We love seeing new and familiar faces at our monthly meetings. Attending one is fantastic way to learn a new parenting skills, make friends, get out of the house when you have a newborn... the list goes on and on. If you have never attended a meeting you probably have questions. Below are a few we are asked frequently.
"What happens at a meeting?"
Meetings are led by Volunteer Babywearing Educators. VBEs usually have a shirt or headband that designates them as educators amongst the crowd. There will be a sign in sheet that attendees are asked to sign. We bring the learning library with us to meetings which has carriers that all are welcome to try on and get help using. We can also help you with your personal carriers.
Check ins of library carriers will occur at the beginning of the meeting and towards the end we will handle member check outs from our learning library as well as membership paperwork. We like to do library carrier returns before the meeting is in full swing. If you have a library carrier to return you're welcome to bring it up to a VBE who will get it checked in for you. By checking in carriers first thing this ensures that people can try on a variety of carriers and also frees up our time to focus on teaching. Once the check ins and sign ins are complete we start with introductions from the VBEs and any VBE in training. We will talk about Babywearing International, the benefits of membership, and we might talk about a certain theme for the month such as summer safety or ring slings.
After introductions we break into smaller groups. Often we divide up based on carrier preference so you can go to the group that interest you or pertains to the personal carrier you brought with you. If we have a lot of folks who are new to babywearing we may have a 101 group for demonstrating carrier options and safety while babywearing. Questions are welcome at any point during the meeting and we do our best to work one on one with each individual or couple.
Meetings are held in both Nashville and Murfreesboro. Nashville has meetings on the first Tuesday of the month, the second Monday of the month, and the first Saturday of even numbered months. Murfreesboro holds meetings on the third Thursday of the month. Locations change but in Nashville meetings are typically held at McCabe Community Center and Blooma Yoga in West Nashville. Mursfreesboro usually holds meetings at the Salem UMC in Rockvale. AM meetings run from about 10-noon and PM meetings from 7:30-9:30. You can subscribe to receive event notifications from our main page here. If you're in our chatter group you can check the events tab as well.
"Do I have to wear my baby to the meeting?"
Nope! Some people will be babywearing, some will have strollers, some will have older kids who prefer to walk... we are especially sensitive to the fact that we all started somewhere and consider meetings to be a judgment free zone.
"Can I bring my older kids to the meeting?"
Yes! Kids of all ages are welcome. Their supervision will be your responsibility at meetings as there is no child care available. Older kids do usually have a good time playing together while you try on carriers and chat.
"Can I come to a meeting if I don't have kids or am pregnant?"
Yes. We often have people who attend meetings to learn more about babywearing before baby arrives. Additionally, grandparents and other caregivers often attend- we only ask that you have an interest in babywearing.
"Do I have to be a member to attend a meeting? Who can come to a meeting?"
You do not have to be a member to attend. Anyone who has an interest in babywearing is encouraged to attend a meeting- they are free and open to the community. If you do decide to become a member we can get you signed up in person or online in a few minutes.
You are always welcome to get in touch with us if you have a question that you don't see answered here. Reach out to BWI of Middle Tennessee on Facebook or below in the comment section.
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