By Barbara Brewer La Mere
Amber Chaves has been an occupational therapist
for 10 years in a career that has focused very
much on the pediatric aspects of that profession.
She spent most of that career in Brooklyn, but
decided she’d like to be closer to the area where
she grew up in Colonie. The mother of a 2-year-old,
Chaves found when she returned to the area that
there seemed to be a void of places for parents to
go to purchase all-natural baby products and learn
about various classic aspects of baby care.
While she would see postings here and there about classes on natural baby care topics, she considered that for some parents there’s an intimidating aspect to attending a class where they feel they know too little about a topic to ask intelligent questions.
She had gotten herself occupational therapist work with a couple of charter schools in Albany and has a history of working as a consultant O.T. with a private caseload. Still, this idea of a retail venue for natural baby goods where mothers might ask questions about the products sold and about baby care continued to intrigue her.
In March, Chaves opened The Bundle Store at 51 Front St. in Ballston Spa. It’s a small space, only about 300 square feet, but there has been a steady stream of customers, parents, grandmothers and people looking for unique baby shower gifts, she said.
Carriers for babywearing, of both the wrap and buckle varieties, have been particularly hard to keep in stock and babywearing is one of the topics on which the most customers have made inquiries, according to Chaves.
Chaves said a baby who spends a lot of time being carried in a baby carrier up against another human body experiences better regulated respiration and body temperature. Being upright and with its belly snug against its parent, the baby’s digestive system tends to work more effectively with less colic, less reflux, and less gas. Since no two babies and no two parents are alike, she sells a variety of baby carriers to provide optimal comfort and functionality.
Chaves’ store carries a variety of made-in-the- USA or Fair Trade cotton clothes, with two particularly popular lines, Plan, coming from Thailand, and Under the Nile from Egypt. There are cloth diapers and hats, booties, pacifier holders, toys, and other items produced by local people.
The Bundle Store sells maternity and nursing items that Chaves said should serve a woman beyond her current pregnancy and nursing period and still be serviceable for future pregnancies and babies.
The Bundle Store has had a class in makeyour- own baby foods and looks forward to offering Mommy and Me Yoga classes and classes in infant massage and breastfeeding, among others. Chaves said she is pleased with the support for The Bundle Store from other local baby-related service providers like midwives and doulas.
The store can be reached at 557-8809. The website is thebundlestore.gostorego.com
Store hours are Tuesdays, 10 a.m to 4 p.m.; Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m, and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.