One baby, one day, two slings.

So, this weekend, I went on an epic journey to visit my brother and his lady. 5 hours in the car is NEVER my idea of fun, especially when the journey should take no longer than 3hours!! 

Add a baby into the mix, and it's just a panic filled experience resulting in road-side breastfeeding, screaming child and grumpy parents. 

In reality we were incredibly lucky that Dot slept for so long in the car and nuclear meltdown only lasted a few minutes. 

So, in, fed, and rested we spent Saturday having walks and funs with the slings. Babywearing a plenty!! 

And it was fabulous. 

I finally got to grips with the moby!! As you can see, Dot is snug as a bug, and enjoying her new hat from her uncle. 

Now, clearly, not every sling is going to be suitable for everyone. Different shapes and sizes of wearers and babies will change the comfort for both, and as babies grow, the use of the sling will change. 

So although the moby has been successfully worn, I think, due to having an incredibly long baby, it's just not for us. 

With a long baby, it would seem that the way you wrap it means that little heads don't have anywhere to rest. As you can see here, although comfy, Dot's head can't tuck on nicely. 

Now I've tried different positions and I get the same problem. So, I think, for us, it's not an everyday sling. But I do highly recommend it for comfort, and finally, for being able to put it on on your own!! 

I do like this sling a lot!! It's soft and easy to wear (once you've got the hang of it!) and it can keep you lovely and warm!! 

So, sling two. Hop-tye. 

I love this sling. 

It's so easy. Even my husband managed it. 

Says a lot really. 

Dot sits very well in it. Her hips are supported, as is her back and shoulders. 

And the little hood means that when she starts getting sleepy, her head rests in me, and I can keep her head steady. Good really seen as she constantly falls asleep in this wonderful sling!! 

The back panel means that putting the sling on is very easy. There is only one way to do it, only one place for the baby, very few areas to get wrong. 

Now I know from doing some research, that slings like this (mei tye), that wearer size can alter there ease, so I massively recommend trialling with a test baby whenever you can..... Clearly I'd say this for any sling, but there is less give in this one as opposed to the moby, so probably more room for 'size issues'. 

I've got the hop-tye for another few weeks so I am going to continue using it daily and in different environments to test it's durability within different situations. But, so far, so good!! 

And if she's happy, I'm happy. 

Bring back the tiny days.... Moby review continued.

So, I have been attempting the Moby Wrap sling again.... and I have to be honest, I am really struggling with it.

With someone to help me, it is absolutely fine, but on my own, which you know is my objective here, I am really struggling....

I have had this sling since Dot was born, it was a gift, and I would like to go back to the tiny days when she fit snug inside, no legs poking out, fast asleep, cosy as can be.

I did not make enough of this time!!

Instead, I pushed her around in her very expensive pram, and didn't enjoy the freedom that a sling can give you.

Now.... I am really nearly about to give up on this one....

I had some lovely support and help on Twitter, but even with that, I am finding it tough to get Dot to stay put once it is on. There just doesn't seem to be enough support. Something which is crucial for baby wearing. And is I am not happy with the sling on, then she is not going to be happy with it on.

It is so soft, and potentially snuggly that I don't want to give up on it just yet. It has so much to give, so much so, that I am going to sit here and watch you-tube videos until I have cracked it.....

I know what your thinking.... should sling be such hard work??

I'll get back to you on that one....


Sling Make - www.mobywrap.com

Initial Moby Review.

Let me tell you where I'm at with the moby.....

When Dot was tiny, myself and the husband used this wrap a few times, and seemed ok with it. But as she got bigger, and more importantly longer, it became more tricky. So I thought I'd actively try and use this wrap for a month and use it to review. 

My main objective for every baby wearing sling is that I can put it on ON MY OWN with ease..... 

Definitely not there yet in that sense!! 

There are two types of hold you can do, this one in the kangaroo hold. A wrap I'm able to do on my own, but with some problems. 

One of the key checks to do when wearing a sling like this is 'can I kiss my baby on the head??' 

Urm.... No..... No I can't.

Now I'm certain this is because I've not wrapped it properly, so I'm not giving up yet!! 

I've clearly not got the hang of it yet. It's not right enough, so as I move she lollops about and feels quite unsupported, and quite quickly slips down my body. 

I always feel like I need one hand on her, unlike the hop-tye which I'm very confident being hands free. I think the main issue here is the hop-tye has a clear back panel/support, the moby doesn't, you make it yourself, and I'm obviously not doing it right....

 Having said this, Dot clearly enjoyed it. After a horrible day feeling sorry for herself, she soon calmed down when snugly in this soft sling. 

I'm really hoping to crack this one, as I'd love it to work for me!! 

Let's keep going......


Sling Make - http://www.mobywrap.com 

There's nothing quite like....

The feeling of being at home. 

You can be away for a weekend, a day, an hour, and there's still that sigh of relief that comes from familiarity. 

For us, it means I don't have to worry about covering up when feeding. Don't get me wrong, I don't do it through shame or embaressment.... It's only done to ensure I don't make others feel uncomfortable. Something that I try to avoid at all costs. 

It might sound silly, and in many cultures, it would be. But it's the sad fact that our society are still a little too stiff to accept the natural. And, I'm not the person to force the issue.

 I'm just one person with one baby, we won't change the world..... As much as I'd like to think we can!! 

So, for now, I shall enjoy the time I've got with Dot. The comfy times with no worries, and the confident mummy times showing the world that I'm a proud breast feeding mummy.... That won't make you feel uncomfortable..... 

Happy Sunday everyone! X

Initial downsides of baby wearing....

I'll let the picture speak for itself today...

At least she fell asleep....

Swings and roundabouts.....

Our day in the hop-tye.

I. Love. This. Sling. 

Yes, it has it's downsides, but I doubt any sling will be 100% perfect. 

I'm soon finding out that having a sicky baby will inevitably mean that baby wearing will end up with more clothes going through the wash.... But that's a small price to pay. 

So today was a small jaunt. A bid to get our very unsettled baby to sleep. 

When we found her still awake after a car journey, I threw on the sling (with ease!) and set off. 

It has taken her a while to get used to it. I'm certain that in the pram she would have been asleep instantly, in the sling she was still fighting sleep 20minutes later. Once I felt her getting grumpy and over tired, I popped her dummy in and placed her head tightly under the 'sleepy hood', and about 5minutes later she was asleep. 

Lovely stuff!!

I think my main concern as the weather gets colder is her arms and legs getting too cold.... I think I'll have to experiment with other clothing options over the next few weeks. 

Leg warmers maybe...??? My friend is currently reviewing some so I'll have to see how that goes! 

Let's see how tomorrow goes.... So far so good!! 

Sling Make - http://www.hoppediz.de/en/tragehilfen/hop-tye

Review Hoppediz Hop-Tye.

Ok, so this is the start of my review of the Hoppediz Hop-Tye sling which I have for the next month. I will be posting more as I learn more about the sling, how it feels and Dot's enjoyment of it.

During today sling meet, I tried on three slings that were similar in style but different in fabric and fastening, and went for this one on the comfort of it rather than ease.

Dot sat very well in it, her legs are spread so she is sat rather than her legs dangling which is what I am first looking for in a sling. She was nice and tight and didn't drop like the one I currently own (which I will review later on now I have had some help with it!!)

The Hop-Tye is (as you would expect) a tie around the body job as opposed to buckles or clips, and has two main tie components. the first which is tied before the baby goes in around your waist, and the second shoulder ties which are done when the baby is in position. Both have to be done very tightly, which is where you need to practice and trust yourself. The tighter it is, the safer and more comfortable it is going to be for both of us.

My main aim with a sling is to be able to put it on with ease by myself, not having someone else help me. I want to be able to wear Dot whenever I want, not just when the other half is around. The Hop-Tye is relatively easy to tie on your own, although, like I said you do need a bit of practise, and a trust that you wont drop your own baby.... which of course you wouldn't!! I have now put this on three times today, and each time I have found a new little technique that will help me for the next time. Depending on your size, shape and height, as well as all those features of your little one, will depend on how you wear it, and how you put in on really, so the more practise I get, the easier it will become.

I am very much looking forward to using this more. Tomorrow I shall be testing it out as opposed to the pram when I go out to play!! :)

The sling journey continues.....

Wordless Wednesday.

Been a while!! My summer of funs!!

A little while ago, myself and my husband developed the term 'to have funs'. This system is a simple but effective way of determining how much fun you have had at any one event, in any one day, or at any one time. The concept is simple - you are allowed 17 funs in one day - any more, and you have a fun come down the next day - you know what I mean, that feeling when you have had an excellent day, but the one ahead just seems rubbish in comparison! 1 fun, can be made up of whatever you wish, each individual perceives a fun in their own way.... Why am I telling yo this?? Because my summer has been full of days worth of funs! My darling daughter has be nothing but a delight, and shared every minute with me - apart from the day I left her to go and have some grown up funs, but I am assured she had a lovely day with Grandma and Granddad! My summer started with National Breastfeeding week and a mass onslaught of nursing mothers to the local ikea - an odd, but empowering and wonderful occasion. A local photographer, a wonder man called Paul Carter, captured the event for his very personal mission to get breastfeeding accepted in all walks. His campaign 'We do it in Public' was started when his wife passed, who was an avid campaigner for breastfeeding. His pictures are wonderful, and it was a privilege to be snapped by him!!

http://www.breastfeedinginpublic.co.uk

During our summer of fun, we also took our lovely little lady on tour of the North West - visiting family and friends and rejoicing in not one, but two weddings in one weekend. Little D herself did tremendously well with all the attention she was getting, and my stressing about finding and appropriate occasion dress which would let me feed her was put to rest when I stumbled upon a chance find in Oasis - a black maxi number with a low cut front that had a little popper button to secure the boobs... it was like it was meant for feeding!! The only problem being, is that I was guaranteed to be sicked on but the sicky one, and with it being a black dress, and the only one I had for both weddings, I had to be careful.... feed and straight to daddy seemed to work the best. That and a stern talking to before I put her in her frock seemed to work.... might have to do that everyday!

It would seem, as I approach the 4 month marker for breastfeeding, there is no end to the joy and pleasure it brings. I am constantly told by family, friends and health professionals alike, that 'I have done so well to get this far' or 'wow your still feeding, thats amazing'. Well, as much as that makes me feel warm and fuzzy (and it does because I am a little vain like!) I kinda just want to turn around and say 'well it aint stopping any time soon, so don't praise me just yet!' or 'don't praise me for doing what I should be doing'.... although I think the latter may have the gusto to upset, even though it is not meant for that!

Roll on month 4, lets see the funs that you have in store....

The Journey Continues.....