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Below, for reference, is our membership agreement as of 8/2019. Please pay special attention to the lending library terms and conditions.
Patuxent Babywearing Membership Agreement
Thank you for supporting Patuxent Babywearing! Your annual dues support volunteer, non-profit babywearing education. General, non-voting membership is $30 for one calendar year.
Main Agreement
I understand that Patuxent Babywearing Educators and group leaders are volunteers and not professionals. I affirm that I am not acting in reliance on any advice received from them and that, instead, I am responsible for evaluating the usefulness and safety of any babywearing technique or device that I use with my baby. I affirm that I will hold Patuxent Babywearing and its group leaders and volunteers harmless of and from any claim or cause of action whatsoever arising from any injury to myself or my child related to or caused in any way by babywearing.
I understand that babywearing has many benefits but is not without risk, and that the risks include, but are NOT limited to, FALLS (either while putting the baby into the carrier or while using the carrier), POSITIONAL ASPHYXIA (if baby is held in a position that closes his or her airway), and PHYSICAL STRAIN for the person carrying the baby. I understand that it is my responsibility to ensure the my baby’s airway is open and unobstructed, and that it is my responsibility not to drop my baby. I understand that I am responsible for my own well-being and my baby’s while babywearing.
Lending Library Terms and Conditions
I understand that neither Patuxent Babywearing nor its volunteers can inspect every carrier in the lending library for flaws, and I agree to inspect the stitching and materials of any carrier that I borrow to assure that it is sound. I further agree that neither Patuxent Babywearing nor its volunteers can assure that the carriers in the lending library are free from design flaws.
Checkout Period – I understand that any carrier(s) that I check out are due back to the next meeting location from which it was checked out. If I do not return the carrier(s) in time for the meeting, my account is considered overdue and subject to a $1 per day late fee until any and all carrier(s) are returned. I agree it is my responsibility to return the carrier(s), whether it is meeting with a volunteer at their convenience, or by mailing the carrier(s) back via USPS Priority Mail with insurance and tracking prior to the next meeting date. New carrier checkouts may not be done until any outstanding fees have been paid.
No Tobacco Smoke – I will not expose a carrier to tobacco smoke or tobacco smoke residue. I will not use a carrier where people are smoking, or store a carrier in a place where there is tobacco smoke residue. If a carrier must be transported in a car where smoking occurs, I will seal the carrier in a Ziplock-style bag. I will not use air fresheners on carriers.
Cleaning – I will return carriers clean and ready for the next person to checkout OR inform a volunteer that it needs to be cleaned. If the carrier has been exposed to sickness please wash it or return it in a plastic bag and let us know to wash it. Carriers may be spot cleaned with a wet washcloth and hung to air dry (i.e. on a drying rack). Please contact us if the carrier needs to be washed. Many carriers have very specific washing or drying instructions and incorrectly washing a carrier may ruin it. Be sure to use a liquid fragrance free detergent with NO fabric softeners or optical brighteners.
* If you are not comfortable washing a dirty carrier please let us know when you return it so we do not lend it out.
Harm to Carriers – I will treat the carriers with respect. I understand I am responsible for paying the actual replacement costs of a carrier if damaged in my care. Cost will be based on MSRP, including shipping. I also agree it is up to the leader’s sole discretion to determine whether a carrier is damaged. If a carrier is damaged, and can be repaired, I will be charged for repairs necessary. Please never try to repair damage you have done to a carrier.
*Violation of these policies may result in termination of a member’s borrowing privileges without a refund of dues.*
By providing payment for my Patuxent Babywearing Membership I agree to the terms of the Library Agreement.