I am often asked why I came up with SnugBaby. Quite simply, I needed a comfortable sling, that could cope with my demands – easy to use, looked good, would last a while, husband could use it, and it could be washed!

When I had my first son, I admit I had never even heard of babywearing. We were given a structured front carrier, which we used for the two weeks we spent on holiday in Florida, when he was 12 weeks old, and that was pretty much all the use it got. When we had SnugBoy#2, however, it was clear I needed to be able to keep him close, and happy, and look after SnugBoy#1, then 2 years old, aswell. I tried a sling, liked the concept, but the one I tried wasn’t very comfy.

So I made my own, shaping it how I wanted it, adding padding, changing bits and making it my own.

Babywearing was about to make my life a whole lot easier.

But, I hear a lot about people not knowing enough about babywearing to be able to make the choices they need to in order to have the sling they want. I am attempting to answer some of the more common ones here.

Do slings have age limits? Most slings, carriers, wraps and mei tais are suitable from birth, as long as they have a supportive headrest. If they don’t they may only be suitable from an age when baby can support their own head (usually around 4 months). The upper age limit varies from sling to sling, even within types. If they are tested to British Standards (and remember, not all are, so it’s worth checking) they will have an upper weight limit – which is usually anywhere between 12kg and 18kg. This is usually reached anywhere between 2 years and 4 years.

Are they easy to use? Any reputable sling will come with instructions, to help you get to grips with them. Some look easier than others, but they all have their advantages and disadvantages.

What about the different carrying positions? Some slings can be used in many different ways – on your front, hip, back, lying down, facing out. Different positions take different amounts of practise, but after a few goes, most people find them all pretty straightforward to do. I find mei tais a great compromise between ease of use, and versatility.

Can I share it? Many slings are suitable for parents to share, with varying degrees of ease. A pouch sling is sized, usually by lady’s dress sizes, and is not usually easy to share between parents. Buckle slings and ring slings can be shared with some adjustment, whilst wraps and mei tais are easily shared, with no adjustments needed.

So, which is the best? That depends on what you want it for. If you want something that you can easily pop baby in and out of, with no tying and untying, don’t go for a wrap sling. You would be better with a pouch. If you want something comfortable for long periods, a two shoulder carrier, such as a mei tai, would be great. You need to think about what you will use it for.

But isn’t it a bit, well, hippyish? Well, I guess it falls under the “natural parenting” category, but for me it is all about convenience. Parenting is hard, and anything that makes my life as a mum easier, has got to be a good thing in my book.

So, for me there are loads of reasons to use a sling…

I can go places that I can’t go with a pushchair.

I can hold my eldest son’s hand at the same time as keeping SnugBoy#2 close.

I can easily walk the dog – hold the lead, walk across fields, and not run her over with a pushchair.

I can fold the sling up and pop it in my bag, and only get it out when SnugBoy#2 gets fed up of walking.

I get to spend a lovely time chatting to SnugBoy#2, and he gets to see something other than knees.

SnugBoy#2 is safe, and close to me – especially important at busy holiday times, as it means there is no chance of me losing sight of him!

If you have any questions about slings, mei tais, carriers or wraps, please ask and I will do my best to answer them all for you.

Ok, so perhaps more “small child wearing” than babywearing, but it is still pretty fab.

Yesterday, we decided to go for a nice walk by the river near where we live. SnugBoy#2 got literally over the road from our house before deciding that he couldn’t walk any further. So he asked to go in a sling.

We walked for a mile to get to the river, then he got down and played at skimming stones, then we set off back. This time he made it half way across the field before declaring that the grass was hurting his legs and he needed to go back up.

He doesn’t often go in the sling these days (he is three and a half, after all) and it was lovely having him up there for a change. He chatted to me all the way. We stopped to stroke some horses, and he could see everything that I could see. He was very comfy, as was I (far comfier than I would have been if I’d have been carrying him in my arms, or on my shoulders!)

So, remember, SnugBaby slings are not just for newborns! They are great for chunky toddlers and teeny babies alike. And you certainly couldn’t have got a pushchair down there!

As you may know, I went down to very sunny Birmingham yesterday morning (very early yesterday morning!) to go and help out/socialise on the Mumsclub stand at The Baby Show, promoting mums in business, and encouraging mums to think about starting their own business. We had a great time, and it was lovely to see some old friends, and meet some new ones.

One highlight was seeing a SnugBaby sling in the fashion show. I have to admit to getting a huge buzz seeing it up there, and the lady compering gave it a fabulous description. During the second fashion show (they do it twice a day) I figured out that the model, who was fantastic, used to be the lady from the Special K advert – how cool is that? The baby who modelled it was very happy in there, and it was lovely that they used an older baby (she’s about one and a half) to show that slings are not just for newborns.

If you were at The Baby Show, I hope you had a great time. For those of you who couldn’t be there, I thought you might like to see what SnugBaby looked like strutting it’s stuff.

We’d love to know what you think of it!

Question: When is my bear old enough to go in a back carry?

When I talked to a friend the other day about babywearing – she was completely confused as to what I meant. She thought perhaps I was suggesting that she use her little darling as a hat.

However, when renowned paediatrician, Dr William Sears invented the term babywearing in the 1980s, I’m fairly sure he meant it to mean “all the various types of baby slings”, and not “wearing babies as a fashion accessory” (at least we hope so!)

In all fairness to the human race, all Dr Sears did was come up with the name for something that had been going on since… well, since the first human mummy stood up, looked around and said, “Now, where did I put Baby?”

Even before that, our simian ancestors did (and still do) carry their offspring in a variety of ways attached to the fur of different parts of their bodies

Humans around the world have been carrying their offspring for several millennia before Phil and Ted – and anything that has been going for that long is subject to local diversity, so it’s not surprising to find a wide range of different baby carriers.

Of course, in “less developed” countries it is still regarded as the best way of getting your kids around before they can keep up, so you will find African, Asian and South American varieties. It even used to be popular in the “developed” west before the Georgian and Victorian aristocracy persuaded everyone that children should be kept as far away from their parents as possible, handing them to nannies to be genteelly wheeled around in their wonderful little perambulators.

As well as the name, Dr Sears came up with some other interesting facts, for instance, did you know that carrying your baby upright can reduce the effects of colic and reflux – definitely worth considering if you have a colicky baby (and if you do, you will try anything…I did!). Babies who are carried learn more quickly, as they spend their time being involved in your world, not just watching knees and feet – but participating; developing a brain that is learning to learn.

Some people suggest that having your baby in a sling will make him clingy. Exactly the opposite, actually. Your baby will become more emotionally secure and independent as he knows you are around as a safe base from which to explore.

Need I go on?

Well, if us mums are permitted a bit of selfishness, there are always the extra calories you burn by carrying your baby, and the way you can breastfeed discreetly, and the general snugly cuddles you both get to enjoy, which stimulate your new-mum hormones, and can help to reduce the likelihood and severity of post-natal depression. What do you do to get your baby off to sleep in a pram? You rock him and talk to him to simulate the motion and closeness of your own body.

Now who’s starting to look more “developed”?

There are a huge range of different baby slings around, and everyone has their own personal favourite, although some people switch between different styles.

It will come as no suprise for me to tell you that my own favourite is the Mei Tai, which is basically a square of fabric with straps at each corner. Because of its simple design it can be used in a variety of different positions.

Simply put though, the bottom straps are tied around your waist, and the top straps go over your shoulders and wrap around you, and are then knotted, securely strapping your baby to your body.

So, are they easy to use? Surely they can’t be as convenient as a pushchair?

Yes, they are very easy – you can go up stairs, through narrow doorways or for a pleasant summer walk. And you don’t have to push an empty one round town when junior decides he would rather walk. Not only that, but they’re light and fold up small – can you get a pushchair in your handbag? More importantly, can you afford a pushchair to go with every outfit!

But, your husband wouldn’t be seen dead in one? Well, men with babies are very attractive – remember that Athena poster; and Brad Pitt has carried baby Shiloh in one, so how can he possibly object?

Having said all that, the main benefit for me, at least to start with, was that I regained the use of my hands after months of trying to make lunch, hoover, iron and just about anything else you care to think of, all whilst holding on to my dear son. So, slings, carriers, mei tais, call them whatever you like, are starting to sound like a good idea, aren’t they?

I have to admit, I got in to babywearing almost through necessity rather than choice, but I love it now, and so does my now toddler son. The only difficulty now is choosing which fabric for the next one…

Since it is December, a time when advent calendars are eagerly opened, children desperate to find out what is hiding behind each door, I am putting a babywearing spin on it, and will be posting a great babywearing tip, suggestion or idea every day until Christmas!

Today’s treat is:

Make great use of a mei tai, or any other baby sling, by wearing your baby to do the Christmas shopping! No longer fight your way through crowded aisles, trying to squeeze a pushchair through impossibly small gaps – simply don your baby instead, and be done in half the time!

Every day this week UK babywearing website, Get Your Hands Back, is giving away a fabulous prize, to promote babywearing and support International Babywearing Week 2009.

Today it is our turn to help out, by donating one of our fabulous SnugBaby mei tais, for one of you lucky people to win!

International Babywearing Week is all about promoting Babywearing, so if you help out in GYHB’s quest to promote babywearing, by reposting the competition on twitter, forums, emails or even good old-fashioned word of mouth, you’ll get a free bonus entry – make sure you tell them where you’ve shared it!

Enter now, and good luck!

New UK sling resource website, Get Your Hands Back, has a great article on different activities people have done whilst wearing their baby (or toddler) in a sling, featuring a man who supported his wife through labour whilst carrying their toddler ina  mei tai!

It’s great to see what people can do, especially when it’s things they wouldn’t be able to do with a pushchair – just goes to show how much more freedom you can get by slinging your baby instead of pushing.

Let us know your unusual babywearing antics – we’d love to hear them!

Another busy week at SnugBaby! We’ve had a hectic week sales-wise (Not that we’re complaining!), and we’re still preparing for the Summer Sling Show. Everything’s starting to come together, with our stock of baby slings building up, boxes of stuff arriving from printers, and the checklist of outstanding jobs shrinking by the day.

Not only that, but given that summer is still failing to show its face we thought we better get hold of some BabyLegs. Available in our shop now, BabyLegs leg warmers are the perfect solution for keeping your little one’s legs (or arms!) warm while travelling around in your SnugBaby mei tai.

We’ve got 8 different designs in stock, with something for little men and little ladies alike. Our particular favourites are Banana Blue (perfect with our Azure blue slings), and Cinnamon – but we’re sure you’ll have your own favourites. Get a few pairs, and you could even mix and match!

Available from just £7.99 (Including FREE delivery) – check out BabyLegs leg warmers in the shop today.