Tips for Winter Babywearing

by Desiree Beattie

Now that the warmer days are behind us, it’s time for coats, mitts hats and boots. If you’re a teeny baby, extra protection is necessary for those wickedly cold winter days. What’s warmer than snuggling up to another human body?

Babywearing can be a great option for keeping your little one warm during winter outings, but many parents are confused by all the options. Is purchasing a $500 babywearing coat necessary? Should my baby be under my coat or over my coat? Should they wear a snowsuit, even when they’re inside the coat? And what carrier is best?

Check out this 1970's Snuggly that I got from my MIL! I would recommend that you find something more updated that puts your child in the correct M position

Let’s simplify babywearing for winter!

1.    No, you don’t need a $500 coat. BUT, if you really wanted that coat, and thought you would get years of use out of it (the insert can be removed and turned into a regular coat once you’re done babywearing), then it might be worth it to you.
2.    Remember the #1 rule of babywearing – baby’s head needs to be visable and kissable from your vantage point. If they are too low (and snuggled down inside your coat), they are not getting enough oxygen.
3.    You can wear baby inside OR outside your coat. Go to Value Village and score a large coat that will cover your baby, or have someone sew an insert into the coat you already own. But remember the visible and kissable rule!
4.    If baby is outside your coat, yes, they will need their infant snow suit and a nice warm hat. You be the judge as to how cold they are inside the coat – some coats are large and drafty, whereas other coats are tight and snug. A quick check behind the baby’s neck will let you know whether they are too warm – a sweaty neck is a definite sign they have too many layers on.
5.    Using a carrier that is adjustable such as a ringsling can make for a quick and easy outing, as it simply slips over both baby and your bulky winter gear with no fuss or modifications.  It even has the added bonus of being an extra blanket layer for both you and your little and of course is easy to have on hand as it can be slipped into even a small bag for transport.  

Do a few practice runs around your neighbourhood to start. The worst thing would be to head out on a big outing, and realize that your baby is too cold. Once you get the temperature right, you’re set for hours of fun outside!

And remember to always be cautious when choosing the activity to do with your baby. Hiking through a forest can be difficult if you can’t see the ground in front of you, and skating while babywearing is not recommended (although I have known women who are very comfortable on skates and have no qualms doing this while babywearing). You be the judge of what works and doesn’t work.

Just don’t let your winter baby keep you inside!

Congrats to Desiree, owner of Little Luv Slings – the winner of three months of free advertising on the blog! Little Luv Slings offers a wide variety of ringsling styles, including woven and double layers, in many different fun and fashionable prints. Find them online and on Facebook.

Mommy needs a drink

Search Google for the term "mommy drinks" and you'll get over 4 million hits, mostly linking to humorous books and blogs. Searching "daddy drinks" yields even more results. And if you run in social media circles with other parents, you've no doubt engaged in humorous banter related to drinking - memes, emojis and hashtags fill the ethernet.

When I or my friends post parenting fails and disasters on Facebook, we're met with sympathy and advice. And of course, encouragement to go grab ourselves a much needed drink. I've been known to post one simple comment in response to a friend's plea for help with lice, children-turned vomit comets, sick dogs, and flooded basements: "wine."

What's interesting is how subtle and sneaky the culture of "mommy drinks" (or Daddy too) can be. How can it be wrong when everybody does it? We make it through each day, patting ourselves on the back for a job well done and declaring "I DESERVE a drink!" 

It's funny, right?

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Several months ago, I began to ask myself: "when did I start drinking so much?"

I'm sure I drank a lot in my twenties, but it was always related to an event or an outing. University parties, dinners out with friends, or family functions usually meant that I was indulging in something alcoholic. I never recall coming home from school or work and reaching for a bottle of wine. And given that I don't hold my alcohol very well, binge drinking was never an issue for me.

Then the kids came along, and something changed. I was getting broken sleep, dealing with virus upon virus, and trying to manage tight finances. My husband and I both found ourselves reaching for a drink each and every night. The first sip filled me with a sense of calm, and I knew that I'd make it through the evening. I could mentally check out of my whirling mind for a few hours, and attend to the physical needs of my family - feeding dinner, bathing, and bedtime.

There was no reason to feel embarrassed about this habit, because almost every other parent I knew was doing the same. "Guess it's time for a drink," I'd joke, as both kids would descend into hangry puddles on the kitchen floor. I would virtually cheers other moms, or ask "is it #wineoclock yet?" over social media. The responses were encouraging..."it's ALWAYS #wineoclock!" they cried.

Although my drinking never became a "problem" (I could stop after one or two, and it certainly didn't interfere with my day-to-day life), little signs that my crutch wasn't doing it for me anymore began to show themselves. I began to have an allergic reaction to red wine, and noticed symptoms of asthma, headaches and skin problems (remember my Mommy Disease post?) I tried switching over to white wine or beer, but I still felt rotten the following morning, even if I'd only had two drinks. 

And suddenly, the one thing that I thought was effective in getting me to "calm down," was leaving me more anxious, tired and short-tempered than I had ever been. Furthermore, drinking is an expensive habit to continue when it's not serving its purpose.

When I finally slowed down, and started to question this habit I had developed, I knew it was time to stop. Let me be clear, though - I didn't stop DRINKING, but I stopped treating each drink as a cure for my messy life. Because we all lead messy lives, don't we?

I had started to use my relatively mundane, first-world problems as a reason to check out. I had become the "tortured Mommy," convinced that parenting was so damn hard that I needed something to get me through it. Well duh, of course parenting is hard!! It's the hardest job in the world. But what would happen if we started to fill our emotional cups, instead of our wine glasses? I suspect many of our "problems" would slowly disappear.

And here's the other thing: I don't think our world can afford for me to check out. I feel like I have a lot of work to do. I want to raise strong kids who know how to take care of themselves - who don't need to rely on food, alcohol, smoking (or whatever vice you may have) just to "get through." I have so many ideas and hobbies I want to explore, and I can't do it when I'm functioning through a wine haze. A glass of wine in the evening means I'm zoning out for the night.

But listen, I didn't write this post to judge you or judge myself. If you need a night on the couch drinking wine, I will happily support you. In fact, I may toast you occasionally, because there are some nights where "checking out" is necessary for the mind, body and soul. What I will not support is when YOU feel bad about the drinking. I wrote this post to call out the culture of "mommy drinks" and name it for what it is - a cop-out. It's an easy way out of a tough situation.

These days, if you visit my house in the evenings, you will often find me banging away on the keyboard, reading a good book or doing a sun salutation on my yoga mat (ok fine, and watching the Mindy Project.) I still love the occasional glass of wine, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. But instead of nightly drinking, I'm rewarding myself with compassion and time - time to just sit with myself, for better or for worse.

Because Mommy doesn't need a drink.

Misty Pratt is the Community Manager for this here blog. She is mom to two girls, and wife to Tom of All Trades (the man, and not the business.) When she's not working for Kids in the Capital, she can be found managing giant spreadsheets as a health researcher.

Ausome Ottawa

Imagine for a second that you couldn’t register your kids in any kind of group sports, dance or physical activity program. How would that change your family life?

If you have a child over the age of four, I’m guessing that he or she has participated in some form of organized sports or movement program. It’s so much fun to watch our kids playing with a group of other children, learning new skills, and finding out what their little bodies can do. 

If my kids couldn’t participate, every day would look different for our family.

This is the situation for many families living with autism. Not only are mainstream programs often not appropriate for these kids, but they are costly. Families with one or more kids on the autism spectrum are financially stretched due to the costs of all the therapies the children may require. The first things to cut from a tight budget are activities that are perceived as leisure - like sports. 

Our son with autism is able to participate in mainstream sports and he derives a ton of benefit from it. It improves his self-esteem, reduces his anxiety, allows him to make friends, among many other things. We don't know what we would do if he didn't have sports. In fact, we don't know what we would do if he couldn't share sports with his brother and his father (and sometimes me). 

My husband and I know that many families living with autism do not have this opportunity even though they wish they did. 

So… we want to provide it. To this end, we have started an initiative called Ausome Ottawa.

What is Ausome Ottawa?

We at Ausome Ottawa are planning to deliver sports and movement programs for children with autism spectrum disorders. These programs may include siblings and will offer something for parents during the sessions, be it a place to enjoy coffee and cookies with other parents, or something more formal like a speaker or workshop.

The programs will all be offered free of charge to families. They will be one-on-one for the participants, employing facilitators specifically trained to work with children with autism. 

Two sports facilities, Capital Courts Basketball Training Center  and Nepean Corona School of Gymnastics, have signed on as partners. That is just the beginning.

Why should you get involved?

Ausome Ottawa is building a dynamic community of volunteers, sponsors, donors and participants. We are looking for innovators and entrepreneurs who want to get involved to make a positive impact on our community, learn from each other, and get things done. Your time and your support will always be appreciated. We are passionate about sport and its impact on quality of life. If you are too, we want you! Who knows? You may learn something too. 

What you can do today

1.    Come to our launch party on Saturday November 28th. Get your ticket now or make  a donation if you can’t come.
2.    Donate something for our silent auction. 
3.    Share our news with at least two or more friends and follow us on Facebook or Twitter.
4.    Purchase The Ausome Bracelet as a holiday gift for your friends and family members - and get one for yourself while you are at it. All the proceeds from this beautiful, affordable gift go directly to Ausome Ottawa.

We can’t wait to hear from you. Find us at AusomeOttawa.com.

Liisa Vexler is a health and medical writer who also loves to write about living abroad with kids. She is mom to two active, athletic boys, one with an ASD.

Halloween at the City of Ottawa Museums

The City of Ottawa has so many great museums, and I'm guilty of not having checked them all out. Living in the East end, we've been to Cumberland and Billings Bridge, but haven't ventured further than that. I think Halloween is the time to do so! Older building make for a spooktacular setting, don't they? Below is a list of upcoming Halloween activities that you don't want to miss!

Halloween Hijinks

Cumberland Heritage Village Museum, Sunday, October 25 from 10 am to 4 pm
Did you know that it’s only recently that Halloween has become a children’s event? In the 1920s, Halloween was a popular event, but mainly for adults. During our Halloween Hijinks, young visitors are encouraged to dress in costume and trick or treat safely at the museum, going from one heritage building to the next to collect period-appropriate candy treats from characters in all sorts of unique costumes.
Cost: Regular admission

Pumpkin Party

Nepean Museum, Sunday, October 25 from 10 am to 4 pm
Join is for a Pumpkin Party! Carve a pumpkin, get your face painted, and make your own Halloween costume! Professional face-painters will be on site to paint faces, either to go with your costume, or in the design of your choice!
Cost: $6/person, $10/pair, $16/family

Halloween at Horaceville

Pinhey’s Point Historic Site, Sunday, October 25 from 10 am to 4 pm
At our Halloween at Horaceville event, enjoy the treats that traditional Halloween pranksters did, carve pumpkins and listen to some audience-appropriate scary stories!
Cost: $6/person $10/pair $16/family

Halloween Party

Billings Estate National Historic Site, Saturday, October 31 from 10 am to 4 pm
Many houses in Ottawa are rumoured to be haunted, including our very own Billings Estate National Historic Site! This family-friendly event encourages age-appropriate explorations of Ottawa’s haunted past. Little ones can trick-or-treat at our custom, child-sized haunted houses, built to replicate Ottawa’s best-known landmarks. Each house will offer an activity, (including our monster shooting gallery) that visitors may participate in before receiving a treat!
Cost: $6/person $10/pair $16/family

Trick-or-Treat at Fairfields

Fairfields Heritage House, Saturday, October 31 from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Trick-or-treat! Fairfields Heritage House will have a trick-or-treating station set up at the end of the driveway on Bellfield. Trick-or-treaters will learn a bit about the history of trick-or-treating along with delicious treats!
Cost: Free

Full Disclosure: The City of Ottawa is a sponsor on the blog, but we have not been paid to post this :) We just want you to have a BOO-tiful Halloween!!

DIY Halloween Costumes WITHOUT sewing!

I'm all for DIY (Do It Yourself). You will often find me on Pinterest searching DIY projects, not because I'm crafty, but because I'm cheap. I really hate paying for things that I don't value. And one of the things I definitely do not value are Halloween costumes.

Don't get me wrong, I love the traditional notion of Halloween - kids and adults celebrating the ghoulish, the dark, or maybe celebrating life by welcoming death with open doors. What I don't love is the commercial side of Halloween. 

This is really too bad, as I'm someone who SHOULD be purchasing costumes for my kids. Why? Because I can't sew! And even if I wanted to, I don't own a sewing machine and don't have time for a hobby at this point in my life.

But who needs a sewing machine for Halloween? There is so much you can do without that needle and thread. I put the question out on our Facebook Page: "do you have an example of a Halloween costume you've put together without the use of a sewing machine?" Here are a few examples!

Buying Used

Angèle made use of Value Village and a stapler for these three costumes! You can piece together a fabulous costume by scouring your local second-hand shops.

Astrid from How to Train your Dragon

Little Red Riding Hood

Mavis from Hotel Transylvania

Buying New but Reimagining the Costume

OK fine, I said I was cheap, but last year I DID spend a bit of money on my daughter's costume:

To make this Elsa dress, I purchased a white adult-sized angel dress ($15). I then used fabric dye from Michael's ($5 with a coupon!), as well as stickers, jewels and tulle (another few bucks and some stuff we already had at home). The dye didn't work well because the fabric of the dress is not a natural fabric but that was OK with me - I loved the icy blue that resulted!

Krysta V commented: "When my little guy wanted to be a bumblebee, we got dollar store Bee wings, black clothes, a yellow bow tie and yellow/black striped underwear to wear on top of his pants! Cutest bumblebee I'd ever seen! No sewing involved, so even better!"

Hot Glue Gun

I love glue guns. There's something so satisfying about the glue squeezing out of that gun....except when it leaves those strings everywhere!

Lara made this Creeper costume, and she shares the instructions here:

Shirt: take an old shirt that's stained or ready for giveaway. Buy some sheets of felt (I think I needed about 6-8 sheet of 8 x 10) and cut into squares. I didn't measure - you should measure.

Use a hot glue gun to affix them to the shirt.

Mask: Find a box that will fit well over your child's head. Draw a grid onto the box and let your child paint the squares in a variety of greens and black. Cut out the eye holes. You will probably need to create a bit of a crown in the top of the box so it will sit on top of the child's head instead of sliding around all over the place.

Have you made an awesome Halloween Costume without a sewing machine? Head to our Facebook page and post it there!