Kim Walls
I happen to be in the Hawaiian islands at the moment for a very special 4th of July weekend. My dad lives here now – he moved from Southern California about 8 years ago. That said, he isn’t here. He is in LA for cancer treatments before he gets to come home to this beautiful island of Kauii. My dad and I came here together nearly every year for yoga retreats when I was a child. So let’s just say I’m feeling a bit nostalgic.
Those of you who know me know I have two boys – ages 8 and 11. It was one of my first trips to Hawaii with my eldest when I was introduced to Ergo. Ergo was the brand I loved most passionately as a mom of young babies. Both my boys ended up calling our Ergo the ‘pack-pack’ and lived in it from being tiny little creatures to about 3 years old.
Another thing I’ve been doing since being a small child is making sunscreen and personal care products. My dad founded a skincare company called Epicuren the same year I was born. It is still a family business. When my babies were For parents who carry their little one in a sling or a carrier, sunscreen is not a choice - it’s a must. Although the sleeping hood on the Ergobaby baby carrier has 50+ UPF protection, frequent babywearing parents should still take care to properly protect their little peanuts from sunburn.
Don’t let the thought of sun exposure dissuade you from wearing your baby as much as possible. Holding your baby in a carrier provides security for babies as they experience the familiar sensations they had in the womb like hearing your voice, feeling your heartbeat and your rhythmic breathing. Many moms also like being able to quickly respond to their baby’s cries and the benefits of increased eye-to-eye contact when carrying baby so closely. Sunshine and outdoor time are wonderful things for young children, but too much of a good thing can have adverse effects on skin of any age. As much as 80% of lifetime sun exposure occurs before the age of 18. A great deal of the UV exposure we