the original overlapping pleated shoulder, since 2001

Today's message: I can now accept credit or debit card payments through Authorize.net -- you no longer have to use PayPal to pay by credit or debit card! (American Express transactions will not go through, because they charge a separate, higher fee for each transaction and I elected not to sign up with them.)
Use the "your account" tab above to create or log into your account before shopping -- I just upgraded the cart, and now you get a 5% credit in loyalty points for your purchase! If you've ordered before but do not have an account, please set one up and then email me, and I'll apply the loyalty points retroactively. The cart uses your email address to coalate your orders, so remember to use the same email address you'd used previously (or let me know that it's changed).

Please read about infant safety in baby-holding devices (every parent, babywearer or not, needs to know about this) and sling safety!

An explanation: about stock and reordering, and the fate of the babywearing industry

The baby carrier industry is currently in flux (please visit the Baby Carrier Industry Alliance for more information). The CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) requires that all durable infant goods conform to a mandatory standard. Slings and other non-front-pack baby carriers, which are now included in that category, do not yet have a standard in place, although a dedicated group of industry leaders has been working on one since 2008.

I attended the last meeting on August 27th, 2010, and it appears that that the standard will come up for a vote soon. At that time, assuming it passes (and I get the impression that it should), it will become a voluntary standard. The process by which it will become mandatory under the CPSIA will, I gather, take 1-2 years; then, all sling manufacturers will be required to meet the standard. I think the standard is a good one, and it is necessary -- there are far too many unsafe slings on the market, and the standard will go a long way to eliminating those and making existing carriers safer with better labeling and education. However, the downside of the testing industry is that it is not geared towards small-batch manufacturers. I asked one testing agency representative what a test would likely cost, and he said, in a very nonchalant manner, "Oh, about $2000." My jaw literally dropped. $2k is fine when you're a manufacturer with 50,000 units sending one to be tested; when you're a WAHM who might make 20-100 in that fabric, it's completely cost-prohibitive. There will be some tests that WAHMs can batch together if they use a common source, but the most expensive parts of the testing must be done on finished units, and those will have to be done individually. This will simply price the vast majority of WAHM-made slings out of the market, leading to a loss of the vitality and variety we have enjoyed up til now.

If you would like to help, please please please consider making a donation to the BCIA. This dedicated group of babywearing manufacturers, retailers, educators, and friends, is hoping to ensure that small businesses like mine are able to stay in business. My hope is that through the BCIA, we can negotiate fabric co-ops and discounts on testing, and perhaps make it affordable for medium-scale WAHMs at least to stay in business. Please see my Facebook note about why I joined for more information. The current climate is affecting all babywearing businesses. The recent Infantino recall made many uninformed people believe that all slings, not just badly-designed ones, are dangerous, and more than one company is now out of business because of it. I don't want to see others (my own included) fall as well. We need everyone's help to keep that from happening.

Since the standard will not be mandatory for the next 1-2 years, I will try to run my business as I have done for the last 10 years, and offer a certain (though probably lower) amount of variety in my fabrics. However, as the mandatory date draws nearer, I will likely have to choose one or at most two fabrics that I can have tested. I'm not sure where custom sewing and wrap and sling redos will fit in under the standard; obviously customer-sent fabrics can't be tested the way a large batch could be. I need to get some clarification on that. I am truly sorry to be the bearer of this news; I was hoping testing might be much more affordable and leave us the option of offering small-batch slings, but I don't think that will be the case. Again, I would urge all concerned customers to join the BCIA in hopes that we can keep WAHMs in business for the babies born in our near future.