Behind the Business - Calin Bleu

Calin Bleu is a family-run business based in Scotland, manufacturing wraparound baby carriers. Anne Dhir is the brains and creative energy that has driven Calin Bleu from small eBay-based beginnings to one of the top UK sling manufacturers in less than 4 years.

Anne started Calin Bleu after the birth of her first child. She wanted to carry her child in a wraparound sling and started making her own wraps; positive comments from friends and family encouraged her to make her slings to sell. She has now refined her range to a lightwight yet supportive gauze and a super-comfortable microfleece, available in a range of fashionable colours. Anne is particularly attached to the microfleece wrap ' They are so expensive to make that we hardly make any money on them. But I HAD to have one for our little boy who was born last August. In order to have one I had to order hundreds so here we go! They are so soft and snug and light. On a more practical level, I also love them because they are easy to use and can help parents discover the joy of wrapping.'

Although business has grown since launching her website in 2005, Anne has still managed to launch Sling Meet in conjunction with Stephanie French, Zolowear's UK sales rep. Sling Meet is a unique forum for parents to join up with sling users in their neighbourhood. The site now has many groups who meet regularly throughout the UK and Ireland, and as Anne says 'I feel a bit of a sling matchmaker, helping parents find other parents who use slings in their area. They can try a sling before they buy, get some help to find a more comfortable fit with their carrier, get some tips on carrying baby on their back... Meet new friends and share a nice cup of tea with other mums who have a shared interest.' Sling Meet has been of great benefit to the sling-wearing community and this is mainly thanks to Anne's efforts!

Anne's passion for helping parents be attached to their babies is clear when you ask her what the best bit of her business is: 'The most precious moments of running a sling business is helping a mum use her baby carrier, you can see her face light up, it's so comfortable, I can't feel her weight, dancing around, look I've got my hands free! I wish I had one of those for my first child. I'll have to tell my friend about it. And this morning, I was stopped by a mum when I dropped off my daughter at pre-school, her friend had a Calin Bleu wrap sling and loved it. It made my day!'

Anne's top sling tips:

Take your time. You didn't learn to bike in one-go, it's the same thing with slings.
High and Tight. Most parents who find their sling uncomfortable are wearing it way too loose. Remember, baby is at kiss level (bend your head to kiss their forehead) and wear it tight. If it sags after a while, it's because you haven't tighten your sling enough.

Supersoft Babylegs - What Are They?

Babylegs leg warmers for babies and toddlers have been on the market for some time now, and are one of our best sellers. We recently added the Organics range in a gorgeous choice of colours too; these are a blend of organic cotton and stretch materials. Supersoft Babylegs are a wonderful addition to the Babylegs range and we are highlighting them in our sale at the moment to introduce more parents and babies to them.

Made of 100% polyester, these baby leggings are longer, stretchier and much softer than their original cousins. They are an ideal choice for chunkier babies and older toddlers, and can even fit adults! Their softness is their biggest selling point; our two year old reaches for these leggings over any others and in fact uses one of them as her comforter! Available in Navy, Cream, Lollipop, Flames and the ever-popular Rainbow, there's a Supersoft to suit all tastes and outfits.

Currently available at the fabulous price of £5.50 for a limited time

Why use baby leggings?

• Keeps legs warm in slings and carriers
• Great for EC
• Makes potty training and nappy changes so much easier
• Looks fabulous and very cute!
  

Babyhawk Mei Tai Back in Stock

We've just received a shipment of Babyhawk Mei Tai - included were Kimono Cathedral (our best selling print), Carnival and two new fabric choices: Plum Sakura and Rio Stripe (pictured). Babyhawk Mei Tais are one of our best selling soft carriers and have proven to be very popular in the UK. If your child is now a toddler we also offer the Toddlerhawk, perfect for those bigger kids who like to nap in ther carrier. We also still have some Babyhawk Deluxe in stock; these Mei Tai are lined with minkee fabric for added luxury.

Organic Moby Wraparound Baby Slings Now In Stock!

We are delighted to offer the Moby Organic Wrap, available in a lovely neutral undyed cotton colour. This wrap is sure to appeal to those parents who are looking for the most natural products possible for their baby, and the price is in our opinion excellent for an organic product. Moby Wraps are deservedly popular with parents of newborns.

Choosing the Right Sling for You and your Family

We often get emails and phone calls from customers who are overwhelmed with the choice of baby slings and carriers on the market. Choosing a product you haven't used before is always daunting, especially when you are a new parent and want to ensure you make the best choice for your family.

Baby slings have been around since the beginning of time in some form or another; as our babies are born in a relatively helpless state humans have had to devise ways of transporting their young while carrying on with their day to day tasks. Nowadays, even though we are 'blessed' with all manner of gadgets and conveniences, parents realise very fast that keeping your baby attached to you is a very easy solution to coping with the addition of a new family member. Over the past five years the baby sling market has grown fast, with new manufacturers appearing almost daily.

Many sling companies are small; this limits the amount of products they can make and means that you can only buy them in specialist sling shops as they cannot supply major chains with the volume needed. However there are brands who are moving into high-street shops which spreads the word that there are some great, comfortable and attractive options available to the new parent looking for a sling. We are often asked why slings aren't more readily available, particularly as parents want to be able to see and try on slings before spending their money; we usually recommend Sling Meet. If you are in Bristol or North London you can also visit BORN who stock a nice range of slings.

If you do decided to purchase a sling online, there are several specialist sling shops selling almost every type of baby sling being produced. You can also buy slings off ebay but do pay particular attention to the quality of the product you purchased; if in doubt please ask the seller before buying. There are several reputable sellers on ebay who will happily answer your questions.

Purchasing a sling from Big Mama is very easy; we are happy to answer any pre-sale questions and have a customer-friendly returns policy. Our consultants are available to chat online as well, just click on the Live Chat box on our site. We have put together a comprehensive page on choosing your sling as well.

We will be adding some in-depth articles on choosing slings for different age and need groups shortly, which should hopefully be helpful.

Rockin' Baby Pouches Now In Stock

We've just added the Rockin' Baby Adjustable Baby Pouch to our range of slings; after nearly four years of selling their popular ring slings we are delighted to have these fabulous pouches in stock too. Currently we are stocking the Small/Medium size which does fit a large range of sizes; if you do require a different size you can always request one through us.

So - how do they work? A nifty zipper system allows you to find the perfect size for you. The first time you try your sling on there may be some adjusting involved but after that, it's just pop on and go. Like most pouches, these fold up small and are incredibly convenient for toddlers who want to walk, then be carried, then walk, then be carried....

All Rockin' Baby products are designed and manufactured in the US.

Beco Butterfly Recall Information

Beco Carriers has recently issued a recall through the US recall system of Beco Carriers sold in January and February 2008. If you have purchased an affected carrier and have not been contacted by the company you purchased it from please email them right away and stop using your carrier until further notice.

The official recall notice can be seen at on the Beco Carrier site