Georgia Pikkolos Are Here (And Selling Fast!)

CatBird Baby has just introduced the Georgia Pikkolo, featuring a new exclusive custom print from Daisie Janie fabrics in a striking geometric of aqua and grey against a white background, paired with black body and straps. These have already mostly sold out via pre-order but I have a couple left in stock and will be getting more in as soon as I can!

BabyHawk Oh Snap! Buckle Carriers Available for Pre-order

The babywearing world is abuzz with excitement over the new and innovative soft structured buckle carrier from BabyHawk, maker of the popular BabyHawk and ToddlerHawk mei tai — the BabyHawk Oh Snap! Finally revealed after more than a year of top-secret design and testing, the Oh Snap! combines supportive comfort for parent and baby with a wide range of customizable fit to suit parents in all shapes and sizes.

QuirkyBaby is now accepting pre-orders on six different designs of BabyHawk Oh Snap! carriers, shipping in November (link). In addition, you can pre-order a 100% custom BabyHawk (link) Oh Snap! using any of the 16 strap colors and hundreds of designer fabrics in the BabyHawk design center.

The BabyHawk Oh Snap! can be used as a front or back carrier for babies from 6 months to 45 pounds; an infant insert for younger babies will be introduced some time soon.

The Oh Snap! features:

• a three-part adjustable waist for a custom fit no matter what your size or body type;
• a double chest clip for a secure and perfect fit;
• seat darts and leg padding for a deep, comfortable seating position for baby;
• straps that cinch down or extend for wearers from size 0 to size 22;
• the super-popular BabyHawk headrest that flips down or stands up to support sleepy heads;
• made in the USA

BabyHawk Oh Snap! Feeling Groovy on Espresso

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 (link).

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 can be found at this link.

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