond. If you don't believe me, go see what the stores are stocking.

I am here to say that anyone who says the decision to choose cloth diapers or disposable diapers is a toss-up or a personal decision is wishy-washy, misinformed, or intentionally misleading you. Disposable diapers are a huge problem for our babies, our environment and our wallets. Period.

My friend Kathy (owner of BabysAbode.com) and I do a monthly talk at the Hollywood Birth Center for families who are expecting a baby and one of the topics is cloth diapers. I was stunned to have a fellow in there one time who was openly hostile about what we were saying. He simply refused to believe that the effect of feces in the ever growing landfills and diapers that don't decompose for 500 years was anything to worry about. And he came from Denmark, a country he readily admitted was quite advanced in its opinions on environmental issues.

Why do people stick their heads in the sand when it comes to our own short-term convenience? Why do we think it is acceptable to dump fecal matter in the regular trash when there are all sorts of complicated processes that go on for sewage to save us all getting contaminated? Remember all the plagues that stopped with the advent of indoor plumbing?

Cloth diapers are not all that complicated to care for and they are super inexpensive compared to disposable diapers. Let me back up a bit and say I was terrified to use cloth with my older daughter. I used the Tushies brand from Whole Foods because I figured they would be more natural for my baby's tender nether regions. Plus they decompose in a mere 50 years so we can go visit her poop pretty much for the rest of my lifetime.

I found the very thought of cloth diapers repulsive. Seriously, I did. If you have ever met me, you might be startled by that. I share that to show how far I've come and that I have faith that you, too, can come a long way in your thinking. You're reading this so you are open minded! So I continued using paper diapers on my sweet little baby's bottom.

But after 8 months of a continual disgusting diaper rash, I was motivated to look into other options. After a brief and confusing stint with a diaper service, I finally made the plunge and bought a starter pack of contoured cloth diapers and wraps. I had no one to guide me so I found it confusing at first but there are so many online forums with information handy that I was able to get it figured out pretty quickly.

I had a front loading washing machine so I could not soak my diapers. It turned out that there was no need. I only had enough diapers to last 2 days so I did laundry either daily or every 2 days. I did a cold rinse and then a hot wash with a minimal amount of gentle detergent. At that time, I machine dried my diapers but later, I realized that I could just tumble them for a few minutes and then hang them dry and save on resources. I no longer use a dryer at all for any laundry.

My daughter's rash cleared up within a few days. For good. After a few months, I got bold and stopped using the wrap when I was around the house. A friend who had lived in Africa for a few years educated me on how often to change diapers. I had been under some notion that the goal was to soak up as much pee as the thing could hold before changing it. Looking back, I wanna smack my former self sharply around the face for this but it is what I had soaked up from all the commercials which show a diaper about to explode and the parents still blissfully able to ignore the child. With cloth diapers not costing anything to change, there is no need to try to get the most out of each diaper.

So I started using the diapers alone and constantly checking for wetness, changing immediately. Long story short, she was totally out of diapers on her second birthday. With my second baby, I started doing elimination communication from birth and she was out of diapers for the most part by around 18 months. We also used cotton training pants fairly often because they hold a bit of pee and are less bulky to launder, and you can buy a whole lot of them for less money. I see no reason to keep children in big fat bulky diapers if you are going to change them after each pee. And my sqeamishness about getting pee or poop on me has, at least as far as my own babies is concerned, nearly completely gone away. For now, anyway.

One last thing I'd like to say is this: These ain't your mama's cloth diapers! In fact, cloth diapering has changed so much in the past few years, I dare you to go look and not come away hooked. Last month at our talk, we passed around a signup sheet at the beginning for a cloth diaper class. That clipboard flew so fast, a few people got injuries in their haste to get it back to us blank. Then later, while Kathy was passing around some cute cloth diaper options, I slyly started the clipboard on it's second journey. It's no surprise it came back with about half the people signed up!

Tropical Storm Ernesto

The hurricane is expected this evening. If we are hit hard in South Florida, no orders for SoBeBabies or TheErgoLady will be shipped out until the Post Office reopens. Please bear with us during this delay!

The latest news on the storm indicates that it is not expected to linger or be even a Category 1. That is good news! Today's orders already went out around 1pm. I will continue to pack up orders to ship out but won't actually take them to the post office until I am certain it has reopened.

Also please understand that we may not be able to respond to phone calls or emails during this time.

If you are seeing this message and have just placed an order but now realize you don't want to risk a delay, simply send me an email and I will refund your payment when I am back online.

But hey, I'm running some pretty nice sales!

Last update: Tuesday August 29, 2006 5:10pm