New Kozy Carrier Mei Tais on Brown — including Nouveau Prints

The Kozy Carrier is the original and still one of the best modern mei tai designs around, and now it comes in some gorgeous new fabrics paired with brown straps! Check out the Nouveau line, such as Byrdton and Prince George sock monkeys, as well as some popular Kozy patterns that coordinate perfectly with brown, including Orange, Spotsylvania, and Browntown. And for those who prefer a neutral, classic look, I’ve got a solid olive paired with black straps Kozy. All Kozys are finished to be fully reversible so the plain side can be worn on the outside.

All Kozy Carriers ship FREE in the US via Priority Mail!

New Pikkolo in Leaf and CatBird Baby Fleece Covers for Winter Babywearing

CatBird Baby’s limited edition Pikkolo in Michael Millers’ Leaf print fabric is now available at QuirkyBaby. This is a wonderful, vibrant print in rich blues and white — but only available in very limited quantities. When it’s gone, it’s gone! I’ve also got a sneak peek at another limited edition Pikkolo, Georgia, up on my site.

I’ve got lots of CatBird Baby all-fleece and microfiber-fleece winter carrier covers in stock and ready to ship. The cover is easy to use — it simply snaps around the shoulder straps of any two-shoulder carrier, including mei tais and buckle carriers, and baby’s legs get tucked into the pocket. It keeps baby’s body and legs toasty warm and dry, although you’ll want to put a sweater or coat and a hat on baby depending on the weather. Available in all-fleece in charcoal/grey and in microfiber/fleece in brown/pool blue (with black/pool blue coming soon).

Consumer Reports Warns of Infant Deaths in Infantino Sling Rider

I am not usually one to critique the vast number of poorly designed slings and carriers that have flooded the market in recent years. I would rather help parents find babywearing products that are safe, comfortable, and a good value for the money. But this is too important to let slide.

This year alone, two baby boys have died from suffocation in Infantino Slingriders, according to Consumer Reports:

http://blogs.consumerreports.org/safety/2009/10/baby-deaths-raise-concerns-about-infantino-slings.html

Never, never, never buy or give a bag sling, whether it’s from Infantino, JJ Cole, Premaxx, Boppy, Lamaze, Munchkin, or any other similar design.If you see a parent using one — please warn them that these products are inherently unsafe *when used as directed.* I know it’s uncomfortable approaching a parent to warn them that they’ve chosen a bad product, but at least two babies have died in these shoddy products.

 

If you find one at the thrift store — please buy it and destroy it.

More information about the inherently unsafe design of the Infantino Slingrider and how it and similar bag slings put babies at risk of asphyxiation:

http://babyslingsafety.blogspot.com/

The really tragic thing is that Infantino was on notice that its Slingrider is inherently unsafe. The company had been contacted, and the information was also sent to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, which failed to act.

All Everyday, Reversible, and Designer Hotslings On Sale!

Now’s your chance to get a great bargain on a brand-new Hotsling. All Everyday, Reversible, and Designer Hotslings pouches are clearance priced at 40% off!

Shop the QuirkyBaby outlet here.

Wrapsody Bali Stretch Wraps Debut at QuirkyBaby

I am delighted to welcome Wrapsody Bali Stretch Wraps to the QuirkyBaby line up!  Back in the days when these were known as GypsyMama Bali Baby Stretch, it was a gently used Aphrodite Bali Stretch that persuaded me to give her a new home and to give wrapping another try once we’d outgrown the Moby Wrap. I’d tried — and given up in frustration on — too many big-name brand woven wraps to count. The Wrapsody was like a wrap with training wheels; once I’d practiced with it for a while, I was able to move on to the challenges of heavy-duty woven wraps such as the Storchenwiege.

The Wrapsody Bali is essentially a hybrid between a woven and a stretchy wrap — more supportive than a regular stretchy wrap, and thus appropriate for back carries, but cushy and forgiving of less-than-perfect wrapping skills. (It’s also a lot cooler than most woven wraps, so it’s a great choice for warm weather.) The Wrapsody is a great beginner or intermediate wrap — perfect for a newborn, but also perfect for a bigger baby when the Moby just isn’t supportive enough any more.

These stunning wraps are batiked in Bali, Indonesia, under fair trade and environmentally friendly conditions.

Discontinued Beco Butterfly II 2 Prints Anna and Hope on Sale

Take advantage of this good deal while it lasts! Anna and Hope are on sale for $124 with free shipping while supplies last. These prints won’t be restocked and no other Becos will go on sale until Spring 2010. Shop for these and all other Beco Butterfly II 2 carriers here.

Review of New Hotslings AP Adjustable Pouch Sling

I just got the chance to try these out today and they. are. AWESOME.  I haven’t been able to get my almost 2-year-old, 29 pound daughter into a pouch comfortably in ages, but this was the perfect combo of the simplicity of the pouch and the adjustability of a ring sling.

Although the directions say to do all the adjusting with baby out of the pouch, I popped dd in with the pouch a little on the loose side so I could squeeze her long and chubby legs through, then held her weight up off the carrier and snugged the adjuster straps up. (Pouch was sitting on my right shoulder so adjuster tabs were in front). The pouch spread nice and flat across my back and cupped my shoulder really well. Because it’s sewn together at the shoulder, a shoulder flip isn’t possible — but given the adjustability, it also isn’t necessary.

Having padding on both sides is really nice — no need to flip the carrier other way out if you’re going to switch shoulders! It also made it snug and cozy for my dd.

I think the adjustability factor will also help the issue some people have of needing to lower baby to nurse but lift baby higher for carrying, which can be challenging in a non-adjustable pouch.

I have rediscovered the pouch love!

New Hotslings Adjustable Pouch Available Now

The new Hotsling Adjustable Pouch is now available from QuirkyBaby in six great fabrics. Click here to see them all!

Check out this demonstration video from Hotslings founder and owner Kristen DeRocha:

Free shipping on any Hotsling order with discount coupon NEWBABY

Fall 2009 Beco Butterfly 2 II Prints Begin Shipping Sept. 26th

Beco Butterfly carriers have a look (and a functionality) you won’t find anywhere else! New for fall 2009, Gabby Caperon, owner and designer of the Beco Butterfly carrier, has two original screenprints on organic fabrics for the Duo collection, Panthers on espresso brown and Argyle Deer on black. QuirkyBaby also has a small number of the limited edition Blue Scooters on Orange available. This bright and funky pattern is sure to get you noticed!

Pre-order now at QuirkyBaby for shipment starting Sept. 26th via free US Priority Mail.

Brand New Ergo Baby Carrier Designs Start Shipping Sept. 24th!

Ergo Baby Carrier has just released the largest number of new color combinations yet — and brought back an old favorite, too. Cranberry is once again available in the conventional cotton line, and a new grey carrier embroidered with stars and lined with silvery swirly fabric is coming soon!

But the really exciting news is in the organic cotton Ergos. Five, count ‘em, FIVE new color and fabric combinations! All of these feature a new 100% organic cotton twill exterior that replaces the previous canvas for a smoother and more sophisticated appearance. Two combinations are on the neutral side: sea green/silver and navy/midnight, each lined with cotton sateen. For those who want to make more of a fashion statement, there’s cranberry with the Ergo signature nautilus print, a fancier version of the blue with embroidery carrier featuring a coordinating print for the lining and hood, and finally, a dusty sienna carrier lined with sunset-hued stripes embellished all over with delicate floral embroidery.

Ergo Baby Carrier has also debuted the new and improved infant insert, the Heart to Heart, designed to hold baby comfortably and securely in an upright position. (Older-style infant inserts will be on sale soon!) Plus, organic sucking pads with snaps rather than velcro are coming, too!

All of the new patterns (except grey with stars) will be available for shipping beginning Sept. 24th at QuirkyBaby! Pre-orders are being taken now. Shop all Ergo Baby Carrier products at QuirkyBaby here.