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.

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.

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.'

Top 5 Breastfeeding Websites

There are lots of websites about breastfeeding, some better than others. Here are 5 we think are worth a look.

Kellymom - full of evidence-based information on breastfeeding and parenting. It is run by Kelly Bonyata, a member of the International Board of Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC). A great site which will answer most breastfeeding questions.

La Leche League - the website of LLLGB, the UK branch of La Leche League International (LLLI), the Breastfeeding Organisation which 'helps mothers to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information and education, and to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and mother.' There are links to LLLI's vast online library of breastfeeding and parenting information and also to the list of LLL groups throughout the country and contact numbers for local LLL leaders and the national helpline for breastfeeding help and support.

Top 5 Slings To Breastfeed In

Our first Top 5 of Breastfeeding Awareness Week is the top 5 slings to breastfeed in. We know how great it is to be able to breastfeed on-the-go and nothing helps you do that like a good sling. Here are 5 slings that we think are great for breastfeeding in.

Storchenwiege Ring Sling - ring slings and wraps are arguably the easiest style of sling to breastfeed in and with the Storchenwiege Ring Sling you get the best of both worlds - the supportiveness of the Storchenwiege woven wrap fabric and the ease of a ring sling. You could win one in our BFAW competition - check out the previous blog post for details.

Moby Wrap - the Moby is a supportive Stretchy wrap and is wide enough to be able to form a decent pouch to lie your baby in to breastfeed.

Calin Bleu Gauze Wraparound - this wrap is thin and light which makes it easy to manipulate and also less bulky. The booklet that comes with it is very clear and shows step-by-step instructions how to get your baby into a position to breastfeed.

Maya Lightly Padded Ring Sling - this is a great sling for novice ring slingers. The light padding in the shoulder makes it easy to position and very comfortable while the light woven fabric adjusts easily through the rings.

Babyhawk Mei Tai Carrier - the Babyhawk is a smaller bodied Mei Tai so is great for newborns as well as older babies and toddlers. Easy to loosen the straps and lower your baby into a position to breastfeed then tighten the sling back up afterwards.

Check back tomorrow for another Top 5!

Breastfeeding Awareness Week

Breastfeeding Awareness Week 2009 runs from 10th - 16th May. Here at Big Mama Slings we love to support and promote breastfeeding so to celebrate BFAW we are having a week of Top 5's on the blog all related to breastfeeding.

We've also got a competition. Send your best breastfeeding in a sling photo to help@bigmamaslings.co.uk with BFAW Comp in the subject line for a chance to win a Storchenwiege Ring Sling of your choice. The two runners-up each get a pair of Huggalugs Leg Warmers.

Real Nappy Week at Big Mama Slings

We love cloth nappies here at BMS, so much so that Big Mama is now stocking them alongside the wonderful range of slings and other bits and bobs. To celebrate Real Nappy Week this week (27th April - 3rd May 2009) Big Mama is offering a fab 10% discount on the nappies making them even better value.

The Pop-In from Close Parent is a unique hybrid nappy system; a cross between an all-in-one nappy and a two-part system, the inner soaker poppers inside the outer shell so that it comes apart for easy washing and drying and cleverly goes back together again ready to simply fasten around your baby. These are birth-to-potty nappies meaning you only need one size. There are three sets of poppers on the front of the nappy enabling you to adjust the size and the stretchy Aplix tabs mean a snug, reliable and comfortable fit at any age.

Chocolate Close Baby Carrier Now In

The very popular Close Baby Carrier is fully restocked including a new colour. It is now available in yummy Chocolate (right) as well as Charcoal, Red, Pistachio, Natural and Olive.

The Close Baby Carrier looks like a Stretchy Wrap and it carries a baby in the same supportive and comfortable position. However, the fabric is threaded through rings enabling the wearer to leave it tied and simply slip it over your head and tighten it much like a ring sling.

Restocked! Angelpack LX, Babyhawk and Moby Wraparounds

We are now restocked with Angelpack LX in some lovely fabrics which are perfect for summer. The Angelpack is a soft lightweight carrier while still being very comfortable and supportive. Suitable from 3 months, it has a longer body than some other soft carriers making it a good choice for taller and older babies.

The very popular Babyhawk Mei Tai is also in stock in some fun and funky prints. Suitable from birth, the fold down headrest makes it equally suitable for small babies who frequently fall asleep in a carrier and older babies who need their back supported but like to be carried with their arms out.

Milk on the Move!

The ability to breastfeed on-the-go and be hands-free while doing it is very useful, especially if you have older children and there are times when you have to leave the house to do the school run or get to an appointment and your baby wants to be fed. It is certainly possible to breastfeed in any sling although some will be easier than others depending on the age of the baby. Breastfeeding in a sling or carrier is a skill that some people find easy to master and others take a while to get the hang of. There are almost an infinite number of ways to breastfeed in a sling as sling users adapt instructions to suit them and their baby, some tweaks are very minor others quite major. Because of this there are lots of photo and video instructions on the web and it would therefore be impossible to list them all but here are a few of the ones we think are comprehensive and easy to follow.

Positioning and Safety

Information regarding positioning in slings, plus additional information on safety following the media storm in March 2010 after the Infantino sling recall, has now been moved here.

Two-Shoulder Slings

When a customer emails us asking for help narrowing the bewildering range of slings it really helps us advise them if they give us a little bit of information, both about the person(s) who will be using the sling, as well as how the sling will be used. Most people have a list of things they want from a sling and not everyone is going to find one sling that ticks all the boxes so it may be a case of prioritising what is most important. Everyone's needs are different so obviously the mythical beast that is "the right sling" (and we believe there is at least one sling out there for everyone) will be different for different people but quite frequently our response is that the best sling would be a two shoulder sling - either a Soft Carrier or a Wraparound. These are some of the things that are mentioned in the emails we receive that mean we may recommend a two shoulder sling:

Wraparound Slings - Stretchy or Woven?

Wraparound slings are the slings that are most likely to scare people! Admittedly they can be pretty daunting, especially if you are new to the world of babywearing - all that fabric and the different tying methods makes them seem very complicated and it is true that wraps have the steepest learning curve. However, using a long piece of fabric to carry your baby has lots of advantages and wrapping doesn't take that long to get the hang of if you have a bit of patience and are prepared to spend some time practising. As any die-hard wrapper will tell you, the rewards make it well worth it. Read on for information to help you decide which one is right for you.

Slinging in the Rain!

Well not just rain, all the grotty weather that the British climate throws at us. We get emails from customers asking how best to sling during the winter months whilst still keeping you and baby warm and dry.

Sling under or over a coat? The short answer is either but there are things to consider. If your baby is wrapped up for the cold and the sling or carrier is on top of your coat you can bet your little cherub will fall asleep which leaves you with a problem if you then go indoors. In order to get your coat off and to remove their warm clothing to prevent them overheating you have to wake them up.... I'm sure not all babies turn into Grumpy from the land of Grump when they are woken from a sling sleep but mine does! If they are under your coat with just a hat on you can remove them and let your baby keep sleeping.

What are the clothing options? The most obvious option is a Babywearing Coat such as the divine Mamajacket (see photo above). These have an extra panel which zips into the front or back and provides extra room for your baby and a hole for their head. The coat can be worn without the panel and is a rather yummy fitted coat. You can also buy covers which go over a sling. The MaM Babywearing Cover (right) provides a wind and rain proof layer over your baby and the carrier. If you want a cheaper option you can use a slightly-too-large fleece jacket or even a big cardi (the long maternity styles with a belt work well) which you can do up around you and your baby.

To Buckle Or Knot To Buckle...

...that is the question! There are two types of Soft Carrier - structured Buckle Carriers and the more traditional Tie-On. Both are based on the design of traditional Asian carriers such as the Chinese Mei Tai (even though many Tie-On carriers retain the name they have been westernised) and are very comfortable, distributing the weight of even heavy toddlers well. Basically both types are a square (ish) panel with straps that come off the corners - the bottom two tie/fasten around your waist and the others go over your shoulders. They can be used on your front and back and, in some cases, hip as well.

Pouch or Ring Sling?

For parents who need a quick 'pop and go' option, have a child that is in the up-down-up-down stage, like the idea of a one shoulder sling, or want a sling for hip carries (or none/all of the above!) a Pouch or a Ring Sling is a good option. Some people email us and say they prefer the look or design of one style over the other but for someone who is unsure which would suit their needs the best, there are a few things to consider.