I was recently asked to address the safety of my slings. While I understand the concern that has been raised by some news stories and the recent recall of the Infantino SlingRiders, it is important to note that the Erin Kate Creations Joey Pocket Slings are designed differently. EKC Slings are sized to fit the parent (unlike other “one size fits all” slings), creating a sleek fit for both parent and child, and almost no excess fabric to smother or slack for baby to hang loosely. Additionally, when the cradle position is carried out properly as per the instructions on my website, the cradled baby’s head is not on the same level as his/her body; it is a bit higher closer to the parent’s chest.
Babywearing, a term coined by pediatrician Dr. William Sears, has been a beneficial way to carry and bond with babies and young children since the beginning of families. Parents and caregivers have worn little ones using fabric in various positions — such as cradle, modified cradle, tummy-to-tummy, kangaroo, hip hold, and piggy back — in cultures on every continent for thousands of years. Pediatrician Dr. Harvey Karp refers to the first three months of life as the “fourth trimester”, meaning babies in their first few months of life are completely dependent on caregivers to fulfill their developmental needs. In Dr. Karp’s book and video The Happiest Baby on the Block, he talks of holding babies as much as possible to help sooth as well as develop emotionally and cognitively. Wearing your baby in a sling makes this comfortable and achievable in today’s busy world.
As with any product, using slings safely is the responsibility of the end user. Be smart when you use Erin Kate Creations Joey Pocket Slings so you and your children can enjoy it for years!
My sister-in-law (well, she will be as of this September) sent me a link to a great article from The New York Times. The article refers to parents as “the latest in strollers”, citing the fairly recent revival of wearable baby carriers throughout the U.S. Even though I own and frequently use strollers (often as nothing more than shopping carts or traveling toy boxes), I am a huge proponent of babywearing for many reasons… and I’m not ashamed to admit that one of those reasons has to do with how stylish my daughters and I look wearing my slings!
As this article points out, “lately, ‘wearing’ one’s baby has taken on a certain cachet, with celebrities like Brad Pitt and Keri Russell pictured in star-gazing magazines and blogs with their babies strapped to their bodies.” And this illustrates my theory that slings are an extension of the parent’s personal style, not the style of the child inside the sling. Do you see Brad Pitt wearing Shiloh in a ruffly lavender sling that he thinks might suit her little style? No! He wears her in a manly, black sling that suits his own style. That is because the parent, after all, is the one wearing the sling!
Yes, I know it’s ridiculous to suggest that slings have the power to battle illness. However, in the magical world of Mommy Medicine, such things just might be possible. This is a world all parents and their precious little ones know well. In this world, a smooch to the forehead can measure a fever, blankies cure boo-boos, and Band-Aids have more healing power if adorned with cartoon characters. And on a day such as today, slings help the yuckies feel all better.
Today, both of our children are feeling sick: Katie has a stomach bug and Mary is feeling the ill effects of teething. So I’ve been doing plenty of babywearing. Mary has been cradled snugly in her sling, which has calmed her fussing, lulled her to sleep, and allowed me to care for and clean up after Katie. With Mary in the sling and Katie on the couch, I was able to snuggle both my children and still have a free hand to manage the remote control for myself (well, we ended up watching Disney). And now with both children tucked in for the night, I’m beginning to wonder if the healing power of slings isn’t really that far-fetched after all.
While most working adults relax on the weekend, Saturday is typically a very busy day for Erin Kate Creations. You see, I am not just a small business owner, but I am also a full-time stay-at-home mother of two (plus a dog, who is often just as demanding as my human children). During the week, the time I devote to Erin Kate Creations is in small bursts. I answer e-mails while my girls are eating breakfast; I return phone calls while doing dishes; and production time is during nap time. One of the best things we’ve done for our home is make our playroom adjacent to my studio, so I’m occasionally able to do some work while the kids play.
But weekends — oh, my wonderful weekends! My sweet husband is home from work, and we are learning to balance total family time with my work schedule. Before noon today, Jim played with the girls while I mailed two long-distance orders, hand-delivered a local order, made a trip to the bank, updated my accounting records, and started working on an instructional babywearing video (stay tuned for that helpful feature, coming to my website in the next few weeks). It feels great to wrap up a busy week’s work and still have a chance to work ahead and build up my stock. Oh, Saturday, how I love thee!
Who am I? This is a question I ask myself all the time! I am a wife, mother, daughter, friend, entrepreneur, coffee addict, moms’ group organizer, nurturer, artisan, optimist, neighbor, shopper, dreamer, and much, much more! I am Erin Kate.
What is Erin Kate Creations? Erin Kate Creations has been my creative outlet since childhood, though I’m proud to say it’s come a long way from glitter-glue and construction paper. My creations have grown with me, and they now serve a vital function in my family’s everyday life.
As a busy modern mom, I know first hand the need for baby and toddler gear that is classy, beautiful, and functional. After all, a sense of style and a desire for quality are a part of every parent!
Erin Kate Creations offers beautiful, one-of-a-kind, quality baby, toddler, and parent gear such as reversible pocket sling carriers, car seat strap sleeves, burp cloths, and coffee cuffs. Parents and little ones alike adore Erin Kate Creations!
