Woven Wraps - what length?

The issue of wrap length is something that we get a lot of emails about and it does make the whole choosing dilemma that much harder. There are a couple of factors which you need to take into consideration when deciding which length to go for and, although there are no hard and fast rules, this can help you make the right choice.

• The size of the people who will be using the wrap (not the size of your child)
• The carrying positions you want to achieve
• How proficient you are with a woven wraparound sling

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.

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!

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.

Calin Bleu Limited Edition Gauze Slings in Stock

Big Mama is delighted to be able to offer these delicious gauze slings from Calin Bleu. Available in the 'crinkly gauze' fabric and batch dyed for a beautifully rich colour, these 4.3m wraparounds are a must for all fans of light-weight slings. Even the contrast stitching is a wonderful dark burgundy, adding a special extra touch. As with all Calin Bleu slings, a colour booklet is provided which shows step-by-step how to get the most out of your baby sling.

Rose Silk Millefiori Didymos Wraparound Sling now in Stock

Big Mama has a very small amount of the Size 6 length Didymos Silk Millefiori in a very spring-like pink in stock for immediate shipping.

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.

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.

Calin Bleu Gauze Baby Wraps now in stock!

We've been eagerly awaiting our delivery of this season's new Gauze Wraps from Calin Bleu and are happy to say that they are really gorgeous. The colours are spot-on for this season and there is sure to be something to suit all tastes. The price of £37.50 represents excellent value for such a high-quality product, and UK made as well.

This summer Calin Bleu have released their gauze baby wrap in two lengths - 4.6m and 5.2m - making it more versatile and a true family sling.

Highly recommended for: hot weather, babies with colic/reflux, parents with back problems, birth to walking sling.

Not sure what size wraparound you need? Big Mama Slings has put together a comprehensive guide to choosing the right wraparound-style baby sling for you and your family.

We also offer the Calin Bleu Gauze Sling in our hire shop (UK only)