Top 10 reasons for Babywearing

The practice of Babywearing may be as old as human kind but it fits in so well with a busy modern lifestyle. Babywearing is beneficial for baby, it’s good for parents (studies show it lowers the risk of PND) and it’s becoming a way of life for an increasing number of Kiwi families.

The term Babywearing is simply the practice of carrying or wearing your baby in a carrier and more and more parents are cottoning on to how much easier life is - their babies cry less, are more content and enjoy being included in family life. Babywearing is not about having your child attached to you 24 hours a day but modern instinctive parenting which is mostly common sense. 

Babies of all ages thrive on cuddles and attention. How many times have you tried to put your little one down only to have them cry to be picked back up?  Babywearing skips that whole yo-yo process – by putting them in the carrier with you, the child receives the close cuddle and interaction they need and you are hands-free and able to get on with things.

A baby sling was my very first purchase for baby when I was about 13 weeks pregnant. The thought of being hands-free while carrying my baby appealed to my practical nature and I liked the fabrics and the simplicity. Little did I know it would become a way of life and the catalyst of a business specialising in the best baby carriers on the market.

Slings are very versatile and can be used from newborn right up to 2 years +  When my son was a newborn I could breastfeed in public and no one else was any wiser that Ieven had a little one with me. As he grew, he happily sat on my hip and would charm all who met him – he loved being up on their level rather than sitting in a pram at bum height! When he was too heavy to carry comfortably in the sling for long period of time I swapped to the ERGOBaby Carrier. The Ergo can be used from newborn to 3+ and can be worn in front, hip or back carry. One of my favourite things about the Ergo is the ability to swap from back to front carry – means I can breastfeed on the go which is handy when chasing around after a pre-schooler! So here are my top 10.

10 Reasons to Babywear  

1. Baby is happy. Their natural need to be close to you is met and happy baby = happy Mama
2. You are hands-free. Life doesn’t have to stop because baby needs a cuddle (this is especially meaningful when you have more than one child!)
3. Baby can sleep anywhere or on anyone in the right carrier
4. Perfect for ‘the witching hour’
5. Correct anatomical positioning for baby's precious hips and spine
6. Breastfeeding is easy and it’s private
7. Freedom to go wherever you wish - you won’t be hindered by, or even need, a pram
8. Great for colicky or reflux babies. Upright is a perfect position to keep nasty stomach acid down where it should be.
9. Babywearing is a great way for Dads to bond with baby
10.  Perfect for travel - you might be allowed to take your pram to the Departure Gate but it's usually not allowed on the plane.  Using a carrier means your hands are free to carry your hand luggage onto the plane - particularly valuable when travelling with little ones by yourself! Belly Beyond has a large range of carriers available so you are bound to find the perfect carrier for you.  Don't forget many families have more than one carrier!  

Baby Slings

• dulce&zoet 
•  Breeze Baby 
• Peanut Shell  
• Unido 
•  Natures Sway  

Soft Structured Carriers 

•  ERGObaby Classic 
•   ERGObaby Sport  
• ERGObaby Performance 
• ERGObaby Organic Range
•   ERGObaby Petunia Pickle Bottom Range  

Wrap Style Carriers

• Popit 
• Natures Sway  

Front Packs  

• Babybjorn

ERGObaby - the only Baby Carrier included in Parenting Mags Top 20 Baby Products of the last 20 years

The award winning ERGObaby carrier offers hands-free closeness like no other! Its revolutionary design means your comfort will not be compromised and baby's precious spine and hips are held in the anatomically correct carry position (unlike most front-packs!).

ERGObaby offers 3 carry positions – front, back, hip – that promote healthy spinal development for your child from birth to pre-school.

And, the ERGObaby was the ONLY baby carrier to be listed by Parenting Magazine as one of the ‘TOP 20 PRODUCTS over the Last 20 Years’ for its ergonomic design and amazing versatility.

We love our Ergos, use them almost every day and it's definitely a product we sell because we love it - not the other way around.

aden+anais Zoo Wraps

Spotted! Naomi Watts seen out and about in Soho the other day with her two sons on Celebrity Baby Blog.

Note the monkey aden+anais zoo wrap used as a cover on the stroller!

Huge size makes them handy as wraps, stroller covers, play mats and mor and come in a pack of four, great for all year round.

Available at Belly Beyond

Happy Earth Day!

We love our little planet and particularly out little slice of heaven known as Aotearoa.

Belly Beyond make a conscious effort to be environmentally friendly in all aspects on our business, from using recycled paper packing fill and re-using boxes. We deliberately partner with like-minded businesses who take care to minimise their packaging and act in other environmentally aware ways.

One of the most amazing products we were recommended by our lovely Stewart Island member Paula, is the ECOtanka Stainless Steel Drink Bottle

Each year we are drinking 30 billion throw-away bottles of water worldwide!

That is 2.7 million tons of plastic!

Think “REFILL NOT LANDFILL!”

Available in four sizes.

Merino Sleeping Bag Photos

awwww - THIS is how you get your little one sleeping well.

100% Merino Sleeping Bag by Sweet Cheeks and proudly made in NZ

Twitter Twibes

We are the founder of 3 Twitter Twibes - come and join

www.twibes.com/babywearing
www.twibes.com/nzmade
www.twibes.com/babygifts

All things that make up our core business!

Happy Birthday Belly Beyond

Belly Beyond have celebrated one year in business and since we exceeded our turnover projections we decided to head to lunch at the ever reliable Soul Bar to celebrate.

Salt & Pepper Squid, Bluff Oysters and Beer. BLISS

Heidi & Lou of BellyBeyond - Nice workin' with you Heidi :)

Happy Birthday to us indeed!