How the Calin Bleu have evolved over the years.

As promised, we're answering your questions about baby slings on our baby wearing FAQ.

Yesterday, Cynthia asked us why the Cool Wrap she bought was different from the one she saw at a recent Sling Meet.

The Calin Bleu cotton wraparound slings have evolved over the years. We used to hand-dye the fabric. This process left the fabric crinkly. Apart from the cost involved, it also meant that the customer had to set the dyes before using their baby sling.

In Spring 2006, we moved to different dyeing process. The fabric is actually the same but is much softer and flatter. It's still best to give your baby wrap a quick wash before using it to fluff up the fibres but it is no longer necessary to set the dyes. The colours don't run, even the darker colours!

The fabric is custom-dyed in the UK for Calin Bleu, the environmental agency controls dyers to make sure that the dye residues are filtered so that nothing harmful is rejected in the environment. We also make sure that none of the components used can be harmful.

You may also notice that the hems are sewn slightly differntly. Hems are crucial in wraparound slings, especially light wraps like the Cool Wraps to ensure that they are comfortable, even with heavier children. Based on our research, customer's feedback and our suppliers' suggestions, we continue to improve our wraps so that you and your baby can be comfortable.

Remember, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us.

Protect Independent midwifery

This is not related to baby wearing but we strongly believe that parents have the right to make choices for themselves and for their children.
Please sign this petition.

"All Independent Midwives have been informed that the government is intending to make professional indemnity insurance (PII) a compulsory requirement for registration within 12-18 months. There is currently no PII available to independent midwives so they will no longer be able to practice legally. Independent midwives practice outside the NHS but within the regulatory framework of the Nursing and Midwifery Council and bound by it's 'Code of Professional Conduct' and 'Midwives Rules'. Independent midwives are specialists in normal birth caring mostly for women planning home birth. The care they give has been shown to have good outcomes for women including those who are usually classified as 'high risk', with more normal births, reduced caesarean section rates and increased breast feeding rates. The government must ensure that either professional indemnity insurance is available to all midwives however they choose to work or exempt independent midwives from the requirement for PII."

Glasgow Sling Meet

Thanks everyone who made it, it was lovely to see you.

Here are a few photos from our day. The place is a bit noisy, the coffee is awful but the kids seem to have fun. And our sling stash is getting bigger by the minute. This week, we had: a BB-slen, Amazonas, Maya Lightly Padded Ring Sling, a BB-slen ring sling, a Kozy mei-tai, a Colibri mei tai, a couple of Calin Bleu wraps, an Ergo, a Papatum, an adjustable pouch what else am I forgetting?

See you all in April!

Update to the Testimonials page

Our testimonial page is in great need of an update. We will be adding the comments we're received from our customers over the next few days.
If you have any feedback or comment on your sling or on the service you received from Calin Bleu, please do not hesitate to let us know. We would love to hear from you.

Also, remember that if you have a question on any aspect of baby wearing, choosing your baby sling, using it, getting a comfortable fit, how it will affect your child, we are here to answer your questions.

We're working on the results of the baby carrier competition.

A month ago, we invited to tell us why you love carrying your children. We've received dozens of emails and are going through them. It is really moving to hear your stories, how much you enjoy "baby wearing" and how much it means to you and your children.

We will be publishing the results of the competition soon but until then, we would love to share the email Andrea sent us:

"I absolutely LOVED being pregnant... I never thought I would enjoy something that allowed me to gain weight... or transform my flat tummy into a jiggle flab :-) but I loved it so much! I loved the fact that I could feel this precious baby inside me... the fact I could protect him and nurture him with my own body. I selfishly loved the attention from others as well :-) hahaha. So when I discovered baby carrying I was hooked! I get to enjoy almost all the joys of pregnancy all over again, minus the weight gain! haha.

With baby carrying my baby is close to me again... he is comforted by my skin, my heart beat... the movements and sounds I make. I am able to feel him breathe... kick... tug at me with his sweet little hands... I can even feel his breath on my chest when he dozes off. Its fantastic in so many ways.

I get just as much attention ... if not more carrying my baby in a wrap than I did even pregnant, I have person after person coming to me asking "what is that?" (since baby wearing is not well known here in northern ohio). I have mothers carrying their children on their hip with no help from a carrier or pushing a clunky stroller around coming to me saying "Where did you get that! I have to buy one..." and then I am able to help them like its helped me. I love being able to teach women how to use a wrap. I only wish I had the means so I could buy each and every friend of mine one.

Besides the reasons of it reminding me of being pregnant... it has so many advantages!

I cant imagine anyone not enjoying it...

When I gave birth to my 2nd son and came home from the hospital... my 1st born who was 2 yrs old was torn so out of frame. He was no longer his mama's #1 priority. The look in his eyes when I had to tell him "no mama can't hold you right now..." because I was busy holding the newborn tore me to pieces! I couldn't stand that. Once I discovered the joys of baby wearing though that problem was solved almost instantly! I am now able to do arts and crafts with my two year old while my newborn is happily snug in a wrap. I am able to wash the dishes with my son while still caring for the baby. I am able to cook... I am able to do my make up... I am able to eat... take my 2 yr old to the potty... vacuum... dust...read...talk on the phone...blog... you name it! I can do almost anything with my son in a warp. I can even WORK OUT with him in it.

The wrap has introduced me to all sorts of baby wearing.

From a Mei Tai... to a ring sling... to even creating my own carriers.

I will actually make up excuses to wear my son :-) ...

My husband often asks me "Why dont you just put him in the swing to sleep.."

I just shake my head and say "Its ok.. I like it this way better."

Its so special.. they grow so fast and you cant wear them forever...

So why not cherish this time while you still can.

Just like the 9 months of pregnancy quickly passes.. so do the few years that your children are small enough to be worn fades away. I am going to soak every minute of it up... and wear my child close to my heart as long as I can!

I really do love to wear my baby. "

Thank you very much for your contribution.
Our free baby carrier competition is now closed. If you would like to participate in our next competiton, sign up for the newsletter.

The Big Baby Sling Questions!

It's no secret, we're passionate about helping parents carry their children as long as they wish. We are always happy to answer your questions, whether you've bought your sling from us or not.
If you have any questions about any aspect of baby wearing, choosing your sling, using it, finding a comfortable fit, just email us: babysling@calinbleu.com

Today we got a question from a mum who is struggling to carry her 8-month old son.

My son is 8 month old, I've been carrying him in a baby sling since birth but I'm finding him really heavy now, is that the end of our baby wearing experience?

A lot of parents report that around 8/9 months, they don't find carrying their babies as easy as before. Carries that were working well for them before become less comfortable. Then it seems to get better.
One possible answer is that babies at that age are getting quite heavy but they still have to acquire the clinging skill that baby monkeys have from birth. Human babies acquire this clinging skill around 9 months, human babies are actually born "premature". Many parents say that once their child reach that stage, they start "helping" with their carrying, resting their legs on your hips, clinging onto you while you wrap the baby sling and generally speaking, start feeling lighter.
A bit like when you're carrying someone asleep, they feel heavier than if you're carrying them while they're awake.
Don't give up. Take the opportunity to explore new carries, if you've been carrying him on your front, start learning to carry him on your back. Make sure he is carried high, with his bottom no lower than your navel and his legs wide apart, resting on your hips.
A little of patience and you will continue onto years of happy baby wearing.

We'll be answering your questions about how to carry your children comfortably well into their toddler years, no matter what baby sling you use.

Sling Meet - new information pages

We've just updated Sling Meet with lots of information about baby slings:

• Why babies and parents enjoy baby wearing: Is just a convenient way to carry your little one from A to B or is there more to the fashion of baby slings and carriers?
  
• A Guide to Baby Slings: ring slings, wraparound slings, soft slings, pouch, what are they all about?
• Advice on how to buy your first baby sling. We've asked lots of parents to tell us "what they wished they had known before they bought their first baby carrier". We hope you find it helpful and if you have any suggestions, just let us know.
• Advice on how to learn to use your first baby sling. This new article will be on line later this weekend.
  

You can also sign up for the Sling Meet newsletter.

We hope you enjoy these information page and if you have any feedback, just let us know.
Another big thank you to Lucy Birch, Bex Smith, and Jessica Robinson for the lovely photos they have sent us to illustrate the articles.

Time for an update!

It's been a while since I last updated our blog. Not because it's been quiet around here but lot of "behind the scenes" work going on.

Thank you very much for your help with choosing the colours for the new Cool Wraps.
The clear winners are: natural, olive, chocolate, a purply/grey which will get a better name later, aqua/turquoise and burgundy.
We're running a bit behind with the manufacturing but they will be ready soon!

To celebrate the new collection, our newsletter will include a special offer. Remember to sign up now if you want to be the first to know!

You still have a few more days for a chance to win a Free Calin Bleu Baby Carrier.
All you have to do is email us, tell us why you love carrying your baby. Every entry published wins a free set of baby wearing postcards and the best entry wins a free wraparound sling!

You often ask us about carrying a child facing forward in a baby sling or in a baby carrier. So we've added our thoughts on the subject in our baby wearing information page. If you have any questions or comments, we'd love to hear from you. And we're still missing pictures to illustrate the article!

A massive Thank You to all the parents who have sent us photos recently, mums from Sweden, Norway, UK, the Los Angeles NINO group, mums from The Baby Wearer.
The photo gallery will be updated soon with a brand new look, we'll keep you posted! If you have more photos, keep them coming!