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

The next Peer Supporter course is booking now for

The next Peer Supporter course is booking now for July 5th (via Zoom), bit.ly/PStrainingCM

…and most excitingly, we are about to open booking for the Consultancy courses at last!

This is one day of online learning (at your own pace) followed by three days in person with me and Kiri at the Snug in Sheffield, one in July and one in September, both over Sat/Sun/Mon.

More to follow soon.

#carryingmatters #peersupporter #babywearingconsultant

Did you know that carriers can be an invaluable to

Did you know that carriers can be an invaluable tool to help our small people integrate with the society around them? When children are at arm and eye height, they become more a part of the local community simply because they are at the best position for conversation and joint attention (rather than being low down in a buggy or on the floor/in a seat). People are more likely to talk to your child if they’re easily visible, and as children are in their safe space (your arms or the carrier) they are more able to tolerate the mild stress of a new person and learn new things.

This is likely to be really helpful with adjusting to life as society opens up again. If little ones have only really spent time with their immediate family, they’re going to take some time to get used to “lots of people”, and also the crowds they may encounter. A child who was initially fearful at the approach of someone new may feel emboldened by being able to see and *feel your happy and relaxed response, and be able to begin connecting with them. And if it all gets too much, they’re able to nestle into you and feel reassured.

Have your slings helped you and your children?

#carryingmatters #buildahappybrain #communication

In-arms carrying and using slings doesn’t just b

In-arms carrying and using slings doesn’t just bring good things to babies – they can make a real difference to parents and other caregivers too.

🧡 It encourages bonding and deepening of a loving relationship via the release of the hormone oxytocin; having baby close heightens the parent’s awareness and can increase their responsiveness to their baby’s needs.
🧡 It can increase parental confidence. The parent may be more “in tune” with their baby, as the carried child is part of the parent’s personal space, and the parent will be more aware of changes in a child’s mood, and thus be more able to respond to the child’s facial expressions, gestures and vocalised needs sooner. This will build mutual trust and contentment.
🧡 There is evidence to suggest that sling use can help with perinatal mood disorders such as postnatal depression, in part due to oxytocin release and in part due to increased bonding.
🧡 Fathers and other care-givers will be able to use a sling as well, increasing family connections and helping baby recognise more people by their voices and scent. Sling use can be very valuable in giving family members “cuddle time” and can be an useful tool for childminders as well.
🧡 Slings can provide “hands-free” parenting, which can be very useful, such as making a quick snack, interacting with an older child, doing the housework or other chores. A “fussy” baby may calm and settle in a sling, allowing the parent more choice about how to use their time.
🧡 Slings can provide opportunities for physical exercise and mental stimulation; a new skill to learn and a new social circle (social sling meets, for example!) Many people find that carrying their children on walks helps to lose weight and tone muscles. Dynamic (in arms) carrying is also a good workout!
🧡 Slings can provide greater access to the world – in a good sling the only limitations are where your feet can take you. Onto the beach, off the beaten path, up a tower, onto crowded public transport, around busy airports, the world is your oyster!
🧡 Slings can provide comfort and nurturing for older children as well.

#carryingmatters #buildahappybrain #babywearingforthewin

I really enjoyed the first day of the Parental Bra

I really enjoyed the first day of the Parental Brain conference!

One of the most encouraging talks today was from Dr P. Kim (from Denver) who was talking about the impact of perinatal stress on the maternal (or gestation parent’s) brain… parenting is stressful, yes, but many people are exposed to prolonged, multifaceted and cumulative stressors that can cause significant changes to emotional processing and regulation.

She was encouraging: while it isn’t easy to adjust much of this stress (eg poverty, food insecurity, community violence and more), supporting parents with active coping strategies and building their resilience this way has a positive effect on brain responsiveness and can lead to more positive parenting behaviours. This then improves parent-child dynamics.

I was excited by this. I know this is true! I’ve known it for years. Active support and coaching and education do make a difference.

This is why my 4th Trimester course exists (been on zoom since the pandemic began, sign up in bio). It helps parents understand what’s happening to them and to their baby. It gives them reasons for the crying and the sleeplessness. It helps them understand their executive dysfunction. It helps them recognise this isn’t forever; things move on: things change.

This is why I believe babywearing needs to be part of every parent’s toolkit. A comfy carrier that can offer emotional regulation for parent and baby can be enormously beneficial. It can make it easier to cope with the maelstrom of life, as baby is peaceful and close by and safe. You have your hands back!!

This is why the Building Bonds Project exists. Parents in crisis need active coping strategies… they need simple things that can make a difference to stress and overwhelm. An easy to use carrier can have a huge impact and help with the bonding process, and just make life easier.

Research is brilliant. It’s even more brilliant when it is applied to real life. I recognise this is a simplistic post and stress and socioeconomic deprivation needs far larger input… but small things can help on an individual scale.

What do you think?

#carryingmatters #maternalmentalhealth #resilience #makinglifework

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