Peaceful Sprout » Babywearing

Sprout Scoop – October 2009

Alissa — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 02:45:45 +0000

October 2009

In this issue:

Twilight Thursdays
Kids Cooking Classes
October Events
October Classes
Babywearing
Sprout Soup Anniversary

Twilight Thursdays: Holiday Toy Preview

The leaves have barely begun to fall, but for those of us with children or grandchildren, our focus quickly shifts to the rapidly approaching holidays!

We at Sprout Soup are pretty excited about this holiday season as well, because it will be our first full season, having opened in late October last year. So as we’re quickly gearing up and seeking out the best quality toys, we wanted to plan something special for our customers and create a little showcase of the treasures we have found.

Twilight Thursdays will start October 1st and continue on the first Thursday in November and December. From 6:30 to 9pm we will have some great gift ideas out for you to touch and try, plus some special deals on our newest items. Light refreshments will be provided.

In October we will introduce you to Keva Planks (see the inset detail below), the US-Made Green Toys and some new products from our favorite US wood toys manufacturer, Montgomery Schoolhouse.

Kids Cooking Classes

Join Rachel of HoundsInTheKitchen.com for Cooking Classes! Children between the ages of 3 and 6 (with mom’s help) will learn how to prepare some of the foods of the season.

Thursdays in October, 11:15am
October 8 - Herbs
October 15 - Apple
October 22 - Crackers
October 29 - Squash

Each class costs $3 per child for supplies, or all four for $10.

Weekly Events

Weekly activities are open to everyone and FREE. Age ranges are suggestions.

Moms Groups
Fridays 10am-12pm
Weekly playdates are a relaxed time for moms to connect with other moms in the area and let their kids play.

Crafty Tuesday
Tuesdays 11am-12:30pm
Each week we have a new craft project, geared toward ages 2-6. Crafts take 10-20 minutes.

Story Time
Tuesdays 11am & 2pm
Join us for story time with a theme relating to the craft for the week.

October Classes

Kids Cooking Classes
Thursdays in October, 11:15am
A series of four classes introduce children to the flavors of the season with dishes they prepare!

Cloth Diapers 101
Saturday, October 17, 10am
An overview of the different types of cloth diapers, how to use and care for them. $10 per family registration required.

Combined Class
Thursday, October 29 6:30pm
Recommended for expectant parents, our Cloth Diapers 101 class plus an introduction to baby carriers. $10 per family registration required.

Monthly Events

Activities listed here are FREE & open to all.

Dad's Coffee (New day!)
First Saturday 10am - October 3
Hey dad! Let mom sleep in! Bring the kids to Sprout Soup for playtime. Coffee's on us.

Babywearing Meeting
First Wednesday 10am - October 7
A casual time to see baby carriers in action. Come with questions or to share your stash.

La Leche League Toddler & Tandem
Second Thursday 7pm - October 8
Support group for mothers nursing beyond one year and/or nursing more than one child. Contact Helen for info 740-485-2864

Columbus Attachment Parents
Second Saturday 10:30am - October 10
Fourth Thursday 6:30pm - October 22
This month: Babywearing

October Special Events

Twilight Thursday
Thursday October 1, 6:30 to 9pm
Preview our new toys for the Holidays! Plus special preview deals! Parents only, refreshments provided.
First Thursday of October, November and December.

One Year Anniversary Costume Party
Sprout Soup is one year old and we're throwing a birthday party! Bring your kids in their Halloween costumes and enjoy live music, face painting, food and games.

Download our October Calendar in PDF format - print out or keep on your computer for easy reference.

The Positive Effects of Carrying Your Baby

This is an excerpt of an article that was published on our blog. Read it in its entirety online.

Why should you carry your baby? It's no secret that babies like to be held. After nine months in a warm cozy womb, babies long for the close contact, warmth and gentle movements that they have become accustomed to. Columbia University conducted a study in 1990, which showed that mother and infant pairs who utilized soft baby carriers created a more securely attached relationship. Infant attachment plays an important role in healthy child development and has long-term effects on how the child will relate to others throughout their lives.

Baby-wearing makes brains smarter. So, not only is your child happier, but you can make them smarter as well. The first year of life is a crucial one for brain development. By holding your baby and letting him see your face and the world around you, you are helping the baby's neurons connect. And more connections make a smarter brain.

What kind of baby carrier? With so many benefits, it is a good idea to plan to hold and carry your baby as much as possible. There are many great baby carriers available today that make this easier, and also help keep your hands free so you can tend to other children or tasks. When choosing a carrier for your baby, look for one that will hold him in the same positions you use when holding him in your arms. For many babies this is an upright or semi-upright position with their tummy against your chest.

Sprout Soup has the largest selection of carriers in Columbus and we are always available to help you try them out and determine which will fit your needs. Carrying doesn’t end with infancy! Most of our carriers will last through toddlerhood, and even beyond!

Download our event calendar in PDF format.

Thank you for your support!

Noah and Alissa DeRouchie

www.SproutSoup.com

Sprout Soup Anniversary

October marks one year in business on North High Street for Sprout Soup! We're celebrating by throwing a birthday bash, including a Halloween costume party! We've reserved some great live entertainment, plus we'll have games, face painting and other goodies. Come on out in your Halloween costume, moms and dads, too! Saturday, October 24, 5pm.

Coming in November

Back by popular demand! Gobbles and Giggles is coming November 14, 11:30am-1:30pm. Gobbles and Giggles is a celebration of Thanksgiving! We’ll make a turkey craft, have story time and of course have healthy snacks.

The Family Photo Event was a hit last year. Diana Narotski of DGNPhotography.com will take family portraits, just in time for your holiday cards. A suggested donation of $40 per sitting is recommended. All proceeds benefit the Mid-Ohio Food Bank. November 21, 11am-3pm.

The Positive Effects of Carrying Your Baby

Alissa — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:58:57 +0000

In honor of International Babywearing Week we are re-publishing an article we wrote a few years ago on the benefits of wearing your baby. International Babywearing Week is intended to bring babywearing to the attention of the media and parents everywhere. It’s a practice that we wholeheartedly believe in, and hope to encourage as many parents as possible to start babywearing from birth! Read on to learn just some of the benefits you and your baby will experience.

Why should you carry your baby? It’s no secret that babies like to be held. After nine months in a warm cozy womb, babies long for the close contact, warmth and gentle movements that they have become accustomed to. Some new parents are unprepared for just how much they will need to hold their babies. Others wonder if holding them too much is spoiling or setting them up for problems later. However, studies indicate that babies know what they need and holding your baby close as much as he wants is a good thing for both of you.

Columbia University conducted a study in 1990, which showed that mother and infant pairs who utilized soft baby carriers created a more securely attached relationship. Infant attachment plays an important role in healthy child development and has long-term effects on how the child will relate to others throughout their lives. Other studies show that babies who are carried are more organized, they learn from the world around them at an adult’s level, and they tend to cry less.

Baby-wearing makes brains smarter. So, not only is your child happier, but you can make them smarter as well. The first year of life is a crucial one for brain development. In a single year, the baby’s brain will double in volume. All these new nerve cells (neurons) grow fast and are largely unconnected. By holding your baby and letting him see your face and the world around you, you are helping the baby’s neurons connect. And more connections make a smarter brain. Even if you are doing other things while carrying your baby, he is gaining valuable experience about the way things work; all while feeling safe, secure and loved.

Baby-wearing makes babies happier. By carrying your baby you also drastically reduce the amount of time a baby spends crying (although even carried babies DO cry). The reason for this is that the constant movement helps to regulate the baby’s world. Babies are used to motion from being in the womb. Carrying your baby helps to recreate this environment to help you baby better make the transition from womb to world. While in a sling or carrier, a baby spends more time in the quiet alertness state—the state in which infants observe the world around them and build the important neural connections. Babies that are not held spend more time unsettled, startling and flailing about, and in general are less able to make these connections. Babies that are held and carried a lot are more responsive to visual and auditory stimuli, and they learn to make choices about what to pay attention to and what to ignore. The ability to chose what to focus on is a valuable tool for learning.

When choosing a carrier for your baby, look for one that will hold him in the same positions you use when holding him in your arms. For many babies this is an upright or semi-upright position with their tummy against your chest. Another favorite infant carry is a cradle hold, with baby’s body semi-reclined across your arm. Both of these positions are possible in ring slings and stretchy wraps. But these are only two of the many option available. We at Sprout Soup are always available to help you determine which carrier will best fit your needs.

Carrying doesn’t end with infancy! Most carriers will last through toddlerhood and beyond! Toddlers especially may have times when being up in mom or dad’s arms is what they need and crave. A baby carrier can make these times easier on everyone, so no matter the age of your little one, babywearing can provide so many benefits it’s never too late to start.

Talkback Tuesday: Moment of Fame?

Alissa — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 22:15:35 +0000

So this is timely. I was (randomly) selected as Babywearer of the Week at TheBabywearer.com! No, it’s not a prestigious award or anything, they select a random user from among the Senior Members to be featured every week. But still it’s fun!

So for my first Talkback Tuesday, I’d like to ask you, Have you had a moment of fame? If so, tell us about it!

Maybe it’s big and you were on the stage with Dick Clark New Year’s Eve, or maybe you were profiled in your local paper. Or maybe you haven’t had a moment yet, but aspire to something big! Let us know!

Keeping Baby Close Has Long Term Benefits

Alissa — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 02:11:38 +0000

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Alissa DeRouchie (Client)
Sprout Soup
Owner
3165 Stoney Bridge Lane
Columbus, Ohio 43221
614.218.4002
Email: prx@sproutsoup.com.com
Web site: http://www.sproutsoup.com

Keeping Baby Close Has Long Term Benefits
Central Ohio Woman to Demonstrate Baby Carriers

Researchers have found that close contact with a loving caregiver helps a baby’s brain develop and may even prevent ADD, colic, and sleep disorders. Using baby carriers allows parents to foster this close relationship while keeping their hands free and getting things done. Alissa DeRouchie of SproutSoup.com will be demonstrating a variety of baby carriers at Baby Bonanza, March 25 at the Aladdin Shrine Center (3850 Stelzer Rd, Columbus, OH 43219).

Columbus, Ohio — March 18, 2007

Doctors recommend that babies be held as much as possible. The human contact helps build connections in the baby’s brain, pathways of learning that help baby discover and understand the world around him. Babies who are allowed to experience life in close contact with an adult and at adult level are more engaged and spend more time in a “quiet alert” state, which is ideal for learning.

Mrs. DeRouchie says, “We know that close contact is good for babies, baby carriers let us give babies the best while freeing up our arms.” The use of baby carriers allows parents to go about their daily tasks; at the same time giving babies much needed physical contact.

Some carriers are simple pieces of cloth, while others have buckles and straps. Mrs. DeRouchie is determined to show Central Ohio parents how easy it is to “wear” their baby. “It’s such a convenient alternative to bulky strollers,” she says.

The Baby Bonanza runs from 10am to 5pm on Sunday, March 25, 2007. Admission is $4, with discount coupons available at Babies ‘R Us.

QUOTES

The Baby Bonanza runs from 10am to 5pm on Sunday, March 25, 2007. Admission is $4, with discount coupons available at Babies ‘R Us.

Central Ohio Woman to Demonstrate Baby Carriers
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Central Ohio Woman to Demonstrate Baby Carriers
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