Get Your Hands Back!» Get Your Hands Back – UK Baby Sling Resource

Breastfeeding Awareness Week

Claire — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 08:30:00 +0000

National Breastfeeding Awareness Week runs from 20th – 27th June 2010. The main aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of the health benefits of breastfeeding, increase social acceptance of breastfeeding and promote support for breastfeeding.

As you will know, breastfeeding has many benefits, and gives babies all the nutrients they need for the first six months of life, as well as helping to protect them from infection and diseases. It also reduces mothers’ chances of getting certain diseases later in life. Breastfeeding also allows you and your baby to get closer - physically and emotionally. So while your child is feeding, the bond between you can grow stronger.

As breastfeeding is best done on demand, feeding whilst using a sling gives great convenience once you know how to do it, and means you can keep covered up if you wish, using the carrier as a cover. Not only that, but the act of babywearing helps facilitate breastfeeding as you produce more milk when your baby is close to you, and by more frequent feeding, so it is perfect if you are having difficulty.

If you’d like some help with breastfeeding using a sling, we have videos to demonstrate how to breastfeed whilst using a sling in our “How To” section, under Breastfeeding and Babywearing.

If you have any of your own tips for how to get the most from breastfeeding whilst babywearing, we’d love to hear them in the comments below!

Photo credit: Leticiamaria on Flickr

http://www.snugbaby.co.uk/administrator/index.php?pshop_mode=admin&page=product.review_list&option=com_virtuemart

Interview with a Vendor

Claire — Tue, 25 May 2010 08:30:37 +0000

We’ve got another vendor for you to meet, and this time it’s Karen O’Brien from Bosies For Baby. As well as selling a great selection of baby carriers and slings through her website, she also hosts parties locally, for mums to get together and try out different slings to find the perfect one for them!

Hi Karen, let’s get cracking…

How, and why, did you begin babywearing?

I had a store bought carrier for my son when he was born (he is now 2), but he soon became too big for it. When he reached 3 months I was having bad back problems from lifting and carrying him so a friend kindly lent me a wrap. I’ve been wearing him ever since!

What made you decide to start up a babywearing store?

It was actually my mum’s idea! She often asked about my slings and I was always saying how difficult it was to find out about different slings unless you know someone who babywears. She suggested I started a shop… the main focus is to give other parents the opportunity to see and try what isn’t offered on the High Street.

How did you find juggling a family life with running a business?

It can be challenging. I try to keep the business more as a hobby rather than a way of earning an income. Whenever I have demonstrations or sling parties organised my son is a good help… either entertaining the other little ones or assisting me in showing how different slings can be used.

In your opinion, what is the best thing about babywearing?

It takes so much pressure off you body… your little ones’ weight is distributed well so you are both comfortable. It’s also a lot easier to get around city centres without a pram!!

What advice would you give to a new mum to help her get the most from her baby sling?

Make sure you are comfortable and your little one is safe and secure. If a sling isn’t working for you, don’t give up… there is a sling out there for everyone. Most good slings will keep their value and there is a big market for second hand slings… so don’t be afraid to give something a go.

Is there anything you have done during the course of Bosies For Baby, which you would do differently next time?

Bosies for Baby is still growing… we’re only into our 8 month. I would have liked to have started with a bigger product range, but was keen to get the business up and running for the sling party side of things. It’s something that I can keep working on.

How have you found attitudes to babywearing have changed over the time you have been in business?

As I’ve said, I’ve not been in business a long time, but I have noticed more and more interest in my demonstrations locally. There also seems to be more and more mums-to-be looking into options for babywearing rather than just prams and travel systems.

What’s next in the pipeline?

Some more products… I’d like to have a good selection of slings for all ages and stages. I’m always on the look out for slings that come recommended by babywearers. I am a firm believer that there’s something out there for everyone… even my husband has his own wee stash of carriers now!

I’m also about to start looking for some mums that would be interested in carrying out sling parties across the UK. I’ve had a lot of positive feedback from local parents about the benefit of seeing and trying slings before deciding on what they’d like.

If you are a vendor, and would like to feature in Interview With A Vendor, please get in touch.

Interview with a Vendor

Claire — Tue, 11 May 2010 09:00:46 +0000

In a new segment on Get Your Hands Back, we will be talking to the owners of some of the best sling-selling websites in the UK, to get a glimpse of what makes them tick, and why they are so passionate about babywearing.

The first interview is with Laura Summers of Petit Poppet, a unique website which offers customers the opportunity to try out slings by hiring them, and donates all the hire fees to SANDS (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death charity).

So Laura, here we go…

How, and why, did you begin babywearing?

I knew when I was pregnant that I wanted to babywear. I couldn’t see who wouldn’t want to! Having said that, Ellen was 4 weeks old before I tried my first sling but it was love at first carry and I knew we were on the road to a large collection.

What made you decide to start up a babywearing store?

Initially, I had no intention of starting a babywearing store. I am an active member of a mother and baby forum where sadly, many mothers were experiencing tragic losses either in advanced stages of pregnancy or shortly after giving birth. I wanted to start a fundraising project for SANDS (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society UK) and happened to stumble into the idea of buying a sling and loaning it out for donations. Within 2 hours I had over 120 responses. I contacted the manufacturer who offered to donate two slings and the rest is history!

When I realised the demand was huge for a try before you buy scheme, I contacted as many manufacturers as I could, the majority of whom donated generously. A website was created to co-ordinate the trials and that was when it seemed logical to become a retailer. In the first six months of trading, Petit Poppet raised over £1000 for SANDS and built a loyal repeat custom base.

How did you find juggling a family life with running a business?

While I was on maternity leave and my daughter was not yet mobile, I found it fairly easy to fit everything in around her nap times. As the business grew, so did her ability to move around and get herself into trouble and this was where it got tricky! I also returned to work 3 days a week and found that the only opportunity to work on the business was after Ellen went to bed. Hopefully, the continued growth will eventually allow me to leave my job and focus entirely on being a work at home mum.

In your opinion, what is the best thing about babywearing?

The list of babywearing benefits is endless but for me, I think the best thing about babywearing is bringing your baby into your world. When I carry Ellen in a sling, she is constantly spoken to by passersby. She is at my eye level and sees what I see. We explore the world together. When she falls asleep she lays comfortably against my chest and cuddles in secure that she is safe and protected.

What advice would you give to a new mum to help her get the most from her baby sling?

I would absolutely recommend that a new mum tries out a sling that she likes the look of before buying. Every baby and wearer has a different requirement and sadly, there is no one size fits all. View your sling purchase with as much importance as your buggy purchase as if you get the right one I guarantee you will be using it more than the pushchair!

Is there anything you have done during the course of Petit Poppet, which you would do differently next time?

Given that I fell into business almost by accident, I had no business plan or ideas of where I was going. Petit Poppet found me really and I’ve just been the facilitator! If I was to plan to go into business again now having learnt what I have along the way, I would make sure I worked to realistic timescales and accepted more help when it was offered.

How have you found attitudes to babywearing have changed over the time you have been in business?

Attitudes to babywearing are pretty positive right now. There has been some media scaremongering in the time that Petit Poppet has been going but by giving honest, positive advice about safe babywearing, customers have felt confident in their purchases and are spreading the word… fast!

Finally, what’s next in the pipeline?

Petit Poppet continues to develop; with an ever expanding range on offer. The business not only benefits the customer, SANDS and me as a business mum but I am also now building a team of agents. The agents demonstrate slings and offer advice on a one to one or small group basis and earn commission whilst doing so. This is offering women choices when it comes to considering return to work options post-baby which is something that is close to my heart. In addition to this, I have just bought a new cloth nappy business which will compliment the products in the existing range nicely and will allow the Petit Poppet ethos to be accessed by an even broader range of customers.

Could you be the Face of SnugBaby?

Claire — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:35:49 +0000

UK mei tai company, SnugBaby, are on the hunt for new models, and have launched a fabulous competition in a bid to find the perfect baby, and mum (or dad!).

The winner of the competition will not only feature on the packaging and promotional material for SnugBaby, but will also win a fantastic photo shoot, performed by Russell Colman Photography in Windermere, complete with a mounted and framed photo, worth over £250, and a SnugBaby baby carrier, worth over £60.

For more details of how to enter, have a look at the Face of SnugBaby website.

Good luck!

How to make Happy Babies

Claire — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:04:25 +0000

I came across this cartoon strip about babywearing and attachment parenting, and just had to share it. I am sure you will appreciate how true it is.

If you know of anything similar, we’d love to feature it – please send it to us through the contact us page

How My Sling Saved Christmas

Claire — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:33:19 +0000

We’ve been sent this fantastic story from Helen, mum of three and owner of Cheeky Wipes, which demonstrates just how much of an essential a baby carrier can be! Thanks, Helen – it makes for fabulous reading.

On 3^rd November last year my gorgeous girl, Jennie, was born. Unlike her two big brothers Jennie was a VERY unsettled baby, who wouldn’t fall asleep during the day unless she was held (turns out she was hungry all the time, poor wee mite). In my wisdom, I’d thought that having all the in-laws to our house for Christmas would be easier than having to get 7 week old baby, one year old and four year old, plus necessary faff, transported round to theirs. The downside of course was that I was in charge of Christmas dinner for ten!

If it hadn’t been for my Kari-me it just wouldn’t have been possible, because I just couldn’t have set Jennie down to get anything done. As it was, Jennie and I were able to prepare and serve full Christmas dinner together, with her snuffling away against me (hopefully setting a girly precedent for future dinner preparing together!) I even got to finish all my dinner before I had to leave the table to feed her. Result. A proper life-saver.

If anyone else would like to share a Christmas babywearing story, please do send them to us – we love to read them, and publish them for others to enjoy!

Find out more about: Kari-Me, Wrap

Setting up a Sling Library

Claire — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:30:44 +0000

Following on from the article written by the Oxford Sling Meet Group about setting up a babywearing group, here is another guide, this time about setting up a Sling Library. Many thanks to the Oxford Group for sharing their experiences!

Sling libraries are fantastic! And very popular at meets; trying slings from the library is an important part of the meet. Parents have the chance to borrow a sling for a month; we charge £2 for each borrowing. When we started the library all the slings were donated to us by some very generous vendors and local parents – it’s great publicity for manufacturers/vendors, and we acknowledge the donor / maker and state the approximate price. One question which did vex us was deposits. We really wanted to make library hires as low cost as possible to provide everyone with a chance to try out babywearing. However we don’t want slings disappearing from the library with no way of replacing them; and even if we trust the borrower, it could be very awkward to ask them to pay for a sling which they have lost or damaged. The system we are using is to offer a choice; either the borrower pays a refundable deposit of £30 (cheques are not banked) or, if preferred, parents can become a member of Oxford Sling Meet which costs £5 per year (£2 concessionary rate); we issue membership cards and keep a record via the membership roll. The membership scheme has been very popular and has provided a useful source of income, which has given us a safety net in case of any lost or damaged slings and has also funded the expansion of the library stock.

It is helpful to have a catalogue of slings which can be browsed through. We keep ours in plastic folders, separated according to type of sling so that several parents can browse at once. The Librarian also has a separate catalogue in a ring binder, containing a plastic wallet for each sling/item with a description, photo, library code and manufacturers’ instructions; the instructions can be taken away by the borrower. In addition, the borrower receives a copy of our library Terms & Conditions which include some generic safety instructions and also cover washing and returning the sling. To borrow a sling, the parent has to fill in a borrowing form so the Librarian can keep track of individual slings and issue reminders for return, and the parent signs consent to the Terms & Conditions.

It was certainly a lot of work to set up our group, but it was also an exciting time seeing it all come together, and now everything is in place it is much more manageable to keep it running. We hope that this guide will not put you off running a sling meet or library – but rather make it easy for you to set up your own group in your local area! Please treat it as a checklist rather than a to-do list. It is immensely rewarding to be involved in setting up a new initiative and we really enjoy our group.

Setting up a Babywearing Group – Oxford Sling Meet

Claire — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:30:04 +0000

Sling meets can be totally informal. You can meet in the park and go for a walk carrying your babies! Coffee shops and soft-play centres are always popular venues for a sling meet. But if you find that there are several parents attending, or perhaps more to the point, several toddlers, you may prefer to hire a venue where you won’t disturb other customers.

Setting up a regular sling meet, open to anyone, at a hired venue could be a low-key affair. But we have found that there is quite a lot to think about to ensure the meet runs smoothly. So we at Oxford Sling Meet formed a committee and this guide is an attempt to share some of the thoughts we had through the process of setting up a new group.

We decided that we wanted each parent (or carer) who came to the meet welcomed, offered tea/coffee, and given the chance to ask questions about babywearing and take part in demonstrations. Babies needed a safe floor space with some suitable toys; toddlers needed a play area and toddler-friendly snacks. We also run Oxfordshire Sling Library where parents can try various slings and select one to borrow at home. This is the story of how we have tried to ensure that this takes place at our sling meets.

We experimented with different types of meet, some more formal or organized, some informal ‘roving meets’ in the park. We eventually settled on a large meet once a month including the library. The room you are using for your meet should ideally have plenty of space, tea and coffee facilities, a mirror, a teddy bear/doll for pregnant mums to practise with, and both baby and toddler zones. You’ll need loos and a change mat too. We hire a large church hall which has a toddler play area with lots of popular toys, a sofas-and-carpet area for parents with younger babies, space on tables to display our library stock and catalogues with a mirror for trying on slings and a demo doll, a separate table for the librarian to administer sling hires, a stage area which is used for group demonstrations of particular slings or carries, a kitchen for making hot drinks which can be closed off to inquisitive toddlers, and a toilet. The venue also includes an enclosed garden which is handy on warmer days or very busy meets when we need more space. This venue has been very successful for us and we are lucky to be able to hire it for a reasonable rate.

To help the meets run smoothly the committee members take on different roles. Our group’s Chair is the Welcomer, greeting attenders particularly parents who have come for the first time, and making a group announcement early during the meet to explain the running of the morning. The Sling Demonstrator helps parents try on slings and organises the group demonstrations, responding to any particular requests from attenders (sometimes these are organised in advance in response to requests on our Yahoo chatgroup). The Librarian organises library hires during the meet. Our Treasurer and Webmistress are involved in sling demonstrations and helping parents individually; the Treasurer also sets up the refreshments, and the Webmistress brings milk and snacks. Because our meets can get busy (we typically have between 20-35 parents attending each month) it really helps that there are five of us involved in running the group; it also helps when we have a core group of ‘regulars’ and more experienced babywearers attending the meets.

One aspect which has been central to the paperwork (and practice) of our group is liability. We live in a litigious age! We need to take reasonable care to ensure that attendees at a meet are safe. We have risk assessed our venue and activities, and have arranged insurance for our meets. In general even if you don’t purchase insurance it makes sense to think through the risks and make sure that you minimise them. One sticking point has been that so far we have not been able to arrange insurance for the sling library.

If you’re hiring a venue, how are you going to cover the rent, tea and biscuits? A ‘suggested donation’ per session, like a playgroup, keeps it fair. Keeping a record of who comes is a requirement for fire regulations – we have a sign-in sheet that includes a space for attenders to request to join our chatgroup, and a tickbox for attenders who wish not to be included in photographs we take for promotional purposes (e.g. publishing on our blog). This also allows us to maintain some statistics of how many parents and little ones are attending meets. Next to the sign-in sheet we have a pot for the donation. You may have some rules to set out, or information about the group, and this is a good opportunity to have a disclaimer clause, too. We display a ‘Welcome’ sheet with basic information about the group and how the meets work, and alongside this we display babywearing resources, flyers etc that parents can take away.

We have a Constitution which sets out the basics of the group – and is a pre-requisite for bank accounts, and grant applications. It is worth including

Is the meet open to all?
What is your policy on sales at meets – can vendors use the meet to advertise?
Who is responsible for what?
Responsibility for children at meets (this is a great opportunity for a disclaimer clause)
Money (what will happen to any profit?) – we decided to make our group non-profit-making, so that any proceeds are put back into running the group, and we explain this on our Welcome sheet. If you’re going to set up a bank account, you’ll need a business plan too. With setting up a bank account comes the need for accounts and a Treasurer. You might not want a bank account, but you will need one if you are going to apply for any grants, or run a library with hire fees.

In addition, there are Health and Safety matters to think about: Do you have an Accident Book, or can you use one provided by your venue? Are any of the committee First Aid trained – and where would you find a first aid box? How about Equal Opportunities and Child Protection? We have written basic policies covering these issues, with guidance from a local toddler group. We also have an arrangement with a local family centre that should any child protection issues ever arise we can discuss these with the centre manager. A very important aspect of Health and Safety at meets is the question of diffusion of risk – if a mum is trying a carry for the first time, she needs to have a ‘spotter’ to check the baby doesn’t fall; but the baby remains her responsibility, not the spotter’s. We are careful to avoid handling other parents’ babies during demonstrations (apart for example holding a baby at the parent’s request while the parent dons a sling). Anyone demonstrating a sling uses their own child or a doll. Have you done a risk assessment of the room you are meeting in? It is worth writing this down and keeping it in a file! You probably want to check the room each meet and be continually wary of the hot-drinks hazard.

Publicity for the group is key to ensuring that it is a success! You culd produce flyers or posters with your contact information – a publicity leaflet should state what the purpose of the meet is, where and when you meet, and maybe include group rules and a disclaimer of liability. We have found it helpful to be included in the local NCT information for new mothers. A website presence is also useful if you have someone with the skills to run it and keep it up to date. Which websites do you want to link to – and are you happy for your website to link to commercial websites? In addition to our website we run a Yahoo chatgroup which everyone is welcome to join and we use this to advertise meets and other events.

It was certainly a lot of work to set up our group, but it was also an exciting time seeing it all come together, and now everything is in place it is much more manageable to keep it running. We gained a lot from learning about other sling meets – notably, Manchester, Surrey and Preston – and also found valuable support on two UK babywearing forums (www.naturalmamas.co.uk and www.slingmeet.co.uk). We hope that this guide will not put you off running a sling meet – but rather make it easy for you to set up your own group in your local area! Please treat it as a checklist rather than a to-do list. It is immensely rewarding to be involved in setting up a new initiative and we really enjoy our group.

Thanks to the Oxford Sling Meet group for sharing their story of how they set up their group. We hope it may inspire some more babywearers out there to set up their own group.

Babywearing in Winter

Claire — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:30:43 +0000

It’s important to keep babies, especially newborns, at the correct temperature, and avoid wild fluctuations. Obviously if they are in a pram in Winter, they need to be wrapped up warm, but you should remember that when in a sling, they share your bodyheat, so do not need as many layers – they already have one extra layer because of the fabric of the sling, anyway.

A good idea is a coat you can share when you go outside – something like the Mamajacket or Peekaro Fleece is ideal, but you could also use a poncho of some type that can fit both of you in, or even a coat in a larger size than you’d normally wear, so that it can be fastened around both of you. Wearing an extra layer over both of you like this, means that when you go inside you can remove the outergarment without disturbing the baby, if you wish.

Some slings come in warmer fabrics for the colder months, such as the micro fleece Calin Bleu wrap, which is cosy for chilly days, yet light and breathable enough for your baby not to overheat (and it’s water resistant if you get caught in the rain). Alternatively some baby carriers, such as BabyHawk mei tais, have an option to add a fleece lining to keep baby snuggly.

So that’s baby’s body covered, but what about the bits not inside the carrier? Well, obviously a hat is always a good idea when out in the cold, and hands can be kept inside the sling to keep them cosy. If legs are sticking out (and trousers riding up, as they often do) then pop on a pair of BabyLegs to protect them from the cold – and they look pretty cute too.

Babywearing Twins

Claire — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:30:42 +0000

So, you have twins, or maybe a small age gap between two children. And you’d like to give babywearing a try? Bet you think it sounds like hard work, or you are resigned to carrying one, and pushing one (which is a great option, but not the only one!)

It is perfectly possibly to wear two babies at the same time, even in the same sling! Newborn twins actually like being squashed up together -- they have been llike that for nine months, after all. A good way to carry twins whilst they are young is using a ring sling, or a pouch (although you will need a bigger size) and using a cradle carry, with the babies’ feet together. Alternatively, you could use a stretchy wrap and carry them both tummy to tummy, snuggled together.

Once the babies get a little older (3 months or so) it is usually best to have two carriers, not least so you can hand one over to someone else if you need to. You can still use them both together iof and when you want, and you can use any combination of carriers -- two mei tais, two wraps, two ring slings, or a mixture of these. The important thing is to try to balance the weight as evenly as possible, so have one baby on each hip, or one on your front and one on your back.

Of course, as well as the convenience of using slings, a great advantage is that you can breastfeed on the go -- and this is true with twins too. Theeasiest way is in two ring slings, one on each hip, and you can nurse simultaneously. Bingo!

We’ve added another video demonstration / how-to article to our series to show you how easy babywearing twins is. It features a quick video showing how to carry two small babies in separate pouch slings. The slings in the video are New Native pouches.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yhmor-rtVg

Find out more about: New Native, Mei Tai, Pouch Sling, Ring Sling, Wrap