The Baby Carrier Industry Association has a nice page up with basic safety tips for using baby slings, especially the extra attention that should be paid when carrying a preemie, newborn, or a baby who is ill or has other special needs.

The main thing to know is that – sling or no sling – an infant is safest when a caring adult is close by and keeping them in sight. Good sling positions good baby close enough to kiss, and with their face visible – that is, don’t let the sling or your body or a blanket or anything else obstruct the view of your infant’s face, especially of course their nose and mouth.

Other common-sense reminders include reading the product instructions carefully, and keeping the sling snug enough that baby’s position does not shift around after you put them in.  If they start off in a good spot, “visible and kissable”  but slide downward when you move around, that is not good! Read more from the official baby carrier industry group at this link

You also might be interested in the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in their campaign to educate parents on safe baby carriers (link) and their work with the BCIA to spread good information. See this press release about the BCIA’s agreement with the CPSC on this need, and see how BCIA works with Health Canada to this same shared goal.

Check out this NBC Today Show segment on baby carrier recommendations in light of the Infantino recall and safe positioning concerns.

Approx 5 minutes includes carrier fashion show and iVillage commentary.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

This video explains how to use a baby sling for a back carry position safely.

It is a short video because it’s really quite quick and easy to do.

All you need is a quality baby sling and clear tips like these so you can be confident that your child is safe and properly seated back there :)

Just pointing out this cool interview with a slinging dad

We just marked all Sakura Bloom slings on sale 30% off.

Retail prices were from $80-260 so now they range from $56-182 and quantities are very limited!

This is our first Sakura Bloom sale – a clearance on all spring and summer baby slings in the bamboo gift boxes, including linen and silk selections.

We just marked all Sakura Bloom slings on sale 30% off.  This is our first Sakura Bloom sale and it applies to all spring and summer baby slings in the bamboo gift boxes, as we prepare to receive fall sling colors in new packaging. This applies to linen and silk, retail prices were from $80-260 so now they range from $56-182 and quantities are very limited!

to start, how do you put a sling on?

working with the rings and adjusting it

wear the rings high

wrap the sling tail to cover the rings

keep the fabric wide across your back, no twists

lastly, here’s a sweet photo of a preteen girl slinging her newborn sister with Zolowear

Dads and Daughters .org

NY Times on equally shared parenting 6/15/08

G rated movies give Boys a D

men in slings photo and interview #1

adoptive dad baby sling photo and interview #2

sakura bloom sling dad and baby photo and top 10 list

my favorite baby products and design blog – Daddy Types .com

10 ways to be a better dad and 5 myths of fatherhood by Babycenter

From now until May 11th, everybody who purchases a Sakura Bloom baby sling is automatically entered to win FOUR more of your choosing, a retail value of approximately $1200!

edit on May 15th: the winners are posted here

Happy mother’s day and good luck!

Click here to look again at the Sakura Bloom products page.

Details:

Purchase a Sakura Bloom baby sling from our website and you are automatically entered to win an entire baby sling wardrobe.

The baby sling wardrobe consists of 4 Sakura Bloom baby slings:

1 baby sling from the Hana or Pure collection

1 baby sling from the linen simple or linen essential collection

1 baby sling from the silk essential or silk artisan collection

1 baby sling from the tussah luxe collection

Buy any Sakura bloom sling between April 1 – May 11, 2008 to be eligible to win.
The retail value of this prize ranges from $1138 – $1280 depending on the slings chosen.

One winner will be chosen. The winner will be announced on Thursday May 15, 2008

http://www.tendercargo.com/catalog/Sakura-Bloom-Slings.html

Sakura Bloom baby slings were on ET last week! They showed celebrities who use the essential collection double-layer Belgian silk slings.

For the rest of us, Tender Cargo just added a new line of Sakura Bloom linen slings. They are the Hana and Pure collections, priced $80-$120. We have solid pink, blue, green, and black, and also there is solid brown with pink or blue silk accents. They are very soft and supportive and easy to adjust, so they make a wonderful first sling or gift to somebody who already uses other fabrics from another brand.