About Us
My name is Patricia and I am wife to David, and mother to Matthew, who is three years old and Derek, who is one year old. We are located in the Greater Toronto Area, in Ontario, Canada. I started Raspberry Rouge Inc. to sell woven wrap carriers for carrying babies and toddlers because I know of the benefits of babywearing first hand, and because I am amazed at how little is known about woven wraps, the most versatile baby carriers on the market, in my opinion.
I hadn't heard about these types of wraps either, until shortly after my second son, Derek, was born. Since then, I have used the wrap every single day and continue to do so now, even though he is one year old. Now that I use wraps, I can't imagine life caring for Derek without one. I don't know how I lived before having a wrap, including how I managed with my first son, Matthew. I honestly believe that wrap carriers are one of the most useful and important baby products a mother can have, and I hope to share this discovery with other mothers.
My first son, Matthew was a high need baby. He needed to be held, rocked, and walked to sleep, needed to be held during the day, and he hated his stroller, swing, rocker, and bouncer. At the time, it was a blessing to find a well-known structured carrier. Though he seemed happier in the carrier, there were a few problems. I couldn't do any chores with him on my front, the narrow fabric holding him up at the groin was not comfortable for an extended period of time, and he quickly outgrew the carrier. I searched high and low at specialty baby shops for a carrier but none of them seemed to work. I tried other structured carriers, but it was difficult to put him on my back, and the steel frame carriers for the back were difficult to put on by myself. I also tried a padded ring sling but it was not comfortable to use one shoulder to support all of Matthew's weight, it required one hand to be free and I still wasn't able to do any chores. In the end, I sadly stopped babywearing him at about one year old.
When I was expecting with my second son Derek, I knew I had to find something to help me care for a newborn and yet give my older son the attention and care he needed. This time, I was able to find more information about babywearing. I tried several different carriers (pouch, unpadded ring sling, mei tai) before stumbling upon the wrap. Though it took a little practise, it was well worth it. I was sold on its flexibility, customized fit and versatility. I tried several different brands of wraps and both Didymos and Storchenwiege wraps are the ones I depend on for comfort, colour, style and durability.
I have carried Derek everywhere in my wrap: doctor's office, shopping mall, grocery store, amusement parks, wedding banquets, birthday parties, church masses, airplanes, cruise ship...even all over Budapest, Hungary sightseeing alone with my older son on foot and by subway. I do not use a double stroller and even when I do use a single stroller for Matthew, we often park it and go exploring hand by hand, with Derek on my chest. Whenever we pack for a trip, whether for a ride in a car or on a plane, the first thing I always pack are my wraps! And yes I have more than one...I wear them everyday so they, along with my Derek being carried, have become my most beautiful and treasured accessories!