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. 

Happy 1st International Babywearing Week!

To celebrate the 1st International Babywearing Week (12th to 18th November) we are offering 10% off all orders over the value of £10 placed from now until the 19th. This coupon is valid throughout the shop and can be used as many times as you like! Enter HAPPYIBW1 at checkout to receive your discount.

Happy Babywearing from all of us at Big Mama Slings.

Behind the Business - Scootababy

Scootababy have just released a new and updated version of their popular hip carrier, and we thought this would be a great time to focus on the brains behind this ingenious sling.

Audra Meng started the business, 'We officially launched in August 2007... however, the design and development of the Scootababy carrier had been in the works for a full year prior to that. I actually first started thinking about a fast and comfortable hip carrier when my first son was a baby (he is now almost five!). After my second son was born, I decided I had to figure out a way to make exactly what I wanted... and so Scootababy was born.'

Audra says 'The best thing about being in the sling business is helping a mom try on the carrier, and watching her eyes light up when she realizes how comfortable and easy it can be to babywear! Making things just a little bit easier, and helping parents get on with their day gives me great satisfaction. Having a baby is such a huge impact on your life -- I had no idea how much our lives would change. But babywearing helps you do all the things you would normally do -- run errands, shop, go on hikes. For me personally, it's been great fun learning the steps involved with setting up and running a business, particularly the manufacturing process.'

Audra is a keen babywearer and has used many different styles of carriers with her children: 'Any comfortable sling that promotes attachment and babywearing is a great sling! I'm a particular fan of ring slings for tiny babies, used in a reverse cradle position -- very handy for babies wanting to nurse a lot. I also love mei tais for back carries while hiking.'

Audra's top babywearing tip - 'Bring baby's weight in closer to your body as much as possible -- this makes it more comfortable for you. And make sure baby is in a sitting position, with knees up above his/her bottom -- this makes it comfortable for baby! And please always keep baby's safety in mind when babywearing.'