Everything you need to know about babies and children will be on show at the Kids' Unlimited Expo in Durban (to be held at Suncoast from September 22 to 25) - and that includes some innovative new products. Lindsay Ord chatted to the designers of two new baby slings.
Fashion designer Nontobeko Nkonyane has designed a baby carrier that takes the African tradition of carrying a baby on the back one step further - and she'll be launching it at the Kids' Expo.
Called Baby Passion, the carrier was the product of Nontobeko's eye for design, her knowledge of fabrics and her own need for something practical and comfortable in which to carry her own baby, Zion Nadi (eight months), while leaving her hands free.
"It all started when a friend gave me a baby carrier shortly after my baby was born," she says. "It was complicated and not particularly comfortable. And my baby soon outgrew it."
When she noticed her baby strapped on to her nanny's back with a towel, she decided to come up with a design for a baby carrier that would suit the African tradition.
"I experimented with various fabrics and designs and finally came up with something that would be comfortable for mother and baby and support the baby's head," said the Linea Academy BA graduate.
Nontobeko has registered the design to avoid potential copying. The carrier comes in two styles - a cotton version (R90) and denim padded style (R180). It has buckles that are detachable for those who prefer to knot it and she is hoping it will soon be available at retail outlets.
- Looking at mothers in Africa and South America, with their babies tied on their backs or on their sides with slings, Sofie Mazzotti was struck by the contentedness of the infants.
"They seemed to fuss and whine less than babies of Western mothers," says Sofie.
As a new mom living in Britain, she had read a lot about mothering and decided to carry her son Fin (now six) as much as possible.
"I tried various baby carriers but found them all too complicated. My sister brought a piece of fabric from South America which I sewed into a sling and used it to carry my baby," says Sophie. "Friends admired it and soon I started making slings for them."
Three years ago, Sofie moved to South Africa and kept the sling idea alive by making them for friends.
Friend Debbie Wheeler suggested a business venture. WhatSAname was born and is now run by the duo as a proudly South African company.
The sling will be launched at the Kids' Expo.
Made of bull denim, it's available in red, grey, black and blue/green and the simple design folds up into a handbag. It supports the baby, takes the weight off the mother's arm and allows her to have her hands free. It also keeps the wearer's back straighter than if she were to hold the baby on her hip.
It's been evaluated by a chiropractor, an osteopath and paediatric chiropractor, all of whom have given it the thumbs-up for wearer's and baby's spines. The sling is thought to be good for developing muscle strength and helps baby develop muscle control.
It is recommended for babies from six months onwards.
The length is adjustable, enabling it to be worn by mum, dad or caregiver. It's been SABS tested to hold up to 80kg and is user-friendly.
"I believe that keeping your baby in close contact with a parent promotes bonding and makes for a happier baby, reducing fussiness by 45 percent in the day and 51 percent at night," says Sofie.
"It lowers the infant's stress levels and enables the mother to be acutely responsive to baby's needs. It makes the baby the centre of activity instead of the centre of attention."
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