All Publicity is NOT good Publicity.

A soundbite style article just popped up on my MSN newsfeed and it made me uncomfortable on so many levels. This has led to a blog post full of 'but'.......... this is a controversial topic in the world of slings that is constantly oversimplified.

The headline - "Jamie Oliver's Snap of River Sparks concern from parents over baby carrier safety" is of course designed to get anyone interested in slings, parenting or celebrities to come and have a look - I did. If you want to read it - it's here. It won't take you long.

But these short, articles that are designed for maximum mouse clicks are too short to actually contain anything useful, but instead encourage a spewing forth of judgement and opinion that reinforces stereotypes of different forms of parenting on social media. It is pretty representative of so much of the media coverage of slings, and other aspects of parenting, that it is making it hard for parents to trust their own judgement.

Shouldn't I be pleased, as a sling consultant and business owner, to see the quotes from the NCT, and hipdysplasia.org supporting the use of wider based carriers?

Well, maybe, but it should be as part of a balanced discussion looking at the pros and cons of narrow based carriers, rather than an apparent blanket ban on something that actually many parents and babies find a fantastic tool, and are using successfully and thoughtfully on a regular basis.

If you want a really good balanced view, go to one of our experts, like Dr Rosie Knowles. At the risk of sounding a bit in awe (I am) she writes great well researched articles that contain lots of common sense.

So you want to know about hips and slings? Read this.
It is helpful and based on research. Referenced research - which is so often lacking in the sling world online. 

What about the controversial front facing out position? Dr Knowles has also has written a s a really useful informed piece that properly acknowledges the different views and the pros and cons of front facing out here
.
These articles do often get shared in sling communities, but we have new parents all the time who are still hearing and seeing these short soundbite articles and being put off asking questions.

Shouldn't I be pleased that slings are in the media and being used by celebrities?

Well, yes of course it is great to see slings being recognised as a great tool by many parents. But reports like these and the negative blunt statements that go with them actually stop many parents from seeking help and assistance with their carriers as they feel they will be judged and told off by those with any expertise.
And sadly there are many people out there who are doing that - I hear it all the time.

Parents come into the Slingtastic shop, embarrassed, apologising and feeling guilty because someone they know, someone at a baby group, someone who 'knows a lot about slings' has told them they are using the wrong kind of carrier and causing their child harm.  These are the more confident parents that are not scared of being told off , who are able to overcome the often very vulnerable feeling of being judged by their new parenting peers. Even parents who have not been directly spoken to about it have seen the selling and advice pages that ban the trading or selling of narrow based carriers - an indirect criticism that is really confusing when there is a strong market for them in the UK.

How many more parents are not daring to use the carrier they have, are too worried to ask for advice, but can't justify buying another one?

How many parents have a narrow based carrier, and are not 100% sure they are using it right but don't dare go to their local sling shop, library or consultant because they have heard that they will just be told their sling is dangerous - but can't understand why when it is sold in reputable shops and has met EU safety standards?
It is really confusing, and the judgement and criticism makes it hard for people to assess what safety checks they really do need to do, especially with very small babies who sometimes don't fit all buckle carriers in a way that supports them fully and allows their airways to stay clear. These are much, much more important checks to do first and foremost :
Is the baby safe from falling?
Is the baby's back supported enough to ensure an upright position where the chin is far enough away from the chest that the airway is not compromised?
Is there a good airflow around the baby's face to ensure that the baby has enough air to breathe?

Can we just focus on these first please? Then we can look at other safety issues such as temperature, use and specific needs - and discuss the importance of positioning, comfort for baby and comfort for the adult.

And there's another flip side .....

The front facing out position, shown in this article, can ONLY be achieved in a carrier that has a narrow base that is designed for the purpose (and some wraps that can of course be tied to support the position). I am starting to see parents who have done lots of research and bought a carrier with a wider base because they want to support their baby's pelvis and achieve a more natural position for healthy hip development - but have not realised that this cannot then be used safely for front facing out when their baby is older. Yes, yes, I know, surely they have the instructions? If not, can they not go online and look? Great theory but we all know that life catches up with us and we just don't manage to check out everything we mean to, and its always easy when you know how/with hindsight.
But are they all going to ask for advice on why it is not feeing quite right? Some do, and either stop carrying in this position, or buy a carrier they can use like this.  Some won't, and will really put their child in uncomfortable positions, or be put off using slings altogether - which is a real shame as they are a fabulous parenting tool.

So what do we do when parents with this kind of carrier come in for advice to a workshop, one-to-one or a chat in the shop ?

We do our best to empower the parent. We encourage them to bring the sling/carrier they have to see if we can make it work for them and their child, and help them to understand how best to mimic in-arms carrying and ensure that their baby is safe, and that both adult and child are comfortable. We talk through the pros and cons of different positions. We try our best to undo some of the guilt and worry that has been put upon them. And if they want a carrier that will carry in a front facing out position when their baby is developmentally ready, we show them how to use them!

Slingtastic.   Why?

It’s perfect timing – after One Whole Year of having a bricks and mortar store, I have been asked to do a presentation for the Wiltshire and District Business Chamber’s annual event, where businesses get to show who they are and what they do to the community.   It has been a great opportunity for me to really think about who we are at Slingtastic and why we do what we do.

And in a year of trading in a shop, I understand so, so much more than I did after 8 years of trading online. So, here goes ...... I’m just going to say it like it is.

² We believe that finding the right sling can truly transform early parenthood and a baby’s introduction into this world  

We want YOU to have the opportunity to carry your child in a way that enriches how you share your everyday rhythms and experiences -  through mutual touch, smell, warmth and your voices and so, so much more. A sling helps you and your child to look at the world together safely and comfortably and we can help you on that journey.

Babies like to be carried. Babies NEED to be carried – there are many anecdotal examples of why but also a growing body of scientific studies showing physiological and emotional benefits for babies and children.  These are not solely for the child – adults benefit too. I’ll revisit some of these in another blog post.

²  We want parents and carers to feel comfortable and confident in their choices, and give them an opportunity to feel connected and joyful in the process

We are overwhelmed by too much choice and online ‘experts’ all shouting to be heard.  Let’s get rid of myths, unfounded opinions, negativity and the idea of perfection and get on with the good bits, the fun bits and the joy of discovery.

Your ideas, experiences and concerns are important and relevant to your choice of carrier – so we listen to your needs, consider your and your child’s body shapes and apply our experience and knowledge of styles and products  to help you choose a sling that fits with you and your way of life.

Safety matters – of course it does. We will guide you through your chosen sling to ensure it is safe for you and your child, and give you the skills and knowledge you need to check it is safe whenever you use it, and talk about how to apply those checks to any carrier you use in the future.

²  We believe we can help you find a sling you love. 

When you find the sling that meets your needs and gives you the chance to carry your baby hands free - when you want to, for the reasons that you have chosen to – then you will understand why we believe in what we do.

Big Decisions for a Sling Consultant.....

Last week, I went to the beach with some friends, all with older children. Before I shut the shop up the night before, I went to choose a sling for the day out.  I often grab the most familiar thing as I rush out the door, but I had a whole FIVE minutes to choose.

Buckles or Mei Tai?  Great for tired toddler, good for holding other children’s hands and bags of buckets, picnic and rugs.

Ring Sling?  Quick on and off, great as an impromptu extra blanket for chilly winds.

Wrap? – lovely and comfy, but my daughter seldom chooses to leave the sand for a sling, so not quick enough for attaching a possibly tantrumming toddler onto me.

Scootababy

Then I saw the Hip Carrier – the Scootababy.  This is a very underrated carrier that I have not used for ages – I had one at home years ago but have never spent a lot of time using the latest version (V3) and it ticked all the boxes for my beach trip.  Quick on and off, great for hands free, great to have round my waist whilst not in use and secure on my shoulder for a hip carry whilst negotiating cliff steps with bags and other children.

So what is a hip carrier?

A hip carrier holds your child in the position that you might hold him or her on your hip without a sling. Some hip carriers are just a kind of seat that you sit them on but you have to keep your arm around them to stop them falling. The Scootababy holds your child in that position, but as well as the strap around your waist, it has a panel  

that comes up behind the baby’s/child’s back and a strap that goes diagonally across you and the opposite shoulder to hold them safe and secure in that position. This means that you can create a nice deep seat for the baby/child and they can snuggle in close to you and feel secure whilst they sit in this natural position but you still have your hands free.

How is it different to a pouch or ring sling?

A hip carrier is designed for just one position – so it is suitable from about 5 mths upwards as your  child needs to have good head control.

A hip carrier has a waist strap – this distributes the child’s weight slightly differently on the adult’s torso and some people will find it more comfortable.

 The strap is shaped to cup the shoulder and is easy to adjust. It needs to be secured firmly enough not to have any slack, just as with any other carrier, but the combination of the waist and shoulder strap makes this a really easy carrier to learn to use. In the past I have used it as a holiday sling as members of my family have felt confident in picking it up and using it with very little instruction. The Scootababy shoulder is made out of a firm but softly comfortable fleece and is adjustable at the front and back to get the perfect position for the adult’s comfort.

It is a simple idea that works really well. There are lots of slings out there doing lots of different jobs. Many other designs – buckles with crossover straps, pouches, ring slings, wraps, mei tais – all will do a hip carry and some people find it good enough for their needs. But if you have a baby or toddler who only really wants to be carried in the hip carry position, it can really be worth spending the money on a hip carrier that is designed especially for the job.

So how was the Scootababy at the beach?

Well, there was no way a nearly 3 year old was going in any sort of carrier when there were big children to take her down to the beach – so it spent the first part of the day clipped around my waist – but I didn’t have to carry it in my bags which was a plus. By the time we had reached 5.30 and had 6 hours of play and 2 meals on the beach, I knew there was no way she was going to manage the walk through the car park and up the numerous steep  steps that we had to hike up to reach the car. She didn’t see it that way, but it was non-negotiable as it was not safe for me to manage 4 children  and bags if one was an overtired slightly out of control toddler.

I clipped it on and picked her up – she was so tired she couldn’t really fight me properly – but she was annoyed by the principle of it so was in a pretty tricky mood to get in.

 Did I get a perfect seat? No. You can see in the picture that she is a bit wonky and the back did not come up her back as far as is "perfect". But even experienced sling users have non-perfect days! 

Was she safe? Yes – the waist strap and diagonal strap held her firmly onto me.

Was she comfy? Yes – despite her misgivings she snuggled in.

Was I able to climb the steps safely? Yes. I am not going to pretend I was fast, but I kept up with the other children!

And, most importantly for an indignant toddler:

Was I able to quickly put her down when we reached the grass at the top for her to walk with the big girls? Yes – this sling is great for quick up and downs.

If you get the chance, do try one of these. And if you have a baby over 4/5mths who likes this position best - come into the shop to try one and see if you think it will work for you - it may surprise you!

 

Toddler Carriers

What is a Toddler Carrier?

Toddler Carriers are great for older toddlers – not the ones who have just started toddling, but from about 2 years upwards. Most are advertised from about 18mths upwards, but really most of them are not really suitable until 2 years as the child’s thighs need to be long enough for them to sit comfortably in the carrier with their knees bent and hanging freely.  They are usually buckle carriers, and often a larger version of an already popular baby carrier design. So the fabric panels are wider and taller, and they are usually weight tested for safety to a larger weight (but not always). Some companies are now producing Pre-School Carriers, which usually come up even larger than the toddler version, but basically do the same thing.

Toddler Carriers can be used on the front and the back – most people buy them to use for back carries, but they can also be comfortable for a front carry cuddle too. As with any buckle carrier, I would always advise spending some time getting to know your carrier in a front carry before doing a lot of back carrying, as it gives you a really good idea of your child should feel and sit comfortably in it when you can see it clearly in a mirror and easily adjust different parts and understand how it affects the safety and comfort.

Do I have  to get one as soon as my child reaches 2?

No – not at all. Many designs and brands of carrier are suitable until at least 3 years of age. Just because the base of your sling does not reach all the way to each knee, it does not mean that it is not comfortable and supportive for either you or your child. As our children get older, the knee-to-knee guidance is less important as the hip joints have become more formed, and by wriggling your child’s bottom and getting a good comfortable seat in the base of the carrier, a comfortable position can be found that will not allow the carrier to dig into his/her thighs (come and chat with us in store or with your local slingmeet and/or consultants to find out more about how to if you need to). It is important not to get one too early – if your child’s legs are not long enough, he/she will end up very uncomfortable and could over-extend the muscles in the back of the thigh (imagine what it would be like for you sitting on the floor for extended periods with your legs stretched out straight).

So why bother getting one?

• If your child has reached about 2 or 3 years and you know you are going to carry on using a carrier, it is worth looking into the different carriers available and giving yourself some time to try a few and see if they are any better for you.  As your child gets heavier, you may find that it is worth investing in a carrier that helps to distribute the weight better for you and that you can see will continue to support them comfortably for a few more years. You may try a few and decide that you are happy with what you have as it is just as comfortable for you both for the foreseeable future.

• If you do not have a buckle carrier – maybe you have had  just wraps or ring slings until now – but you would like to add a buckle carrier to your collection, it makes sense to start with one that will last you for longer, as long as you are sure he/she is big enough for the toddler version.

• If you have a bit of a sling habit ----- well, no need for an excuse ---- if your child is big enough, go for it!

Are all Toddler Carriers the same?

No.  Just as all other slings have slightly different design features, toddler carriers vary from brand to brand. Just because you find the baby version of something comfortable, it doesn’t always follow that the toddler version is right for you too.

We have 3 specific Toddler Carriers in the shop – the Beco Toddler, The Connecta Toddler (with Petite Straps) and the Lillebaby Carry On.

Toddler Carriers Compared:

Below you can see pictures of the:

• Beco Toddler (as above) in the Twilight Design (black inside, midnight blue with patterned panel on the outside)
• Lillebaby Carry On (dark blue with white hearts pattern on the outside)
• Connecta Pre-School with petite straps (denim blue).

I have also added a Neobulle Evolubulle Mei Tai (lime green)for comparison at the bottom - it is a one size baby - toddler Mei Tai

Panel Size

The Beco Toddler is similar in size to the Lillebaby Carry On. The Carry On (underneath in blue) has straighter sides, and the Beco Toddler has the same style of leg padding as the Soleil (the baby version) which some people find gentler on toddler legs which are only JUST long enough to go in the carrier.

The Connecta Pre-School is shown here under the Beco Toddler and it is considerably wider - but if you look at the picture below you can also see that it is completely flat when laid on a table so it is tricky to compare as it does not have the slight give/curve of the Beco or Carry On.

Shape at base of panel

You can see the difference in panel shaping on the Beco and Lillebaby in the pictures above and this one below. Both have darts in different places and different styles of side padding.

The Connecta is a flat panel - so a very different design that some people find more comfortable.

 Waist Belts

These 2 carriers have fairly similar waist padding - as seen below. It is a similar size - but if you really wanted to tighten an extra few centimetres, you can see that the positioning of the buckle on the Beco (on top) in the right hand picture will allow it to tighten fractionally more - but it is only a few centimetres.
The Lillebaby Cary On does come with a lumbar support accessory which can be threaded onto the waist webbing for front carries - but very petite users often find they cannot tighten the carrier enough with it on - but it is not used for back carry positions anyway.

When you compare the Connecta waist to the Beco waist below, you can see the difference is enormous. The Connecta does not have padding at all, in the same way that the Connecta Toddler and Baby carrier do not,  which means it is able to tightened much more on the adult. Padding does not always mean better - it is very much personal preference (as with most sling variations!).

Strap Sizes

The shoulder straps are a bit different on these carriers. It is important to always check that you are able to tighten the straps enough in both crossed over and rucksack style carries, as when fastening in rucksack style less strap is used and some petite people can find it impossible to get the straps on some carriers tight enough. For this reason, I only stock the Petite style of the Connecta Toddler as most people I see prefer less padding in the straps so that they can carry rucksack style.

Shoulder straps side-by side without fine adjustment tighteners (on strap above panel)  tightened

Shoulder straps side-by side with fine adjustment tighteners (on strap above panel)  tightened

Beco Straps tightened, next to straps on Connecta Toddler with Petite Straps.

Other Carriers?

While I was busy playing and taking pictures, I remembered the Neobulle Evolubulle Mei Tai.  This can be adjusted at the base for smaller babies, but as you can see it goes nearly as wide as the very generous Connecta Pre- School  as it has a zip up sleep hood that can be used to give extra height to the panel. Have a look at how big it is on top of the Connecta (with the sleep hood up). It just shows that standard carriers really can carry your child right through into toddlerhood.

All these slings/carriers and more are available to try and buy from Slingtastic, either in store at Wilton Shopping Village, SP2 0RS, or from the website www.slingtastic.com

Right Tool for the Job.

Most of you reading this will “get” the idea of using a sling. But for those of you who are still trying to understand how people are able to carry a baby throughout the day I thought I would try and break down some of the barriers that people put up when we talk about using slings.

·         “I  was given a carrier but we just didn’t get on with it”

·         “We had a (insert name of highly-priced-supposedly-ergonomically-superior  carrier) but he/she was too heavy for it once she/he reached 4 months”

·         “We had one of those sling things but it was too complicated”

·         “I tried one of those but I felt like my baby wasn’t safe”

Let’s try applying some of those arguments to other things we buy.

“I was given a shirt but we just didn’t get on with it”

Some of us are passed on clothes, or buy clothes that look great until you try them.  When we realise they really don’t fit at all, we try something else as we know it doesn’t mean that ALL shirts are wrong for us.

“We had a moses basket, but she grew out of it once she reached 4/5mths”

So  look for something different now she is bigger? Just as with cots, some people choose to have a moses basket and then move onto a bigger cot, some people choose a sling for the first 5/6mths then move onto a different carrier for the next stage. Some people will not use a moses basket at all, but get a cot they can use from birth to toddler – and the same applies to slings.

“We had one of those camera things but it was too complicated”

Most people would not then decide never to have a camera – but look for something that suited their needs, or go to a shop or expert to talk them through how the one they have works. If it clearly isn’t the right one, they would usually look for the right one for them – something simpler that suits their needs.

“I tried one of those pushchairs but I felt like my baby wasn’t safe”

This often happens – people are given a buggy that they don’t like because it doesn’t seem to work with their child or for them. Sometimes they really are not safe as the instructions have been lost, a clip may be missing or it may be for a different aged child.  Finding the right pushchair is still possible  as they vary enormously from brand to brand and design to design.

Right Tool for the Job.  That’s all you need.

Find the right sling for you and your child and all of these things fade away. There is a reason that there are so many different slings on the market – it’s because there are so many different parents, babies, toddlers and individual needs.  And it doesn’t have to be hard as there are 100s of people out there who can help you to narrow down the choice.  You can go to:

Find somewhere where you can try

different slings to see what suits you

·         Specialist shops like Slingtastic where the staff have been trained and have direct experience

·         Sling Consultants who are also specially trained who offer a one-to-one service usually in their home  or yours.

·         Slingmeets where there are often trained consultants, peer supporters and other parents who use slings – all equally valuable when discussing your options.

·         Community groups where other people with babies and toddlers gather – they will often be able to help you consider different choices.

So, you need  to find out what tools are out there and find one that suits you. A long piece of fabric tied around you? Buckle carrier with a waist band? Asian style fabric carrier? Pouch to pop your baby in? Have a look, allow someone to demonstrate why people love them, how to use them safely and comfortably, and find out how much the right sling can change your mind about using slings.

Widen your choices  – Shop Small and Local.

Most people I speak to like to support local shops. We all know that shops need our trade, and often when we can’t shop local, we like to feel we have supported a small independent online shop.

My Shop - at Wilton Shopping Village,

just outside Salisbury

But we all want to spend wisely – and those big companies have great offers and we all assume they can offer bigger discounts as we see those big national ads telling us all the time.

So it is the larger companies online and on the high street that many of us tend to gravitate towards when we think we might actually be able to save some money.  But is it really that simple? Can an independent shop  (a shop not tied  to any brands, chains or franchises) really compete on price and service?

Clearly I am biased, as I have a small online business and also a specialist shop to staff and pay rent on. But I can tell you that I have learnt a huge deal about how pricing works in the last nine years and would like to bust a few myths about independent shops, especially pricing. How many of the following have you considered when you are shopping?

·         Small shops can be cheaper than chains and online super-sites

We are not always tied to the price set by a franchise or chain. This means we can evaluate how much something is really worth to our customers and offer the best price we can. We know we are competing with the big shops, and have the common sense not to charge more!

There are some lines where we do have to stick to the RRP (Recommended Retail Price) but there is usually some allowance for in store offers and online promotions. This also sets us at the same price, not more than, the big companies who are also not allowed to drop prices whenever they feel like it.

·         Small shops can offer higher quality and unusual items at better prices

Suppliers have to guarantee large stores and chains very large quantities at low wholesale prices. This leaves a great opportunity for small shops to stock lines that the big chains can’t afford to under their own ‘rules’.   So I have slings in that I know my customers will love, that have smaller profit margins and I may only be able to get hold of 10, 5 or even 2 at a time – but that’s okay because I love being able to offer great slings that customers will love and talk about.  I buy children’s books that are a bit more unusual and hard to get hold of – as 5 or 6 is plenty for me at a time.  As a small shop, I can choose to sell it at a price that my customers will consider fair – and not just apply some formula that applies to mass produced items that are rolled off a production line a long, long way away.  

·       Small shops will often have a better range of stock, especially as the season progresses

When you have a small website, you can often tell when the big online competitors sell out – the orders suddenly rise on something that people have had to search harder to find.  Small businesses cannot afford the advertising and promotion of national chains which means they often have lots of lovely things left in stock when the famous shops have sold out. 

Frugi Rainbow clothes sold out fast

online but we still have some in store

Even shops with websites do not always list everything online so it is always worth visiting or calling them. I often have popular designs of slings and discontinued lines that can make customers very happy when they find them. I also know I have lots of Frugi clothes in stock right now that sold out months ago at most other shops. It’s a perk for my local customers, but also for those who call me up and ask if I can send things out.  

·         Small shops will be able to direct you to other suppliers to help you find what you are looking for

Small business owners are not being told by anyone not to mention competitors. We genuinely want to help you to find what you are looking for, and will do what we can for you.  We also know that if we recommend other small businesses they will do the same for us. It’s a win/win situation.

·         Small shops listen to their customers and can act immediately

Any feedback and questions usually go straight to the business owner – there is no complicated system of feeding back to a national team etc. etc. . All your consumer rights are exactly the same and a small shop will be as keen as you are to sort any problems or queries out as soon as possible.  In fact, much of the time the person you speak to in a small shop is the business owner, and can make an instant decision.

·         Small shops can save you time and energy

How often have you spent hours, and I mean HOURS surfing online to find the best price, often only to realise the postage or tax wasn’t included or it is actually out of stock, and go back to the place you first looked? Or have spent days agonising over which design you want, and been unable to decide because you are not sure if the colours and design will look as good in real life as on line? Or have sent out only to realise you actually don’t like the colour and have to pay to send it back, drive to the post office and spend time organising that in your busy day?

That’s time you won’t get back – is it worth it? Have you actually saved yourself that much in the end?  We are constantly bombarded with choice and it can make the shopping and choosing experience more difficult.

Try visiting a local shop – the choice may (or may not!) be smaller, but you can look, feel and discuss the options and walk away with something you are confident in. Or maybe the shop can order in the one you like to look at – at a time that suits you (no waiting for deliveries etc). Many of my customers come in wanting the sling someone recommended to them, then try it and realise it’s not right for them – and leave with something completely different, and relieved that they did not just order online. Yes, there is a chance they could have got something 10% cheaper online if they searched for hours – but they would have then have to spend that time hunting, waiting and in the end not even have the thing that actually fits them best!

·         Small shops can offer a relaxed shopping experience

Visiting a large department store, especially with small children in tow, can be really hard – and for many of us that begins with planning the trip out, driving there and finding a car parking space where you can open the doors wide enough to get your children out – on both sides of the car.
Many small shops are situated in areas which are not as densely populated with high street shops and will have parking nearby which is often cheaper. My Slingtastic shop is at Wilton Shopping Village – free parking, no queues getting in and out of town and a quieter general atmosphere (and a sandpit outside in summer!).

I know my target audience and almost all have small children – so I have toys, a sofa for breastfeeding or bottlefeeding and fully expect people to ask lots of questions and need to stop to feed and change babies, or pop in and out to look after the needs of their toddlers to run, visit the toilets, go for a drink at the cafes or just visit the playpark. This is normal. Specialist shops know their customers and recognise the behaviours and needs of their audience as normal.

Small businesses also know their products well and can answer your questions  - it can be really hard to see online or on packaging exactly what the pros and cons of different products are and work out what is and is not worth paying more for. It’s so much easier to ask questions face to face and get real answers that you can then use to ask more questions. And without a pop-up box asking you if your question has been answered.

 ·         Small shops can offer follow up support on a more personal level

Got a question about your sling/clothes/equipment? Call them up, drop in and ask them and they will be really keen to help as they know how important it is to keep local business.

Have a problem or fault? Go straight back to the shop – no complicated forms or national support system to work your way through.

Love the product and want to move onto the next thing?  Your local shop will be able to talk you through the options – and possibly provide training.  For example, we offer workshops for parents all the time on different types of slings. People can come back and find out what slings they can use once their babies reach about 6 mths – there is a minimal charge that is refundable against purchases in store. Another win-win for the customer: they get to try different things, find out the ranges available and if they buy in store – the course is free. If they buy elsewhere because they are sure they can get it cheaper or we can’t supply the exactly what they need that’s fine too– they can buy with confidence having only spent a fiver on training.

 

Take back control of your time and choices. Come off that tablet,pc or phone and treat yourself to enjoying the shopping experience and rediscovering the meaning of customer service and value for money.  And enjoy it!

www.slingtastic.com

What sling do you think is the best?

In a sling shop, this is a question I hear a lot. And it is a perfectly reasonable question which you think I would have an answer for because, well, let’s see :

1.       I  own a sling shop

2.        I am a sling specialist

3.        I have trained as a sling consultant

4.        I try different slings whenever I can

5.       I  have used slings with my 3 children, and am still using them

6.       I  have been helping people choose and buy slings for nearly 9 years.

And herein lies the problem – I have had many different favourites, depending on my experience, current interests and, lets face it, the day of the week.  My youngest child is approaching 3 fast, and there are still about 10 different  slings that I would like to add to my personal collection but I know that I cannot justify the cost of buying new slings when I struggle to find the time to use the ones I already have.

 Most people want one, maybe two carriers that they can learn to use and then get out and about with their child. The real difficulty for newcomers to the world of slings are people declaring one type of sling to be better than any other – not just their favourite – but the best, and anything else as inferior with inherent flaws or problems. Of course people are not doing it to be difficult – they want everyone to discover the joy they have in the sling they love – my job is to help people find that same joy and love for the right sling for them and their child.

So – back to the open ended questions....

Which Sling would you recommend?

So how can I answer this question? By asking questions.

The only way I can find out what people want is by talking to them about their baby, their lifestyle, their likes and dislikes and their current needs. The sling they choose has to fit their baby and the adults who will be using it, so knowing if they are going to be out on brisk dog walks with it, or popping in and out of the shops is really important.  Sometimes there are medical or physical conditions that might affect the choice of sling and it is not always possible to predict what will work best – some experience from a sling consultant is helpful, but it needs to be combined with the knowledge of the parent and in some cases the advice of the relevant medical professional.

So trying different slings, talking about how they feel, how they fit and making sure the parent is

confident in how to use it safely and comfortably is really important.  

Some people strike lucky – they buy something on recommendation and it works brilliantly, but more often than not people are given something, or buy something, that just isn’t quite right, or they can’t get to fit them properly. This is a real shame as there really is a sling of some sort to fit almost everyone – and finding a sling you love can make a huge difference to how you feel about carrying your baby.

Aren’t some slings terrible for baby’s hips?

There is a lot of sling shaming – big brands that have enabled many, many parents to carry their baby safely and securely are routinely slated and used as examples of narrow based carriers that do not provide ‘optimum’ positioning. Usually the brand name is used, without any consideration for the fact that the brands now actually have a wide range of carriers including some that carry the baby in the same style of many of the carriers that they rave about as being best for baby. Sling consultants will encourage you to find a sling that allows your baby to sit a in position where the knees are higher than the baby’s bum,  and it does make sense that this will be more comfortable for the child – I am not going into the whys and hows in this post. But I have met many parents for whom a narrow based carrier has been a great solution for them, due to the way it is put on or the security and confidence it gives them to carry their baby. I can help them check their baby is safe in it and look at ways of making it as comfortable as possible. I have not seen any solid scientific evidence that a narrow based carrier causes any damage to a healthy baby. My nine year old certainly shows no adverse complications from spending 6 mths in one.

So come on - What is your favourite?

OF COURSE I have favourites (note – not just one!)– but that’s not helpful to my customers.  It’s good for a slightly nerdy chat with other sling consultants and enthusiasts, but my favourite may be really unsuitable or undesirable for someone else. I would not want to put anyone off a carrier that could be the ideal solution for them, by telling them that I prefer something else.

And if you asked me again next week i would give a different answer anyway..........

So – what are you waiting for? Come and try some SLINGS!