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Date Added:
22/02/2012
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When I had my babies, I was so busy that it's all now a bit of a blur. One thing that stays with me though, were the years that I wore my kids in baby carriers and backpacks. I truly loved the feeling of a little sprogget happily and calmly reaching up for my hair or chin as I flew about doing the hundred myriad tasks that a mum faces every day.
As a working mum, babywearing my children made me feel like I was doing a good job (and if you'd seen my house, car, the inside of my fridge - or any cupboard -and finances, you might have questioned me on that). All four children were mostly content (okay, that may be the blurry bit), proboably because they rarely thrashed about strapped into a pram.
But I did make the mistake of buying carriers that I thought looked good but were really poorly designed. To be fair, without any education on what makes a good carrier, I chose what appealed aesthetically.
To this day, I regret that there wasn't strict regulations on what could be sold, nor any information widely available on the risks of poorly designed baby carriers.
In a nutshell, some popular and widely used carriers can compromise spine and hip development.
The International Hip Displaysia Institute has release guidelines for choosing carriers that promote good hip health. If you are interested in your baby's health and which baby carrier to choose, have a look at: http://www.hipdysplasia.org/Developmental-Dysplasia-Of-The-Hip/Prevention/Baby-Carriers-Seats-and-Other-Equipment/Default.aspx
I'm proud to say we sell a baby carrier that holds your baby in the recommended and optimal position. the manduca baby carrier is something I wished we'd done back in 1996 when I started out on my parenting journey...but it wasn't invented then.
Whatever carrier you're looking at, I urge you to read what the hip dysplasia guys say before you choose.
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Date Added:
15/02/2012
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Meet our warehouse head honcho David (who, incidentally, has got me eating the skin off fish - very good for you, he says). As we speak they're unloading the first shipment of Pacific Baby thermal, stainless steel baby bottles....and some more of the very popular organic cotton and hemp manduca baby carriers in navy and red. For those who've been waiting for the manducas and thermal bottles...they're now on their way!
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Date Added:
13/02/2012
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I was in a children's boutique this morning and a woman walked in with her $2000 pram. She told the shop assistant it was marvellous but she felt sick when she thought how much money she'd spent.
I chimed in with "Well, that brand probably has a good resale value."
"Oh no" the mum said. "We're trying to sell the previous model of this brand, and we're not going to get even $600 for it."
Now, am I a complete tightwad, or is this starting to sound completely ridiculous? Spending money that makes you feel sick can't be healthy for your bank balance, relationship, future spending habits or personal wellbeing. I've done it myself splurging on a "must have" dress - and it can reduce the enjoyment of wearing the thing.
$2000 twice though, for a baby (who was out of the pram in a flash and running around the shop) seemed excessive.
By contrast, I was demonstrating to the store owner the manduca baby carrier which has a top model (limited edition organic fabric) price of $189. Even the highest priced, other-brand carriers come in at under $300.
And I know people who have emerged unscathed (with social standing intact) from the experience of buying a $500 pram, or even a secondhand one.
The uber-chic mother who buys her green products and organic produce should certainly be seen to be promoting "vintage" baby furniture and prams.
If you simply can't be seen without the "it" pram, consider this. Most shop owners I know speak very candidly about constant repairs needed on some top brands. Talk to your shop owner about which pram is least likely to need repairs...I can tell you one brand that comes up very well is Maclaren (I had one myself and was very hard on the poor thing).
It's up to you which pram you buy, but take it from this mum - that $2000 in the bank (instead) is very chic.
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