Once again, on January 16 2011, we will be offering baby carrier lending at Naturally – Mother Nature’s Trade Fair, from the planners of the Mommylicious trade fairs. Babes in Arms has been running the stroller check and carrier lending area since August 2010 and we are thrilled to have committed to providing this service for every one of their awesome, FREE trade fairs in 2011!
Some of you may know that we partner with a variety of local, mom-owned businesses who share our values and vision. These include, among a few others, Room to Grow, First Step Nutrition, Little Wonders, Full Circle Parenting and Baby Busy. With these businesses we work together to offer our clients discounts, and we also do trade fairs together and share marketing at times.
Our newest shared initiative was dreamed up as we discussed education options for new parents in Calgary. As an expectant or new parent you can take classes on breastfeeding, basic baby care, and bonding, as well as baby sign, baby massage, babywearing and cloth diapering. But if you take a class series you will generally learn the basics – how to bathe, feed, change and care for a new baby. These basics classes do not delve into post-partum fitness, baby massage, baby sign, babywearing, cloth diapering, and so on, at least not in much depth. For those topics you could choose to take a bunch of separate classes… or what if there was one series that brought all these topics together? You could learn all these extra skills that make life as a parent so much easier and more enjoyable while getting to know a close-knit group of other new parents and parents-to-be.
Thus was born Beyond Basics for New Parents, the class series that takes you beyond the basic survival skills you need, into the skills that will help you thrive in your new role as a parent. Not only will you meet other parents with babies around the same age (or who are due around the same time), you’ll save by taking the classes as a series instead of individually at different locations.
Beyond Basics for New Parents is a 7-week series that includes the following topics:
The class is open to expectant parents and parents of babies six months and under. More information can be found at Room to Grow and interested parties can register here.
Here is the afore-mentioned report – enjoy, and feel free to share the link!
http://www.reapcalgary.com/ir/documents/4/f/8/Healthy_Family_Healthy_Planet_Report.pdf
For Immediate Release April 2, 2010: Calgary’s first Healthy Families, Healthy Planet Report will be released on Saturday April 10th by REAP, Calgary’s only sustainable business association.
“Regularly, I receive inquiries from concerned parents asking for information about how to detoxify their homes,” says Stephanie Jackman, the president of REAP. ”This report is our response – providing people with relevant information and specific local resources to protect their health, their children’s health, and the health of the planet.”
Green Calgary Association, another Calgary-based environmental not-for-profit, has also identified a need for this information. Lauren Mangion, Advisor for the Healthy Homes program and Eco-Coach with Conscious Home says, “Through our work with the Healthy Homes program, we find a real demand for clear and concise information regarding raising a child in a sustainable manner. For many new families, bringing a child into the world serves as a living connection to the need for long-term thinking in our behaviors and lifestyle.”
The “Healthy Families, Healthy Planet” Report will highlight the top things that directly impact the wellness of your children and the environment: where they sleep, what they eat, bath products, toys, air quality, and suggest practical ways and local resources for families to reduce their effects.
“For many people, bringing a child into their life is a real catalyst in thinking about their home environment, the things they buy, and how those things are affecting their family’s health as well as the earth,” says Lindsay Ross, owner of Babes In Arms. “We hope this report will condense the information for parents in a meaningful way and make it easier to pinpoint the areas where they can make changes.”
In three complementary surveys of 4,500+ Canadians, McAllister Opinion Research discovered that 80% of Canadians say that sustainability is a top (20%) or high (60%) priority, and concern and caring for our children is the top reason to adopt sustainability as a national goal.
Stephanie Jackman of REAP and Lindsay Ross of Babes In Arms will be among the panelists presenting the “Healthy Families, Healthy Planet” Report and answering questions about detoxifying your home at the Downtown Calgary Public Library, April 10 at noon.
The launch of the “Healthy Families, Healthy Planet” Report is just one part of REAP’s Down to Earth Week, a six day celebration of sustainable living in Calgary.
About REAP
REAP – Respect for the Earth and All People – wants to help educate Calgarians that day-to-day decisions can help create a more sustainable future. REAP Members are Calgary businesses that make ethical business decisions – buying green power, paying their employees a living wage, supporting local suppliers and giving back to their community – because they believe in corporate social responsibility.
About Babes In Arms
Babes In Arms’ mission is to provide products and services to new and expecting parents that support bonding and attachment via breastfeeding and babywearing, as well as organic and/or sustainable options for products such as toys, diapers and skincare.
If you’re a customer or you live in or near Calgary and have a baby in your life, please take a couple of quick minutes to take our customer feedback survey! This will help us improve our service and selection for the benefit of our current and future clients. Thank you!! (Oh, did I mention there is a reward at the end?)
We’re at the Calgary Folk Festival Arts Market all this weekend, hooking Folk Fest revellers up with slings and other awesome things. Come see us in the booth to see the new Gypsy Mama Bali Baby Breeze wraps and water wraps, plus skincare products by Natural Creation and mei tais and longies (wool diaper covers made from recycled wool sweaters) by Practical Bebe – all brand new to the store! We’re not charging GST all weekend (at our booth). Checked us out at the Folk Fest but we didn’t have what you wanted in our booth? Come into the store with your Folk Fest wristband before the end of August and save the GST on your in-store purchase!
There was just a great write-up on Serena and her fakesweatshop stuffed toys on the Calgary Public Library Eco-Action blog. Check it out!
Serena's love kitties
I don’t think I did. Even though it’s been all I’ve been thinking of for the past month and I am really giddy about it.
So, here is the deal. REAP Calgary is a “not-for-profit association of Calgary businesses that are concerned with issues of sustainability.” Perusing their list of member businesses is a great way to make sure you’re using your dollar vote wisely – keeping your money local, and supporting causes and practices you can believe in.
The REAP website is also a great resource for information about sustainability in general. There are articles, event listings and resources to help you, specifically as a Calgarian, go green. Happy browsing!
