Darling Babies, Darling Moms

From the Kenyan tribal mother lovingly toting her newborn in a sling as she goes about her daily work to the California socialite strolling the boardwalk with her one-year-old slung to her hip, babywearing is fast becoming a more or less ubiquitous practice around the world. Slipping away are the days of padded, buckled contraptions with Swedish names; replacing these well-intended but complicated devices are simple, lightweight slings that emphasize comfort and imitate the natural feel of the womb. Polkadot Papoose, an independent maker of handcrafted baby slings and matching burp cloths, affirms a belief in the beauty of motherhood by specializing in products that honor the value of practicality without sacrificing an ounce of style. After all, a mom is still a lady.

With baby slings named for literary figures and authors, and a commitment to ending the scourge of human slavery (a portion of every sale goes toward freeing child prostitutes in India and worldwide), as a brand Polkadot Papoose enjoys a noteworthy uniqueness from many other babywear manufacturers that factory-produce their slings for profit only. With a full range of styles including those as gracefully understated as the Adele; as boldly feminine as the Sylvia; or as exotic-yet-versatile as the Sayuri, that same quality of uniqueness extends to each and every sling as well. And with three gorgeous new styles in the mix (Scout, Holly, and Anita), the collection just keeps growing. If choosing a favorite seems difficult, fret not: Should you win today’s giveaway, Polkadot Papoose will be giving you a Baby Sling and Burp Cloth Set of your choice ($76 value.) To qualify, visit Polkadot Papoose Baby Slings, then come back here to tell us about your favorite style. Tell us in a second post if you happen to subscribe to Wishing Willow, since our subscribers receive an extra entry in the contest. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. The winner will be chosen randomly. If you're so ambitious to earn a third entry, tell us what kind of products you would like to see more of on Wishing Willow. Contest ends 12/03/08.

Polkadot Papoose Baby Slings is offering a whopping 25% off all purchases made by Wishing Willow readers through 12/31. Use the promo code: willow when checking out.

**We have a winner! Mommy Instincts Reviews who said, "I would have to say the Ophelia would be perfect for me and my new daughter who is due March 2009."