POLOKWANE – Inspired by her love for her daughter, Caria (2) who she describes as a miracle baby, Tharina van den Heever (31) wants only the best for her child.
She opened Mama Bear in Polokwane that focuses on eco-friendly and chemical-free baby products such as organic modern baby cloth diapers, baby carriers, baby thrones, potties and various other eco-friendly products.
Tharina, originally from the Free State, grew up in a small farming town called Bothaville where she matriculated in 2003. She moved to Johannesburg to work as an equity trader, moved to Centurion to work as a commodity trader and then moved to Polokwane in 2016.
“I obtained a B.Com risk management and international trade in Potchefstroom at the North-West University in 2007 and worked as an equity trader in Johannesburg in 2008,” she said.
Mama Bear started as a business in September 2015 and her daughter motivated and inspired Tharina in this venture.
“I want to be a better person and mother for Caria, to do better and provide her with a better future. I read a lot and I find development in humans extremely fascinating. When I started reading about it before my daughter’s birth, I discovered the many benefits of baby wearing, or kanga care. I knew it was something I wanted to do for her. The more I read, the more I realised I wanted to follow the route of natural birth, skin to skin, delayed cord clamping, breastfeeding and baby wearing and I gravitated more and more towards the natural ways.”
Tharina says she is smell-sensitive and hated to use disposable nappies as they gave her daughter a horrible rash.
“My mother-in-law, who resides overseas, bought us our first modern cloth diapers and I was immediately impressed. No chemicals, the rash was gone, they breathe and keep the hips in a better position thus aiding healthy hip development. You save a tremendous amount financially and they are environment-friendly. If we do not start taking care of our earth, we are going to destroy her. The more I learnt, the more passionate I grew until I decided to import modern cloth diapers, woven wraps, ring slings and ergonomic baby carriers such as the Manduca carriers. They support the spine and hips and are comfortable. It has become a passion to educate other mothers about the benefits of baby wearing and cloth diapering and also teaching them how to do it safely.”
Tharina is an importer and a distributor for Manduca baby carriers, a German-made carrier and the world’s number one soft-structured carrier.
She is also an agent for Ubuntu Baba Carriers, a local company that specialises in baby products. Mama Bear also imports various woven wraps and ring slings, Nona baby wraps from the Netherlands and Oscha luxurious woven slings from Scotland.
“I am the baby wearing consultant for Limpopo and women can come and try the different carriers and slings at my house while I teach them how to use the products.”
She tells Review that Mama Bear also has various eco-friendly products for mom and baby such as reusable breast pads, menstruation eco-pads for postpartum bleeding, plus many more earth-friendly products.
“Our aim is to help and support mothers and babies, even with breastfeeding and co-sleeping support and advice, for a better and cleaner earth and while doing it to encourage womanhood and support each other with love and light,” she adds.
Tharina juggles work and caring for her daughter. She says it is easy to discreetly breastfeed with a child in a carrier and believes in breastfeeding a child until the age of four, or when the baby decides to stop.
“I am pro-breastfeeding, it is hands-on when you look at the facts and healthier for the baby and for the mother.
Not just healthier, it saves money on formula and doctors’ bills. Breastfed babies are healthier with stronger immune systems. I feel instead of celebrating women in South Africa, Women’s Day should rather be celebrated to encourage and support women to breastfeed.”
For more information about Mama Bear or for support with breastfeeding or connecting with other moms, visit their Facebook page at Mama Bear Group.
