Boston Moms Rock Babywearing Week With Huge Flash Mob

Boston Moms Rock Babywearing Week With Huge Flash Mob
This afternoon, about 50 moms converged on downtown Boston in the biggest babywearing flash mob we've ever seen! In celebration of International Babywearing Week, organized by Boston Babywearers, and sponsored by Boba, these moms wore their children in baby wraps and soft structured baby carriers while dancing to their uniquely penned version of The Wheels On the Bus. They caused quite a stir! Here's the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDqwOlln680

If you are in the Boston areas, consider joining Boston Babywearers for the finale to their International Babywearing Week 2011 celebrations tomorrow, October 15, from 1 to 4 pm at MIT’s Sidney-Pacific Graduate Residence in Cambridge. The party will feature food, live local music, a raffle for over $3500 in prizes, and much more!

Check out the Boston Babywearers press release:

Flash Mob: Local Parents Showcased Babywearing

Over 50Boston-area parents converged on Downtown Crossing today to show just how much wearing their children lets them do - a choreographed song and dance routine. Sponsored by Boston Babywearers (BBW) and Boba Inc., designers and manufacturers of premium baby carriers and accessories for babywearing parents, the group included children ranging from newborn to 3 years old being worn in soft-structured Boba Carriers and Boba Wrap stretchy baby wraps. Older children were even visible wearing their dolls in child sized carriers.

"We love seeing parents so active and adventurous in their carriers and wraps! This event certainly demonstrates how much caregivers can (and do!) do while babywearing," said Abby Armijo of Boba Inc.

The group sang a custom version of “The Wheels on The Bus” and danced for approximately 3 minutes before dispersing back into the crowd. Captured here on video by a flash mob member’s husband and in photos by Karen Giannopoulos Photography, the flash mob was a first for the local group, Boston Babywearers.

Jessica Mailman, president of Boston Babywearers, has been planning the flash mob and other events held this week since early Spring. “Flash mobs are fun and something people always talk about, so we thought it would be the perfect way to get the word out about our group and International Babywearing Week, while showing how much you can do while still holding your child close.”

When asked how she came to be such an ardent supporter of babywearing, Mailman had a compelling response. “My youngest of 3 children was an extremely cranky and colicky baby and I almost ended up in physical therapy due to holding her constantly. Once I found babywearing, it changed my life. I was suddenly able to hold her close, tend to her needs and keep her calm—and make dinner and do homework with my older children at the same time. I know that there are other families who could benefit as much from wearing their children and I want them to know their options.”

For other members of the group, babywearing is about convenience, closeness, comfort, having their hands free, and having a happy baby. The chance to show it off in a flash mob was an easy choice for most who, much like Mailman, want to share their love of babywearing with others.

“I LOVE singing, love performing, sing in a chorus and have always wanted to be in a flash mob for the art of surprise. Plus, it’s cool to show off our babywearing!,” said Karen Girouard, of Billerica, who participated in the flash mob with her son Justin, 2, and her daughter Summer, 5, who wore her doll Nala in a toy Ring Sling.

The flash mob was just one event during International Babywearing Week 2011 which Boston Babywearers is currently celebrating. The finale will be tomorrow, October 15, from 1 to 4 pm at MIT’s Sidney-Pacific Graduate Residence in Cambridge. Tomorrow’s party will feature food, fun, and fundraising. There will also be several performances by local music artists Jeff Jam, Shannon Taylor and Jeannie Mack Music. The group will be raffling off over $3,500 in prizes. Raffle tickets are on sale now for $5 and can be purchased until the moment the first ticket is drawn. Please visit http://www.bostonbabywearers.com/2011-raffle-donations.html for more information.

About BBW
Boston Babywearers is a MA non-profit educational group who teaches local parents and caregivers the joys of wearing their children. They meet every month and offer a lending library so members can try out carriers to find the perfect fit. Find out more about babywearing at www.bostonbabywearers.com.

About Boba, Inc.
Founded in 2006, Colorado-based Boba Inc. is an environmentally friendly company that designs, develops, and manufactures premium carriers and accessories for baby wearing parents. The Boba team is a group of dedicated people all working together to support babywearing, natural parenting, and other practices of secure bonding and attachment. Boba’s mission is to provide comfortable and durable products to parents throughout the world and to give them a helping hand in raising confident, joyful and compassionate children. We hope to enhance the bond between mother/father and their child by enabling both to be close and connected to each other in a practical yet magical sort of way. Visit Boba at www.boba.com.