The Carrying Matters blog page, enjoy reading my thoughts on carrying, social change and more!

The Carrying Matters blog page.. enjoy reading! If you have any topics you'd like to see covered, get in touch! I enjoy writing and am always keen to hear of new ideas, and to host guest blog posts too!

journeys to recovery

Journeys to Recovery?

3rd May 2021

congenital heart disease kanga

Carrying a child with congenital heart disease, Abbie’s story

3rd May 2021

Benefits of babywearing

Adversity and connectedness in the early months

29th April 2021

Parenting Criticism

17th April 2021

Skin to skin Skin to skin pic soft touch babywearing

The importance of soft touch for infant development

5th November 2020

babywearing in the time of coronavirus

Babywearing in the time of Coronavirus

20th March 2020

Babywearing for all

“Babywearing for All”- helpful or harmful?

28th November 2019

carrying with a weakened pelvic floor

Carrying with a weakened pelvic floor

15th September 2019

babywearing and autistic caregivers

Babywearing and autistic caregivers

1st September 2019

Babywearing and Breast Cancer

Babywearing and breast cancer

31st August 2019

sling FAQs wobbly head

Sling FAQs – How can I support my baby’s wobbly head in their sling?

21st July 2019

What is the pelvic tuck Sling FAQs

Sling FAQs – What is the pelvic tuck?

18th July 2019

how do i keep my baby safe in the sling

Sling FAQs – How do I keep my baby safe in the sling?

18th July 2019

which sling is the best, the best sling faqs

Sling FAQs – Which sling is the best?

18th July 2019

Ten FAQs about Slings part one

Ten FAQs (frequently asked questions) about slings – part one

2nd July 2019

carrying in the heat

Why Black Babywearing Week Matters, by Dr Ilhan Omar

21st June 2019

babywearing holds me together

How babywearing holds me together

29th April 2019

Breastfeeding infant mental health mother-baby dyad

Babywearing can support the essential formation of the mother-baby dyad

29th April 2019

way of the west vs the way of the rest

The Way of the West vs the Way of the Rest & how babywearing can help

27th April 2019

babywearing with fibromyalgia

Babywearing with fibromyalgia; meeting the challenge

27th April 2019

double amputee

Babywearing as a double amputee

20th March 2019

Infant mental health

Infant Mental Health; how to build a happy brain

5th February 2019

talipes boots and bar with Beco Gemini

Babywearing with talipes – or club foot

24th January 2019

premature babywearing twins

Babywearing Premature Babies

13th January 2019

surviving christmas

The Babywearer’s Guide to Surviving Christmas

17th December 2018

Seven Reasons why babywearing matters

Seven Reasons Why Babywearing Matters

24th November 2018

masculinity

Piers Morgan, masculinity and the real problem

16th October 2018

babywearing with multiple sclerosis

Babywearing with Multiple Sclerosis

5th September 2018

worth

Are baby carriers worth the money?

23rd July 2018

Babywearing dads rock – carrying matters for fathers too

16th June 2018

babywearing village

The babywearing village – something wonderful

13th June 2018

babywearing in ramadan

Babywearing in Ramadan

6th June 2018

end of babywearing

The end of babywearing…

1st June 2018

Babywearing and the 4th Trimester

31st May 2018

The unhelpful “rules” of babywearing

17th May 2018

A look at “In Arms Carrying” with Mel Cyrille

16th May 2018

fathers' mental health

Fathers’ mental health matters: for the whole family!

1st May 2018

reduce crying

A sling can calm your baby and reduce crying

30th March 2018

the learning brain

Carrying and the learning brain

24th March 2018

resilience

Carrying children can help build relationships and resilience, a buffer against adversity

19th March 2018

Babies who face-plant in slings

10th March 2018

antenatal depression

Carrying is connection; healing from antenatal depression

4th March 2018

wrapping your bump

Wrapping your bump in late pregnancy

31st January 2018

offering sling support

Offering sling support to a stranger

30th January 2018

carrying with autism

Carrying an autistic child

22nd December 2017

cultural appropriation

Is “Babywearing” Cultural Appropriation?

20th December 2017

carried baby

I am a Carried Baby

14th December 2017

Why do we carry our babies? We carry them because it is a biological, instinctive parental response, that blesses the children we carry, and that blesses us. I find myself blessed by the small part I…

Can I carry my baby in a sling if I have epilepsy?

16th November 2017

Guest Blog from a friend of mine about her choice to use a sling to keep her child close despite her diagnosis of epilepsy. It has worked out very well for her. Here she discusses the processes of…

Breast and Bottle Feeding Safely in a Sling

5th August 2017

I meet a lot of pregnant ladies in the course of my varied roles, and many new mums, and one of the questions I am most frequently asked is "Will I be able to feed my baby in a sling?" It's an…

mental health disorder

Carrying a child when you have a mental health disorder

9th January 2017

carryingmatters

We’ve all seen the memes about being compassiona

We’ve all seen the memes about being compassionate to our children when they’re crying or shouting or melting down - we should show the same kindness to ourselves.

Have you had these tendencies to self-criticise and pile on the guilt (that you don’t deserve?)

Maybe try a reframe and take some of that load off your shoulders this week.

What are some of your favourite reframes?

I love this so much! Mama, I can’t see past yo

I love this so much!

Mama,
I can’t see past you right now, I’m so small and everything’s a little blurry.
All I see is you.
When you feel alone, like the walls are closing in, remember I’m here too. I know your world has changed and the days feel a little lonely. But they aren’t lonely for me.
You are my everything.

When you feel like you don’t know what you’re doing, you’re making it look easy to me. Even though we’re still getting to know each other, you know me better than anyone.
I trust you.

When you think some nights you’ll never sleep again, you will. We both will. But I’m scared right now. I promise I’m not manipulating you. I just need your smell and comfort. Do you feel that tug in your heart when we’re apart? I do too.
I miss you.

When you feel as if you’ve achieved nothing, please know, my cup has never been so full.
The days that get away on you will be some of my best memories of us playing together on the ground.
I love you.

When you feel like you don’t know who you are anymore, when you turn away from the mirror. That face will be the one I look to when I achieve something, the one I search for in a crowd. The reason for my first smile.
You’re perfect to me.

When you feel like the weight of it all is heavy in your heart, please know I’ve never felt lighter. Can I lay here with you a little longer?
I won’t always need you like this.
But I need you right now.

When you feel as if you have nothing left to give, when I see your hands outstretched at me, pleading. When we’re both crying. I wish I could talk, but I can’t.
If I could I would tell you,
There’s a reason I chose you.

I can’t see past you right now mama, because you are my world.
It will get bigger, soon enough.
But for now,
All I see is you.
..........................
All I See Is You’ by @jessurlichs_writer
Art by @chloe_trayhurn_art

Getting your baby into a good position before you

Getting your baby into a good position before you bring the carrier up is key to long lasting comfort and good fit. Swipe to see some photos of the ideal positioning - knees above bum, chest to chest, which creates an M shape, and a gently curved J shape.

This is so worth doing with all types of carriers… stretchy wraps, woven wraps, ring slings, mini slings, structured carriers etc. If you do the preparation, it pays off! Child will be more stable, the “seat” will be better and more equal on both sides.

Doing a pelvic tuck will also help (but that’s for another post!)

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#carryingmatters #carrythem #buildahappybrain #babywearingmama #wearallthebabies #babywearingforthewin #closeenoughtokiss #responsiveparenting #mumssupportingmums #motherhoodsimplified #tutorial #babywearingtips #babywearinguk #lockdownbaby #parentinghacks #babyhacks #newmum #newdad #fourthtrimester #postpartumjourney #parentstruggles #motherhoodthroughinstagram #ukmama
#postpartumrecovery #responsiveparenting #toptip #babywearingconsultant #preparationmatters

How you stand when you are using a sling matters a

How you stand when you are using a sling matters as much as the fit and height of the carrier for comfort. If you swipe you can see how an arched back to offset the weight of a too-low carrier will cause discomfort to the upper and lower back, and also how a slightly slumped posture with rolled forward shoulders will also cause pulling and discomfort.

Aim stand well, with shoulders and hips and ankles directly aligned, and to have your waistband parallel to the ground and baby at upper chest height with snug straps.

……
#carryingmatters #carrythem #buildahappybrain #babywearingmama #wearallthebabies #babywearingforthewin #closeenoughtokiss #responsiveparenting #mumssupportingmums #motherhoodsimplified #tutorial #babywearingtips #babywearinguk #lockdownbaby #parentinghacks #babyhacks #newmum #newdad #fourthtrimester #postpartumjourney #parentstruggles #motherhoodthroughinstagram #ukmama
#postpartumrecovery #responsiveparenting #babywearingconsultant #babywearinglove

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