Baby Sling Blog

Please read the instructions that come with your baby carrier! Beco Baby Carrier was recently featured in Baby Couture magazine, which is fabulous, but they have a great picture of the baby positioned incorrectly.

Carriers for older children are generally *not* made for an outward facing carry. In this feature, the baby is not in a life-threatening position, but it certainally will not be very comfortable for the mom or the baby.

We’ll post more about the reasons why you may decide *not* to use a forward facing carry with your baby, but think about this:

Would it be a bit awkward to carry your 30 pound toddler facing out in your arms? How much more comfortable is it if the child is hugging your body? This is the same with a carrier… it is more comfortable for you to carry a child who is wrapped around your body than one who is hanging from your shoulders. AND.. it is easier to properly support the child in a seated position (not hanging by the crotch) when they are facing toward your body.

THANK YOU to all our loyal customers who have helped our store get busier each week. We now find that we need to add still another new sales associate to our family.

We are now looking for a full time sales associate & classroom coordinator.

The ideal candidate will be organized and have an outgoing personality. She (or he) will be able & willing to learn all about our unique product line. Hours will be 10-6 M-F and one Saturday per month. Occasional evenings based on classroom schedule. Retail, merchandising or marketing experience is helpful.

If you’re interested, please email your resume & cover letter to staff (at) peppermint (dot) com

With colors of bright pinks, teals, and yellows on a cream and gray background, Kyoto is a beautifully Asian inspired print.

Hotslings baby carriers are made of 97% Cotton and 3%. We love Hotslings for babies 4 months up to 35 pounds. With Hotslings you can wear your baby in a cradle positions, forward facing or on your hip. All are extremely comfortable and hands free!

Click here for our Hotsling Sizing Chart.

Click here for more details and pricing.

Click here to read our article about the safety of Hotslings. 

Peppermint and The Sling Station have several babywearing instructional videos on YouTube. 

Learn how to wear your baby in the front or back with a Mei Tai.

All kinds of videos for various wrapping techniques.

Or learn a few tips for ring slings. 

Click here to see all of the Babywearing Instructional Videos.

As always, Sling Experts are available to answer your babywearing questions. Simply call customer service at 888-996-5464 (888-99-SLING) or log onto our websites for live chat support www.theslingstation.com and http://peppermint.com/.  

Enter the July babywearing photo contest for a chance to win a pair of BabyLegs! 

Click here for details. 

Summer!  We hope you are all enjoying the beauty of the season.  Peppermint staff members share their favorite things about summer…

1) For the kids… Definitely swimming.. The kids have a blast at the pool, get really, really, tired. Go to sleep all by themselves (early) and I get to have movie night with my husband (watching a DVD while snuggled up on the couch with a glass of wine!)
 
2) All the fresh fruit (and frozen grapes - yum)
 
3) Easy potty training. Are clothes really necessary for toddlers in the summer? (in the house/private yard)
Marni Matyus, owner of Peppermint and The Sling Station
I fill the baby pools and play with the girls for a few hours in the morning.  By lunch they are actually hungry and ready to relax a bit! I lay down in the bigger pool and they play safely while I get a tan.
Courtney Adkins, Sling Expert
My favorite thing about summer is the long evenings.  I love that we can stay out until 9:00 at the park, on a walk or just in our backyard while it’s still daylight.
Misty Felner, Baby Sign Language Instructor

Relaxed bedtimes = More time in bed!
Without the pull of a consistent up-and-out-the-door school schedule, we let our children stay up until they’re tired, and sleep in as late as they want.  It’s such great “mom time” when my youngest crawls in bed with me to cuddle in the morning.  Sleeping in, and waking up to unconditional love!  Gotta love summertime!
Margie Wallis, Childbirth Educator @ Peppermint

Playing in the much-too-rare, mid-summer rain… When it’s 100 degrees outside, a sudden, cool rain makes everything just right.
Jo Elaine, Graphics Design
My favorite thing about summer is weekend picnics in our backyard with the children. Sandwiches, snacks, juice and fun chatting on our picnic blanket.
Angela Ross, Office Manager

Taking my daughter down the water slide at our pool.  She says/signs “More, more!”
Lori, Public Relations

Click here to read our Summer Babywearing Tips. 

Click here to see our slings that are safe for the water, including slings that have UVA/UVB protection.

This Saturday, there will be a CPR Training - Charity Fundraiser at Peppermint Baby Boutique. 

Learn to save a life

Gain confidence to respond to an emergency

Instructor Margie Wallis is donating her time to teach these CPR courses.  The proceeds will benefit the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network. 

Date: Saturday July 19th 2008

Friends & Family (Community CPR) 9:30 - 11:30 am $25
For laypersons (family members, etc.) who want to learn rescue skills and basic CPR. A course participation card is issued for Friends & Family CPR.

HeartSaver CPR & First Aid (with 2-year certificate) 12:30 – 3:30 pm $35
For those required to have CPR certification for their workplace or foster/adoption training. A 2-year certification card is issued for completion.

For more information or to register: Email: Woodwardfamily  at yahoo dot com

Phone: call Heather Woodward at (972) 727-2204.

Additional details.  Click on the link to learn more as well as to learn about other classes offered at Peppermint Baby Boutique.  These include prenatal yoga, postnatal yoga, baby sign language, free babywearing workshops as well as free cloth diapering workshops.

Peppermint Baby Boutique in Richardson has the following, upcoming Baby Sign Language workshops:

4 wk Session Monday July 28th, 3:00

8 wk class every Thursday beginning July 24 (7:00 PM)

2 Hour Workshop July 17th; 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. (50 signs will be taught)

2 Hour Workshop July 26th; 2-4 p.m. (50 signs will be taught)

Click here for registration details.

Here are a few real-life examples of the benefits of learning baby sign language.

Stops Tantrums:  A few weeks ago I was at a Target looking at items in the “dollar spot.”  Every time I started to turn or moved to look at something Renae would start to cry.  I asked her what was wrong and she signed dog.  It was then that I noticed the picture of a dog where it said “dollar spot.”  It seemed when I moved I was blocking her view of the dog.  Signing not only allowed me to understand what was upsetting her, but it also helped me be able to leave that area without a tantrum.  Misty Felner, Baby Sign Language Instructor

Strengthens family bond:  Maria Schupp of Wylie is able to avoid a stranger anxiety melt down with sign language.  “While at play dates, if I have to leave my daughter in the care of another adult for a moment to use the restroom, I sign “mommy – potty” and she is fine with me walking away.”

Build self esteem and confidence: Johanna, another mother from Wylie, shares, “For my son, the best reason for learning lots of signs was the simplest: he had a lot to say.  We almost never had any frustration regarding communication problems.  He definitely liked to talk.” 

Show your patriotism with the July Babywearing photo contest.  Click here for details. 

Peppermint Baby Boutique in Richardson will host a FREE Cloth Diapering Workshop this Saturday, July 12 at 10 a.m.  You can click here and scroll down for details. 

Topics covered: Why you should use cloth diapers; an overview of the different types of diapering systems; how many you’ll really need; how to clean for both clean and dirty diapers; and troubleshooting issues - everything from diaper stink to stripping diapers to leaking.

Here are some Tips from North Texas Moms on How to Care for Cloth Diapers…

• To strip diapers: Do a cold rinse with a few drops of dawn to remove any oils, then HOT wash & rinse until there is no more soap.  Angie Dickinson, Denton
• I use a ½ cup of Allen’s naturally biodegradable detergent.  Also dry your diapers outside in the sun.  A few hours on the line and the sun bleach will take care of any stains.  Alicia Philley, Irving
• Line dry to help preserve elastic in your covers and pockets. Amy Rutzen, Coppell 
• Don’t use fabric softener.  Erika Mehta, Dallas
• Sprinkle a little baking soda in the bottom of the diaper pail to absorb odors. Ellen Baumann, Carrollton
• I re-stuff my pocket diapers after I take them out of the dryer, making them immediately available for a quick diaper change. Courtney Adkins, Dallas
  

With the spirit of the 4th of July holiday still in the air, here’s a reminder about the freedom you will experience when you wear your baby.

While providing comfort to your baby who will love being close to you, near the familiar sound of your heartbeat and walking motion, you will have the freedom to shop, eat, tend to chores and take care of other children.  Click here to read our article called, “Babywearing: The Benefits and Beauty.” 

Babywearing also gives you the freedom to nurse hands-free!  Click here to learn how. 

The theme for the July Babywearing Photo Contest is Patriotic.

Get creative babywearing mamas!

Do you have a red carrier, a blue Mei Tai or even a white sling?  Enter!

Did you make your own sling with an American theme?  Let’s see it!

Shop the Target $1 bins and the 4th of July clearance.  Let’s see you wearing your baby and a silly Star Spangled Banner headband or a funny Uncle Sam hat.

Did you get a photo of your baby sleeping peacefully with fireworks going off in the sky? 

Please no photos of you wearing baby while swinging a sparkler.  Let’s be safe! 

Only one photo entry per person.

Contest deadline is Friday, July 25.

Link your “Patriotic Babywearing Photo Contest” blog post below. 

If you don’t have a blog, send your entry to press at peppermint dot com.