The tale of a baby wearing convert: Guest post

Right about now I’m in the hustle and bustle of Bangkok. We were flying through Bangkok anyway – why not get off and stay a couple of nights?! This is the balance part for our holiday – Patrick isn’t much of a ‘sit by the beach and sip cocktails’ kind of person so this is his little bit of fun just before the relaxing part of our holiday (hopefully)… Phuket. My all time favourite holiday ever was when we stayed in the scummiest part of Hong Kong, so hopefully we’ll enjoy the craziness that I’ve heard Bangkok is. The only difference being that now we have a child. And all I’m thinking is…. “Thank God for baby wearing!”

And quite suitably, guess what I have for you?! Yep. A baby wearing post. Allow me to introduce to you a self confessed baby wearing convert… Over to you Catherine!

The Tale of a Baby Wearing Convert!

In the months following the birth of my first child I walked a lot. Not for the exercise (although boy did I need it), but because G was ‘unsettled’ and I didn’t know what else to do. I remember pushing her around the park, a muslin wrap shading her from the sun, swaddled up and wide awake… I remember stopping to check on her, because even though she was right in front of me I missed her. When she cried I would walk faster, hoping the motion of the pram would lull her to sleep. I walked for hours to get G to sleep. If only I’d known…

When baby C was born, 19 months later, things were different. They had to be… I couldn’t walk for hours; I had a very energetic toddler to contend with. At first I used a sling out of sheer convenience. It was the only way I could balance the very different needs of my newborn and my toddler. I could chase G round the park while baby C slept. I could breastfeed baby C while I made G lunch. I had my hands free to wipe G’s nose, or change her nappy, or simply make myself a well-earned cuppa!

I love the sensation of my sleeping baby on my chest as I go about my day. I love looking down to see her gazing up at me. I love cuddling her, and tickling her and making her laugh as I run around the park after G. And baby C loves it too. Popping her in the sling is guaranteed to sooth her when she’s unsettled, keep her warm on a chilly day, get her to sleep or simply keep her close.

Now that she is getting bigger I’ve started carrying baby C on my back. She holds on like a beautiful little koala. She is happy to be close to me. I remember G at the same age, full of separation anxiety, longing to be picked up. I balanced her on my hip as I tried to get on with things and felt frustrated by her tears if I had to put her down. It seems so obvious to me now, the sling would have solved this problem… If only I’d known!

The sling is the best investment I ever made. I honestly don’t know how I would have coped without it. I am a baby-wearing convert!

~~~

I love meeting other bloggers who are just as crazy about baby wearing as I am Not that Catherine is crazy… She is wonderfully lovely! I was fortunate enough to meet her at Blogopolis last weekend! Pay Catherine a visit at Cup of Tea and a Blog – I promise she will welcome you, entertain you and give you a giggle! (you can also join her on Facebook and Twitter)