DEAR PROSPECTIVE PROFESSIONAL DISTRIBUTOR

As mothering in the millennium is ushered in, we see some most desirable parenting practices being mainstreamed i(EmptyReference!)More mothers are listening to their maternal instincts and giving their baby or child the optimum start by both breastfeeding and holding their babies close. Likewise, our scientific and medical communities have made enormous strides in both understanding what makes healthier babies/children, and also in teaching this wisdom to mothers and the public at large. The most respected leaders in these fields are promoting both bonding and breastfeeding.

The American
Academy of Pediatrics, the World Health Organization, La Leche League International, and many others are informing us that breastfed babies benefit from an enormously increased immunity to a whole host of diseases, and their moms are at lower risk of breast and uterine cancers. Sixty percent of today’s U.S. mothers are giving their babies the optimum start by breastfeeding. Of equal, or even greater importance, the word ‘bonding’ has become a household work in American homes. Parents realize that babies who are held often, interacted with, responded to, and cuddled develop psychological and physical advantages over the less attached child. Even their IQ’s are affected positively.

Health care facilities are using several avenues to promote these bonding and breastfeeding behaviors. The method that is achieving the greatest success is the use of the Over the Shoulder Baby Holder: A sing reinforces this healthy nurturing style through all stages of development, from newborn to toddlerhood.

The World Health Organization promotes the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative which specifies that every facility providing maternity services and care for newborns should: 1) help mothers initiate breastfeeding within an hour of birth, 2) allow mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day, and 3) encourage breastfeeding on demand.
otsb.htm Because the Over the Shoulder Baby Holder is so easy to put on and put a baby in (less than 10 seconds total), and is so natural to breastfeed in, it facilitates this style of parenting as mom goes home to raise her little one.

Why are hospitals becoming more baby friendly? There are three main reasons. First, the overwhelming body of research demonstrating health risks for mothers and babies who do not bond (hold frequently) and breastfeed has motivated staff members working inside the institution to make changes. Second, there is growing consumer pressure for better care. Third, there are increasing government directives and incentives. The health benefits derived from breastfeeding and an attachment style of parenting is causing insurance companies and HMO’s to look into requiring ‘Baby Friendly’ status at hospitals and clinics they contract with.

Your administrators must be made aware of the advantages your hospital has in attracting clients (and recruiting health professionals) who want an environment conductive to attachment parenting and successful breastfeeding. A hospital is, after all, a business seeking a marketing advantage.

Since the current insurance tendency promotes earlier hospital discharge, many hospitals are becoming baby friendly and offer phone support and guidance to ease mom into her new routine at home of bonding with and nursing her newborn. When these two activities are encouraged by hospitals, insurance companies and families both benefit; we have more well babies.

Hospitals sell our slings through their birthing education classes and gift shops. Others give them to their clients as post delivery gifts, or offer them as incentives in breastfeeding/parenting programs. If you don’t care to stock our baby holder, we can provide free brochures for you to give out.

The Over the Shoulder Baby Holder is not marketed through national retail chain stores in order to keep a personal dialogue with the professionals who distribute them and the mothers who use them. Selected health care professionals such as yourself can become a distributor.

Statistics show that bonding with the newborn and breastfeeding have resulted in better health and greater harmony for the whole household! Because you are in a position of enhancing the lives of the little ones you influence, we would like to invite you to investigate the possibility of offering our sling to your clients.