Babywearing with Shadrach's Collection Ring Sling

I have been wearing my baby since she was one month old.  It's been wonderful, I only wish I did it sooner.  My mom always said I was "lampa" so I was hesitant to try a carrier before, fearing I might accidentally harm my child.  I know a few moms (and non-moms too) who have the same thoughts- that carriers are too intimidating to use.

One time, when I was waiting for my firstborn to finish her trial class, I heard yayas talking about me, or the carrier rather.  Their actual conversation was in Tagalog.

Yaya 1: The baby seems to be enjoying it.  She looks cozy in her carrier.
Yaya 2: Yes, but isn't it difficult to use that? It seems intricate.

I wanted to answer but the third yaya said, "No, it just looks hard to onlookers.  But it is actually quite easy.  My old boss made me use a carrier before."  I did not catch the rest of their conversation as I had to go back to the classroom.  I was glad that Yaya No. 3 was familiar with babywearing and that in her own little way, she helped spread awareness about it.

It was only recently that we were able to hire a helper.  Babywearing helped me survive my yaya-less days.  I was able to do chores like washing the dishes and sweeping the floor while I was wearing my baby.  Please take note that I had to exercise caution while doing so.  Anyway, I shared more of my babywearing experience on The Momma Club's Website. Click here to access it.

What is babywearing?  "Babywearing is the practice of keeping your baby or toddler close and connected to you as you engage in daily activities through the use of one of a variety of types of baby carriers. It is a traditional practice in many cultures that is not widely used by modern industrialized societies, but it nonetheless has many benefits for both children and caregivers."

Because of my fascination with babywearing,  I have been interested to try other types of carrier especially the ring sling.  A ring sling is easy to put on and take off, perfect for a stay-at-home mom like me.  Shadrach’s Collection caught my interest when I saw it on my social media feed.  Though the vibrant colors of their carriers was what made me try the brand, my favorite is a plain white ring sling- the Purity.

Because it looks elegant and classy, I can pair it with any outfit.  In fact, I am planning to use it on my sister’s wedding in October.  The fabric is thick enough (important for my peace of mind) and the rings are made from imported material.  Shadrach's Collection has a new website where I found an instructional video on the proper use of ring sling.  Here's the link.

As a ring sling newbie, the challenging part for me was creating a deep seat.  I wanted to make sure I was carrying my baby correctly so I sent a picture (of me using a ring sling) to Shadrach's team.  Ms. Gladys of Shadrach's guided me accordingly and said it was good for a first-timer.  There was still room for improvement, however.  She assured me that practice makes perfect.  I learned that in babywearing, when in doubt, don't.  If you have doubts whether you are doing it the right way, you can contact Shadrach's team for guidance through their social media channels.  You may also refer below for safe babywearing tips.

Currently, Shadrach’s only sells ring slings and woven wraps.  Most are made of 100% cotton, some are 60% cotton-40% linen.  What impressed me about the Shadrach brand is the passion of the people behind it- you can see it from the very helpful and informative online brochure (complete with washing and drying tips), the tutorials, and the product itself.  Their Facebook page and IG feed are full of helpful content about their carriers and babywearing in general.

The best thing about Shadrach’s is the goodness of the mompreneur behind it.  Her vision was to help the local weaving community and she made it come true.  By supporting Shadrach’s Collection, not only do we help our babies and ourselves, we are also supporting the communities of weavers from North and South Luzon.  Owning a unique, handwoven piece from Shadrach’s means we are getting a quality product and doing our part to help preserve a part of our culture.  That makes me one proud babywearing momma!

What about you moms, what are your babywearing stories? Do you like supporting local enterprises, too?  I’d love to hear from you.  Feel free to leave a comment.

XOXO!

Jay