We love a good contest...

And this contest has a good GREAT cause behind it, so we like it even more! 

You may have heard that baby wearing and baby carriers are under attack. The warning that the CPSC has put out against slings is making many parents scared to buy ANY type of carrier, no matter the brand, style, or good reviews. The Baby Carrier Industry Alliance (BCIA) is trying to change that!  

According to their website, 

"The Baby Carrier Industry Alliance exists to increase awareness of the value of quality baby carriers and to support those in the baby carrier industry. The BCIA was formed in 2010 as a 501(c)(6) corporation. As an alliance of industry leaders, the BCIA is organized to propagate standards across the industry, promote educational outreach, participate in research, and help small businesses comply with standards. We are passionate about babywearing and about the baby carrier industry."

And guess what? By helping the BCIA in their cause, you can win a FREE *custom edition* Butterfly 2! Here's how:

1.Share your baby wearing story on their site.

http://babycarrierindustryalliance.membe

rlodge.org/stories

2.Upload your baby wearing picture on their website and/or Facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/BabyCarrierIndustryAlliance

3.Let us know what you learn from their website on this Discussion on our Facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=337775342639&topic=14611

We can't wait to hear the responses! Contest ends October 31st.
EXTENDED through November 15th! 


**Note: to be entered in the contest, you MUST post on our Facebook discussion page! That is the only thing that "enters" you!**

Wearer of the Week, John

We *LOVE* babywearing dads!! Here is what John's wife, Kim, writes about their Beco Butterfly:

Hello! I am sending along a photo of my husband, John and our 10 month old son, Wesley! We hike often and this picture was taken at Purgatory Chasm last month! My husband loves this carrier, he finds it easy to put on and take off our son, it's VERY comfortable, and adjusts easily! We have been using this for the past 10 months (since he was 3 days old!) and plan on getting another one when baby #4 comes in early Aug. We will both be carrying a baby on hikes! We have also had our 3 year old in this carrier, and still found it very comfortable! Thank you for such a great baby carrier!

Is all publicity good publicity?

I'm sure you heard about the huge recall on Infantino's SlingRider and the Wendy Bellissimo Sling. If you have been a part of the babywearing community (or more specifically, a part of TheBabyWearer) for any amount of time you probably already knew how dangerous those "bag slings" really are. Note the date on that blog as two years ago, also. :-/

At any rate, when all this got on the news, I had a lot of people asking me,  "Was that recall talking about those things you use?" I explained so nicely that, no, Beco Baby Carriers (as well as just about any other type of carrier when used correctly) were not part of that recall.

So here's the question....is all publicity good publicity? Even though the recall was horribly awful (at least three infants died, other reports would say more) has it brought more good or bad to the babywearing community?

voluntary recall - retrofitted info.

If you have purchased a Beco Butterfly

(January 2008 through February 28, 2008)

and have not heard from the vendor you bought it from, please read the official recall below. Contact the vendor directly and they will give you information on getting your carrier retrofitted at no charge.

*Go to the FAQ section on our website to download a customer retrofit form*

**

Retrofit Upgrade Buckles: The new upgrade buckles have not been integrated on any other baby carrier. These buckles are design by Duraflex, developed for the Police Dept. They do not make the carrier harder or more confusing to use nor does it add a step. The new buckles have 3 slots wherethe webbing is feed through instead of 2, making it much harder for slipping to occur. Once the webbing is threaded it does not need to be removed. You will need to pull harder (about 3x's as hard) than the current buckles. These new buckles actually eliminate a step,making the Butterfly easier to use. There will be no need to feed the buckle and excess webbing under the safety loops.

Thank you

and

so sorry for the inconvenience.

Butterfly Recall

Beco Baby Carrier Announce Recall to Repair Beco Butterfly Infant Carriers

Firm below announces voluntary recall. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of product: Beco Baby Carrier, model Butterfly

Units: About 1,900

Manufacturer: Beco Baby Carrier, of Newport Beach, CA

Hazard: Buckles connecting top body of carrier to the shoulder straps can suddenly release tension when shoulder straps are held near or by the buckles, causing carrier's body to shift. Posing a fall hazard to the baby.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received 10 reports of the webbing slipping through the shoulder buckles causing carrier's body to shift. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The recalled infant carriers were sold under brand name "Beco Baby Carrier Butterfly". Carrier has black label with green "b" logo on the left side. A picture of butterfly on the right.

Name of fabrics included in this recall: Mia, Pony Express, Carnival, Addison, Ethan, Sophia, Cameron, Ava, Joshua

Sold at: Specialty retail stores and Internet sites from January 2008 through February 28, 2008 for about $130.

Manufactured in: USA and Dominican Republic

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the carrier immediately and contact Beco Baby Carrier for instructions on returning the carriers for repair. Firm will provide free retrofit of the buckles and reimburse involved postage.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Beco Baby Carrier at 1.888.9.GET.BECO between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m PST Monday through Friday or visit the firms Web site at www.becobabycarrier.com