Parents are rediscovering the traditional art of baby wearing, of carrying their children not just a mean of transport but as a natural aspect of parenting.
The Internet has done a lot to give parents access to baby wearing information. You can buy baby slings from anywhere in the world, mums are sharing patterns and tips to sew their own slings, you can find other mums on-line to help you be comfortable with your sling. Manufacturers also do their best to give you great advice and instructions on how to use their slings. Some businesses and non profit organisations also offer baby wearing workshops.
You can learn to carry your baby from on-line instructions, on a DVD, a booklet or from a teacher, but we also love learning from other mums, spending time with other parents who have been carrying their children for a long time, sharing baby wearing and parenting experiences.
In traditional societies, a young girl would have learned to carry her siblings from her grand mother, her mum, her aunts. Sling Meet aims to recreate this bond between women, there is no teacher and no pupil, just an exchange between mums. Sling Meet helps you find baby wearing groups around you. Parents are getting together to learn from each other, to share their experiences and support each other.
We've seen a lot of mums arrive at the meeting looking to buy a new sling because they feel their current sling is uncomfortable. After a bit of practice with another mum, they realise all it needed was a bit of tweaking, closer to the shoulder and further from the neck, baby higher up or tighter, fabric more evenly spread... And off they go with years of comfortable baby wearing ahead of them.
You might be talking slings, baby wearing or breastfeeding or how tired you are because the little one (or the big one!) has given up on sleep and you need some sympathy, or how you feel about your baby's birth, or going back to work or last week episode of your favourite TV series...
Anything really!
Some of the UK groups are affiliated with NINO, a US-based organisation promoting the art of baby wearing.
It's a great place to make new friends, meet mums who you share an interest with, have a cup of tea, see each other children grow up. Some of us have become great friends and will keep in touch well after our children are past the age of being carried.
You can find the group close to you by visiting the Sling Meet site. If there isn't a group near you, feel free to suggest a meeting, it's your site!
Here are some pictures of our latest meetings:
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