Support Babywearing - Be a BCIA Charter Member

BCIA Seeks Charter Members

The Baby Carrier Industry Alliance (BCIA) announced today that charter members can begin to join the organization, which promotes standards in baby carrier safety and education. Appealing to parents for support, the group has created a variety of membership plans for both big and small contributors.

Donors will play a big role in helping fund the organization act swiftly to create voluntary safety standards that can be recognized by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), a federal agency that is determining whether baby slings should continue to be sold in the US for babies under the age of four months.

"Infant slings have been recently placed in the 'durable infant product' category, which requires a mandatory CPSC standard," explains Krisit Hayes-Devlin, BCIA board chair.

Hayes-Devlin says the first order of business is to finalize a voluntary standard for infant slings that is both safe and also achievable for small babywearing businesses.

Individual supporters can join as Friend or Champion members.

"We really wanted to have a place for the parents, friends, and supportive organizations to have voice and see what we do, even if they are not financially invested in this industry," says Britt Pegan, BCIA board member and head of the membership subcommittee. "We have some fun benefits for both [membership levels] outlined on the website, but in particular our Champions will receive ongoing discounts and promotions with vendors both in and outside the trade. Also, BCIA 'supporters' also have access to our member-only forums."

Metro Minis is a founding member of the BCIA. We would like your support in joining them as they promote baby carrier standards in safety and preserve the rights of parents to use these amazing products.

For more information on the BCIA check out their website: www.babycarrierindustryalliance.org.

Klean Kanteen never disappoints!

10:40 @ night... Manhattan.

I'm running to catch my taxi, throwing my bags into the backseat before I jump in... and there it goes, flying out of my bag -- my insulated stainless steel Klean Kanteen water bottle! After it bounces on the concrete and rolls across the street, it settles beneath a parked car.

Not thinking, I run out in front of traffic and hurry to chase it. After I rescue it, I'm thinking to myself, how ruined is my favorite water bottle now?

NOT ONE DENT!

Insulated Klean Kanteen water bottles survive the streets of NYC. It took a beating and came out beautiful. I love these bottles!

Baby Carrier Industry Alliance is born!

Berwick, Maine, July 22, 2010 – Leading Baby Carrier Manufacturers, Retailers, Educators, and Component Part and Accessories Manufacturers proudly announce the formation of the industry’s first trade organization, the Baby Carrier Industry Alliance (BCIA).

The newly formed BCIA will educate families about the indisputable benefits of using quality baby carriers, coordinate information gathering and research, and work with government organizations to ensure safe, quality baby carriers that emulate in-arms carrying are available to parents and caregivers.

“This organization has been a long time coming; the industry as a whole wants parents to feel confident with their choice in baby carrier. We want parents to know that they are offering their baby the best, and safest, possible start to life by carrying their child in an ergonomically correct baby carrier,” says Vesta Garcia, founder of Peppermint and Ellaroo.

The immediate responsibility of the BCIA is to finalize work on a voluntary standard for infant slings. “We are working as quickly as possible to get a strong standard to ballot in the near future,” says Kristen DeRocha, chair of the American Society of Tests and Measures (ASTM) subcommittee on sling standards and founder of Hotslings. The BCIA believes the completion of this standard is key to ensuring the safety and general availability of both commercially produced and handcrafted babywearing products.

In 2007, a small group of sling manufacturers voluntarily approached the ASTM, the body responsible for creating standards for thousands of consumer products in the United States, to request that work on such a standard begin. In Spring 2008, several manufacturers of infant carriers and carrier component parts began work on the standard along with the CPSC, Health Canada, and several consumer groups. The BCIA looks forward to the eventual adoption of the voluntary safety standards so it can move towards its larger goal of education and research.

For more information on the BCIA visit our website:
www.BabyCarrierIndustryAlliance.org

Brooklyn Babywearers New Meeting Location

Need help with babycarriers? Come to the Brooklyn Babywearing Meeting at the Park Slope Food Coop.

In-Store Upgrades!

Some long awaited upgrades for our Park Ave location were installed this week to improve the look and feel of our store.

With a completely redesigned electrical system, we were able to install new lighting throughout the store and add two new air-conditioners to help fight off that pesky summer heat (our old single unit AC just couldn't handle 2010!).

We've also setup a complimentary stand of ice cold water for customers to enjoy while they're in our store.

With all the great new selections we are offering each day, we hope you will come in and enjoy our more relaxing shopping experience!