• ERGObaby Carriers
  • Breeze Baby
  • Peanut Shell
  • Hug a Bub
  • Baby Bella Maya
  • BabyLegs
July 29th, 2010

A Year in the Life of an ERGObaby: Introducing Tahnee

Today we introduce baby Tahnee and her family. Tahnee was selected to be our first baby in our “Year in the Life of an ERGObaby” call out.

Tahnee and her blended family: Dad – Matt; Mum – Tracey; Brothers- Jayden (8); Bailey (6); Owen (3) and Jye (19 months) and sister, Charlotte (5 – who joins the family on school holidays), live in their own little country pub out in the middle of the nowhere.  

The family have decided to put their little pub up for sale. The coming weeks will be a buzz of activity as they are yet to decide where they are headed. Perhaps the city? Perhaps further into the wilderness to a closed mining town with Matt possibly obtaining some work with a mining company he worked for some time ago? Woah –  the ERGObaby is certainly going to have it’s work cut out for it!!

Matt and Tracey first began babywearing in 2007, soon after discovering cloth nappies. They began with a sling, but Matt just couldn’t get the hang of it.  Tracey reports:

Soon one of my circle of mums brought an ERGO to our little mothers group. Naturally we ALL had to have a go and then it happened – the ERGObaby boom! It wasn’t long before you’d turn up at mothers group and toss your ERGO in the pile by the door with all the others. Since then we’ve done away with the prams, the ERGO is so much easier and saves precious boot space in our car(these 7 seater cars have an almost nonexistent boot!)”.

The Babes in Arms team are so excited to welcome Tahnee and her family onto our team and can’t wait to watch her develop and grow her own little personality over the next year.  Watch out for monthly updates from Tahnee’s mother Tracey.

July 27th, 2010

Callout – July/August Review Panel

It’s that time again – we are seeking a number of BIA fans to form our second review panel and to provide us with further insight into our products from a customer’s perspective.

Since it is almost Father’s Day (I know, time really does fly!) we would like to create a panel of dads!

Our aim: to gain a father’s perspective on our range of products.

As a dad-tester, we will send you a product from our range for you to use with your little one(s), after which you will submit a product review with supporting images (or even a video grab). We will mix the products up a little – any one of our products could be sent out to you.

Are you a dad that fits the bill or do you know a dad that you could dob in? If you would like to be considered, please leave a comment here on our blog or on our Facebook Page. Please include your name, state, children’s ages and a short review of any one of our products (no more that 100 words) – you’ll find them all at www.babesinarms.com.au. To help us pick the best product match for you, please let us know what babywearing products you already or have tried in the past.

Dad – we look forward to hearing from you!

July 19th, 2010

A Little MTV Influence Perhaps?

 

Way back in 2005, just 3 years after ERGObaby was established in Hawaii, MTV introduced a new TV show to their line up which was hosted by the rapper Xzibit – “Pimp My Ride”.  We know, we know….not exactly (or even close to) a babywearing program, but hang on for a moment….we are leading somewhere fun!

The premise of the program was to take a regular, everyday (slightly rundown) car and customise it into a one of a kind masterpiece. Do you see where we’re heading yet? What was fun about Pimp My Ride was that each car was customised to reflect the personalities and interests of the owners, and they all looked great.

We have taken this basic idea and played with it a little to come up with a fun competition for July/August. Can you guess what we want you to do?

PIMP MY ERGO….baby! (not literally of course)

What we want you to do is use your skills to create an ERGObaby carrier that reflects your personality and style. This is a time to activate your imagination. You can create your own colour palette that you think the ERGO range should adopt; patterns; accessories….whatever you want. The only thing is…the ERGObaby must retain it’s original structural shape.

You can describe the tweaks in writing, through a drawing, a video….anyway you want (just please don’t actually send us an actual ERGObaby).  You can submit written descriptions through the comment section below; however, all pictures, videos or attachments will need to be emailed to us directly at community@babesinarms.com.au or uploaded to our Facebook page www.facebook.com/babesinarms.com.au

And the prize? Your pick of our brand new Performance ERGObaby carriers landing in Australia in September. You could be one of the first in Australia to carry your baby in the new range Performance carriers!

Here is a blank ERGObaby for you to get started on! (just save and print)

Terms & Conditions

Full Terms & Conditions:

A. This activity closes at midnight August 31, 2010 (EST)
B. A Performance ERGObaby will be awarded to the winner, valued at $199.00 (introductory ofeer of $189.00 for 2010) 

C. Winners will be chosen by Babes in Arms.
D. Winners must meet ALL eligibility criteria to win
E. Winners will be notified via our BLOG and Facebook and must respond in 14 days
E. Only legitimate comments will be accepted.
F. Babes in Arms reserves the right to deem any entry invalid
G. This competition is only open to residents of Asia Pacific.
H. This giveaway is for Babes in Arms fans only. Comments that self-promote stores or products will not be accepted as eligible, and will be removed
I. The prize will be sent to the winner on it’s general release to the public in September 2010

July 19th, 2010

Review Panel – BabyLegs – June/July 2010

 

Getting packages in the post at our house is always an exciting occasion. So many little people busting to see whether it has their name on it and what’s inside. Sometimes if I’m slow, they begin opening it on the front lawn. So when our Babes in Arms package arrived the boys and I took great delight ripping open the pack to see what goodies were inside.

To our surprise it was 3 pairs of BabyLegs; the 80′s had returned and leg warmers had been revitalised. They were cute, colourful and perfect for two eager little boys who had to wear a pair, right now! The colourful stripes were my son Henry all over. He has his own sense of style, that boy of mine, and if he doesn’t like what he sees then it is not going on. But these were a hit! He liked them so much he wanted to wear them all the time. Unfortunately, that was all he wanted to wear! Henry felt that if he had his new BabyLegs on he did not require any other clothing.

Our youngest tribe member, who is not yet walking, had his own little pair to pop over his pants or under if we were trying to get a bit more wear out of a pair of pants. We wore them to the park; they came shopping; many trips to school; the sandpit (sand brushes off very easily even after they have been buried); and even to bed.

I found it drew quite a lot of attention to the kids whilst wearing their BabyLegs. People would approach us to comment on how cute they were and to find out where we got them from. When you venture out with five young children people always seem to feel comfortable to come up to you and ask you anything, whether it’s appropriate or not. I need to carry a stash of business cards in my wallet!

PROS

   – way too cute

   – great for with shorts to extend the season

   – keeps little crawling legs toasty warm, either under pants or over the top. I have tiles and they are cold so the extra layer was great for warmth

   – the elastic ends kept them in position so they didn’t ride up

   – covered that bit of leg that always seems to hang out and get cold when my little man is in his Hug-a-bub.

   – can be worn on arms or legs as my girls liked to do

   – they keep socks on. Yeah! For some reason my youngest couldn’t manage to pull his socks off and they didn’t slowly pull off whilst crawling either

CONS

   -  found that when they were worn high they were quite firm on my chubby bubs thighs

   – that in the wash they became like socks, you put two in and for some reason two don’t always make it out together, lost one for two days but it returned as they always do

   – could see that my floor really was in need of a wash by the collection dirt on his legs

   – could possible be thicker for cooler climates

   – they are made in china (ed note: as are many of the Huggalugs range and other brands of legwarmers)

My thoughts for the future would be: different thickness of materials to suit our differing climates. In WA it’s fine because it doesn’t get that cold but where I am from in NSW when the max is 8 degrees they would need added warmth. The use of other materials such as bamboo which is so soft, hemp which is very hard wearing and a great alternative for the environment and lastly wool, well I just love wool, its durable and long lasting and smells like a sheep.

(ed.note: watch out for some new release sneak peeks of new materials and designs for Spring/Summer 2010)

RATINGS

   – comfort for baby-4

   – ease of use-5

   – versatility-4

   – overall rating-4

I would recommend the BabyLegs and have already had the opportunity to this week, they are practical, playful and cute. It is an inexpensive way to add personality to your child’s wardrobe whilst also serving a functional purpose of keeping little legs warm and protected.

Thanks Babes in Arms, it has been fun.

Warmest regards Kate

July 16th, 2010

Let The Performance Begin!

The revolutionary ERGObaby Carrier redefines babywearing. Attracting a multitude of international product awards, it offers hands-free closeness like no other and is perfect from birth to pre-school, up to 18kgs. The ERGObaby supports your child in three easy-to-use positions – front, hip and back – and adapts to your child’s growing needs.

Introducing the NEW ERGObaby Performance…..in both Spring Green and Grey.

The ERGObaby Performance Carrier is durable, lightweight and breathable – ideal for the active Mum and Dad. Designed for use in the great outdoors, the streamlined design offers a smooth supportive fit for parents and babies, with a longer body and waist belt than the Standard ERGObaby Carrier. A breathable mesh lining and CoolMax panel keeps you and your baby cooler and more comfortable, whatever the weather. The Performance Carrier is suitable in all climates and can even be carried through water when it’s time to cool down. This is thanks to the high performance, quick drying fabric and lack of batting in body of carrier.

ERGObaby Performance Product Information

  • Durable, water-repellant outer layer, ideal for outdoor sports and activities
  • Breathable mesh lining instead of batting in body of carrier
  • Carrier body approximately 2.5cm longer than the Standard ERGObaby Carrier
  • High performance, durable, lightweight and breathable fabric; 33% lighter than Standard Carrier
  • Waist belt extends 13cm more than Standard ERGObaby Carrier
  • Foam padded shoulder straps and waist belt are streamlined and comfort contoured
  • Chest strap features ‘runners’ around the shoulder straps that secure and prevent the strap from being removed or misplaced
  • Extra wide waist belt and buckle avoids back and shoulder strain by balancing the weight of your child from the shoulders to the hip – for extra long carrying time without back pain
  • Uniquely designed, elasticised sleeping hood supports child’s head when sleeping in either front or back carry position and can adjust in length to grow with your child
  • Sleeping hood supports comfortable, discreet breastfeeding when child is sitting upright in the front carry position
  • Premium buckles and clasps, tested by SGS, provide an additional safety feature
  • Front pouch of carrier includes zipped pocket
  • High quality webbing, matched to carrier color
  • Durability and strength tested up to 40 kilos
  • Machine washable on a cold, gentle cycle. Line drying recommended. The Sucking Pads extend the life of your carrier by reducing the need for frequent washing

July 15th, 2010

The ERGObaby PERFORMANCE begins July 16! Don’t Miss It!

July 14th, 2010

The Artificial Ape: How Technology Changed the Course of Human Evolution

Excitement shoots through my veins whenever I read real research on the origin of babywearing, the use of slings and carriers in other cultures and the ability of these tools to make life a breeze. With this in mind, you may understand the adrenaline that pulsed through me when I came across an editorial on Timothy Taylor’s new book “The Artificial Ape: How Technology Changed the Course of Human Evolution” in The New Humanist Magazine Volume 125 Issue 4 July/August 2010.

Although I am not quite certain of my stance on evolutionary theory, I was excited to read that there was much room within this theory for babywearing.  I must admit, my eyes did glaze over initially with the parallels of evolution between human and monkey brain sizes and the like, but came alive again as Taylor moved onto the emergence of the sling in history. In many ways, women are painted within this article as the inventors of a tool which “smash(ed) the glass ceiling that had for so long precluded … humans into the world of accelerated cognitive thinking”.

Want more? Hop on over to the New Humanist for the abridged article, or find the book through a good book seller.

July 7th, 2010

Review Panel – ERGObaby Sport – June 2010

We’ve all been there. That day at the shopping centre, with your baby strapped into the pram while she screams at the top of her lungs, begging to be picked up. That time your little boy was teething and wanted nothing more than to be held by you, and only you and you never got the chance to hang that load of washing on the line. Frazzled and tired you go to a baby shop or website and buy a baby carrier (if you’re like me, you buy 4 or 5!) and hope it’s not going to kill your back and shoulders. Unfortunately, most carriers are uncomfortable and can’t be worn for any real length of time. Most…but not all!

**Enter the ERGObaby Sport**

The ERGO is not your run of the mill carrier. Engineered for total comfort, it’s soft, breathable, flexible, supportive, and fully adjustable to suit you. I love the shoulder straps, which are generously padded, negating the need for deep tissue massage after an hour of carrying. The support belt is superbly effective,  accomplishing exactly what it’s supposed to, and is extremely comfortable, making for an enjoyable baby wearing experience.

I have to be honest, I was really sceptical about not only the comfort level, but also whether or not my 14 month old would tolerate it – since he’s never been content in a sling, wrap or soft shell carrier. I was elated to find that he not only tolerated it, but it seemed that he actually enjoyed it! At first he wasn’t terribly impressed with the idea, but it was merely seconds before he settled into it. We ended up walking for 30 minutes all the while pain free and happy! I believe the ERGO would even meet the special needs of parents with back and shoulder complaints. It’s especially useful for grandparents! My mother, 53, has a condition which makes even everyday duties painful but was able to carry my 12kg son for a considerable amount of time in relative comfort. Naturally, she’s the newest ERGObaby convert. :o

As for ease of use, it’s the same with most things – practice makes perfect. I still haven’t quite mastered the art of putting it on solo, but I’m certain that the more I use it the better I’ll get at it.

I would have no hesitation in recommending the ERGO to any parent wanting to wear their bubs. The benefits of baby wearing are varied, and to be able to do it in ultimate comfort is, in a word, outstanding!

My score for the ERGObaby Sport is:

Comfort for wearer – 4.5
Comfort for baby – 5
Ease of use – 4.5
Versatility – 4
Overall rating – 4.5

If you’ve tried babywearing but have given up for one reason or another, I urge you to take one last shot with an ERGObaby. Yes, it’s  not a “cheap” carrier, but having seen the value and quality of it first hand, I’m not sure I’d be willing to put my trust in a less expensive, less supportive design just to save money. In the end you could be sacrificing more than you gain!

July 4th, 2010

The Fake ERGObaby Site Bounty – Reported Sites

As of 3 September, 2010:

http://jellybabys.com.au/
http://ergo-babycarrier.biz/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=77&products_id=214
http://product.madeinchina.com/6pcs-ErgoBaby-Carriers-Slings-Infant-Newborn_12493283.shtml
http://yourbabycanstore.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=77
http://yourbabycandvd.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=77&zenid=f786c77687e7ad31587180cd064b7e10
http://yourbabycanread-shop.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=77
http://www.ergobabyshop.com/
http://discountgoodmall.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&zenid=519201a98632f4443d221f9db6bb55a4&keyword=ergo

http://www.dhgate.com/wholesale/ergobaby/s280101.html#search

http://www.cheaperoz.com/z/result.jsp?ga=au2&q=ergo+sale

http://www.aliexpress.com/product-fm/319888144-Classic-popular-baby-carrier-4-colors-mixed-top-baby-sling-ERGO-baby-carrier-wholesalers.html

http://www.dhgate.com/wholesale/baby-carriers-slings/c280101-7.html
http://ergo-babycarrier.biz
http://www.chinawholesalegift.com/New-Baby-Gifts/Ergo-Baby-Carrier-Baby-Carrier-235720450.htm
http://ergobaby-shop.info/