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.....

National Breastfeeding Week!!

Be proud of what god gave you and enjoy feeding your babies!!

It's a week of celebration in this household. After the early weeks of really not liking feeding my baby and close to giving up everyday, I honestly didn't think I'd get here. 

I'm damn proud of myself and even more proud of Dotty who, after all my tears and frustration, still wants the good stuff!! 

I'm going to join some mummies in the local ikea to celebrate the beauty of Breastfeeding. More to report later!

The journey continues......

I do it in public.... and I freaking love it!

I really have very little to say about breastfeeding in public which might sound a little odd, but here is the long and short of it....

What is the issue? I feel silly for even discussing breastfeeding in public, because we, as a society, should NEVER have got to the point where women feel bad, or self conscious, or embarrassed by breastfeeding.

I can go into any news agents and pick up a pair of massive bangers for a couple of quid from the top shelf. Or turn to page 3 of the sun to see some teenager flashing for the cash.

Yet, when I want to use mine in the way nature intends them to be use.... I feel like I am being watched.

I have not had the 'pleasure' of being told to move, or shown somewhere inappropriate like a toilet to feed my baby yet, but every time I feed her in public, I think it could happen..... Not Cool!!

And although I have this whole speech in my head for if and when it does happen, it doesn't detract from the fact that I shouldn't even be thinking about this. I shouldn't even be writing this. There shouldn't be a debate, or discussion, or worry. It should be a part of life that one and all accept.

I wonder where we went wrong?

Is it any wonder so many women give it up before they might have done?

I was speaking to a friend today who said she never felt like breastfeeding came naturally to her, and this is why she gave it up. This is a fair enough point - but she went on to say how, if feeding her baby didn't go smoothly in public she felt sick that people might be watching her 'fumble' and that she might be offending people!!

OFFENDING PEOPLE??

My opinion is, if you are offended by breastfeeding, you have probably been starring for too long.

It is a sad fact, that in this country, breastfeeding support groups have to ask cafes to put up 'breastfeeding welcome' signs in their windows. It is a fantastic thing these groups are doing, but it shouldn't have to be done.

I am a proud breastfeeding mummy, and if my baby needs feeding, she is going to be fed.

The journey continues......

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