Product Review & Giveaway/Discount: BabyEtte BabyBasics Ring Sling #babywearing

This giveaway is now closed, but please enjoy the review.

As you have already been introduced to Beth earlier this month, now I would like to introduce you to her BabyBasic Super Wide Ring Sling.

Don’t let the word “Basic” fool you, there is nothing plain or ordinary about Babyette BabyBasics super wide ring slings.
One look at the meticulously pleated and decoratively stitched shoulder and you will know that this is not a cheaply made baby carrier.

Each is handmade for you, so I am able to take special requests. (length, fabric, etc.)

Baby Basic slings come in many colors of strong, soft cotton that will continue to soften with wear and washing.
Cocoa Brown, Cranberry Red, Pewter Gray, Plum Purple, Indigo Blue, and Sage Green. Now available in Petal Pink and Sand. Also, of course, you can choose the Original LBD sling in Basic Black.

See all of the basic colors & both shoulder styles in my shop here

* Fanning Pleats are accented with several rows of decorative stitching for safety, beauty, and interest.

* Super wide at 44-inches so you will have enough fabric to support the shoulders of any size baby in any position. Please read my profile page for important info on BabyEtte Super-Wide Slings. 2 -1/2 yards of length for a nice long drape.

* Strong, aluminum rings from Slingrings.com, tested for safety and strength with your baby in mind. **Ring colors may vary and will be matched up per availability.

* An instruction sheet & tips will be included with your sling. And remember to harness the power of YouTube videos! Go forth and learn all you can!

*Thanks to Beth of BabyEtte, I was blessed to receive Sage Green "BabyBasics ring sling to review.* It is absolutely a gorgeous shade of green and there are so many other colors that I would love to have as well! Communicating with Beth has been a delight and I have been completely thrilled with my experience and I do not hesitate to recommend her shop and her customer service.

My sling came neatly wrapped with an awesome homemade label complete with stitching and stamps. It just makes me smile and makes me already feel like I am getting something "green". Cute business cards and washing instructions included. Also, a page with step by step picture directions that explains both how to thread your sling, how to wear your baby in a ring sling and how to transition to nursing. These transition instructions are the best that I have discovered so far.

At first in comparison to other slings, I was thinking that this sling has a lot of fabric... but that is when I discovered that her slings are "super wide". I think that is fabulous! I love my other slings, but having the extra fabric is awesome. There is more to cover up while nursing and more in general to keep my baby cozy and covered. While examining the sling, I found how the tag is on the underside of the shoulder pleats and I think that is a fabulous place for it. I know it will be there if I need it and know that it will not be at the end of the sling to end up in AppleBlossom's mouth... (not that things ever end up in her seven month old mouth...). The sling material is soft and threads easily through the appropriate sized rings.

My only qualm is that the fabric seems to show a bit of wrinkles. I do not have this issue with the Rockin' Baby Sling, because is it such heavy and thick fabric nor with another sling because it is a different material. I think my perfect sling would be a Super Wide sling made of Tencel (maybe I could get a combined effort from BabyEtte and Li'l Peeper Keepers to make my masterpiece *wink*).

Network with BabyEtte:

BabyEtteEtsy Boutique

BabyEtte Facebook Fan Page

Twitter @BabyEtteEtsy

Buy it:

BabyBasics Super Wide Ring Slings are affordable and made to order at price of only $44. Go to BabyEtteEtsy and purchase!

I’d like to offer readers of Creative Madness a discount of 20% off their order through the month of March. Just use the code “Creative20Baby” in the comments to seller at checkout and wait for a revised invoice from me before you pay. Or, if you’ve already paid, I will refund your 20% via PayPal. US shipping is always free, and you’ll get a good feeling from supporting Handmade. (Thanks Beth!!)

Win it!!

Mandatory Entry-

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This giveaway is open to the US and Canada only and is open until April 2nd. The winner will be drawn via random.org and will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

Etsy Spotlight: BabyEtte Boutique #babywearing

Today's Etsy Spotlight is BabyEtte Boutique and the creative mind behind it, Beth. Come back later this week and look for a review of a BabyEtte BabyBasics Super Wide Ring Sling with a giveaway! 

So, who is she?

My name is Beth, and I’m the creative force behind BabyEtte. I know I couldn’t be where I am now without the support and love of my Husband, four daughters, and the grace of our Lord. I have been truly blessed, and try not to take these things for granted.

My parenting journey began 10 years ago in Seattle, Washington. I found myself trying to find my place living a dichotomy between a “crunchy” parenting style, and conservative Christian beliefs. I felt like I was standing with a foot in two different worlds.

Now it seems that babywearing, cloth diapering, and homeschooling have caught on. We are no longer the only ones in our church wearing a sling. We no longer have the only baby with the tell-tale cloth diaper “tele-tubby” bottom. And I am no longer the only Mama in an Attachment Parenting group who also attends a conservative church. It’s a great time to be a Christian Parent!

I took to babywearing starting with our first baby, and soon began to get an idea of what I liked and disliked in a sling. My first sling was pastel with very bulky padding. One thing I did not care for was the fabric. I thought, ‘If I wouldn’t wear a dress covered in little bows or puppies, why would I wear a sling covered in them?’ So I decided to sew my own sling. I picked solid black cotton because it would go with any of my outfits. That is when the first LBD (little black dress) sling was born!

Occasionally, I would make slings for friends and family. I loved the thought of their precious infants kept close while the mamas looked stylish. They kept telling me I should sell them, but I resisted until about a year ago when I discovered Etsy.

In July 2009, I took the leap of faith and BabyEtte has been very successful!

My shop has Ring Slings divided into 2 sections: BabyBasics and Fancy Baby.

BabyBasics slings come in solid colors that go with anything. You will also find Mesh Water slings in this section. Fancy Baby slings come in a wide variety of fabrics, from textured Jacquard to Dupioni Silk to solid slings with lovely patterned bands along the bottom of the tail. Many of my slings are what I call SuperWide. You can read about this at the end of the article.

My love of all things babywearing has led me to offer Wraps as well as Ring Slings. BabyEtte Wraps create a secure, two-shouldered hold. Most of my wraps are woven and do not stretch. I find that woven wraps are more supportive, especially as your baby gets bigger and heavier (which is inevitable). One wrap will securely carry a newborn, up to a 35lb toddler.

There is another section in my shop just for Mamas. NeckScapes are beautiful, unique Scarf/Cowl/Necklaces made from loops of soft jersey. They are a fun way to stay warm and stylish… and babies love to finger them!

One of my favorite things to do is create custom carriers. Several of the items in my shop began as custom requests, like the minky lined ring sling. Mamas often send me links to fabric they want attached to the tail of a BabyBasic sling, or a panel in the center of a gauze baby wrap, or a particular shade of dupioni silk they love. I order the fabric, create the carrier, and send it off to them. It is such a fun process!

I feel strongly that a sling should be beautiful. I don’t use licensed characters or juvenile prints. Your sling should be stylish since it is going to cover up most of your outfit (which is good when your shirt has been used as a hanky (I know…it happens)). Another unique quality of BabyEtte slings is that the tag is stitched on the inside of the shoulder. This way people’s attention will be on you, your baby, and your lovely sling…not the tag. It’s all about you, my friend!

My girls help me a lot. They are learning to sew by stitching the decorative paper bands that I use to package each sling. My oldest daughter is getting pretty good at snapping photos (Yes, that’s me in the photos. I enjoy the relationship I develop with my customers and I want them to see the babywearing Mama behind their baby carrier…Goofy smile and all!)

I’ve become quite adept at doing computer work with a nursling and toddler on my lap (I’m the fastest one-hand-typer I know). I save my sewing for naptimes, after bedtime, and the times when my Husband takes all the girls to run errands.

I feel strongly about the benefits of babywearing, and love that there are so many options for parents to choose from. There are many good sling companies out there, and most of them are wonderful! Many of the differences that do exist are in style. So I say look around, and find your style. Embrace your style!

I’d like to offer readers of Creative Madness a discount of 20% off their order through the month of March. Just use the code “Creative20Baby” in the comments to seller at checkout and wait for a revised invoice from me before you pay. Or, if you’ve already paid, I will refund your 20% via PayPal. US shipping is always free, and you’ll get a good feeling from supporting Handmade.

Thank you Margaret for allowing me to share these things with you and your readers!

Beth/BabyEtte

*A word about Super Wide Slings:

I make BabyEtte slings the way I like them, and I like my slings pretty, safe, and wide.

I have found that a wide sling is best for versatility and safety. Very early in our parenting, my Husband was pulling the fabric up over our daughter’s shoulders. The sling was narrow and when he pulled, her bottom popped out!! He has refused to wear a narrow sling ever since. A wide sling also helps if your baby is a "leaner". If you do buy a narrow sling, please know that the number of positions you can wear your baby in will be reduced by about age 1. This is why most of my slings are Super Wide.

*Isn’t that too much fabric for a tiny baby?

Actually, it’s not. I’ve worn my newborns in 44” slings for as long as I’ve been making slings. It’s easy to just tuck some of the fabric under your baby (between you and her) and then let the fabric gather evenly over her body as you tighten the fabric by pulling on the tail. The extra fabric is great for support and to use as a nursing cover if you choose to be discreet. The key to this is proper tightening of the rails.

*How do I tighten the rails?

The rails (edges) of the sling are tightened by pulling on the sides of the tail. Pulling on the edge on the inside of your body will tighten the top rail of the sling, pulling on the outside edge will tighten the bottom rail of the sling.

Pulling on the whole tail evenly will tighten the whole sling evenly. Practice this and you will become a pro in no time! :D

Network with BabyEtte: 

BabyEtteEtsy Boutique

BabyEtte Facebook Fan Page

Twitter @BabyEtteEtsy

I’d like to offer readers of Creative Madness a discount of 20% off their order through the month of March. Just use the code “Creative20Baby” in the comments to seller at checkout and wait for a revised invoice from me before you pay. Or, if you’ve already paid, I will refund your 20% via PayPal. US shipping is always free, and you’ll get a good feeling from supporting Handmade.

Do not forget to look for a review and giveaway of a BabyEtte BabyBasics Super Wide Ring Sling this week!!