Local parents will join others around the world later this month in an attempt to break the Guinness world record for the most diapers changed at one time.
On Saturday, April 26 at 10:30 a.m., parents and babies are invited to gather at the Cranbrook Family Connections building, next to the skate park, for the Great Cloth Diaper Change.
At 11 a.m., each baby will be changed into a fresh, commercially available cloth diaper, at the same time that similar events are going on at 240 locations in 15 countries around the world.
In 2013, the event saw 8,301 babies changed at the same time, setting a new world record. This year, the goal is to break that record.
But there's another goal, said organizer Daleen Bybee.
"It's really about awareness," said Bybee. "Some families may have never considered cloth diapering and they may think it's so much work. But we're just here to show them that it can be fun and teach them whatever they want to know."
There will be "cloth diapering gurus" on hand to answer questions and explain what cloth diapering means.
"There are so many neat options for cloth diapering, and it is a good option for families if you can swing it," said Bybee.
Participants will be given a bag of donated goodies to take home, including a pair of baby legs for the first 20 moms.
Door prizes will also be available, offering donated items from both local businesses such as Petra Naturally and A Touch of Whimsy, and other companies such as Apple Cheeks and Superior Soap Nuts.
As well as the diaper change, there will also be a baby-wearing fashion show during the event.
"Lots of families in the area have questions about baby wearing – which carriers to use and how to do it safely. So this is just a great venue to do a fashion show, and we'll teach moms about safe baby wearing and what carriers are available locally and which ones are the best options for families," said Bybee.
Bybee, who owns Over The Rainbow Family Services, is organizing the event alongside Megan Lescanec, owner of the Bumble Tree.
Families from both Cranbrook and Kimberley are encouraged to attend the event.
To meet the world record criteria, it must be one adult for each child. Participants must bring a fresh, commercially available cloth diaper, and the child must be shorter than 39 inches – less than four years old on average. Parents may want to bring a blanket or change pad to put under the baby during the change as it will be mostly done on the floor.
To find out more or to RSVP, you can visit the Bumble Tree on Baker Street in Cranbrook, or find the event on Facebook by searching for "Great Cloth Diaper Change – Cranbrook and Kimberley".