Wearing my Baby – My Story
Making the decision to wear my baby was the best decision I have ever made. When you are pregnant you are bombarded with information about what you need as a first time parent. I spent hours trawling the internet and came up with a pretty good list. One thing I was pretty adamant on was that I wanted to carry my baby rather than use a pram.
As with anything there are a million and one different types of carriers. All good advice out there said go to your local Sling Library.
When I was 35 weeks pregnant I met the incredibly helpful ladies at Morecambe Bay Sling Library. I sat nervously watching them show new mothers how to wrap and bundle their new babies safely into varying carriers. At 39 weeks I called back in and they lent me a Close Caboo ready for when the baby arrived, 2 weeks later.
The Caboo kept me going for a good month but I like to change things up so I tried a Hop Tye next. A completely different style of carrier that had a cute star on the front, he was so small and having him close to me meant I could respond to his needs and keep him comforted.
Three months later and I was pretty confident with carrying the Robot. We went on daily walks together and people always, even now, commented on how cozy and comfortable he looks attached to me. It’s true. Our next progression was to a stretchy wrap, looking back now I think I should probably have started with this but at the time I just went with the flow. We took this one all way to the South Coast on holiday.
Having the stretchy wrap though just confirmed that I really love wrapping. There is something about being in charge of how tight it is, what the spread over the shoulder and around the body. It’s not difficult at all once you’ve practiced. Carrying in a wrap just feels like an extension of your body.
It was great having the sling library to go to for advice as it made the progression very simple. We tried out a hybrid wrap (sorry don’t know the name!) next. It is a woven wrap with a stretch in it. It gave me a leap between having the stretchy wrap before going fully woven. I loved this wrap and we took the Robot on some pretty impressive walking trips. It being November at this stage it was nice and thick and made us really snuggly. Here we are at the top of Ingleborough:
As I said near the start I do like to change things up a little and I wanted to take the opportunity to try out different slings from the library.
They have loads to try out so it’s never boring!
I borrowed a full on woven wrap next and got to grips with how to tie the Robot on. There are a plenty of ways to tie on but I’m of the philosophy that if you find something that works, use it! I love the front cross carry. He is easy to pop in and out again.
This was my last wrap that I borrowed from the library. I knew I wanted to continue wearing my baby so it being Christmas time I took the leap to buying my own. If you can’t treat yourself at Christmas then when else!
It’s a tough decision buying your first wrap. They aren’t cheap to buy and with millions to choose from it’s a minefield. I looked online for a few weeks but in the end I resorted to going back to chat to the ladies at Morecambe Bay Slings for advice.
Lucky me that I did. They were piloting a scheme with Fire Spiral Slings for parents that use sling libraries and show a passion and interest in wrapping. They helped me buy my first wrap with a 55% discount off a Fire Spiral sling. This is a massive discount!
I bought a Fire Spiral Aurora Twilight Starmap. It’s truly beautiful and feels amazing. I love using it. My story doesn’t end here. I carried on with the Front Cross Carry until the Robot was 11 months old. I knew that I should learn some different carries. Carrying him on my back was the next progression.
Cue a private consultation with Tamsin from the sling library teaching me how to tie him on my back. Again this isn’t as complicated as it looks and just takes practice and the know how. I now love carrying him on my back… Even up hills:
This isn’t the end of my story either, I can’t thank Morecambe Bay Slings enough for all they have done to help me in wearing my son. I love having him close to me and it means we are able to go on lots of adventures together. We would not be able to do half the things we do without him on our backs.
One thing I can do…
When I saw an Ad a month ago for volunteers at Morecambe Bay Slings for admin at their sling meets, I jumped on it. They’ve taken me in and I now volunteer for them, a month in and I am thoroughly enjoying it.
My next mission is to teach Dave how to wrap!
Thank you for reading my baby wearing story. Do you carry your children? How have you found it?
If you would love to share your story on my blog then please do get in touch with me, find my email address in my about me.
oh my gosh yes best thing ever! When I had my second daughter it was like a life saver because I could do all the things I needed to do with Aspen whilst carrying April! #Familyfun
I can imagine. I found I could always put R down in the house so could always do chores and things but I imagine when there is a 2nd little in the mix it would mean the best and safest place having them close. We shall wait and see if I have a 2nd!!
I have never worn a wrap but I bought an Ergobaby sling when my eldest was born and although it was expensive we got so much use out of it. It was so worth it and I have only recently stopped using it 3 and a half years later! #FamilyFun
chocolateandwineandillbefine recently posted…Our September in Photos
It is great how much use you can get out of a carrier. It makes it easier to get out.
Noo I just wrote a massive com want and it failed to loud! Boo anyway it was along the lines of – I had two wraps but didn’t really get on with either. I think the Mai Tai was my fav but neither of my babies were overly keen. Although perhaps I was doing something wrong! Anyway I think baby wearing is great and I wish I had done it more. Great post lovey xx
Tammymum recently posted…#FamilyFun week 5
Thanks Sarah, I hate it when comments fail too! I ❤️ baby wearing!
I haven’t worn my son much my but i always say uf i have another I will, I couldn’t imagine juggling a baby and a toddler! #familyfun
Claire recently posted…What we did at the weekend 010
I cant imagine it either but I’ve seen so many people say it makes it easier!
i love this. i mainly use a pram, but do have a stretchy wrap, and i wear The Girl for things like taking The Boy to school or swimming lessons. It’s been so helpful. She’s nearly one now though, and wants to go forwards, but i dont like how it feels. #familyfun
I’ve never carried the Robot forward. Perhaps it time to look at back carrying?
I think you’re probably right. Forwards just doesn’t feel right, like if she lent forward she’d drop out
Sling libraries are a wonderful thing! I had a Kari-Me for my baby and it saved me on so many occasions. I used to take him places in the pushchair but the wrap was nice and compact so if he got fussy or there were too many stairs, I’d just put him on 🙂 Glad you found one that worked for you too. #familyfun
Thanks, yes I’ve not really mentioned how flexible it makes looking after a little one when out and about!
Sling libraries are one of those things you would NEVER hear of before you get pregnant!! #familyfun
He he, yes they do come hand in hand don’t they!?
My hubbie wore our eldest Chaos most when he was little as we like to walk and hike too. I have carried Mayhem since he was born. He was and still is such a Velcro baby that I had to carry him to get anything done. He was also pretty much a constant feeder so I carried and feed him whilst running after a toddler. I love my Boba and hubbie his ergo #familyfun
Andrea @Topsy Turvy Tribe recently posted…#My Sunday Photo – My New Swing
That’s great! So much love for a carrier. It’s often the best way to get things done
I wish I’d known about sling libraries! That sounds like a fab idea. My parents offered to buy us a sling when baby was born but they ended up getting us a baby carrier thing instead. It was all straps and fastening and I wasn’t that keen, but didn’t feel I could get something else when they’d gifted us this one. But I’ve got lots of friends who rave about baby slings. #FamilyFun
P.S. Good on you for volunteering! My #FamilyFun post this week is on volunteering too!
Lucy At Home recently posted…The Voluntary Baby Group Leader
I saw you linked a volunteer post up I’m looking forward to reading this. I’m so glad I found out about the library myself. There is so
Much choice out there and it’s often the way that you might end up with the wrong thing and put you off carrying for life! Thanks for the lovely comment
I’ve never worn my little girl, although I’ve often thought that things would have been so much easier if I had! I probably should have gone to our local sling library to get a bit more information – there just seemed to be so many different types of slings and wraps that I always felt a bit overwhelmed! If we ever have another one, I’ll definitely do a bit more research! #familyfun
It is overwhelming I agree. My sling library made choosing easier and show you how to do everything. They are so helpful
How lovely. I didn’t use a sling or wrap with my daughter but I will definitely be tempted to try if I have another one. ☺
Sam recently posted…My Sister, My Bestie x
Think it would make having a 2nd one easier
I can’t imagine my life without sling! It’s help when my boy can’t sleep and it helped when he was very stressed by going outside for a walks 🙂
#FamilyFun
That’s great to hear, it just makes it work doesn’t it
So jealous of the baby wearing, it’s so difficult with twins! I have had one on the front, one on the back a couple of times but it’s a bit ridiculous!! #FamilyFun
Twin Pickle recently posted…A Scheduled C-Section and a Trip to the Movies.
Oh well done for trying though. I’m sure it didn’t look ridiculous.
How great that you had a sling library close by, there is nothing like that here. With my first we used a baby carrier and later a backpack style one and it was great for walking and getting out with the dogs and he loved it to but I have problems with my back and after a while it became too painful for long distances. With my second we used a carrier again for short trips but she hated it, she never liked being cuddled close either so I passed the trusty carrier on to a family member who loved it. The slings definitely look more comfortable, both for you and Robot. It’s great that you can now help out and give back after reviewing so much help and support x
#FamilyFun
Alana – Burnished Chaos recently posted…Words To Live By: A New Series
Thanks for such a lovely comment Alana. I’m so happy volunteering it’s great watching new mums come in and go feeling confident with their babies attached to them
For my first, I did not buy a sling but my second, I will buy for sure. Its seems so comfy; for Kid as well as for Mothers.
I tried a stretchy wrap at first and loved it- it was like having my lovely bump back! We then changed to an ergo and I loved it but sadly my back saw an end to baby wearing before I would have liked. Well done on becoming a volunteer. Thank you for joining the #weekendblogshare
Hannah Spannah recently posted…My Slimming World Weight Loss Wednesday #1
Thanks Hannah it is lovely hearing of so many people love carrying their littles at first
Sounds like you’ve had real success! I struggled with it but didn’t have the support of a sling library (although to be fair I didn’t really look for one). I had a Caboo when my little one was small but I found that it hurt my back because she’d end up slipping. I was probably doing it wrong but it just didn’t feel right to me. After that I actually got an ErgoBaby carrier which we both really liked. But having not been used to carrying her all the time and being prone to back ache, neither my husband nor I could last long. If we ever have another one though, I would definitely look to carry a lot more from very early days. Not least because babies often like sleeping on their mama and if you have a toddler to chase… Hope you continue to have success! #FamilyFun
Angela Watling recently posted…Five Favourite Finds – September 2016
Thanks Angela, it’s great that you had a bit of success and that your are enthusiastic to try again if you have a 2nd child!
A totally selfless Sling Library!! What a genius idea!! Love it! I babywear too. Didn’t get much of a chance to do that with my firstborn but now with a young one and a toddler, my daily trips everywhere comprise a walking toddler and a baby in a carrier. I used a KTan when my baby was a newborn-4 months and then moved to an ErgoBaby. Also tried the Moby Wrap. There are so many different kinds out there. I can’t believe more places don’t have a library of these to borrow from. Did you have to pay to rent these carriers?
Suchitra recently posted…6 Reasons Kids should go to Farmers’ Markets
Yes there is a membership of £20 a year and small fee of £7 for a 4 week hire or if you don’t want to be a member the hire is £14 with a £30 deposit. They say this is the cheapest in the country, it is fab and it’s lovely seeing so many people come in with their babies it’s brilliant that you have so much success.
#familyfun
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Reading this made me wish I had been to a sling library. If I ever have another baby I will definitely do so. I had the Close Caboo which I was given as a present. There were advantages and disadvantages to it and I would have liked the opportunity to try some alternatives. Also I had to give up using it at about 8 months as Piglet was getting too heavy. He’s two now and to be honest, with me being tiny myself he’s a bit big to carry around now! #FamilyFun
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Aww bless Min. You got good mileage out of it, 8 months is great x
While I’m a more of an outdoor carrier kind of guy my better half is a dedicated baby wearer. Like you, she found a really good local group and coffee morning dedicated to it and she swears by it. Great photos.
Potty Adventures
#familyfun
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That’s great to hear, I’ll probably be doing Daves carrying experience soon as he like you is a carrier man! I have tried to get him to use soft carriers but he just doesn’t like them!
Your pictures are lovely. I had a great time with Squeak wrapped up all cosy in his sling. It felt so unbelievably liberating. Great post! #familyfun
Thanks that’s a good statement unbelievably liberating!!
Ahhh I loved carrying TM when he was a bit smaller. We use the pram a lot too, and I’ve used that a lot more over the summer as I just get too hot carrying him! I used a stretchy wrap and then we’ve got a Nova buckle carrier which is great. I think if/when I have a second that baby will get carried A LOT so I can run about after TM with my hands free Your pictures are gorgeous, I am so glad you love babywearing so much and it’s worked so well for you and the Robot.
Ellen recently posted…A tribe, a thank you & a reason to blog
Thanks Ellen. I hear you in the heat. Back carrying made that bareable though. Waiting for number two now! We need more tribal babies
Ah that’s so lovely that you’re now volunteering at the sling library too. I loved using a carrier with my first and vowed I would use as stretchy wrap with our second and then it ended up being twins so I haven’t really had the chance… your pictures are great and your story really shows how versatile and fab wraps are. Lovely post Karen. xx #FamilyFun
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Thank you I am thoroughly enjoying the sling library. I’ve seen some twin carries, it’s pretty impressive but daunting non the less!
Well done Karen, I used a baby sling for a while too but it didn’t suit as well as you.
RachelSwirl recently posted…#MySundayPhoto – Dedicated To My Lobster
Even a little while is better than not trying at all. Thanks for the lovely comment.
I never did baby wear but I think now I really should have! It would have definitely freed up my hands (which I needed, since he was desperate to be held). I think next time I will.
#FamilyFun
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ooo a next time!?
I loved reading this so much. I love wearing Baby D, I don’t think anyone else truly understands how wonderful it is having him so close and snuggly, they always suggest he go in the buggy. I bought a fab wrap around sling its so easy and Baby D loves it hes so calm and content for ages in it. We also bought a sturdier carrier but I’m not as big a fan of it. xx #FamilyFun
Steph D recently posted…Surviving Sniffles and Sneezes, Grandma’s Birthday and a new Bobble Hat!
We have a backpack style carrier too, and I hate it but my other half carries him with it so it works. So true though my son loves being up and carried for miles withough kicking off!
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