natya BABYSLINGS

Clearance sale on eBay

2008-04-27T13:38:00.004+01:00

I can't believe how long it's been since my last post! Anyway, I'm having a clear out as I'm working on new designs, so take a look at what's up for sale on eBay here. You may be able to get a real bargain as I've decided to just offer all the slings on auction - there is no Buy it Now price on any of the slings - even the silk ones!

I am closing the natya shop during the interim period as I'm going to relaunch the slings with a new website. So you can only buy on eBay. All the listings will be up over the next couple of weeks. The only sling I didn't list was the one you can see here - the beautiful Burberry style Thai silk plaid with matching gift bag. It is absolutely beautiful fabric, which cost a fortune! I couldn't bear to see it go for peanuts so I'm hanging on to it for now! I'd probably part with it for a decent offer, otherwise I'll just keep it so I can admire it occasionally...

New colours

2007-05-09T12:15:00.000+01:00

Here's the new Raspberry Hemp/Cotton blend sling with silver aluminum rings and matching pocket on the tail. Also, here's the Turquoise Solarveil sling with White Pocket that can double as a hood. The new Solarveil slings have small aluminum rings to help eliminate any potential problems with slipping which can sometimes occur with this kind of fabric.

20% Discount on New Design Ring Slings

2007-05-08T21:39:00.000+01:00

Order 1 of the new design ring slings and get 20% off.

Valid until 12 noon on Friday 11th May.

All baby slings are Standard size which fits most people of average size. See my sizing chart for more info.

Normally £42, you can buy the fun cotton prints Kara, Dottie & Abbey from the Everyday Collection for just £33.60.

Instead of £51, you can buy Ivory or Raspberry hemp/cotton blends from the Eco-Friendly collection for only £40.80.

Turquoise Solarveil with white pocket & White Solarveil with turquoise pocket is reduced down from £45 to £36

In the Luxury Collection we have Chantilly, Jaida & Mayuree, the stunning dupioni silk slings with contrasting pockets reduced from £66 to just £52.80.

Scroll down to see pictures of the slings and click on the name of the sling to buy.

Launch Of The New Design natya Baby Sling

2007-04-24T17:52:00.000+01:00

If you're a new or expectant parent in Scotland then you won't want to miss The Baby Show in Glasgow which runs from the 27th-29th April. Come and see the fashion shows which run everyday and you may be forgiven for thinking you're in Hollywood...

These days, celebrities are not the only ones who can carry their baby in comfortable, stylish baby slings. natya BABYSLINGS are delighted to announce the launch of their funky new range of cotton baby slings at the show alongside their new luxury range of silk slings and the special Solarveil sun & water slings.

Every sling has a signature pocket in a contrasting or matching fabric - handy for keeping a few essentials in when you're out & about. You may be forgiven for thinking these UK designed & manufactured baby slings are just fashion accessories but in fact they are highly practical, safe baby carriers.

Available in cool cotton, eco-friendly hemp/cotton, UV protection Solarveil and sumptious silk so that whether you're nipping to the shops, strolling along the beach or going to a wedding you and your baby will be happy and comfortable together.

Come along to the show and see for yourself at the Natural Mothering Stand 429E.

New Design Slings Are Here!

2007-04-24T13:08:00.000+01:00

I'm delighted to announce the arrival of the first new design slings. Just in the nick of time as I've had to send them off to Glasgow in time for their launch at the Scotland Baby Show 27th - 29th April.

First, in the luxury collection we have Jaida, pale silvery green dupioni silk with rich forest green pocket and silver rings.

Next is Chantilly, a rich cream dupioni silk with cinammon pocket and bronze rings.

Finally, Mayuree, is a stunning turquoise dupioni silk that goes beautifully with the purple pocket and rings.

In addition to the gorgeous silk I have finally included some fun patterned cotton slings. Circles is the theme and they are a great all round choice and join the plain cotton in the everyday collection. They are single layered, quite light yet surprisingly sturdy. They come with good sized pockets in the same fabric.

First we have Abby, pale blue background, with slate grey/blue, beige, cream and brown circles and blue rings.

Next is Kara, cream background with links in black, red, beige and coffee with black rings.

Lastly, Dottie, has a white background with dots of pale & dark pink, lime & khaki as well as bronze, with pink rings.

New Silk Ring Slings

2007-04-18T16:44:00.000+01:00

I am very excited to show off the new dupioni silk combinations that will first be used for ring slings and then once I've settled on the final design for pouches on reversible pouches. As usual the pictures just don't do these beautiful fabrics justice.

There is a really golden rich cream, and the contrasting pocket is in a warm, terracotta. It looks gorgeous with bronze rings.

The familiar turquoise blue - had to use that again, as it's sooo stunning. Again I'm using purple rings and this time a purple pocket instead of the previous purple ribbon that edged the sling.

Also I've used a pale silvery green that looks yummy with green pocket and silver rings. I just can't wait to see these beauties made up!

Solarveil Ring Sling Co-op

2007-04-16T15:42:00.000+01:00

To kick start the spring / summer season join the co-op to get a new design solarveil ring sling with hood. This is your chance to choose your size and unique colour combination. Many of these will not be repeated and will not be on general sale. Minimum of only 6 orders are needed for the co-op to go ahead. It's 25% discount off retail price (£45) + shipping is FREE so only £33.75 delivered to your door.

Pictured here are pink, green, sky blue & yellow.

Also available is khaki, white & turquoise. You can see those colours in these slings. This is what the slings will look like although the rings will be slightly smaller.

Colour combinations to choose from are:

White with turquoise hood & silver rings (pictured)
Turquoise with white hood & silver rings
Khaki with white hood & bronze rings (pictured)
Green with yellow hood & green rings
Pink with white hood & pink rings
Sky blue with white hood & blue rings

If you have another colour combination that you'd love let me know & I may do a special custom one just for you :-)

Don't forget your size: petite, standard, long or extra long. If you need help deciding check our sizing chart.

To join the co-op go to the UKbabywearingSWAP yahoo group and add your details to the database for the natya Solarveil ring sling co-op. You've got until Monday 30th April to join. You can expect your sling to be with you 2-3 weeks later.

Pouch Sizes

2007-04-16T14:41:00.000+01:00

I'm about to place an order for the first sample pouches in the red/black patterned fabric reversible to red. Hmm... need to think of a name for that fabric. Anyone got any ideas?

So for those of you who've volunteered to be a tester please choose your size. You can use the chart below.

Size Shoulder to hip
xs 20-21" 51-54cm
s 22" 55-58cm
s/m 23" 59-61cm
m 24-25" 61-64cm
l 26-27" 65-68cm
xl 28-29" 69-74cm

Find your size
With a soft tape measure, loosely measure from the furthest point of the top of your shoulder across your body to the top of your opposite hip. Check the chart above and choose the corresponding size. e.g. if you measure 23.5" s/m is probably your best choice.

Things to bear in mind
You may happily wear more than 1 size as to some extent as it's largely a matter of preference. If you're one of the experienced pouch testers, you'll already be aware of this but for those of you who haven't used one before here are a few things worth mentioning.

When you wear your pouch over lots of layers in the winter or if your baby is quite large then you may want to size up to compensate.
Make sure your pouch doesn't hang down lower than your tummy. Just like a ring sling, wearing your baby high up and snug to you is best for the security of your baby and it's more comfortable for you.
Your pouch should never be too tight that you can't get your baby in or it's cutting into your baby's legs in the hip carry.
Remember these pouches are all non-stretch so choosing the right size is important.

Part of the testing of these pouches is making the best range of sizing so don't worry if you feel you got the wrong size. ALL the feedback is important. I shall make up extra samples so that we can change sizes if necessary.

I shall send you a feedback form (via e-mail) when I send you the pouch. Please send your feedback back to me as soon as you can. If you feel the size you chose is completely wrong then let me know so I can exchange it. Once I've got your feedback I'll send you a £10 credit note that you can use straight away for a ring sling at www.natya.co.uk or later once the new pouches are on the website.

The contribution towards the cost of the pouch is £10+£2 p&p. Please e-mail me the size you 'd like and I'll send you an invoice. Please let me know what you'd like by Wednesday. I hope to have them out to you next week.

New Pouch Baby Sling

2007-04-12T14:33:00.000+01:00

Here's the first sample of the new pouches. It's a reversible unpadded pouch, pattern on 1 side and red on the other. I have to get some more done in other sizes and then they are ready for testers. We are also going to bar tack the seams for extra safety - these pouches will be virtually indestructible like my ring slings...

Speaking of my ring slings, I'm going to get some made up in the same fabric with black aluminum rings and pockets on the tail. These will be the first patterned cotton slings in a new range in the Everyday Collection. I will also be doing a light pink, green, brown & plum spotty design with pink aluminum rings and a blue swirls design with blue rings.

Can't wait for those.

Silk Ring Slings & Pouches

2007-04-06T11:46:00.000+01:00

I've sold the claret & turquoise slings but still have the bronze left. Also I've just got the first silk for the new collection which I'm so excited about. The new design will include a pocket in a contrasting colour. I'm going to make up some testers which will be in a beautiful delicate pale rose & plum colour with silver aluminum sling rings - perfect summer colours. My picture doesn't do them justice.

I should get the new pouch sample next week. Then I'll get some done up in the silk - so they'll be reversible. Can't wait...

2007-03-29T16:35:00.000+01:00

I have a couple of barely used silk slings looking for good homes:-)

Size Long Claret Dupioni Silk, trimmed in black ribbon, black sling
rings. Used for a couple of mins for photoshoot. £46

Size Long Bronze Dupioni Silk, trimmed in black ribbon, black sling
rings. Used for a couple of mins for photoshoot. £46

Also a BRAND NEW limited edition camel dupioni silk sling with coffee,
camel & cream harlequin accent on the tail, bronze sling rings. Size
XL £46

As these special prices are not listed on my website please get in touch with me if you're interested in any of them.

New Design Solarveil Slings

2007-03-26T20:53:00.000+01:00

I received the first new Solarveil ring slings today. I'm not sure if it's worth doing the hood or not so I'm offering the samples at 1/2 retail price, which is £22.50.

I have 2 colourways - white with a turquoise hood & silver aluminum sling rings and khaki with a white hood & bronze aluminum sling rings. Both are standard size.

New local stockists

2007-03-23T15:36:00.000Z

I'm pleased to say that I've now got some more local stockists so that you can go see natya baby slings in person and buy them in store. Starting next week you can see our slings in Sprouts at Burwash Manor, Barton; Daily Bread of Kings Hedges, Cambridge; and Comfy-Kids, High Street Sawston.

I will also be doing regular in-store demonstrations at each shop so you can get some hands on help and advice.

As well as these local shops, the Cambridge La Leche League are also selling natya baby slings, which will help raise money for their organisation. You will also be able to try and get help using the sling from Libby, co-leader of the group and experienced sling user.

Announcing new UK stockist - Rumplebums

2007-03-17T06:56:00.000Z

I'm very happy to announce that Lucy of Rumplebums has started stocking natya BABYSLINGS. It's particularly exciting for me as she has decided to focus purely on UK manufacturers. I wish Lucy lots of success with the new direction she's taking. Also have a look at her Nuzzli Mei Tai which she's also recently taken over to join us in the manufacturing world.

Introducing The Exciting New Colours In The Eco-Friendly Collection

2007-03-14T09:58:00.000Z

I'm very happy to announce the arrival of 2 gorgeous new colours in the natya BABYSLINGS Eco-Friendly Collection. These beautiful baby slings are both made from the soft and strong 55% hemp/ 45% cotton blend fabric that behaves like linen. A wonderful choice for spring - light to wear yet extremely strong and resistant to everything you and your baby can throw at it.

Sand is a rich yet light golden colour - perfect to add a bit of colour & warmth to your wardrobe now that spring is finally here.

Ivory is a delicate shade of white, a light but creamy colour which will go with anything, including your baby's spit up...

Colic? 94%* Of Parents Who Tried Babywearing Says It Works!

2007-03-09T17:58:00.000Z

"Discover A Natural, Loving Method Of Preventing And Reducing Colicky Episodes For Good!"

When your baby suffers from colic you suffer too. Your baby's continuous crying is naturally distressing to you as well as exhausting for him. Remember that however bad it gets you're not alone and it will end. You've probably discovered that there is no cure for colic because no one, including the medical profession can be sure what causes colic. Without a cause, there's no cure.

So, as parents the best way we can help our baby and ourselves is to try and prevent the colicky episode in the first place. How do you do that? Well, one one of the most effective ways to prevent colic is to hold and carry your baby.

Carry her against your chest, and she will be reassured by the sound of your heartbeat. Combine this with the familiar, rhythmic movement of your walk and you've recreated the conditions she first experienced in the womb. That in itself will help to calm her and can actually prevent the onset of a colicky episode.

However, carrying her in your arms will wear you out as you've no doubt discovered. Instead what you can do is carry her in a baby sling.

As one mum, Tricia, puts it,

"I didn't babywear with my first baby who was more colicky, and I wish I had. I still remember just holding her and walking around the room for hours. With my second baby, she does have fussy periods, and babywearing helps to keep ME less stressed because it's not as hard on my body. It also does help to put her to sleep. And with her, a lot of the crying is an over tired cry rather than colic, I think."

Some suggestions of positions to carry your baby in and what to do to prevent a colicky episode:

Carry your baby in a suitable baby sling or carrier in snuggle hold or the tummy to tummy position with her legs 'froggy style' .
If she also has reflux try carrying her higher up over your shoulder in the 'burp position' .
If you're not attempting to get him to sleep, kangaroo carry or Buddha position with his legs crossed or knees folded up to his chest can help get rid of excess air.
Try a variety of speeds of walking and movement to see which works best for your baby.
Start with gentle rhythmic walking and work your way up to a brisk pace.
If straightforward walking doesn't work try gentle bouncing and 'dipping' baby as you walk and vary the direction you walk in.
Put on your favourite music and dance with your baby. It's important for you to enjoy this and really connect with your baby. Singing to your baby as you dance can be helpful too. Experiment with different styles and tempos of music to see what works best.

It's important to bear in mind that even though your baby has colic, it doesn't mean that you have to approach that time with dread. Instead, if at all possible, at around the time she usual shows signs of colic, decide to have fun with your baby. Try one or more of the suggestions above every day until you find some ideas that work.

Many babies can be put to sleep just before the usual early evening colic time and sleep through - missing the entire episode! Other babies will so enjoy the interaction with you and being carried that they 'forget' to cry.

In time you may feel like Julie does,

"My daughter was a very challenging newborn. But, as hard as it was, I look back fondly on the endless neighborhood walks we took together at all hours of the day and night. She would immediately calm down and stop crying while she was cradled to my chest. She loved tummy to tummy with her legs out. "

I also have vivid memories of my daughters colicky period. One time I was alone with my baby, completely at a loss with what to do to help her and so I just sat down on the floor holding her and just sobbed right along with her. I kept telling her I was sorry that I didn't know what to do to help her. It was a horrible experience. I felt guilty and useless. Fortunately my husband and I did figure out how to help her and so most of the time we were not only able to prevent or reduce most of the colicky episodes but we also had fun doing it.

What's the best type of sling to use?

Parents of colicky babies have had success with many types of baby slings and carriers, including pouches, ring slings, Mei Tais and wraps. Whichever sling or carrier you choose, make sure that it can hold your baby in the natural positions you need and can adequately support your baby's neck and head.

For information on choosing and using baby slings and carriers visit our sister site www.aboutbabyslingsandcarriers.com coming soon!

* figures taken from a poll on The Babywearer

New Website

2007-01-30T13:56:00.000Z

I have updated my website. You can see the new one here:

www.natya.co.uk

I'm very pleased with how it's turned out.

What's the Most Essential Baby Item? Hint: It's not what you think...

2006-11-29T13:04:00.000Z

Well, OK maybe you guessed it - it's YOU! You might think it'd say a baby sling or even more specifically a natya BABYSLING but you'd be wrong. Any sling is just a tool - a way to keep your baby close to you so that your baby gets the best possible start in life and so that you can actually
have a life!

Most people who read this will be mums, however when I say YOU I don't just mean mums. A baby needs human contact as much as food - as you may have read in my earlier newsletters experiments have shown that babies actually start to die if they don't receive physical contact beyond minimal handling for basic cleaning, dressing and feeding.

So, although as a mum you're in the best position to give your baby the best possible start in life through breastfeeding, your baby can still thrive even if you don't breastfeed and even if you are not the one looking after your baby. If your baby is held and carried next to someone for most of the day when very young that is going to be hugely beneficial for your baby's social, cognitive and physical development.

So even if you are the kind of mum who wants to look after your baby full time, you still need some time without your baby. I knew that I could happily leave my high need baby with her father when I needed a break, and I also was able to let her go with my best friend and my mother - people who I trusted and were close to and who were willing and able to use the sling - yes - here we go - I had to mention the sling!

In all seriousness, the reason I was able to leave my baby without too much worry(!) was because she was at home in the sling. In a way it didn't matter to her who was carrying her, just that she was in that familiar environment, experiencing the same feelings although with a different 'flavour' as each person walked and moved differently.

I hope that my experiences can help you either in not feeling guilty if you don't look after your baby full time or in allowing yourself to happily spend time without your baby when you need to.

Encouraging dads and grandparents or other carers to use a sling can be very liberating for you as a mum as it's so much easier to leave your baby with other people. And for them it can be lovely to know that they really can look after your baby well. It can also be nice for dads to get a sense of what it's been like for you during pregnancy - although it's much easier to carry a baby in a sling!

Debunking myths about carrying your baby in a sling cont...

2006-11-10T14:38:00.000Z

I'm a great believer in listening to your self - mothers in particular have strong instincts - learn to trust them and you won't go far wrong in my opinion.

What I like about these scientific studies is that they can confirm what you already instintively know to be true. The other benefit is that you can use them to counter any negativity that you may come across during your babywearing days.

Most people find that family and friends and complete strangers are supportive when they see how happy your baby is in the sling. However, if you wear your baby frequently you may have comments like "You'll spoil your baby if you carry her all the time", "She'll never learn to be independent" or any other such comments.

One comment I've heard was directed at Kate Hudson who was happily chatting to her 2-3yr old daughter while wearing her in a ring sling. "Isn't it time her daughter was walking?" I find that silly because obviously she could walk! Now, do you think that if she was pushing her daughter in a pushchair they would have said the same thing?

Of course not!

So to help you deal with potential criticism from well meaning but misinformed people here are some interesting facts and the studies that support them that you can quote if you like!

If you carry your baby often you can expect him to:

cry less & reduce colic: Studies (1)(2) have proved that the more babies are held the less they cry. One study showed that babies who were carried for a few hours a day cried and fussed 43% less on average than the non-carried group. If you have a colicky baby as I had, you'll know that early evening is the worst time for colicky episodes. This study showed that the carried babies cried 54% less on average during the evening. Another study (3) has shown that when a baby cries his nervous system becomes flooded with stress hormones, which can have detrimental long-term effects. Babies (4) that don't cry much in the first few months cry less as toddlers so it makes sense to carry your baby as much as you can when it's easy to do it - when they are young! It'll make your life much easier and more enjoyable when your baby grows up.

sleep better: Carrying your baby in a sling helps to organize and regulate your baby's systems. One of the effects this has is to help babies sleep for longer (5) as well as help them learn the difference between daytime naps and nighttime sleep. Your baby may quickly fall asleep when carried in the sling as mine have done. You can let him nap in the sling while you get on with something else during the day or you can 'wear' him to sleep in the evening and then lay him down on his bed for the night (or for a few hours at least!)

be more calm and content: Your baby was quite happy and content being safely cocooned and carried with you for 9 months until birth. If you compare humans to other mammals we are actually born 9 months early! So, what you can do is to create an exterogestational period (6) for your baby so he can continue to feel safe and secure and be happy and content. You can in effect create an external womb with the sling. By being close to you it will help him to regulate his breathing, heart rate, body temperature and other regulatory systems.

feed better and gain weight faster: Babies who are held feed more often than those who are not (7). Premature babies who are touched and held are healthier and put on weight quicker than those who are not (8)(9). Babies who have reflux benefit from being carried upright and tend to spit up less, improving their digestion.

develop better: The constant touching and motion from carrying your baby improves your baby's development. (10) Balance, muscle development and motor skills improve. The risk of positional plagiocephaly is reduced. (11) Carrying your baby in the correct position is a way hip dysplasia is treated (12) and in some cases prevented. Correct carrying is good for your baby's hip development.

learn better: Your baby's brain and nervous system will develop better when carried, he'll be more attentive and spend more time in the quiet alert state. (13)(14)

(1) Hunziker, UA, and Barr RG 1986. "Increased carrying reduces infant crying: a randomized controlled trial". Pediatrics 77: 641-8. (2) Barr RG, McMullan SJ, Spiess H et al. 1991. "Carrying as colic 'therapy': a randomized controlled trial." Pediatrics 87:623-30 (3) Powell A, "Children need touching and attention, Harvard researchers say." Harvard Gazette April 9, 1998. (4) Van Ijsendoorn MH, Hubbard FO, 2000. "Are infant crying and maternal responsiveness during the first year related to infant mother attachment at 15 months?" Attach Hum Dev 2(3): 371-91. (5) Chwo MJ, Anderson GC, Good M, Dowling DA, Shiau SH, Chu DM, 2002 "A randomized controlled trial of early kangaroo care for preterm infants:effects on temperature, weight, behaviour and acuity. J Nurse Res 10(2): 129-42. (6) Ashley Montague 1971 "Touching: The human significance of the skin". (7) James-Roberts I St, Hurry J, Bowyer J, Barr RG 1995. "Supplementary carrying compared with advice to increase responsive parenting as interventions to prevent persistent infant crying." Pediatrics 95:381-388. (8) Conde-Agudelo A, Diaz-Rossello JL, Balizan JM 2003. "Kangaroo mother care to reduce morbidity and mortality in low birthweight infants." Cochrane Database Syst Rev (2):CD002771 (9) Schanberg S, Field T 1987. "Sensory deprivation stress and supplementary stimulation in the rat pup and preterm neonate." Child Development 58:1431-1447. (10) Adamson-Macedo EN 1990. "The effects of touch on preterm and fullterm neonates and young children" J Reprod Infant Psychol 8 :267-273. (11) NHSDirect (12) Sponseller D 1994 "Bone, joint and muscle problems: Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip" pp 1018-1020 in Principles and Practices of Perdiatrics, Second Edition. Frank Osi et al, ed. Philadelphia JB Lippincott Company. (13) William Sears MD, Martha Sears, RN. 1993 "The Baby Book: Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby From Birth To Age Two." Little Brown & Company. (14) Maria Blois MD 2005 "Babywearing: The benefits and beauty of this ancient tradition" Pharmasoft Publishing.

Lucky Dip... Tomorrow!

2006-11-01T19:27:00.000Z

Win a FREE natya baby sling tomorrow - Thursday 2nd November - by entering the LUCKY DIP.

Get the details here.

NCT Baby Show

2006-11-01T19:19:00.000Z

The NCT Baby Show was held last Sunday and I must say I thought it was very successful - at least for babywearing! We held our first NINO Cambridge group meeting there and attracted the attention of several mums who have joined our yahoo group and will be coming to our next meeting.

On a personal note I was helping out on the Cambridge Baby stall as they are just starting to stock natya baby slings. I did lots of demos and was very pleased with the positive reaction the slings got.

I also did a demo on the catwalk as part of the fashion show - in between toddlers and pregnant mums which was fun and hopefully helpful.

Channel 4 Programme

2006-10-23T13:22:00.000+01:00

I have been contacted by Channel 4 to help find mums-to-be who are due in November or December. You can find out more here.

Cambridge NINO Group

2006-10-21T09:54:00.000+01:00

I have just had word that my NINO application has been successful so we now have a NINO group in Cambridge. I'm very excited about that and am already working on plans to help promote babywearing which I will post on here soon.

London Baby Show 20th October

2006-10-19T18:11:00.000+01:00

I just wanted to say that I'll be at The Baby Show tomorrow, and I'll be bringing my new improved design silk slings. I hope to get some good pictures of mums and babies wearing them. If you're going tomorrow do say hello!

Re-branding

2006-10-14T09:51:00.000+01:00

I've been patiently waiting for my new stock to arrive but there have been a series of delays, which I'm fast discovering really have to be planned for. Anyway, although my plans seem to have been forced to change to accommodate these delays I've had a chance to spend some time on my branding.

In the end I'm sure that all these delays have been a blessing. I had wanted to get the photo shoot scheduled and I've got some promotions I've been waiting to do but as the new stock isn't here I've started planning my new website and I'm incredibly excited about it. I've also just put up a chart on my home page which should make it easier to choose which sling would work best for you.

This week I've been working on my vision, mission, goals, values and beliefs to help clarify what I want to do with my business. I shall be putting some of these up on my website soon so anyone who's interested in working with me or buying from me will know exactly what we stand for.

I have now changed the guarantee to be for 1 full year for all my slings - I'm sure that no other sling manufacturer offers that!

I am expecting the new stock some time next week and the prices of the silk slings are likely to go up so if you've been thinking about buying one I suggest you do it soon...

Debunking myths about carrying your baby in a sling...

2006-10-02T18:19:00.000+01:00

Spoiling, manipulating, dependant, late developer – have you ever heard any of these from people who see you carrying your baby in a sling? Perhaps you have worried that you are “making a rod for your own back” – an expression that I’ve been coming across recently.

If so I hope I can help to alleviate any fears you may have and in turn give you some facts that can educate people who may question your choice of wearing your baby.

Spoiling is a big concern of many parents and particularly grandparents. Of course no-one wants to spoil their child – the question is does carrying your baby in a sling and responding to their needs lead to a spoilt child?

The answer is no. There is enough research that proves that holding or carrying your baby a lot and responding appropriately to their cues does not produce a spoilt child. In fact there are studies that have proved just the opposite.

The spoiling theories developed in the 1920’s when ‘experts’ started getting involved in parenting. They felt that responding intuitively to a baby by picking them up when they cried or feeding them when they were hungry would spoil them and make them clingy and dependant and instead advocated restraint, rigid schedules and detachment. There was no scientific basis or evidence for these beliefs and we know from numerous research studies as well as from personal experience and anecdotal evidence that they are simply false, fearful opinions that I personally would love to see long gone.

The Time Life documentary “Rock A Bye Baby” of 1970 proves that the younger the baby the more important close contact is to their psychological, neurological and biological development. In fact another study done in an orphanage in America in the 1930’s proved that physical contact is so important that the babies in the group that received the minimal amount of contact actually started to shrivel up and had they not stopped the study they would have died. Both studies support the theory that the comfort from close physical contact with the mother or other caregiver was even more important to the babies than the comfort they received from food.

Renowned English anthropologist Ashley Montagu – author of over 60 books including “Touching” suggests that by comparing the gestational period of other mammals, human babies are born about 9 months earlier than they should be. Obviously a woman’s body is just not equipped to handle pregnancy further than 9 months, but this makes sense when you think that at age 9 months most babies can sit, crawl and some can even walk by themselves – they are somewhat independent, much like a newborn giraffe or horse. Compare that to a newborn baby who is so helpless and totally dependant on its mother or caregiver. Clearly all babies can benefit from an exterogestional period – i.e. another 9 months outside the womb in a womb-like environment, which is exactly what the baby sling provides.

So what does this all mean to you and your baby? Well, regardless of whether you have a baby who seems to demand to be held more than other babies or not, you will not spoil him – even if you carry him all day long. You will in fact help him to thrive physically, emotionally, in fact in so many ways that I do not have space to write them all down here!

I will however, continue debunking the myths associating with carrying your baby next time.

Happy babywearing!

Cambridge Baby Sling Meet Tomorow

2006-09-29T17:34:00.000+01:00

Cambridge Slingers are meeting tomorow so do come along if you're in or around Cambridge and would like to try out some different slings or get some help using one you already have. There are several experienced babywearers who will be there and they are always happy to help. You can get help with ring slings, pouches, wraps, Mei Tais, Ergos and many other types of soft baby carriers.

The meeting will be very informal. Toys are there for older children to play with and there is a soft area for babies to play in too.

So come along to Castle Street Methodist Church Hall from 11am - 1pm on Saturday 30th September and say hello!

Silk Slings - New Pictures

2006-09-28T15:00:00.000+01:00

Thanks to Lucy and Rowan for modelling today - I think they did a great job :-)

Oh my... so beautiful... they are finally here!

2006-09-27T14:16:00.000+01:00

At last the new dupioni silk slings are here and they are absolutely stunning! I've only managed to get some still shots so far but I'll be doing some action shots soon.

I am incredibly excited about these - my pictures just do not do them justice. You wait until so see the fabric in real life - amazing. If you're looking for an elegant, dressy sling then you can't go wrong with one of these! I should point out that they have very long, flowy tails so you can really use your sling as a unique accessory - very glamorous, and I tuck the tail around the rings or my waist when I don't want it - brilliant and simple!

Choose from Claret edged in black satin ribbon, Peacock Blue edged in purple satin ribbon, Bronze edged in black satin ribbon or Camel with accent. At the moment they are priced very reasonably as they are new products. These introductory prices won't last so if you want one don't wait too long...

Learning patience...

2006-09-21T18:47:00.000+01:00

Apologies to those of you who are waiting on the new silk slings. I'm afraid they have been delayed again. I daren't say when they will be here but I'm sure they'll be here by the beginning of next week. Due to the response I've had so far I have already got the ball rolling on another batch so if they do sell out fast at least you know more are on their way!

Thursday - New Slings Arriving...

2006-09-20T10:57:00.000+01:00

I posted here and in some other forums that my new slings will be in today, but unfortunately we have to wait just 1 more day. They should be with me tomorrow and I hope I can get at least some functional pictures up to show them off - action shots will have to wait for another day. So check back tomorrow. If you are not already on my mailing list join now as you may be the lucky winner of the monthly prize draw and win a £30 natya certificate! Join here.

Certificate of Authentication

2006-09-16T18:50:00.000+01:00

Every sling that I sell now comes with a Certificate of Authentication. Each Certificate has a unique number that can trace that particular sling to the date of puchase and details of the buyer. In this way every customer can be sure they have bought a genuine natya BABYSLING which should also help its resale value. This will be particularly significant for the new design exclusive & luxury slings which will be with me in just a few more days...

As well as this, our Everyday range of Cotton baby slings and our Eco-Friendly Hemp/Cotton blend baby slings now come with a 1 Year Guarantee.

New Silk Baby Slings Due on Wednesday

2006-09-16T11:32:00.000+01:00

I'm expecting my new design silk slings on Wednesday. I'm so excited! What I haven't announced yet is that I've got a couple of other surprises with them too. Keep watching this space!

NEW Monthly Prize Draw - Win £30 Gift Certificate!

2006-09-16T11:25:00.000+01:00

I've decided to offer a prize of £30 which can be used to put towards any baby sling from my store www.natya.co.uk. All you need to do is subscribe to my newsletter! I'll be doing this every month so the sooner you sign up the better your chances of winning! You can sign up here. Good luck!

Silk Brocade Baby Sling - My New Favourite

2006-09-08T20:26:00.000+01:00

Well, the title says it all really - I really love my red silk brocade baby sling. It's soft yet sturdy. I only wish I could get more use out of it. I'm going to have to start borrowing babies to wear now my 'baby' has just turned 3! Here's a picture taken from the recent Sling Meet in London.

Baby Slings For the Rain

2006-09-06T09:47:00.000+01:00

Until 30th September Solarveil Slings are reduced to £32. They are a great sling for summer because of the UV protection but they are also wonderful for water. Whether you take an older child swimming or want to introduce your baby to the water safely snuggled next to you they are very handy. You can also take them into the shower with you too!

Because the mesh fabric dries very quickly and the sling folds up very small, it's an excellent choice for our numerous rainy days here in England. Dress your baby or toddler in waterproofs and wear them in the sling on the outside of your coat. The sling can be hung up and will dry very quickly. Store it in your coat pocket and take it out when you need it.

Alternatively, wear the sling inside your coat and keep your baby dry and snuggled next to you. It's lightweight so doesn't add bulk to your clothing.

Turquiose has sold out but White and Khaki are still available. Once these sell out I won't be getting more until the Spring!

US & Canada

2006-09-06T08:21:00.000+01:00

I just wanted to add that because of a new insurance policy, I will shortly be unable to sell to the US and Canada. As I have had interest from North America I will investigate further to see if I can change that. Sorry about that...

Beyond Motherhood...

2006-09-05T14:08:00.000+01:00

As my youngest daughter just turned 3 yrs old and is about to start kindergarten I began thinking about my time as a mother. With my first daughter, who will be 6 yrs old next month, you couldn't have enticed me away from her. In fact people tried but I was blissfully happy being with her almost 24hrs a day every day. I needed an hour or so to myself, but I didn't need or want to be away from her much more than that.

This lastest until she was about 18mnths old. Then I started getting itchy feet - I wanted to do more than look after her all day. So I started with home-based hobbies first like cooking and sewing. Then I began thinking about studying and/or working. In the end I decided to start a business from home. The problem with this was what business to start? After starting something that seemed like a good idea with lots of potential I realised that unless I was passionate about it it just wasn't going to work. Up until that point in my life the only thing I'd been passionate about was being a mother.

Then, as I was facing this, I became pregnant with my second daughter and I thought I'd have to shelve my business aspirations. However, as the pregnancy progressed and I began preparing for our new arrival, I started to shop for the one big essential item I knew we'd need - a new baby sling. I had used one with Anya but I did not want to use it again as it was falling apart and not very stylish!

As I started finding different slings I became more and more frustrated that I couldn't find exactly what I was looking for. As I was moaning about this to my husband he said, well why don't you design your own? Well, that got me thinking and that's exactly what I did. The natya BABYSLING evolved from my own desire to find a functional, practical and stylish baby sling that I could take anywhere and breastfeed discreetly in hands-free - yes it can be done ,but takes a bit of practice!

I've always felt passionately about the importance of parents, particularly mothers being close to their babies. As my children have grown I've been rewarded time and time again by observing their social, confident and independant natures. It's then I'm glad I stuck to my belief that by holding them both close to me in a sling I was not 'giving in' to them or making them dependant, instead I was giving them what they needed, when they needed it.

I'm sure it's no coincidence that my first daughter needed me so much so that I literally had to discover baby slings so that I could keep her close to me while I got on with my life. My second daughter was far more independant at an earlier age so it was easier to split my time between looking after my children and starting my business.

I do feel strongly that mothers need to make the right choice for themselves when deciding how to juggle work and home. I have now experienced wanting to be both a full-time and part-time mum and gone from absolutely no childcare to several childcare options all of which have suited all of us at different times.

I've always wanted to help other mothers stay with their children if that's what they choose to do which is why I'm starting a distributor programme for mums who also feel passionately about babywearing and love their natya BABYSLINGS. I'll be announcing the details soon, but basically when you're stopped by someone who loves the look of your sling and you refer them to the natya website you can earn a commision when they buy one. You can also promote the slings at your local baby group or breastfeeding group or anywhere you like. Of course, you can also buy slings for yourself or as gifts for friends at a substantial discount too! We all know that the best form of advertising is word of mouth, and as baby slings are still fairly unknown to most people, its a great win win situation for all of us. I hope that you find the right combination for you and don't be surprised if your priorities change as your children do!

Get in touch with me if you'd like to know more about the distributor programme or if you already have a business and you'd like to add natya BABYSLINGS to your range let me know as I'm also starting a wholesale programme too:-)

Sneek Peek

2006-08-22T12:27:00.000+01:00

I am very excited to announce that my new design baby slings will be available in September. They will all be a bit wider and longer than the previous dupioni silk slings to ensure you have a very glamorous sling.

Here's a sneek peak of some of the new fabrics. The solid colours are very slubby & shimmery Dupioni silk in Bronze, Peacock Blue & Claret. Fantastic colours for the autumn, winter season.

I am also offering something a little bit different - the Camel Dupioni Silk with an accent fabric on the tail of cream, buff & camel - very yummy! The last fabric is a 2-sided (i.e. no wrong side ) exclusive Thai Silk in a Burberry inspired plaid - very this season and absolutely stunning!

Fixed ordering problem

2006-08-12T16:48:00.000+01:00

I believe the problem is fixed with the online ordering, but do contact me if you don't hear from me within 24hrs of placing an order. Thanks!

Website

2006-08-11T14:17:00.000+01:00

I don't know what's going on today with my website but I'm having problems with online ordering as well as my e-mail. Customers are not being able to order and have to e-mail or call orders in. Then my e-mail isn't working properly either. Sometime it won't receive or send e-mails. So my apologies to anyone who's been affected. I am getting the problem fixed. If in doubt call me instead! Thanks.

Cambridge Sling Meet Sunday August 6th

2006-08-09T10:40:00.000+01:00

We had a lovely day on Sunday with perfect warm and sunny weather. Here are a few pictures of the slingers meet. It's good to meet with other people who love baby slings and babywearing as much (or more?) than me! It's a great opportunity to try different types and styles of slings to see how you like them before buying. Wraps and ring slings seemed to be the most popular choices on the day although I noticed the dads seemed to enjoy trying out the Ergo and Patapum. We were also treated to some live music which a few of us enjoyed dancing to!

Dupioni Silk Sample Baby Sling

2006-08-02T17:56:00.000+01:00

OK, I have listed the last few sample silk baby slings on eBay and now I just have 1 pink one left, so you need to be quick if you want one for around £30! You can check my eBay listing here.

Solarveil Slings Listed On eBay Today

2006-07-29T15:45:00.000+01:00

The first listing is now on eBay. It's for my Solarveil baby slings, priced at a low £27 in true eBay style! I have all colours in stock at the moment - Turquoise, White and Khaki. Only 1 Turquoise with Silver Rings left though. Turquoise with gold rings are still available. See my listing here.

Reduced Price - Solarveil Ring Slings - Only £32!

2006-07-28T10:33:00.000+01:00

I've decided to have a Summer Sale and reduce the price of the fabulous Solarveil baby slings to only £32 - down from £38.95! The price includes p&p to UK & Europe as usual, so quite a bargain. They are a great sling to have in the summer so you can protect your baby and yourself from the damaging UVA & UVB rays without constantly applying messy sunscreen and enjoy a cool dip in the water at the same time! Perfect! Choose between White, Turquoise and Khaki.

eBay

2006-07-25T14:28:00.000+01:00

Just thought I'd announce that I'm planning on listing my baby slings on eBay. I've been back and forth on eBay selling my baby slings. It's been a while so I've decided to do so again for a limited time. For those of you who are eBayers - keep your eyes open for natya BABYSLINGS!

Instruction CD Labels

2006-07-21T12:21:00.000+01:00

I just got some new CDs before I ran out for my updated baby sling instructions, but have run out of labels now! So all the slings going on at the moment are label-less. I'm just putting a natya BABYSLINGS sticker on the CD cover, so I hope that will do. Now, must order some more labels...

Cotton Baby Slings - ALL COLOURS Just In!

2006-07-21T11:43:00.000+01:00

You can now buy Navy, Black, Red, Pink, Purple, Natural, Orange and Lime Green cotton baby slings and get them straight away.

Chinese Silk Brocade Red Leaves

2006-07-14T19:35:00.000+01:00

Here's one of the new Silk Brocade Slings - Chinese Silk Brocade Red Leaves. Lovely isn't it? I confess I tried it on with Natalya, and unfortunaltely her shoes got it dirty on the inside which is why I reduced it from £59.95 to £49.95. It'll be fine when it's cleaned so a real bargain for someone wanting a special sling.

All the other Silk Brocade Slings are in good condition and are really stunning too. No pictures for those yet.

New Colours For Cotton Baby Slings

2006-07-13T10:45:00.000+01:00

I'm discontinuing a few of the colours for the Cotton Slings and replacing them with a couple of cool new colours. I'll now be stocking Orange and Lime Green in addition to Black, Navy, Natural, Red, Pink and Purple.

I'm accepting orders now and they should be shipped in 2 - 3 weeks.

New Stock Just In

2006-07-12T12:34:00.000+01:00

I've just had a load of new stock in. Silk Brocade, Dupioni silk and Solarveil baby slings. They are beautiful! Pictures, updates etc coming soon!

Updated website

2006-07-09T16:37:00.000+01:00

I've done some updating on my website. I've redone my home page. I'll be doing it again soon, but at least I have some recent pictures up there now!

I've also now reorganised the information I had on my site. There is an info page which lists places to go online for more info on babywearing, and I've also put links to some of my articles. I've got a lot more to write and post but at least it's a start. I'm also happy for other webmasters to use my articles as long as they don't change anything and make sure the author info is in tact.

Pictures

2006-07-07T16:36:00.000+01:00

We took a few new pictures of the silk slings today. Here's one that shows you how not to do it! Natalya wanted to lie down in the sling, but she's a bit too big for that now.

I've updated the pictures for the dupioni silk slings in Oatmeal, Chocolate and Golden Sand.

Samples selling fast!

2006-07-05T14:01:00.000+01:00

The turquiose solarveil sample slings have now been sold and 1 khaki solarveil is left. I still have the silk slings though.

Sumptuous Chocolate Dupioni Silk Baby Sling

2006-07-03T16:59:00.001+01:00

I LOVE this sling. It's a really fine dupioni silk and what a colour! This is another sample, and I may not even be able to get hold of this fabric again. I have just 2 of them and they both have the gold / bronze aluminium rings combination that looks stunning and only £30! Hmm, shall I keep one for myself? Soo tempting...

Turquiose Solarveil Baby Sling

2006-07-03T16:45:00.000+01:00

Here's a picture of the turquiose solarveil baby sling which is priced at £25, as it's a sample. This one has silver aluminium rings. I've decided to make some with silver and some with gold rings as I couldn't decide which looked better!

More samples... Silk and Solarveil Baby Slings

2006-06-30T08:35:00.000+01:00

A quick update to let you know that the rest of the samples are now made. I am picking them up today so there will be a few more colours to choose from. I'll photograph them and put them up when I can.

London Sling Meet 4th July

2006-06-29T18:45:00.000+01:00

I just thought I'd mention that on Tuesday 4th July there is a meeting for Babywearers at the Princess Diana Memorial Garden at Kensington Palace. Starts at 10.30am and go on until the afternoon. I'll be there with Natalya from late morning. If you'd like to come along to meet other babywearers or to try some slings or get help with yours please do - the more the merrier. Check Sling Meet for more info.

Hemp / Cotton Twill Baby Sling Reduced

2006-06-29T16:01:00.000+01:00

I have one of these left. A gorgeous fabric, one of my favourites, but as it's the old design I've decided to reduce this to £30, from £49.95. More details here.

New Cotton Sling Sample

2006-06-29T14:37:00.000+01:00

I' thought I'd post a picture of the sample cotton baby sling I've been so excited about. This is a close-up of the inside of the sling where the rings are. I use brass-plated steel rings for this colour fabric and I've always had problems getting it to look neat like this because of the thickness of this cotton canvas fabric. As you can see the manufacturer has used bias binding to keep it neat and loose some of the bulk which happens when it's been hemmed. They also use a double needle industrial sewing machine so the stitching is neat and straight. Great job, I think!

Khaki Solarveil Sling

2006-06-27T16:02:00.000+01:00

Here's the Solarveil Khaki Sling which is now available at a sample price of £25.

Silk Baby Slings

2006-06-27T13:22:00.000+01:00

OK here's a picture of my almost 5 3/4 yr old daughter (her words) wearing my new Golden Sands Dupioni Silk Baby Sling. I'm keeping this one for myself as I LOVE IT! It's the standard 2 meters in length so the tail falls somewhere on my thigh when I wear it.

Fortunately(?) my almost 3 yr old daughter was very clingy when she woke up from her nap yesterday so I was able to test it out with her for quite some time and I must say it's amazing! So incredibly comfortable. I love my sturdy cotton sling but this silk sling is even more comfortable. It's lighter - weighs practically nothing so I don't know where the weight goes, but I really could hardly feeel Natalya's weight at all while I was wearing her. She said she was very comfortable too which was lovely. She was cozily snuggled up to me while I got on with things - including taking more pictures and getting dinner ready. She really was quite content being carried which is lovely for me as I don't get to do it much usually as she's more keen to "do it myself" and walk everywhere!

Here's a close up of the shoulder. This is a sample made locally, so although it's very similar to how they will be manufactured there are subtle differrences. I am selling these samples for £30 instead of the normal price of £49.95, so quite a bargain! There is only 1 of these samples available in this colour (as I'm keeping the other for now) but I have a couple more colours ready to be sold and the rest will follow next week.

As you can see it's triple stitched and has the natya BABYSLINGS label, although it doesn't have a care label. The sling is threaded here through gold and bronze aluminium rings. I've used this combination before and I think it looks stunning and quite unique as far as I know. My background as a colour and image consultant plays it's part here! I use a hot dog shoulder style, width of 12cm, 2 pleats on either side folded into the centre. One of the modifications for this design will be the pleats as there is almost 2 1/2 pleats on these samples. The extra pleating is only a few mm, but as a perfectionist it bugs me so that will change. It's completely unpadded and has a curved pouch, about 55cm at the widest part (the middle) and narrowing down to 44cm at the bottom of the tail. The top of the sling is also narrower to prevent a lot of unneccesary fabric which can cause bunching through the rings. It's 180cm long from the top of the rings.

Other silk baby slings that are now available to buy at £30 are Peachy Pink Dupioni Silk which is pictured here on the left and Sage Green Dupioni Silk. Although I call it sage green it's almost silver, a lovely subtle colour.

Both the pink and sage green slings have silver aluminium rings and all these silk slings have the same nubby texture which ensures no ring slippage and looks stunning.

As well as the silk I also have a khaki solarveil sling which comes with gold and bronze rings ready to sell as a sample priced at £25, instead of £38.95 - another great saving! I'll post pictures later...

Silk and Solarveil Slings

2006-06-26T15:52:00.000+01:00

I have a few of these now. The dupioni silk slings are amazing - so incredibly light and comfortable. Although my husband won't wear them in public he thinks they are amazing! I'll updat with pics etc tomorrow.

Fantastic sample!

2006-06-24T15:42:00.000+01:00

Well, I got the new sample this morning and it's fantastic! Honestly, it's the best sling I've ever had made - and it's a sample! I'm so happy about the sling and the service has been so good so far. I shall get some made asap. I just can't wait! Yippy!!!

New manufacturer

2006-06-22T18:40:00.000+01:00

The cotton baby slings I returned are not coming back as they are really beyond repair and am no longer going to use that manufacturer. So instead I have a new manufacturer who is sending me a sample sling out tomorrow. It seems very promising. They really like the sling and understand what I'm after so I'm hoping this works out. It'll be fantastic to finally get them made by someone who can deliver. Fingers crossed...

Sling Meet

2006-06-16T17:49:00.000+01:00

Well the wonderful site Sling Meet is now up and running. It's a great forum that helps babywearers get together and organise meet ups. I'm moderating the Cambridge area, so do come along and post an introduction. If you live in the Cambridge area and would like to get involved in our local group (currently being formed) let us know. The more the merrier!

Slings

2006-06-14T12:03:00.000+01:00

The silk and solarveil slings are being made now, so hopefully they will be ready soon. The cotton ones have been returned with a new improved pattern. I worked on a sample and it looks and feels perfect. I'm really looking forward to getting them back now.

Photo shoot

2006-06-09T17:17:00.000+01:00

This morning we had a photo shoot for the new slings. I picked out some of the best slings in the latest batch, so they look OK in the pictures. It's only really when you see them close-up that you can see the imperfections. At least I'll have some real mums and babies wearing the sling up on the website soon. Another photo shoot is planned for Monday.

Silk slings

2006-06-09T17:13:00.000+01:00

The news of the silk slings is better. I went locally this time to get a sample made up and what a wonderful job - the stitching is beautiful and the pleats perfect. There was a small problem which needed to be pointed out but it's easily fixed. I'll get the silk slings made in the next week or two now with the even newer design. Really excited about these slings - they will be stunning. Hooray!!!

Cotton slings

2006-06-09T17:08:00.000+01:00

Well, the cotton slings arrived this week but were not up to the standard I want so they are going back. I took the time to analyse the current design and decided it needs some modification. I'm now very happy with the even newer design, which should make the sling look even better and function really well too. I can't wait to get them back again. Hopefully they will be fine as I'm giving the manufacturers even more detailed criteria. If they aren't able to adhere to it this time then we'll be going elsewhere. I'm optimistic about this and am so looking forward to getting in some slings to sell!

Solarveil is here!

2006-06-08T17:48:00.000+01:00

Well, finally my solarveil fabric has arrived. I've got khaki, white and turquoise. Not made up into slings yet but we're getting there!

Cambridge Strawberry Fair

2006-06-04T10:12:00.000+01:00

Yesterday Ric and I took the girls to the infamous Strawberry Fair. It was a lovely warm day here and it was packed. Really we didn't get to see or do anything much as there were too many people to manouver around. So I confess to being disappointed in the event - it really wasn't much fun for us. In fact I wished we had stayed at home in our garden and enjoyed the weather in peace and quiet - I must be getting old!

One thing that did surprise me was seeing hippy, dreadlocked mothers pushing strollers. I had expected to see some slings there - but no, not one (except for me) only stollers! And I didn't even carry my 'baby' in it - she walked all day, and I got to carry our stuff - bottle of water etc in the sling, so all was not lost!

New stock due next week!

2006-06-02T18:19:00.000+01:00

Finally, I've heard I should be getting my new slings next week. Hurray!

Silk slings

2006-06-01T12:40:00.000+01:00

Well, I went to see a local seamstress to see if she could make a start with my silk slings. She's going to do a sample and we'll see how it goes. I can't wait to get them!

NINO Babywearing Groups in the UK

2006-05-31T11:24:00.000+01:00

I've just posted a thread at the babywearer.com and on the yahoo UKbabywearingSWAP group about started NINO groups in the UK. This was in response to a successful recent meeting of London babywearers and the upcoming second Cambridge babywearers meet - on Sunday, in case you're interested?

Anyone interested in forming a group in their local area or in meeting other UK babywearers please join in the discussion or get in touch with me!

Attachment parenting works... at least for us!

2006-05-31T05:47:00.000+01:00

Dr Sear's Baby Book introduced me to the baby sling and attachment parenting and although we didn't follow it to the letter most of it made sense to us. We did have alot of people warning us that we shouldn't hold and carry our daughter so much and that she was much much too dependant and would never learn to be independant. They advised we put her down more and didn't 'give into' her etc etc. Sometimes, I did wonder if we were in fact doing the right thing with our first daughter, after all, she was very clingy - a typical 'high need' baby. She rarely wanted to be put down, breastfed constantly, couldn't go or stay asleep without one of us, well you get the idea!

However, from being a very dependant baby and toddler she turned into an independant little girl. When she was 3 she started kindergarten and had absolutely no problems settling in - in fact there was no settling in period at all! Teachers expect children to cling to their parents and cry when they leave. Anya, and now Natalya have never done this when we've taken them to school, their new child minder, friends or family. They are very sociable, happy children - I'm sure largely because of our parenting style of which babywearing has been so integral.

Because we've almost exclusively been their caregivers for so long (only recently have they been going elsewhere) it's so much easier for them to leave us and come back home to 'touch base'.

At the weekend my mother took the girls out to lunch with my grandfather to celebrate his birthday. Apparently not only did my grandfather enjoy the girls company (he's in his 80's and never been that fond of children) but other people at the restaurant complemented my mother on how well behaved they were - quite something for a 5 1/2 and 2 1/2 yr old I thought!

To me attachment parenting is all about learning to get to know your children, reading and acting on their cues and most importantly following your own instincts and do what feels right to you. My advice is listen to yourself - you know what's right. Trust yourself and if something goes against your gut instinct don't do it! It makes for a happier world.

Still waiting for new design slings

2006-05-31T05:34:00.000+01:00

I really can't believe how long it's taking to get my first order of new design slings. And it looks like there's no chance of getting them this week. In fact my contact is away all week so I can't even find out when they'll be ready.

In light of this I arranged to meet someone else (local this time) to see if they can make the new silk and solarveil slings. I need to get the cotton slings made on industrial sewing machines, due to the thickness of the fabric. It's only at the rings when the fabric is folded that it's too thick for a normal sewing machine but as silk is much thinner this shouldn't be an issue.

I hope I can get them soon. But in the meantime I'm going to make some changes to my website, including doing some new pictures as well as working on some other stuff, so all is not lost!

Pets and babywearing

2006-05-31T05:25:00.000+01:00

We recently got a new addition to the family - a beautiful cat, almost 1 yrs old and it got me thinking about pets and babywearing. I haven't had any pets since I've had children but I have always been a cat lover. I've had many cats over the years and have aways enjoyed their company. I used to pick them up and carry them around with them perched happily on my shoulder as I gave them a fuss. As I've been doing this with our new cat it reminded me very much of carrying around a baby. In fact I feel a bit like I do when I'm babywearing - by keeping the cat happy while I'm getting on with other things like keeping the 'older children' occupied and doing some housework etc. I'm not completely hands free of course, but it's still a lot easier than carrying around a baby without a sling!

Hmm, I wonder how Tiggs would feel about the sling...

Beautiful morning

2006-05-31T05:21:00.000+01:00

OK so what am I doing up at 5am? Well, Natalya got me up while it was still dark - around 4am I think, so as I couldn't sleep I started thinking and well, the sun came up and there's such a gorgeous golden glow I just couldn't get back to bed, so thought I'd catch up on some work while the house is quiet!

The benefits of motherhood :-)

The Family Appreciation Game

2006-05-29T07:46:00.000+01:00

The Family Appreciation Game is a game I've just started playing with my own family. It's an adaptation of The Appreciation Game as described in The Passion Test - a great book by Janet Bray Attwood and Chris Attwood which I highly recommend for it's simple and straightforward approach to discovering and getting clearer about your passions. The Appreciation Game is a great way to focus on the good about yourself to help counter and finally eliminate low self-esteem.

The Family Appreciation Game aims to help each member of the family learn to appreciate each other as well as themselves, which will help any members of the family that have low self-esteem. It can be done with all age groups, and although the youngest ones won't understand exactly what's going on they will get a sense that something special is happening. If you or your children have self-esteem issues then I hope this game can help. I shall report back to let you know how we get on with it. So far it's been very interesting to observe our children's different perspective through this game.

I suggest you play the game every day. Once you get the hang of it I'm sure you'll look forward to it and it really won't take many minutes to play. Choose a regular time of day, when the whole family can be together preferably at or near the end of the day. We've chosen to play after dinner, before the bedtime routine begins. You may also include it in your normal bedtime routine if that's appropriate to you. To our children we explained that we were going to play a thinking and talking game. As our 5 yr old loves to talk she was very excited about this new game!

Sit together around a table or in a circle and hold hands if that feels right to begin the game. Take turns and choose to acknowledge 1 good thing you noticed and would like to acknowledge about yourself and each member of the family in turn. Choose a specific incident from the day, for example, "I appreciated it today when you helped hang out the washing", or "I'm happy that I wrote my name well today", or "I really enjoyed listening to you sing today".

With older children you can stipulate that you must each say something different about yourselves and each other. This may seem quite difficult to do when you're not used to looking for good things in each other, however, the point of the game is to make you more aware so you tend to focus on good things more often, which in turn means that you get more good things to notice!

With younger children you needn't stipulate this as if you go first they will likely repeat what you said. Once they become more familiar with the game it may be a good idea to let them go first which gives you the opportunity to choose something different which will enrich your experience of the game and appreciation of each other. I must say both Ric and I have found it quite moving to hear what our children say they appreciate about ourselves and it really has helped us feel more forgiving at those times when we feel we need a break! Although we regularly praise our children throughout the day it's still a wonderful opportunity to focus on the good things that our children are too.

Do try the game and let me know how you get on!

Ideas

2006-05-28T09:58:00.000+01:00

As I'm a prolific creater of ideas, I've realized that I'll use this blog to communicate my ideas as well as publishing articles I'm writing about babywearing, baby slings, baby carriers, breastfeeding etc etc. In addition I'll keep you posted about happenings at natya BABYSLINGS, when I've got new stock in and am launching new products, supplying new retailers and anything else that seems relevant!

Passionate about babywearing

2006-05-28T09:02:00.000+01:00

Yes, I am passionate about babywearing, amongst other things. I'm also passionate about being a mother - I loved being a mother of a baby and all it entailed - even the sleepless nights! Well, for the first 18 mnths anyway. Then, I started thinking perhaps there were other things I could be doing aswell. I really devoted myself to looking after Anya close to 24hrs a day every day. I guess after that I was ready for a more balanced life. And I think that's the key - to discover what you're passionate about and live your life accordingly.

Passions may change as our life situation changes and we evolve. When my second baby arrived Anya was almost 3 yrs old and I had developed several more interests and was becoming more aware of my passions.

Babywearing was definitely one of them - in fact I've often commented that if I couldn't wear my baby I'd probably not want to have one at all! I simply couldn't imagine life with a baby without babywearing. That is one reason why I'm working on various projects to promote babywearing. It makes life much easier for you when you look after a baby aswell as being highly beneficial for the baby. One of the other benefits I've found from wearing my own babies that is often overlooked is the effect it has on other people. Imagine the cummalative effect of strangers smiling when they see your baby happy and content nestled in a baby sling next to you. The effect upon your baby builds up over time and helps them to become happy, social, confident children. The positive effect upon all the people who get to smile at least once that day from seeing you and your baby can also be quite powerful over time.

If you've ever thought about wearing your baby go try it and hopefully you'll love it too!

And so it begins.....

2006-05-27T20:25:00.000+01:00

OK, so I've finally started a blog. Yay! I'll be posting every day or so with what's happening with natya. I've ground down my stock to almost nothing whilst waiting for my first order of my new design baby slings to arrive. So as I'm still waiting it's meant I've had a bit of a break from selling - it wasn't my intention but that's what's happened anyway. It's been great actually as it's given me time to get started on a couple of very exciting projects which I'm working on to help promote babywearing. I shall most definitely keep you posted on that!