Product Review & Giveaway: Rockin' Baby Sling #babywearing

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

So picture this. It's Thanksgiving Holidays, the Enginerd's parents are up for the week to spend time with AppleBlossom (grandchild #1 for them), we decided to take them sight seeing to a town nearby with an adorable township (bigger than our own). We are walking by the train (permanently resting), visiting the Village Toy Maker's Shop, and an adorable restaurant called the Silver Caboose and Side Car Market (french onion soup is to die for!). While the Enginerd goes into the Bike shop to get a part to fix my tire we walk down the street. I'm sporting my Belle Baby Carrier with holding a blanket up over her to keep out the chill. In this area normally as I walk about people always comment on my carrier, yet in this instance it was I who commented on the babywear of someone else.

A woman was walking along the sidewalk with family much the same as I, yet she was wearing a sling pouch. I was so envious! I had seen slings, but never had one because I was just too confused as what to buy. Do not get me wrong, I love my Belle Baby Carrier, but it was freezing outside and my jacket is not quite large enough for the both of us. We talked for a bit about her carrier and mine and our wee ones at that time three months (her son) and four months (AppleBlossom). Her son was so warm and cozy down in his sling pouch. I really wanted one of my own. She said she was from Texas, so she could not suggest any stores to look at, but to look on line. She said to check out Rockin' Baby Sling

and boy am I glad that I did.

The Mamas, Lisa McDaniel and Natasha Stanton, behind Rockin' Baby Sling are all about certain things in their business: fashion and function, quality and keeping it local all while being socially conscious. You will even find that Rockin' Baby Slings are worn by celebrities. *wink*

Rockin' Baby Slings specializes in two products: Ring Sling and the Sling Pouch

The Rockin' Baby Sling

Rockin’ Baby Slings are reversible ring slings that can be adjusted while on. They are one long piece of fabric that you loop through rings at one end. You can adjust the sling while you are wearing it by pulling on the tail or sides of the tail. You also have the tail to shade baby from the sun or use as a cover while nursing. The sling is a good choice if you plan to share it with loved ones of a number of different sizes because it has such a wide range of adjustment. Rockin’ Baby Slings can be worn in five different carrying positions , to match baby’s mood and development, from birth to around 3 years of age or 40 lbs. They come in the original size which fits most body shapes and sizes and in xs for those who are especially petite. Shop Baby Slings.

The Rockin' Baby Pouch

Rockin’ Baby Pouches are a single loop of fabric that you put over your head. They are fully adjustable and reversible. They can be adjusted to four different sizes via hidden zippers before they are put on and usually reverse from a print pattern side to a very dad-friendly, solid color. The pouch is a good choice if you would like to put it at a setting, leave it, and go. All of our pouches have a pocket with a Velcro closure in the zipper cover. They come in xs, s/m and m/l sizes. Because each size fits such a wide range of body shapes and types, most couples can share the same pouch. As with the slings, the pouches can be worn in five different carrying positions , from nursing to sitting, up to 40 lbs or around 3 years of age. Shop Baby Pouches.

Both the Rockin’ Baby Sling and Pouch are available in a wide variety of prints and colors, including our new, exclusive organic fabrics .

*Thanks to Lisa and Natasha of Rockin' Baby Sling I was able to review a Keeps Gettin' Better Sling.* Insert *sigh* here. I knew that going with a Rockin' Baby Sling, I wanted to rock. I did not want to get just another "goes with everything" color. I wanted this sling to be what my outfit revolved around and makes me feel quite literally hot. All of their fabrics are awesome, including their Organic line.

Their website is extremely informative with beautiful pictures of various carry and hold positions. And their customer service is unbeatable. These are real mamas, they have been there and are there and know what other mamas need. I highly recommend that if you're going for a sling you check them out.

Speaking of being informative, this comes from their website:

You may have heard the government's generalized warning on baby-wearing. Please take the time to read the safety section of our website. Here at Rockin' Baby Sling we have always put safety and safety concerns at the top of our list. An educated parent is a happy parent! We continue to offer sling support and are happy to answers any of your questions at anytime. Email us at info@rockinbabysling.com. Enjoy wearing your baby!
Natasha and Lisa

Also check out this article that Natasha sent me in response to the "warning".

The Rockin' Baby Sling is incredibly easy to use and I absolutely love the color and designs of all their fabrics! Of the ring slings that I have been able to try out, this is the one that I would call my heavy duty ring sling. The two layers of fabric (reversible) make it a bit thicker and seems to be more durable that most other one layer slings. Unique to what I have seen of the Rockin' Baby Sling is the pocket that matches the reverse side. It is perfect for just whatever you need. There is plenty of fabric to discreetly nurse and it is cozy enough to sleep in.

Of all the ring slings we have tried, the Rockin' Baby Sling is the Enginerd's favorite.

Network with Rockin' Baby Sling:

RockinBabySling.com

Facebook

Twitter @rockinbabysling

Buy it:

Go to RockinBabySling.com and Enter promo code "XS" at check out and receive 40% off any extra small pouch! But also check out their ring slings as the prices have gone down!

Our extra small pouches will fit petite people ( even those with a larger bosom) up to tall and slim with narrow shoulders and a smaller bosom. Good from 4'10" to a slim 5'9".

Win it!!

Lisa and Natasha have gracious offered the readers of my Creative Madness a chance to win a Rockin' Baby Sling of you very own! Go to their website, and come back and tell me whether you would want a sling or pouch and why. Also tell me when you would wear yours.(Also click the prizey pick button and vote it up!!)

Good luck all! And for the fun of it, after your MANDATORY entry above, any of the following will get you additional entries...

Leave an additional comment for each 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.

Product Review: Baby Bjorn #babywearing

From their website:

About BabyBjörn

BabyBjörn AB is a family-owned, Swedish company founded in 1961. Right from the start, BabyBjörn’s goal has been to simplify everyday activities for parents and small children by developing innovative products for children up to the age of three. Our products are now used worldwide by millions of parents, and all of them have the same goal: happy, safe children. The enthusiastic reception our products have received from these families inspires us in our efforts to develop safe and attractive, high-quality products.
When we develop our products, we always try to be both creative and sensitive to children’s and parents’ needs. We aim to identify those little everyday problems and then to come up with ingenious solutions to them. Parents should feel confident in their choice of a functional product that is safe for their child. This is why we take responsibility for every step of our development process and have adopted a long-term approach towards constantly improving and renewing our product range.
This is also why we have worked closely with pediatricians ever since our company was founded back in 1961. The valuable information and comments they provide are vital, both in connection with the development of new products and in the ongoing development of our existing ones. Our cooperation with the medical profession began in Sweden, but now includes an international network of pediatricians in Germany, France, Sweden and the USA. What medical experts say about baby carriers.
Here at BabyBjörn, we stand by what we do, and we have a carefully thought-out philosophy that guides the way we work. A lot has happened during our 48 years in the business, but we have never compromised our core values – quality, safety and style.

Guest review from my friend Amy!!

My hubby and I had seen Baby Bjorn on TV and around in public. So I
put one on our registry for our son. He is 14 months now and I think
we have used 10-15 times. I guess we didn't know how often we
could use it. My hubby would use it when he went for walks
around the block. I used it when I took him to the State Fair and
walking on the ocean beach. I was afraid to used it for too long
because I have back pain and didn't know if this would aggravate it.
When I did wear it, it was comfortable, easy to put on and to get my
son into it.

My Baby Bjorn goes up to 25 lbs and my son is only 23 lbs so I am glad
we get to use it a little more. I actually wore it around the house a
month ago because someone insisted on being held and carried around to
house, but I had many chores to do, so I "Bjorned" him around with me
while we did laundry and tidied up.

We are planning baby #2 and I can't wait to get more use out of this
with the next one!! We plan to wear it when shopping instead of
lugging the big carseat everywhere!

--

Amy Kittel
Award-winning Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant
www.MaryKay.com/akittel

Product Review: TogetherBe Mei Tai #babywearing

Yesterday, I shared with you my introduction the Mei Tai through Big Sister Designs. Today, I want to tell you about another great company with a beautiful Mei Tai of their own (plus so much more). *Thanks to Melanie Frenkel of Signature Public Relations and TogetherBe for providing a Theresa Freehand Mei Tai baby carrier for review.* This is the Mei Tai that had the instructions for a hip carry. At first it was pretty confusing to me, but after a few tries I had it down and love it! 

The Freehand Mei Tai comes in six different prints named for women of history (Amelia Earhart, Princess Diana, Harriet Tubman, Mother Theresa, Marie Curie, and Janis Joplin) that are fully reversible to a solid color. The shoulder straps are padded (but not as squishy soft as Big Sister Designs).  A Mei Tai is a way of holding your baby close and truly having your hands free to do whatever you need to do. It is light weight and compact enough to put in a bag and have ready on the go. It also goes on quickly and comfortable enough to use for around the house. They boast that this is the only carrier that you will ever need and it will carry babies from 5 to 35 pounds. They also suggest for short babies to roll the bottom once to make it fit the baby better. *grin*

When you received your Freehand Mei Tai it comes will full color instructions with step by step pictures and on their website they also have videos showing how to do a Front, Back, and Hip Carry. 

I love my Theresa Freehand Mei Tai. On the instruction booklet it informs me that Mother Theresa used her free hands to open 517 missions in more than 100 countries. What will you do with your freehands? Personally I love that. So inspirational and really makes you want to go do something helpful, or at least it does for me. The colors of the Theresa are incredible. I easily see wearing this will a dozen of clothes and having it match just perfectly. Their other designs are nice as well. 

Some other neat products that TogetherBe carries are awesome. Such as the Peekaru Original. This is a fleece vest that zips over your soft baby carrier, keeping your baby warm in cold or cooler weather. (It even fits over other carriers such as the Baby Bjorn, Hotslings, Ergos, Wraps and more). Even if your Mei Tai is not from TogetherBe, their Peekaru Orginal sounds like the perfect accessory! With my Theresa Freehand Mei Tai they also send me a Peekaru Original Baby Hat. It is absolutely adorable! Although we have wore it out and about... for some reason the picture we took was in doors. Either way, it is a bit big now, but with a slight roll makes it perfect, and I know that it is the thing that will keep her little head warm (keep that warmth from escaping!) when ever we need it. *grin* 

Another winter or even cooler weather item is the Peekaru Soft Shell. This is a Baby Carrier Cover Coat. Can you say awesome? It can be worn with your baby on your front or back carry and will fit children up to three years! 

Entering a different type of weather. TogetherBe also has the Peekaru Ozone, which is a UV Protective Cover. Who wants to have to worry about the sun damage or harsh sunscreen on their itty bitty? The Peekaru Ozone can save you that hassel and worry. It fits over any soft baby carrier, standard car seat or stroller and sounds absolutely fabulous to me. 

Another awesome thing. While we're at it, talking about soft structured baby carriers... TogetherBe has just released the FreeHand Baby Carrier. I hope to have more information for you soon! It looks like it would be comparable to the ERGObaby. 

Network with TogetherBe

TogetherBe.com

TogetherBe Facebook Fan Page

Twitter @togetherbe

Buy it: 

Retailing at $72 you can purchase a Freehand Mei Tai from www.togetherbe.com

Product Review: Belle Baby Carrier #babywearing

In March 2009, at four months pregnant, my friend Lindsey introduced me to Belle Baby Carrier. Knowing how SisterL was a fan of babywearing, I was fairly certain it was something that I would pick up. But even if I did not really get into babywearing all the time, I knew that I could and definitely wanted a baby carrier to have around. Through a giveaway I was able to win a Belle Baby Carrier in Cherry Deco and boy was I ever excited! I found out that I won right after Enginerd was laid of, so it was a surprise and unexpected joy that had me addicted to babywearing my AppleBlossom ever since she was able to hold up her own head. If I remember correctly, I believe she was about eight pounds and note quite a month old. (It was more when she was able to move her legs wider than her neck in AppleBlossom's case...)

In comparison to the ERGObaby Carrier the Belle Baby Carrier is amazingly light and compact. No matter our introduction to other carriers out there, our Belle Baby Carrier is the carrier that we keep in the car and I cannot even count the times that it has saved my back and arms when I needed to be out and about holding AppleBlossom. We've wore the carrier in the mall, grocery store, church, BBQ Fall Festivals, book stores, and many other places. Both carriers are machine washable, but the Belle Baby Carrier suggests line drying to prolong the life of your carrier. It does lack the pocket and previously the head support, but this one is so simple to use and adjust all by myself.

Leaving AppleBlossom in her car seat, I wrap around and fasten the waist belt, then scoop up my baby girl wrap around the shoulder straps, buckle, tighten and go! Now, in recent times they have also designed a removable head support. This would have been awesome to have in the early months, but even without it we did well. When AppleBlossom was smaller (up until about a month ago) we would twist the straps once or twice, and that would bring down the top so that she could see out, plus it put the buttery softness against her face as well of the interior of the carrier. 

Buttery softness. This is the main difference that I have found with the Belle Baby Carrier versus any other soft structured carrier. The inside liner is made of ultra-soft fuzzy teddy bear fur (as they say, No Teddy Bears were harmed in the manufacture of our carriers). Could someone please carry me around against ultra-soft fuzzy teddy bear fur??? 

There are a dozen different choices of patterns to choose from with many Organic choices available. We absolutely love our Belle Baby Carrier, and it is no doubt that anyone else would love one as well. Highly recommended from this family!

Network with Belle Baby Carriers:

BelleBabyCarrier.com

Facebook

Twitter @BelleCarrier

Buy it: Retailing at $99, Belle Baby Carriers are a fabulous choice for a soft structured baby carrier. Click here to see all of your options of colors and patterns, video instructions and much more!  

Product Spotlight: Kokopax Baby Carrier #babywearing

Today's Spotlight is the Kokopax Baby Carrier.

*Thanks to Hilary Abbott Communications, Inc for providing this information.*

Who is Kokopax?

kokopax™ was founded in 2007 by Sarah Spoor. As a mother of four young children, Sarah discovered the benefits of the old Gerry backpacks her family used when she was a baby. She and her husband, Lincoln, used the carriers every day. They were able to carry their babies and still keep track of their other children while cooking, traveling or attending school activities. The carriers became a necessity for everyday life. While she loved their functionality, Sarah knew the style was outdated. She embarked on a mission to develop a new, modern and fashionable lightweight framed carrier with enhanced style and functionality that could be used every day, everywhere.

Not only does kokopax carry three different types of carriers that I will tell you about shortly, but they also have a diaper tote, different sun hats, and pax protector and my favorite Koko, the monkey.

kokopax® 2010 COLLECTION

kokopax eco-classic carrier™-New!

The eco-classic is the premium carrier in the kokopax line. It incorporates the latest technology in green textile printing and consumer safety. The 100% cotton canvas fabric is printed using a combination of Oeko-Tex® Standard 100 and GOTS certified dyes. This carrier features the most advanced technology in shoulder strap construction and a stowable, padded waist belt for added comfort. A 5-point harness assures safety and security for both baby and parent and the adjustable frame provides the perfect fit for mom or dad. Using the conven

ient kickstand, the carrier is simple to load and unload. Distinctive features include a magnetic closure on the storage pocket, lightweight anodized frame and eco-friendly fabrics custom designed in the USA. Weighs approximately 3.0 lbs. Meets ASTM F2549 Frame Child Carrier standard.

Available in three eco-friendly fabric patterns: sprout, bubbles take-two and pax

Recommended Retail: $179.99

kokopax classic carrier™

The kokopax classic carrier offers a fresh new take on the traditional framed carrier. Designed as the go-to gear for the cheers and chores of daily life, the fashionable, lightweight and easy-to-use carrier offers a safe and comfortable ride for baby. Made with 100% cotton canvas on an anodized aluminum frame, the carrier provides an ideal fit for mom and dad alike with its comfortable shoulder straps and adjustable frame. Other features include a padded waist support, a handy storage pocket, kickstand for easy loading and a 5-point safety harness. Weighs approximately 2.7 lbs. Meets ASTM F2549-08 Frame Child Carrier standard. JPMA certified.

Available in six custom fabric patterns: bubbles, buds, sailor, espresso, garden and licorice

Recommended Retail: $149.99

kokopax city carrier™-New!

The kokopax city carrier offers parents an affordable and simple way to carry their baby in style. The carrier positions baby at eye-level, making it a great way to see and interact with the world. It’s made with a lightweight aluminum frame and high quality custom designed fabric. The 5-point harness, adjustable frame and kickstand for easy loading and unloading are all features that make the kokopax city carrier a comfortable, safe ride for baby and parent. Meets ASTM F2549 Frame Child Carrier standard.

Available in two custom fabric designs: gumdrops, hot chocolate, stones and hopscotch

Recommended Retail: $99.99

Though the Kokopax carrier may be more expensive than other options, the patterns are cute and the functionality for say a long day at the zoo or more is incredible. A Mama can dream right? You would definitely find the Kokopax Baby Carrier on my wishlist.

Find out more at http://www.kokopax.com/