Mamajacket - now in stock in Wine Red

We are huge fans of the stylish Mamajacket at Big Mama Slings; it is a great babywearing coat and wonderfully comfortable during pregnancy too, while being elegant and simple enough to use as a normal coat as well. And it is now available in a gorgeous wine red as well as the standard charcoal. This coat has been very popular, especially as a Christmas present, and we expect it to be even more so now!

Calin Bleu Clearance!

Big Mama Slings is offering a fantastic 30% off all Calin Bleu slings, including the new Designer Fleece in Silver. These UK designed and made slings are a wonderful birth to toddler carrying solution, whilst also being stylish and simple to use. Complete colour illustrated instructions are included with each carrier. The standard Microfleece Carrier is a wonderful new baby present for those parents expecting in the colder months.

Connecta Baby Carriers - 4 new fabrics in stock

The Connecta Baby Carrier is a beautifully designed UK-made product, and we are delighted to have the Connecta in stock at Big Mama Slings. Created by a talented mother of six, the Connecta blends modern features such as strong buckles and webbing with the ancient Mei Tai design, giving a carrier that is equally comfortable on the back or the front. Available in Blue Gothic Rose, Plain Black, Apples & Pears and Lacework.

Organic Maya Wrap Baby Ring Slings now in stock

Maya Wrap Baby Slings are now available in Azo-free, organic fabrics! We are delighted to offer two fabrics, both in a size medium. Sea Glass - Soothing Aqua with a print inspired by the native beauty of the California redwood coast. Reverses to solid aqua. Lollipop - Bright print on a lime background. Reverses to solid lime. Both designs are perfect for summer.

Top 5 Breastfeeding Articles

Getting in to this top 5 lark as we are now over half way through BFAW. Today we have the top breastfeeding articles. According to us. Obviously ;-) There are gazillions of articles on breastfeeding online and lots of them are fabulous so to narrow it down to five is no mean feat. These are (just some of) the ones which have that "WOW" factor - that hit you between the eyes with facts showing just how marvellous breastfeeding is or make you look at the issue in a different way.

Suck on This - published in The Ecologist magazine in 2006 this article goes deep into the issue of infant feeding and describes the factors that conspire to stop women breastfeeding, including the medicalised birth process, unscrupulous actions of the formula companies and poor support from health professionals. Most shocking are the facts about formula milk and its effects on babies. A long but worthwhile read.

101 Reasons to Breastfeed Your Child - at ProMom. Lots of reasons (well 101 actually!) why breastfeeding is so great with references to back them up.

Straight Talk About Real Babies - written by Ann Calandro IBCLC. A fantastic insight into how brainwashed we are as a society, how we expect babies to behave a certain way and how these unrealistic expectations so often mean the end of breastfeeding.

Watch Your Language - written by Daine Wiessinger, IBCLC. A brilliant brilliant article which explains how the language used to talk about breastfeeding is important if it is to become normal and not just a nice extra.

There is a smart drug - it's called breastmilk - written by Johann Hari and published in the Independent last year. Another look at why women in this country don't breastfeed and mentions the appalling actions of big business, specifically Nestle.

Okay so it's blatant cheating but I'm going to slip this one in at the end. If this were a list of shampoos this would be 'the sciency bit' - not a light read by any means but the facts are staggering.

Top 5 Breastfeeding Books

Choosing books on any parenting topic is pretty confusing - not only are there hundreds but the advice in them is often quite different and sometimes even totally contradictory. A good book on breastfeeding is a great resource so here are 5 that get the thumbs up from us.

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding - this book from La Leche League, the international breastfeeding organisation, was first published in 1958 and is now in its 7th revised edition. It is full of accurate, up-to-date information on all aspects of breastfeeding and other related issues such as weaning, starting solids, sleep and loving guidance.

The Food of Love: your formula for successful breastfeeding - written by Kate Evans, a mother, author, cartoonist and active environmental campaigner. This light-hearted, witty book contains all the latest research but is easy to read and is illustrated with beautiful cartoons.

Breastfeeding Made Simple: Seven Natural Laws for Nursing Mothers - written by Kathleen Kendall-Tackett and Nancy Mohrbacher, both Lactation Consultants. Breastfeeding is explained by using seven 'natural laws' to help you get breastfeeding off to a good start and overcome any difficulties.

How Weaning Happens - written by Diane Bengson this thorough look at weaning from different perspectives explains how it doesn't have to be a stressful process for mother or child.

The Politics of Breastfeeding - written by Gabrielle Palmer this fascinating and anger-inspiring book takes a look at the reasons behind the poor breastfeeding rates in western society and shows the influence of big business in turning us into a bottlefeeding culture and the effects on babies around the world.

Top 5 Breastfeeding Blogs

With the world going blogging crazy there are blogs on just about every topic imaginable, including breastfeeding. A great way to both keep up-to-date with issues that are relevant to breastfeeding and read the opinions and views of breastfeeding bloggers (or should that be blogging breastfeeders??) who are vocal about supporting the breastfeeding cause. Well-written, often inspirational and sometimes downright funny - here are some we really like.

One Of Those Women - written by Morgan Gallagher, chairperson of 'Nursing Matters', a non-profit making, voluntary organisation that advocates for breastfeeding babies. 'Fighting for informed, equal choices in infant feeding. Babies are born to nurse at their mother's breast: fighting to make sure their mothers have a choice in allowing this for as long as they both mutually desire it. Fighting to keep formula fed infants as safe as possible. Feeding your child is your personal choice: let's make sure it's _your_ choice, not everyone else's.'

Lactivist - written by Lisa Cole and is the offspring of lactivist.co.uk which sells clothing and accessories to promote breastfeeding. The lactivist blog 'is a centre for all like minded lactivists. It is a space for people who promote breastfeeding in anyway to share information and news.'

Blacktating - written by Elita, a mum in Florida. 'Breastfeeding news and views from a mom of colour'

The Lactivist - written by 'a mainstream WAHM turned slightly crunchy by my two little munchins' and is the companion to The Lactivist Store. It is 'aimed at supporting nursing moms by promoting issues like extended breastfeeding, breastfeeding in public and human milk bank donation. The Lactivist is a little on the irreverent side, but we aim to educate through humor and we hope that you'll laugh with us'.

Reluctant Lactivist - written by a mum who says: While I have always promoted breastfeeding in my own personal way, I never wanted to become a lactation activist. Read on to learn why I am now the Reluctant Lactivist

You will find links within these blogs to lots of other breastfeeding related blogs.

Don't forget our competition!