Come and meet the mums of the Southampton Sling Meet

Southampton Sling Meet was founded in November 2008 by two local Mums who enjoyed 'wearing' their babies and wanted to give others the chance to try out some of the many available slings, many of which are currently not for sale in high street shops. Our Sling Meet also provides an opportunity to meet other babywearers and obtain advice on using carriers which you may already own. Alongside the Sling Meet, we run the Southampton Sling Library, which means that you can take a sling home with you to try out for a month for a small charge.

The Sling Meet moved to The Windmill Children's Centre in April 2009 and the new venue is proving to be a huge success. There are lots of toys for older children to play with, as well as an adjoined room in which we can lay out the slings.

For more information on our meets and what we currently have in the library, please see www.southamptonslingmeet.com

Babywearing dads rock!

Babywearing is just for mums ….

I'm a fairly traditional chap, and when son #1 arrived I had a fairly traditional idea of what was involved

Cot – check
clothes – check
pram – check …

Having an older sister who already had two children we inherited a bunch of bits and bobs, one of which was a fairly standard Baby Bjorn carrier. When we jetted off to the US ten weeks later it was an obvious item for the trip. That said, it was hardly used, little one was easy enough to carry – especially for a big strong bloke (Ahem …)

When we returned from holiday the carrier was resigned to the back of the cupboard, and the pram was the transport of choice. Simple, convenient, and we'd spent 400-odd pounds on it…

Son #2 arrived just under 2 years later, and 8 months later we were off on Holiday again. After a few days of carrying the (Rather clingy) 8-month old around the hills, and rugged streets of France, my wife gave the a sling a try and it turned out to be a god-send (We didn't take a carrier of our own – but our sister-in-law had a mei-tai baby sling with her).

When my arms got tired (About 5 minutes in – I'm pathetic I know!), she would strap him on and off we'd go – tricky little lanes were a breeze, and forest tracks were a doddle. We got to see so many places that would have been completely impractical with a pushchair.

I, of course, being a beer-swilling, football watching, manly-man didn't touch the sling at all, preferring to struggle along swapping arms every ten minutes to spread the strain rather than "look like a bit of a tree-hugger".

My wife, of course, immediately saw the advantages (Did I mention that son #2 was a bit clingy and son #1 was toddling around like a man on a mission?) and set about fashioning her own sling for around the house, and when out and about so she could carry #2 and still get stuff done.

I, on the other hand, was still resolutely a pushchair kind of guy – after all I could always carry him if needs be – right? Well, time for a confession … I'm not even as manly as I perhaps made out (Apart from the beer-swilling!), and carrying a child in your arms for any length of time, especially when they get 6 months plus and wriggle constantly is actually quite hard work.

So, the next summer came around, and we were off again. This time we stuck to the UK, but with two children there was little space left in the boot for the pushchair once we'd got various toys, books, cuddly toys, clothes, nappies, etc wedged in. "No worries" piped the wife, "we'll just take the sling".

Hmmmm…

Not being in much of a position to argue, off we set. At this point Son #1 was almost 3 and a half and generally pretty good at walking, and son #2 was 18 months old and walking for short distances. If it was flat, and there were no distractions, and if he felt like it, and if luck was on your side.

In short, I was looking at two weeks of him wriggling in my arms, or on my shoulders and associated neck ache.

A few days in, having struggled to navigate shops, and events with #2 careering off into the distance in pursuit of a "big dog daddy look!" out came the sling. We were actually off that day to the Bristol Balloon Fiesta – a great event, that is hosted in a park.

A park in England … in the good old British summer. It was wet. Very wet.

Less a park, more a mud-field… and the car park was helpfully about a mile away, up what I swear was a 90 degree muddy slope.

So, on went the sling, and I felt like Saul on the road to Damascus.

Considering how heavy he was to carry normally, and how much he wriggled, the sling truly was a revelation – I could hardly tell he was there. Apart, that is, that I got to talk to him; all day we chattered, we watched the Red Arrows fly overhead together, pulled silly faces at each other, and sniffed out the doughnut stand together.

From that point on the sling was a firm favourite as I got to go out wherever we fancied without worrying about whether a pushchair would make it up the track, or whether my arms would drop off! The best bit, however was the time we spent together that would otherwise have been completely missed out on with a pushchair in the way.

My only regret about babywearing is that I didn't put aside my macho pretences and try it sooner!

babies, twins, dads and baby slings...

Thanks Chris for taking the time to email us.
Remember, you still have a couple of days to email us your stories. Are you cool dad who uses baby slings?

For us a sling was a must we have twins and dual breastfeeding for my wife tricky, we found that if I had one of the babies next to me and I walk about singing and talking, this gives a bit of time for feeding one.

They are absolutely though such a natural way to be with your little one and that little warm body next to yours is a memory to treasure.

Thanks Simon & all the babywearing dads

We are getting more lovely emails from dads around the world who enjoy carrying their children. Tell us why you love 'baby wearing' for a chance to win one of 3 free baby slings. Today, it's Simon writing:

It started when my wife bought a stretchy wrap. I liked the adaptability and how many different positions she could carry our baby in, it was very clever, although I wasn't a keen fan of how long it was! I liked the idea though of carrying my son so close, and to be able to get good quality time with him, as being breast fed means he was and still does spent a lot of time with his mum. She wrapped me and baby in it and it felt wonderful. I had my little baby son all snug and tight, close to me. Just thinking about it fills me with so much love. It's hard to explain the bond I feel when I carry my son, I'm just so close to him when he's wrapped in the sling with me.

After learning how to use the stretchy wrap I soon found my own technique of getting him in it that I was comfortable with. From here the wife bought and borrowed many more styles, all slightly different, and I haven't found any I dislike. Each has something different that I like, taller, wider, longer, shorter, less stretchy, firmer etc. I soon had an opportunity to buy my own wrap, a manly one with skulls on! I hasten to point out that I've never felt uncomfortable or embarrassed in ANY wrap I've used. I always feel a great pride carrying my son, not only do I feel such closeness, warmth, love and bonding, but I look at everyone waiting for a reaction! So many people look or stare, I love it! To say I'm a proud Dad is an understatement, and the wrap helps me to show of my boy, and the attention it gets gives me an excuse to show him off, not that he needs it! I jump at every chance to carry him, I'm all excited inside as I ask the wife calmly if I can carry him, hoping she wont want to carry him today.

Not only does the wrap give me such a wonderful bonding with my son, but it helps to calm him very quickly. It's usually near instant from having an upset baby, to one in the sling with me that has calmed and I'm holding close to me as I sooth him. It's not often we use the pushchair now, and that was my pride and joy! The sling is not only more comfortable but it gives me 2 free hands, I don't have far to look to check he is ok, and getting about a busy town is sooooo much simpler without the pushchair. He is now nearly 7 months old and it's still comfortable, wraps distribute the weight evenly over your upper body, making it very easy.

Dads, if you haven't worn a wrap and carried your baby around town or whilst food shopping, I urge you to try it. The bond and closeness is the most wonderful thing in the world. It can been colourful, patterned, or just plain black, give it a go and you'll realise I'm not a Dad gone mad!

Did I mention the time I carried him facing forwards at the zoo? I could go on for days! Thank you for reading the ramblings of a proud baby carrying Dad, in England.

Simon

Babywearing dads, thanks guys for your lovely emails

Only a few more days to take part in our babywearing dads competition and win some free baby slings

Before our daughter was born, I thought it would be nice to have the kiddo close to me in a baby carrier. Once Madeleine was actually born, I found I enjoy it even more. I didn't know quite what it would be like, and it's even better than I thought. I love having her right there next to me, able to see my face and make a connection with me.

My favorite part of babywearing is watching Madeleine look around at everything, whipping her head from side to side to see it all. It's fun to see her get so excited about the world. Of course, wearing her also gives me lots of opportunities to kiss the top of her head.

I like to wear her while we're walking around the neighborhood, to the park, coffee shops, or down to the harbor. I wear her every other day or so, and she seems to like it a lot more than being pushed in a stroller!
~Dakota Bailey (and Madeleine, 3 months)

See of green, a baby sling in the Iran demonstrations

I came across this website while reading news about Iran. And half way down the page, there's a mum carrying her child in an Ergo.

We often cite among the benefits of babywearing that the baby is close to mum, can hear her voice, feel her heartbeat, smell her scent, which help the child 'interpret' the world around them. A loud fire engine siren in our streets startles mum but doesn't scare her, the baby learns that it's not a dangerous noise. I can't even begin to imagine what the experience of such a huge crowd would be for this child without his mum close.

Thanks Victoria (babybean) for your help, I wasn't sure it was an ergo or something else.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Iranian people, we are praying for their safety, peace and freedom.

A babywearing dad at the zoo

You still have a few days to win one of 3 free baby slings

I love being a baby-wearing daddy!
These photos are of my daughter Faith on her 1st birthday last week, we went to the zoo for the day and the baby carrier meant that Faith could see everything at the right level and she could interact with me and the animals!

Carrying her makes me feel proud - proud to be a babywearing dad, proud of my daughter and proud of what a little character she is! She is very much a daddies girl and so whenever we go out we take at least one carrier with us so that if she wants daddy snuggles then she can have daddy snuggles and daddy can still do all the things he needs to (like the shopping!).

Our second daughter is due in October and this time we hope to wear her from the outset and I think that baby wearing will allow us to achieve a great father-daughter bond.

From
Matt - daddy baby-wearer, husband of Suzie - also baby wearer!

Another cool babywearing dad

Remember, you still have a few days to win one of 3 free baby slings. Here is the email we receive from Rob, cool photos too!

So your e-mail caught me on my Thursday treat day, when I have sole charge of our 17month old monster, I know that if I didn't enter this and my wife ever found out that I'd missed a chance of a competition my life wouldn't be worth living so here goes!

My wife decided that she wanted to wear George from very early on and was lent a Bjorn Borg by her sister, but that was quickly forgotten about, as she never really liked the way that he hung in it, I never understood the poppers and buckles so never even tried just went along with whatever she said. When George was about 6 months she bought a mei tai, it was black and had skull and crossbones all over it, so I thought it looked pretty cool, but what on earth did you do with those straps? So that was another one that I never really touched, until she hurt her back, only slightly but enough to not be able to carry George when we were doing the school run, so occasionally for a week I was chief carrier (with her tying the baby to me, I still had no idea what to do.

It was about this time that our summer holiday arrived, and that is when I found the love of baby carriers, by this time, she had managed to sneak another one into the house, this time a ring sling, and I discovered that when camping in mud up to your knees I was able to still move about, the pushchair had sunk on the first day, and being a responsible parent I was even able to hold a pint in my other hand, just don't tell anyone that bit!!!

Slowly Sarah's carrier collection grew, some of which I have no idea where they came from, but I enforced a rule of one in one out, so she sold my skull and cross bones carrier, much to my disgust, it did however get me to change my rule to, you can only have as many as will fit in the basket where they live, she likes to think that I don't know how many are there, but I do and I now have come to terms with the fact that the woman is obsessed!!

In return for my carrier that went, she got hold of a second hand connecta, which I have fallen in love with, I can even manage to get it on without any help, although sometimes he is a bit wonky, but as he has got older I have realised just why she loves wearing him all the time, to be able to walk along and have your little fella chatting away in your ear is the most fantastic feeling, only beaten by the feeling of his head nuzzling into the gap between your shoulders while he falls asleep (although I need him to get out of the dribbling quite so much!).

I know am looking forward to the summer, another holiday of music festivals, hopefully not so muddy, but with the advantage that there will be no buggy being taken instead I will pick the carriers, I'm secretly quietly happy that she is now pregnant again, which means by the summer I will be doing most of the wearing of my little fella, obviously not for my own benefit, but for the benefit of my wife, I wouldn't want to put any strain on her

So that is my baby wearing story, I look forward to the future, the joys of having a toddler up and down and the learning curve of those long wraps with the new baby, how she does that I'll never know, but I really hope to learn as when she has tied George onto me I know just how comfortable it has felt, if only I could do it myself, without tripping over, but for now I will carry on with my connecta, and the ring sling and carry on telling all my pregnant friends just how amazing it feels to be so close to your little one!

Pictures included are of the connecta enabling a family hike and the rocking baby ring sling (or how to keep three kids under control and still enjoy a music festival, although remember to keep an eye out for those pesky little fingers!)

Rob

More lovely photos from babywearing dads

We are getting more lovely emails from dads around the world who enjoy carrying their children. Tell us why you love 'baby wearing' for a chance to win one of 3 free baby slings.

I love it as it keeps my child close to my heart and comforts them with the beat of my heart. I have always loved carrying my children in this way and if my wife has any more children, I cant wait to do this again.
I love the chance to bond as well, most of all I love my child's smell!
Also its the looks I get and the attention which I must not grumble about especially as I am nearing my 40s!
John

For us a sling was a must we have twins and dual breastfeeding for my wife tricky, we found that if I had one of the babies next to me and I walk about singing and talking, this gives a bit of time for feeding one.
They are absolutely though such a natural way to be with your little one and that little warm body next to yours is a memory to treasure.
Chris