Morgan Mayes - Founder & President
When my daughter was born in 2009, our neighbors gave me a hand-me-down SlingEZee ring sling. I used it occasionally (and almost always incorrectly!) but did not really start babywearing until my daughter was 5 months old and my mom bought me a Beco Butterfly II. My daughter loved to be touched, so wearing her was a logical step, giving me my hands-free to still get things done. When my son was born in 2010, I decided I wanted a stretchy wrap that I had heard about for his time as a newborn. I still knew very little about babywearing, but was invited by a friend to a babywearing photoshoot when my son was 9 days old.
It was at this photoshoot playdate that I was invited to a local birth network’s meeting that focused on babywearing. It was there that I was truly introduced to the immense world that is babywearing. I saw more types of carriers than I had ever guessed existed, saw dads wearing their babies, toddlers on their mother’s backs, tandem-wearers, and moms easily breastfeeding while wearing their little ones. I was ecstatic and immediately hooked. But when I went to find more local meetings like that one, I learned that it was a one-time meeting and there weren’t others like it that met on a regular basis. It was at that point that the seed of an idea to start such a group was planted in my mind.
Over the next few months I casually thought about starting up a babywearing group, but it wasn’t until mid-March of 2011 that I decided to take the plunge and announce to a group of my friends what I was imagining. They were all very excited about the concept, and two of them said they’d help me head it up if I was really going to go for it. A couple days later, in early April, Fort Worth Babywearers was officially born.
My vision for FWBW has always been to completely normalize safe babywearing in Fort Worth and the greater DFW area. The growth we’ve seen in the first few months has been far beyond my original expectations. Parents dedicated to babywearing have stepped up with me and I’m excited about where this team is going to go!
Emily Wells -Vice-President & Woven Wrap Professional
I am a stay at home mommy of two, Cali (born in 2008) and Cruz (born in 2010). I have worn Cruz since he was born and periodically wore Cali, but had an uncomfortable front pack that didn’t encourage much babywearing. I am also a birth and breastfeeding advocate, and enjoy empowering specifically young women like myself to take charge of their births and parenting. I am active in the local Birth network which provides resources for mother friendly care, and lead a breastfeeding support group. I strongly believe attatchment parenting is one of the keys to eliminating a lot of problems in our society, and babywearing is one of them. I love to wear my youngest, and don’t know how people manage to have more than one child and not have a comfortable baby carrier. I enjoy many different types of carriers, but if I was to choose only one, I would choose a woven wrap because of it’s support and versatility.
Criss Forshay – Secretary & Babywearing Feminist
I am a first-time mom (to a human; I’ve been a proud cat lady for decades) to RJ, born in 2010, who is eternally grateful to my younger sister for introducing me to babywearing (and a whole bunch of other sanity-saving parenting techniques). I’m still very much a newbie when it comes to babywearing, but what I lack in know-how I make up for in enthusiasm! In my spare time (read: while pumping at work) I like to read, crochet, and spout my liberal propaganda on Twitter and Google+. I have also been known to (at times) overuse parenthetical notations (just a little).
Caleb Mayes – Treasurer & Man-to-Man Expert
Tanya Dunn - Volunteer Coordinator & Official Cheerleader
I am a SAHM to 2 kids. My daughter, Kaleigh, is 5 (almost 6), and my son, Kody, is almost 16 months. I also have one other daughter that I placed for open adoption at birth. She is 13. My biggest dream and goal in life currently, aside from being the best mom I can be, is to be a surrogate. This dream, however, has had its ups and downs, and is currently in limbo.
I started babywearing when Kody was about 3 months. I rented a few carriers from PAXBaby, and then purchased a BB2, and later a BabyHawk. I remember when he was born looking at a Moby wrap (but concerned with how hot I would get), and of course the other carriers they sell at Target and Wal-Mart. My cousin gave me a carrier and I did put Kody in it a couple of times, but he and I were both so uncomfortable that I got rid of it. I also had one when Kaleigh was a baby with the same results. Had I done more research when Kaleigh was a baby I’m sure I would have found babywearing a blast then. But that’s ok. Because I have found it now and I am now part of the awesomest group of people! I am now also the proud owner of a Beco Butterfly 2, a Bamberoo Mei Tai, and a Didymos woven wrap. I have been sucked in (willfully I might add) to the wonderful world of babywearing and I am thrilled to be part of the Fort Worth Babywearers!
Kristen Eilerts – Wrapping Intensive Coordinator & Queen of Everything
Chaun Vickery – Assistant to the President & Mom-of-five Extraordinaire
Tiffany Eldredge – Event Coordinator & Wearer of the Epic Torso Carry
