BabyArmadillo News

Welcome to BabyArmadillo's blog. Here you can find product news, make suggestions and leave feedback, help make BabyArmadillo the shop that *you* want it to be.

Thursday, July 16, 2015

A change of direction.

This post has been a long time coming.  We stopped distributing for Babyidea last year, ending a 10 year long association.  Despite having a varied range of products, the majority of our business with Babyidea was seasonal, focussed on their baby-carrying accessories.  I was sad, but I needed to make a change in how I used my time and spread my work out over the year.  And to that end, I'm working to improve my teaching skills so that I can offer baby carrying consultations.  I'm taking part in a Trageschule UK "Advanced" course next month, and I'm busy preparing for this with the required coursework!  This includes a report of a consultation.  Since I'm not currently providing this as a service, I'm struggling a little with how to find a guinea-pig!  There are established consultants in the area, whose toes I don't want to tread on at all, I believe strongly that it's of benefit to all of us to work together, but I don't think it's appropriate to charge for my time when, despite having wrapped my now-13yo and 10yo daughters for the first few years of their lives, I am essentially a trainee.

So I'm putting it out there this way.  If there's anyone local who is happy for me to train 'on' them, who is available in the next few days (but not this weekend, as I'm away) for me to follow through the process, please get in touch via the Contact Us link on BabyArmadillo.

And watch this space for further news about our consultation service.

Monday, March 25, 2013

long time no see!

Well! It's been an awfully long time. Once again I'm prompted by a visit to Harrogate Nursery Fair to blog, but this time it isn't so much a round up of the good, the bad and the ugly (oh boy, the ugly!) as an apology for dropping the ball over here for so long. It's a funny old thing, blogging, it's meant to be about life, whether that's of an individual or some entity like a business or a charity, but then life gets in the way and writing stuff down doesn't seem as important as actually doing it. But then the lack of writing down means that the prompts and reminders, and the feedback, of course, are lost, and so sometimes the living gets a little lost too.

Anyway. Hopefully this is the return of a blog that's about the life of BabyArmadillo, and the life of BabyArmadillo continues to be worthy of blogging.

I'm not going to talk about any specific products from the show, I didn't see any awful howlers and the interesting new stuff, well you will have to see what happens there! It was lovely to chat with Victoria from the School of Babywearing about the European Babywearing Conference, which I will be attending with Babyidea, and Debi and Phil from Slumber-Roo, about the business of babywearing, and business generally, and fun to watch my friend Becky of Big Mama Slings in action in her other role as buyer for Born, with big thanks to The Little Green Sheep for the entertainment towards the end of the day and to Aden + Anais for the lovely welcome and the balm, very welcome for my lips on such a bitterly cold day!

Most of all, thanks to my customers, and to you for reading this today! Stay tuned for more news :-)

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Baby sling safety press release

UK Sling Companies Put Baby Safety First - Press Release

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has raised concerns about “bag-style” baby carriers. It is thought that 14 deaths have occurred in the US over the last 20 years, all linked to the “bag-style” sling. UK Sling retailers and manufacturers are taking steps to ensure that parents have the information they need to continue to use safe designs of baby carriers and position their babies in the safest way possible.

One design of sling now seems to have potential risks. In “bag-style” slings, the deep pouch where baby sits puts the baby in a potentially suffocating curved position. Excess fabric with an elasticized edge may cover baby’s face and inhibit breathing. The design may cause the baby’s face to turn in toward the carer’s body, potentially smothering the baby. It also obstructs the baby from the parent’s view, due to the high and gathered side panels.

The majority of baby carriers and slings are still safe to use, if they hold baby in proper alignment and fit snugly by design and instruction. These safe designs of sling include shallow pouch-style slings, ring slings, soft carriers and wrap slings.

Advice for Parents

If you carry your baby in a bag-style sling, Rebecca Ward, of the Consortium of UK Sling Manufacturers and Retailers advises you to contact your local babywearing group through Sling Meet, www.slingmeet.co.uk, for advice on alternative slings. She says, “While we are unaware of any fatalities in the UK in these bag style slings at the present time, we would caution against using them in light of the recommendations by the US Safety Commission”. If you have another sort of baby carrier, Rebecca advises, “No safety problems have been brought to our attention with any other baby carriers. Make sure you read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.” When using a baby sling, the advice provided by the Consortium of UK Sling Manufacturers and Retailers is to follow these basic principles:
Keep your baby close and keep your baby safe. When you’re wearing a sling or carrier, don’t forget the T.I.C.K.S.

Tight                                                       
In view at all times                              
Close enough to kiss                           
Keep chin off the chest                     
Supported back                                                                               
~~ENDS~~
Issued by Antonia Chitty on behalf of Consortium of UK Sling Manufacturers and Retailers 22/03/2010

Media enquiries to Antonia on 0845 643 1874 or 07900 580668
Rebecca Ward: 0117 9082479 or 07525650429

Notes to Editors

More information on Baby Sling Safety will be added to www.babyslingsafe.com
To find out more about baby wearing and get advice on safe ways to carry your baby there are several trusted websites to help you:



Benefits of Baby Wearing

In well-designed products, studies have shown that baby wearing is not only safe, but is actually beneficial. Such studies have shown that quality baby slings and carriers have been shown to save lives, improve health, decrease crying, increase IQ, and facilitate breastfeeding and bonding. Studies have also shown that worn babies are happier and spend more time in the quiet alert phase. In this phase they benefit more than their non-worn peers in language development and knowledge acquisition. Babywearing also helps babies sleep better, and physical needs, including breastfeeding, are met more quickly by a close, responsive parent. Millions of babies over time have been worn to their benefit making baby slings and carriers more of a necessity than the often-publicized fashion accessory. [ii]

Consortium of UK Sling Manufacturers and Retailers Members

Baba-licious, Baby Armadillo, Baby Bean, Babyhut, Big Mama Slings, BORN, Brightsparkslings, Calin Bleu, Close Parent, CN Sales, Daisy Chain Slings, HippyChick, Huggababy, Kari-Me, Lifft Slings, Little Possums, Mama Natura, Napsack, Natural Connection, Naturally Happy Slings, Natural Nursery, Ocah Carriers, SaSaSlings, Sling Jax, Slumber-Roo, Snugbaby, The Carrying Kind, Wilkinet

--------------------------------------------------------------

[i] For examples of these cases and further reading see “Increased Carrying Reduces Infant Crying: A Randomized Controlled Trial” an article written by Urs A. Hunziker MD and Ronald G. Barr MDCM, FRCP(C), “Saving My Baby” a blog post written on Fierce Mama’s Blog by Sarah Kaganovsky and Dr. Maria Blois’s book Babywearing

[ii] Source: La Leche League International

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

MaM 2009 Preorder

It's that time of year again! We will soon be placing our order for babywearing coats and jackets from MaM Design. Just to help things along, we're having a pre-order sale on orders placed by Weds 21st October. If you'd like to bag a bargainous 10% off our retail price please contact us.

MaM Coat: £120 (preorder £108)

This brilliant coat will keep you and your little one toasty and dry all Winter

TWO-WAY Deluxe Jacket: £80 (preorder £72)

The all-season option with removable sleeves, this deluxe version has zips and a PUL layer for water- and wind-proofing.

Also, we are making a special order of unisex leggings £29.50, long-sleeved t-shirt £29.50, one-piece suit £55, sleeping bag £43 and baby blanket £32 from the ManyMonths Merino Wool range, elephant hoods, body/shirts, long rib booties, mittens and wool tubes are currently available on our sister-site Fanny Fanackapants along with the brilliant Longies and Shorties. Please let us know if you would like any of these items.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Hip Wrap Cross Carry video

Thanks Nikki for allowing me to post this here!

Thursday, September 11, 2008

MaM Coat 2009

It's that time of year again! New MaM Coats will soon be available. I'm sure I don't need to tell you too much about the MaM Coat, (well you can read back here about it anyway) other than it's a super-dooper very clever design for a warm, highly wind resistant, waterproof-bodied babywearing coat.

This year's tweaks include:


  • Two-way zips that can be opened from the bottom (great for expanding hiplines or jumping in and out of the car!)

  • A poppered strap to secure the hem drawstring inside the coat

  • Cap-hood adjustment is more secure

  • Teddy-bear ears on the cap-hood!

  • A hanging loop inside the jacket (my personal favourite! My coat has been languishing on the banister end since I got it.)

The new colours are anthracite (mid-to-dark grey) outer with stone lining and chocolate outer with sand lining. Black is still available in 2008 model in limited sizes.


Babywearing covers will also soon be available in new colours, and with the new cap-hood adjustment method, as follows:



  • Deluxe covers will be available in black, anthracite/stone and chocolate/sand.

  • Winter covers will be available in chocolate/leek and black/sand

  • 4 season covers will be available in shiitake mushroom/sand and are available in 2008 model in chili red/sand

Unfortunately, as with all things, our prices must rise this season too. MaM Coats will be £99, Deluxe covers £35, Winter covers £29 and 4 season covers £26. However we are running preorders on the new coat colours, watch out on the 'site for further info.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Some stand pics




Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Summer Sling Show - This Sunday!!

BabyArmadillo is heading south for the weekend! We're exhibiting, in conjunction with Babyidea, at the Summer Sling Show in the centre of London.

We'll be showcasing the MaM and Babyidea ranges of slings and accessories, many of which are patented, all of which are designed by babywearing parents. Come along and have a look!

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Baby Sling Safety

Newsletter subscribers will know this, as will any 'TBW' regulars, but I'm spreading this link as far and wide as I can, and I urge everyone to do the same.

I can't find the words to share how I feel about bag slings, about the risk posed by them and the inaction by their makers in the face of the evidence presented on this site. I'm not in any way a scaremonger generally, and I'm genuinely pleased for all the happy users of bag slings that have found them to be a solution for carrying their baby in a way that suits them. Call it a 'Public Service Announcement' or something, take it or leave it, but make informed choices!

Enjoy your babywearing, and please, don't have nightmares ;-)

Monday, April 21, 2008

to market to market...

We've decided to give ourselves a bit of 'real life' presence by having a stall at the general market in Holmfirth. Unfortunately due to time constraints we can't do this more than once a month. Hopefully people will get used to us being there on a certain day, and I put signs up last week saying which day that would be, the 3rd Thursday of each month.

It would be nice if that market was as well attended, both by customers and by stallholders, as the Farmers' Market held last Sunday, which was busy despite the cold damp weather, to the point that Coddy's Farm had sold out and were going home by 1pm! They're having an open day for the lambing season on Sunday 4th May, and all being well we'll have a space there too, so if you're in the area do drop by to pet a lamb and you might just see us too :-)