Its international babywearing week, which means that there are sling meets, competitions and picnics organised all over the world. including here in Australia. We're planning a meet in the centre of Melbourne next Tuesday at 2pm - more details as soon as they are finalised.
Not in Melbourne? don't worry - there are other events planned. some of them are listed on this facebook page. but there are others happening too. If you are in Sydney then maybe you went to manly beach yesterday for a walk along the shore. And of course, you can always organise your own meet somewhere near you.
to celebrate International Babywearing Week we are giving away a Babyhawk Mei Tai. All you have to do to enter is follow our blog and then make a comment telling us what you love best about babywearing. As long as there are at least 30 followers by the end of the week we will randomly pick someone. :)
Babywearing and Parenting Blog, recipes, opinions and descriptions of how we celebrate.
I love the convenience, the comfort and the closeness of knowing exactly how my baby is feeling.
ReplyDeleteGood luck in getting the followers - may I suggest you post the competition on Aussie Mummy Bloggers, if you haven't already. A world of great mums over there.
Found you from the Aus + NZ Babywearing Facebook page and am following you now. My favourite thing about babywearing is the convenience without sacrificing parenting ideals! My third baby is almost one now and I am so thankful and happy that he has had as much and MORE in arms time as my other two kids. I was worried about that but babywearing makes it possible to keep up with my older kids and enjoy snuggles with my wee one at the same time. What could be better? :-)
ReplyDeleteI love going offroad! Walking between parked cars, up and down curbs, through narrow aisles in the store. I'd like to see a stroller do that!
ReplyDeleteThey're only little enough to carry for such a short time, and only *want* to be that close for a while - before autonomy, independence and the desire to refine their motor skills take over. How lovely to be able to respond to their developmental needs in such a mutually comforting and satisfying way during the months and years they want and need to be close to mum, dad and big bro or sis. A perfect way for all older members of the family to bond and enjoy the newest littl'un. I think having baby closer helps you pick up on & learn their cues too, which helps you respond to their communication. ClaireyH thanks for that tip about Aussie Mummy Bloggers.
ReplyDeleteI love that I can comfort my baby while caring for my older children and how easy baby wearing makes our days :)
ReplyDeleteI love the closeness and the snuggles we can have while shopping or being out and about :)
ReplyDeleteMy Princess is super attached to me and won't let me out of her sight unless she is sleeping - and even then she sleeps with her hand and foot on me so that I can't leave her! Wearing a MT allows me to do jobs around the house while accommodating her need to be close and secure with me. The closeness we feel is so wonderful and wearing MTs allow me to continue building the bond we have already set firmly in place. And really - my Princess is gorgeous and I love her cuddles! :) <3
ReplyDeleteI love the closeness I feel with my little man, he just loves riding on mummy back, love baby wearing!!!!!
ReplyDeleteNot only do I get baby cuddles, I don't have to worry about getting a pram on/off public transport, out of the car, down crowded shopping aisle and best of all, it keeps strangers away from my babe!
ReplyDeleteSo many reasons I love it! Cheaper to start with, easy to get in and out of the car, lots of lovely colours and patterns and details, easy to travel with, an so good for physical fitness as my endurance increases as she gets older. She's safe on me, loves being wrapped onto my back, thinks it's a hoot to be tossed over my shoulder, and holds on while I wrap!
ReplyDeleteThe best thing though is that she gets to interact with people because she is at eye-level and is learning so much at this level! Plus it's better to look at displays, books, people and so on rather than knees, don't you think? :)
i love the closeness babywearing brings. its like an all day hug, while still getting things done. And the closer my daugghter is to me, the further away she is from the hands of my motherinlaw :)
ReplyDeleteROFL BlackRattism :D
ReplyDeleteI too love the closeness of my baby, the warmth & her contentedness at being close to me. I also love wearing my 3yo as it allows me to go out for longer & gives me close times i sometimes miss out on whilst he is trying to burn off some of his energy.
I love the freedom it gives without having to compromise our need to be close to one another.
I'm not in the running for a MT, my youngest is too big now.
ReplyDeleteBut I am passionate about BWing! It has helped me in so many ways. Most of all, it helped me reconnect with my baby after he had heart surgery and it helped him to feel close to me and I believe it also aided his physical healing and development. What could be better?!?
I feel that babywearing is just more convenient, practical, intimate and beautiful. My DS was born at 32wks and it seemed crazy to me to have him out of arms reach when he should have physically still been inside me.
ReplyDeleteIt is also still important when they're older. I carried my DD until she was (a very big) three year old and the carrier I had just couldn't hold her any more. I intend to carry DS for as long as is physically possible. I can hear every little murmur, smell every little smell (good and bad, lol!) and connect with my children in a deeper way than you ever could by placing them in a stroller.
Is there anything more beautiful than a child's sleeping head nestled on your body? Wearing your baby makes this an every day occurrence. Perfect.
Before I had baby #4 I used the ring sling in every way possible for the babies- toddler just because i was to lazy to use a pram. Who on earth wants to lug around one of them? or battle shopping centers? or stop to have feed when in a hurry? or even worse have no free hands when the older kids take off! Then when baby 4 was born premature and with a rare disability (which doesnt have the most optimal future) we thought we would use the sling to try and help with his vision, development and muscle contractors. we have been shocked with how far he has come and how correct the research of the beinfits of sling wearing has for any child.
ReplyDeleteBabywearing makes being without a car doable! Whether it is by public transport or by foot, if my baby is on I know she is safe and secure while I still have two hands free for my two older ones.
ReplyDeleteMy bub was 10 weeks early so we both needed lots more "together time" and being able to wear her allowed me to be with her and still do the things I needed to do. The benefits of babywearing helped me to recover and her to develop and after 18mths I have a happy and healthy toddler.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how i would have survived the last few months without my carriers. I thought i would only be using it for my newborn and 1 year old but my four year old love getting into the mei tai for snuggle when it all get to much for her.
ReplyDeleteBabywearing saved my sanity. It was a huge lifesaver with my two refluxing screaming girls. Also being able to get my youngest on my back enabled me to still spend time with my 2yr old.
ReplyDeleteI'm now sharing the babywearing love with friends and would love to win this Mei Tai for a friend with a reflux bub.
I love babywearing my 5mo and still able to cuddle my older son the sametime. It plays a big part in bonding with my children and not to mentioned getting housework done. Also, we won't stuck in pram traffic with babywearing. It's the reason won my husband in carrying our children and we are traveling overseas pram-less this Nov :)
ReplyDeleteI love the closeness I have with my youngest through babywearing and the fact my other two don't get as jealous with mummy hugging the baby cause I still have my hands free.
ReplyDeleteI love getting out of my car and having my bub on my back in a hop, step and a jump while those with prams are struggling to get them out and organised. I also love the fact i can sit at my cafe without need for more space or a high chair, or shop without a worry if the pram will fit through the checkouts.
babywearing rules cause I get to still be involved in life and I get to share it and watch my sons face as he sees things at my level....
There are so many things I love about babywearing but I will share the most emotional for me. It provides that closeness that heals the heart. DD was 10 weeks premature and we could only hold her 3 times in the first week of her life. We got to bring her home after 6 weeks and 4 days and then she returned to hospital for heart surgery at 12 weeks. The physical separation from my baby after her early birth was the most painful thing i have experienced, every long day after day, night after night as I expressed breast milk for her. Babywearing has helped with some of that healing for me. I am so happy to have her near me and she is happy to be near me.
ReplyDeleteHaving lost my babies twin sister earlier this year I know how precious my little one is. At times I have trouble with bonding and interaction with her and having her in a sling or wrap helps because I can be with her and hold her without having to carry her everywhere. I also love baby wearing because I have a totally stuffed back and not having to hold my baby in my arms is a massive benefit to me. It also allows me to keep my hands free to look after my two year old who is quite intense in her needs at times. I can go to the park without having to take a stroller and I only have to pack a carrier when I go anywhere so it makes travelling and changing cars a whole lot easier. Baby wearing rocks.
ReplyDeleteI love the convenience of babywearing. It allows a busy mum to get a lot of housework done while settling a crying baby, and not having to find lifts and ramps at the shopping centre.
ReplyDeleteI love everything about babywearing - the feel of having a little person so close to me while I'm getting on with things is lovely, practical, and with pretty wraps and carriers, looks nice too! After being separated from my daughter for the first few weeks of her life, we reconnected through babywearing, and my bond with my son is closer because of it too. It helped with severe reflux and colic, and even at 3 my daughter loves being worn. Wraps also make great play landscaping around the house - we have footpaths, rivers and rainbows to name just a few.
ReplyDeleteBabywearing has totally transformed parenting for me.... and has immeasurably enriched my son's early year/s. He is such a chilled happy & confident soul & i am so much more relaxed being able to have him close so often & also running around after a 4yo. The freedom to travel, not rushing back to the room for sleeps...staying out at night at friend's or restaurants...jumping on PT, boats etc...it feels like an active life is possible with my baby on my back :)
ReplyDeleteSo far I can only say I love the "idea" of babywearing. I didn't know anything about it when I had my 6yo DS but have really enjoyed researching carriers to carry our new baby due in January 2011.
ReplyDeleteI am now following your blog! (Monique N). I LOVE babywearing for multiple reasons - but mostly because from experience from my last 2 sons that babies are SO much more settled and happy when worn close to Mum (or Dad). They free up your hands so although you have bub cradled against you, you can still get things done as they love the movement too. I can't wait for my next bub to do it all again xx Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI loved being able to hold my son and still be hands free. My sling saved my sanity in our first few months. He doesn't like being worn now, which is a shame, but we're hoping for another baby soon(ish)
ReplyDeleteI love that babywearing my little one allows me to continue to spend special time with my older boy. We can still do everything together that we used to do, and I always have a free hand to hold his with when I need to keep him safe.
ReplyDeleteI also love the closeness it has brought to my relationship with my new little one, I love the snuggles, listening to his every little noise, and always having his head within kissing distance.
And I love the convenience of never needing a pram. I wish I had discovered babywearing when my first bub was born.
I love the ease and comfort, but above all the closeness I get to share with my little one!
ReplyDeleteI love being able to have my little girl so close to me all day long and still be able to get things done (maybe except showering!). It's definitely better than leaving her alone in her cot all the time. The little ones grow up so quickly that I don't want to miss any moment with her.
ReplyDeleteWe are blessed to live on our own 20 acres of yellow box bush in country Vic. The best thing about babywearing is that I can wrap my baby to me and still go walking with Miss nearly 4 to watch bugs, admire pretty wildflowers and laugh at the dogs splashing through the dams. As soon as I'm off the crutches and can walk again that is! *sigh?* it's so sunny today and I'm still stuck inside! Luckily I have a very hands on dadda for a partner!
ReplyDeleteI just love that my eldest (who was 2 when his brother arrived) never had any dramas adjusting to having a brother because I was still able to do all the same things with his thanks to baby wearing. My baby was worn from the moment he was born. I was able to play with my little toddler and go about with the daily chores just as before. Baby wearing makes grocery shopping so much easier as I can only fit one child in the trolley.
ReplyDeleteI love that I don't have to push a bulky pram around everywhere and that my little boy can breastfeed where ever and when ever he wants.
In the early days I was able to wear both my boys - one on the back and one on the front for our daily walks, this definitely helped my shed that baby weight.
I've actually just come inside from mowing the lawn, my littlest is scared of the mower but will happily let me carry him on my back in the ergo. It's a great workout!! and it makes mowing so much fun as I get lots of cuddles, kisses and squeals of delight :)
Babywearing makes me and bub supremely happy :)
ReplyDeleteBabywearing means I can enjoy a family outing, and baby has no reason to complain. There's also no constant begging to get in and out of the pram, having to find ramps, or even just a larger space to move in.
ReplyDeletei love being close to myu little one and she loves it to. i love how i can go anywhere my legs will take me and i dont have to worry if the pram will fit or if there are stairs. i know she will sleep in the carrier if she gets tired.
ReplyDeleteBabywearing just feels so right and so natural!!
ReplyDeleteIt's so convenient. My babes have all been so content snuggled close to me or Daddy.
We can freely go places, cause we know they'll sleep!
Apparently now I have 3 children I "have my hands full", but babywearing means my hands are free to tend to my older two!
Ah, I could go on & on. Babywearing is awesome!!
My little one is so much more calm and happy when he can feel me near him, which in turn makes for a very happy mama!
ReplyDeleteevmatoushek at gmail dot com
Babywearing is something I love - it kept me close to our little one and was one of the best things to help with her colic.
ReplyDeleteIt helped keep us both calm and active and it was also a blessing when it came to travelling. I knew she was safe, we both felt relaxed and it made feeding easy.
I didn't wear my first baby enough and am pregnant with his little sister. I really want to wear this baby everywhere for all the reasons I have read above. It doesn't hurt that the slings are super cute too!
ReplyDelete