This week has been European Babywearing Week and the theme has been The Joy Of Babywearing. As babywearing has been such an important part of our lives together as a family of 3, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to write on the topic. Each day this week has had a separate theme. But, I’ve got a lot going on at the moment so didn’t want to put myself under additional pressure to post daily on social media. So, I decided to combined each of the seven themes into one post!
European Babywearing Week 2019: The Joy Of Communication
There are obvious situations where babywearing facilitates communication – between your baby and yourself being the most common. I’ve certainly been more in tune with Elise and been able to pick up on her non-verbal cues well because of the closeness that babywearing has facilitated. However, given my most recent post about asking for help with a maternal mental health condition, I want to share with you a the less obvious ‘joy of communication’ that I’ve benefitted from through babywearing.
With the depressive episode that I had at the beginning of the year, I experienced some scary thoughts and feelings. Although I was already asking medical professionals for help, it was through talking to my babywearing friends that I learned the thoughts and feelings I was experiencing weren’t uncommon. They helped me to see that I wasn’t a bad Mum and what I was experiencing was in fact quite normal.
Because of these wonderful friends and the conversations I had with them, I was able to share the extent of how I was struggling and, as a result, finally get the support I needed.
So, while these conversations weren’t joyful, they have helped me get to a place where I can enjoy things again and am feeling more like myself. And that is definitely something to be celebrated.
European Babywearing Week 2019: The Joy Of Mundane
I have to admit that I don’t really know what to write about this – partly because nothing feels mundane when Lissie is with me. Watching her explore the world from the safety of my chest has been truly amazing. So boring things like the food shop or travelling to appointments never feel dull or mundane. I suppose this is the epitome of ‘the joy of the mundane’ – that nothing feels mundane any more!
European Babywearing Week 2019: The Joy Of Sleep
Ah, sleep. How I’ve missed you! Actually, in fairness, Elise is a fantastic sleeper and has been since her cow’s milk protein allergy diagnosis and being put on hypoallergenic milk. Before this, the only way I could get her to sleep was wrapped to my front. Being upright helped ease her reflux and the skin-to-skin contact helped her feel safe when she was in a lot of pain and discomfort. Those months would’ve been a lot harder on all of us without babywearing.
European Babywearing Week 2019: The Joy Of Healing
After a traumatic pregnancy and delivery, wearing Elise helped me cope with PTSD/birth trauma. It reassured me that I was doing right by her and brought with it an amazing community of people who have supported me through an extremely challenging first year. Although I experienced a depressive episode towards the end of 2018 and into 2019, I know that, had it not been for babywearing and the friends I’ve made through it, the depressive episode would’ve hit me harder and lasted longer than it did.
My healing journey is far from over. But, I know that I’ll get there, with the support of the amazing babywearing community and the fantastic parenting tool that is slings.
European Babywearing Week 2019: The Joy Of Family
I love that it isn’t just me who wears Elise. Dan has his own buckle carrier, his first gift from Elise. Plus, my sister and brother-in-law have both worn her and continue to do so. Even my Mum wants in on the action! She found pacing the corridor of the hospital, holding my nosey, wriggle pants baby when I had my botox injections for chronic migraine quite a challenge. So she inquired about a carrier for herself, so she could wear Elise and pace the corridors* hands free!
*Note: The corridor pacing was because Elise is nosey and doesn’t like to stay still. Not because my Mum was concerned about me having the procedure in any way.
European Babywearing Week 2019: The Joy Of Travel
Babywearing has facilitated so much travelling for Elise and me. We’ve travelled by train and bus countless times (sometimes more than one mode of transport to reach our destination!). Elise and I have been to Naidex twice and been involved in a photoshoot with Woven Wings in London. We’ve travelled to numerous hospital appointments and had our first family holiday to Center Parcs! Although Dan suggested we take the pram on holiday with us, it wasn’t used once!
We’re already looking forward to more travelling before the year is up. We’ll be heading to London for The Wrap Show and going back to Center Parcs with family. We’ll also be travelling for more hospital appointments, as well as friends birthday parties and for family gatherings.
With the SmartDrive and babywearing, the world is our oyster! You can find out more about what we’ve been up to, thanks to these two amazing tools on my SmartDrive Adventures page.
European Babywearing Week 2019: The Joy Of Celebrations
Babywearing has been an integral part of celebrations for us as a family. It’s allowed Elise to take a nap when she’s needed to, rather than fighting sleep (excessively, she always does a bit). This has made celebrations much more enjoyable for everyone involved. After all, a grumpy, screaming, sleep deprived baby is no fun!
Some of these celebrations have also been marked by special wraps. Firespiral Spindrift Twilight Seafoam, which reminds me of the seaside town where I grew up, came to live with us for Elise’s first Christmas. For Elise’s first birthday, Osha Vanilla Roses came to us. Both extremely meaningful wraps that are, in themselves, a celebration of Elise’s life and our family unit. They will remain with us always.
At Elise’s birthday party
The Joy Of Babywearing is something truly special and I’m extremely thankful for this amazing parenting tool and it’s community.
What are your experiences of babywearing?
How has babywearing brought you joy?
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