Announcing Winners of the Great Babywearing Share'athon 2010

Our first Great Babywearing Share'athon 2010 has concluded successfully last Friday and we want to thank all our fans for sharing your babywearing photos and experiences, as well as guessing the carriers. All the entries for Category A and B were overwhelmingly fabulous and we had a tough time deciding on the winners over the weekend.

As a result of this success and because of the quality of the entries, we actually got a sponsorship for cash vouchers as well as a special prize on top of the prizes for the 3 categories and  the $50 cash voucher to be given away. Just a hint - everyone is a winner if you have taken part in both Category A and B. Please check the below list for your names. (All winners will also receive information on how to claim your prizes via FaceBook over the next few days. Please note that all prizes are final and not exchangeable for cash or other products.)

*Drum Roll* - and here are our winners:

Category A: Best Babywearing Photo 
(This entry wins a Manduca Bamboo Flame worth S$279.90)

Winning entry from Natalie Yeo:

"Carrying little Seraphina from birth to 5mths plus was a headache because we couldn’t do anything else. But after purchasing the Manduca, everything to be done with little Seraphina is so simple. So this is a picture of Mummy Natalie and Baby Seraphina at 6mths enjoying our Christmas outing at the Christmas Tree at Ngee Ann City, Orchard amidst the crowd in Dec 2010. Seraphina knows when Mummy puts the Manduca on, its time to go out! At a nice height she can see and touch whatever mummy sees and touch and I find this very interactive. She also sleeps well in the Manduca and has been the soothing tool when she is out of the carrier and cranky. Mummy Natalie and Baby Seraphina simply love the Manduca, it’s a definite package when going out! Using the Manduca just twice has brought the bond with mummy and daughter closer, previously when I go out, she would just look and turn away, now its like she is saying “I wanna come too!” I can’t wait to Manduca her out again!"


Category B: Best Babywearing Testimonial 
(This entry wins a Manduca Bamboo Flame worth S$279.90)

Winning entry from Doreen Eng:

"This is Arianna, 7 months then, sleeping soundly in the Manduca carrier in Spain Nov 2010. I bought the manduca carrier from Baby Slings & Carriers just before our 1st overseas trip and was so glad I did. We did not bring a stroller along. It was so easy to carry baby Arianna around. She was so comfortable in the carrier that she just fell asleep and took her nap anytime and anywhere.

Being a user of sleepy wrap since Arianna was 1 month old, I strongly believe in the benefits of carrying my baby. I wanted a carrier that could last till my baby is at least 3 years old. I also wanted one that my husband is willing to use regulary, so that he can help carry her. In fact, he likes it so much, he is the one carrying her most of the time when we are out...:)

Without doubt, Manduca carrier is money well spent. We are using it on a daily basis."



Category C: Guess the Carriers 
(This entry wins a Boba Classic Twilight)

The correct answers are:
1) Sleepy Wrap
2) JumpSac Baby Sling
3) Manduca Baby Carrier

Winning entry: Mythili Pandi


S$50 Baby Slings & Carriers cash voucher 
(lucky draw for entries that combine both Category A and B)

Winning entry from Norinna Izhar

"Daddy can dance even when I'm in Manduca! 

Carrying lil' Nabil when he was 9mths old during our trip to London was definitely a breeze! Even as he turns 16mths and gets heavier by the day, the Manduca carrier does a GREAT job in distributing his weight equally well. We definitely can't leave home without it!"


Special Prize!!! - This photo entry wins a Boba Classic Twilight
(Our distributor has kindly sponsored this as they loved the idyllic picture with the Sleepy Wrap.)

Winning entry from Regina Hermelin:

"This is me with baby Bianca sleeping in her Sleepy Wrap. She was 10 weeks when the picture was taken in our apartment in Singapore. We have now been using the Sleepy Wrap for a month and I am really happy with it. Bianca is a determined little girl who does not want to sleep in her cot in day time, but in the wrap she ...sleeps great, and I find it really confortable carrying her in it, and it also gives me free hands to get things done. It helps me give her all the closeness and confort she needs and also saves my back!"

Special Prize: $20 Baby Slings & Carriers voucher
This special prize is given to Tay Shi'an for the creative effort in her photo entries and a storyline on her babywearing journey.

"Baby Rae and I at our very first outing @ the Singapore Garden Festival in July 2010. Rae had just turned 1 month at the time, and being a noob first time mum, I was worried how baby would react outside, especially since the Suntec convention hall was freezing! (super low temperatures for the plants). But baby stayed snug, warm and asleep in her Sleepy Wrap all through the visit as we bought plants and explored exotic gardens together.... (part 1/2)"

"5 months later, on New Year's Eve @ Orchard Road: Rae is 6 months old now and growing super well, 8kg and counting! She loves to be carried, and we're still using her Sleepy Wrap, which has kept its shape well (though I guess technically it has no specific shape, which is why we've managed to keep using it to fit her as she grew). Good option for mum on crowded days with lots of walking, when a pram is unwieldy and baby is too heavy to carry freestyle. Plus, with enough hands to carry a drink and take our own picture in a shop mirror. I could have carried her baby bag too, but that's what Daddy (in background) is for :) Happy New Year fellow mums! (part 2/2)"


Appreciation Prizes of $10 Baby Slings & Carriers vouchers goes to all the following of our FaceBook fans who have spent time and effort to send in your entries. We know it was a hectic rush with the year end holidays and appreciate your effort in sending in your entries. Thank you everyone!

1) Mulyadi Feruza

2) Lim Fang Qi

3) Sherlyn Ong

4) Adelene Yap

5) Angeline Moon

6) Malai Pensuk

7) Ilyn Tan Yee Lin

8) Wong Tzer Miin

9) Joey Wong

10) Meg Tan

11) Ling Yun Chin

Congratulations to all our winners and we hope that you continue to enjoy your babywearing journey and spread the good word of great babywearing!

The Great Babywearing Share’athon 2010

To encourage fellow babywearers to share their joys in babywearing, Baby Slings & Carriers is holding our 1st ever Babywearing Share’athon for our customers and fans. There are a total of 3 categories in this contest with an ergonomic carrier each to be won. The best entry in each category stands to win either a Limited Edition Manduca Organic Cotton Carrier Bamboo Flame worth $279.90 each or a Boba Classic Carrier Twilight worth $159.90.

To top it up, entries that submit both a photo and a testimonial (which means you take part in both Category A & B) also automatically qualify for a lucky draw where 1 winner will walk away with a $50 Baby Slings & Carriers voucher!

Hurry, check out our contest details below! Contest closes 11:59pm (Singapore time) 30 December 2010. Please note that contest has been extended to 7 Jan 2011 (Friday) 11:59 Singapore time by popular request. (Sorry folks, we cannot extend for any longer than that to be fair to everyone.)

Category A: Best Babywearing Photo Contest
(Prize: A Manduca Bamboo Flame worth $279.90)

• Submit a photo of you wearing your child in any of our slings, wraps or carriers. Brands and carrier types accepted are Manduca Baby Carrier, Sleepy Wrap, Boba Carrier, Patapum Carrier, Ellaroo slings, wraps or carriers, Pikkolo Baby Carriers, JumpSac slings, TaylorMade Sling, Moby Wrap, Peanut Shell.
• Each entry must come with you and your child’s name, where it is taken, as well as how old the child is in the photo.
• You are automatically entered for both Category A & Category B contests if you add a testimonial using the requirements spelt out in Category B. In addition, you will also stand a chance to win a $50 Baby Slings & Carriers voucher in a lucky draw.

Category B: Best Testimonial Contest
(Prize: A Manduca Bamboo Flame worth $279.90)

• Submit a testimonial of any baby carrier you had purchased from us telling us which sling/ wrap/ carrier you had bought, how old your child is, how long you have been using it, why you like it and how it has helped you in your parenting journey.
• Brands and carrier types accepted are Manduca Baby Carrier, Sleepy Wrap, Boba Carrier, Patapum Carrier, Ellaroo slings, wraps or carriers, JumpSac slings, TaylorMade Sling, Moby Wrap, Peanut Shell.
• You are automatically entered for both Category A & Category B contests if you post a photo and an accompanying testimonial. In addition, you also stand a chance to win a $50 Baby Slings & Carriers voucher in a lucky draw.

Category C: Guess the Carriers Contest
(Prize: A Boba Carrier Twilight worth $159.90)
Any fan is welcomed to join the contest in this Category simply by answering 2 questions:

1. Guess the brands of the three carriers shown in the below picture. (*Hint: match the pictures at www.BabySlingsAndCarriers.com)
2. Tell us what the Baby Slings & Carriers tagline is. (*Hint: It is under the logo on our website.)

How to Join?

• You must first be a fan by clicking “like” on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/babyslingsandcarriers)
• Submit your entries by posting on our Facebook wall.

Terms & Conditions: 

• Brands and carrier types accepted for Category A & B are Manduca Baby Carrier, Sleepy Wrap, Boba Carrier, Patapum Carrier, Ellaroo slings, wraps or carriers, Pikkolo Baby Carriers, JumpSac slings, TaylorMade Sling, Moby Wrap, Peanut Shell.
• Baby Slings & Carriers reserve the right to reject any entries that does not fulfill the terms set out in each contest.
• Contest is open to Singapore residents only as collection of prizes must be in person or by an authorised representative.
• Winners will be notified on 8 Jan 2011 through Facebook and prizes must be collected within 30 days.
• By taking part in this contest, you unreservedly allow Baby Slings & Carriers as well as the participating brands to use your photos and testimonials in any of our future marketing materials. 

So what are you waiting for? Send in your entries now!!!

Breastfeeding - Cover or Not?

Breastmilk is the most complete food for infants and there is no doubt that because breastmilk is highly digestible, a baby may need to feed more frequently (with their tiny walnut sized stomachs) than us adults. And that can mean every hour or so depending on the baby's metabolic rate.



So how does one deal with the need for frequent (or even infrequent) feedings in the public, once the mother feels well enough to get out of the house?

With the increased awareness and number of mothers breastfeeding, the public's acceptance of public breastfeeding seems to have improved by leaps and bounds. However, we need to recognize that every person's perception and acceptance level appears to be different with public breastfeeding, be it the mother, father or the stranger in the street who chances on the breastfeeding pair. For a new mother who is not used to viewing her breasts as a natural human anatomy that is made for breastfeeding (yes, even in public), she may be rather apprehensive about "flashing her boobs" in public. We know perhaps by writing this post that we may get a lot of protests from our female counterparts or even hate mails (we've seen it appear in many forums - so many we lost count). However, we will like to reiterate the point that we are all for public breastfeeding and the reason for writing this post is purely to showcase different views on public breastfeeding for which we have got enormous mails about.

There are many reasons when a mother makes a choice to cover up when breastfeeding in public:

1) The mother may be unprepared to have her breasts seen by anyone except her partner and her breastfeeding child. For most of us growing up in a conservative society, we have been taught that we should never expose any of our "private parts" which includes our breasts. All these years of belief will not suddenly change every woman's view about having her privacy intruded when she has a baby. We should respect the mother's choice and support what she is most comfortable with. Breastfeeding in public is never about forcing a mother have her privacy intruded on (from the mother's viewpoint). For the more courageous moms who are less concerned, we are more than happy that you are showing the way that breastfeeding is really a natural part of life! :)


2) The father may be unprepared for his wife to be seen breastfeeding in public. The dads may have grown up in a conservative family as well and may feel uncomfortable for the reasons as how some mothers will feel about breastfeeding as listed above. From a more protective husband's point of view, "I really support my wife's decision to breastfeed in public, but I feel so insecure and helpless when there are prying eyes!" We again have to respect each couple's individual decision. Then again there are other daddies who are fine with any arrangements.

3) The extended family usually the grandparents, may be uncomfortable. As many of our parents did not grow up in an environment where breastfeeding is prevalent, it may be difficult for them to see it now as anything other than indecent exposure, after believing so for the last few decades. Old habits die hard and wouldn't it make sense to have a more amiable process for their acceptance by slowly winning them over? Of course, there are other grandparents who are completely supportive and are comfortable with public breastfeeding (without any cover-ups).

4) Friends or strangers (especially males) may be very uncomfortable being in full view of a mother breastfeeding her baby in front of them. They are worried because as a man once put it, "It's difficult for me to go up to this friend when she is breastfeeding nearby and in full view. I am worried that if I accidentally look at her she might think I am rude and trying to peep. So I pretended to not see her and walk away. It really puts me in an awkward position, especially when she spotted and called out to me."

Eventually we do hope that breastfeeding can become so common and people feel that there is no more need to cover up. Until then, rather than forced acceptance, some mothers feel that discreet breastfeeding does help them bridge the gap and allow for the baby to be fed when he or she is hungry and yet be respectful of other's comfort level. Afterall, it is about a gentle movement, at a comfortable pace where the end result is widespread societal acceptance of public breastfeeding where nobody even blinks an eye.

Until then, here are several ways we can think of that a breastfeeding mother can breastfeed discreetly (even in the hospital ward with visitors):

Nursing Covers 

 

Getting a nursing or breastfeeding cover with a rigid neckline can help loads for those who need to watch baby or to engage baby while avoiding prying eyes. Preferably they should come with a heavier weight at the bottom to prevent it from flying up and exposing the mother. An award winning stylish nursing cover from Bebe au Lait does that effectively. The covers can also be great for older babies who are easily distracted during breastfeeding.



Baby Ring Slings
Not only can a baby sling be used to transport your baby while leaving you hands-free. The tail end can even double up as an extra coverage for discreet breastfeeding. Because it is a baby carrier, you can even shop around while your baby is latched on without anyone ever finding out. A fashionable and comfortable linen blend ring sling from JumpSac can be a godsend for a stylish mommy. No special clothes required (although you should be wearing a top that is loose and easy to pull up if you are not wearing special nursing clothes).

Stretchy Wrap
An extremely user-friendly one like Sleepy Wrap not only allows for the mother to carry her baby hands-free and comfortably for long periods of time, it also allows for quick and discreet breastfeeding. A normal stretchy tank or camisole that can pulled downwards easily allows a baby to breastfeed on the go. Switching breast is a breeze if baby is already in an upright position. Just slide the head over to the side and nurse.


Nursing clothes

There are many clothes made specially with nursing access for more discreet breastfeeding. Some allow for lifting up, others come with zips, yet others come with buttons or clasps (top-down access). Due to the wide range available, a new mother can perhaps think about the type of access she is best able to handle. For example, some women are more efficient with lifting up than pulling down. So choosing the one most comfortable for each individual can be an important decision with a hungry baby. If unsure, get a few different types and try out before getting more.

At the end of the day, we believe that the decision to cover or not when breastfeeding in public or how to cover up is an entirely individual (or familial) one and in order to provide a nurturing environment for continued breastfeeding, individual choices should be respected regardless of whether it is in line with our own.

Is Sleepy Wrap warm and tips for nursing

We have often received questions on the stretchy wraps and the most common ones are whether the Sleepy Wrap is warm and the kind of breastfeeding tops that can best be used with it. Below are the commonly asked questions and our answers.

Q: Will the Sleepy Wrap be very warm to wear in Singapore's humid weather? What has been your experience with this?

A: Firstly you will need to be aware that there will always be some body heat trapped as long as you carry your baby. A baby carrier made with natural fibres (eg. cotton, linen) is more breathable that those made of synthetic fibres (eg.polyester, nylon). The Sleepy Wrap is made of cotton and feels like a T-shirt material, so it breathes rather well. In our experience it is not exactly a lot warmer to wear than other carriers, although it will definitely be slightly warmer than using a ring sling since there is additional layer of cloth going around you. Having said that, heat tolerance is a personal thing and some people find that the organic cotton Sleepy Wrap can be cooler and more breathable than the normal ones. We have personally tested a Sleepy Wrap with a newborn in Singapore at home for two hours without any air-conditioning (mid-year) and do not exactly find it very much warmer than carrying the baby in arms.

Q: What kind of breastfeeding tops gives best access to babies to feed with the Sleepy Wrap? 


A: With the Sleepy Wrap, you should be looking at nursing tops with top down access. This will help you nurse easily and more discreetly. A bottom up nursing access can be too cumbersome for use with a Sleepy Wrap. For many of our mothers, they have learnt to also just wear a simple stretchy spaghetti strapped tank and pull down for nursing, doing away with any nursing tops. The top panel of the Sleepy wrap can be used as a cover up for when you nurse your baby.

Does Babywearing mean carrying your baby all the time?

During the course of promoting babywearing, we are fortunate to be able to encounter firsthand the concerns of parents or caregivers about wearing their babies.

The most often met question is, "I wonder if I will ever need a baby carrier, because I don't want to carry my baby all the time."

Firstly, allow us to clarify the term babywearing and what it means. Babywearing is the practice of wearing or carrying a baby in any forms of a baby carrier including slings and wraps irregardless of the length of time.

Secondly, let us explain that all babies need to be carried at some point, be it for a hug or if they need to be fed or any other reasons. Many times new parents do find that babies are not meant to be left alone on the bed and that they can frequently cry to be picked up. This differs between babies as well as their ages. It doesn't necessarily translate into manipulative action and a baby really cannot be spoilt by being carried.

A baby who has been in utero for the past 9 months really is used to being part of the mother and the motion that the mother engages in a daily manner. As a result, after being born (and detached) from the mother through birth, it may be rather unreasonable to expect that the baby can immediately lie down on his or her back for long hours without needing the same motion, especially since the new world is still very unfamiliar to them. In fact, putting babies on their backs for long hours or leaving them to cry it out for long periods is shown to be harmful.

A baby sling, wrap or carrier can be useful for such moments, as it allows us to carry our baby safely while being hands free to go about our daily chores.

However it is a misconception that babywearing means carrying your baby all the time. While babywearing is healthy and is instrumental in early bonding, it certainly doesn't mean that you need to carry your baby all the time. There will come time when your baby will learn how to crawl (that won't be long) and eventually learn how to walk, and that will be the time to let go and allow him or her to start exploring. At times they may still need to be carried, perhaps for a nap when out on long trips or when they get too tired to walk (remember their legs are short compared to ours) and that's when an ergonomic carrier is still useful. Other times, they will be happy to just get down and explore.

By then, you will probably be glad you decided to babywear. Because babies grow up so fast, they will not want you to carry them very soon (even if you want to).

Babywearing a toddler who needed a nap during a shopping trip

Distinction between Hard & Soft Structured Baby Carriers

(First published on our FaceBook Notes April 21, 2010.)

Newborn without neck support in a Manduca Soft Structured Baby Carrier. Note how it wraps around the entire back, and provides some form of neck support for the baby. Available at http://www.babyslingsandcarriers.com/manduca_baby_carriers

There are many types of buckle type baby carriers available on the market today and parents are definitely spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing one. Some have a hard body that usually involves some kind of padding which then buckles to the wearer. These hard structured carriers tend to boast of thicker padding.

Others like the Manduca, Pikkolo, Boba, Beco, Patapum, etc. are soft structured carriers which molds well around baby's still developing spine, wrapping around snugly so that there is no extra gaps between the carrier body and baby's body.

It is important for a new parent to recognize that there is a major difference between these two types of structures. The main difference being how one hugs the baby's spine more naturally (the soft structured types) allowing the baby's developing spine to grow optimally while the other hard structured types tend to create spaces between the baby's body and doesn't hug the contour of the spine.

Comparatively soft structured carriers provide a lot more support for the growing baby's spine as it is not allowed to wobble against anything, whereas hard structures tend to be rigid and a baby's still developing spine tends to wobble against the hard structure with every step the parent takes. The logical deduction will be that hard structures may then compromise the healthy growth of the baby's spine (since there is so much wobbling or knocking with each movement).

We hope that parents can make more informed choices when selecting a safe and comfortable baby carrier and will be more than happy to help if anyone needs help in choosing one.

Happy Babywearing.

Dangers of Sun Exposure & How to Prevent the Damaging Effects of UVR on Babies

(This article first appeared in our FaceBook Notes April 13, 2010.)

The sun is getting stronger as we approach the hottest months of the year in Singapore and probably rest of South East Asia. While the sun is important in giving us warmth and allowing us to enjoy the great outdoors (as compared to the rainy seasons), the stronger UV radiation (UVR) can also have devastating effects on skins, eyes and our immune system, and in the worst cases increasing the incidence of skin cancer.

Do you know that babies whose skins are thinner than adults tend to be more vulnerable to the harmful effects of UVR? Yet in comparison, babies and young children are largely the most ignored when it comes to sun-protection. By employing simple sun-protection strategies for babies and young children the risk of skin cancer later in life can not only be easily reduced, they can also contribute to an adult's habit to stay sun-protected throughout their lives.

Simple precautionary measures can be easily undertaken by avoiding the midday sun, typically between 10am to 4pm when the sun is at its strongest. While you should seek shade with your baby when the UVR is strong, do continue to wear sun protective gear as shade do not offer complete sun protection. Some simple protective gear you should always have on yourself as well as your baby in a hot tropical country like Singapore includes:

1) UPF 50 Hats with a wide brim that protects the eyes, ears, face and back of necks (our recommendation: http://www.babyslingsandcarriers.com/sunday_afternoon_sun_hats)
2) sunscreen with at least SPF+15
3) good sunshades with good UV protection (if your baby will wear them)
4) tightly-woven loose fitting clothes

We especially love the UPF 50 hats from Sunday Afternoons that are not only stylish with a few designs to choose from, they are also easily acceptable by kids because of their soft touch.

So go on, enjoy your activity and babywearing times with your baby or preschooler in tropical Singapore and stay sun-safe!

Staying sun safe with Sunday Afternoon UPF50+ Sun Hats at the pool

Available at http://www.babyslingsandcarriers.com/sunday_afternoon_sun_hats