In the family way

A few weeks ago, it was me, a toddler and a bump.

Now we are out of the hospital, and let loose on our own as a family of four, the real fun has begun!

Whilst there are at times peaceful moments with the Wee Man playing happily, Bubby D napping in her swing, the other half sitting comfortably with his iPhone, and the house in a livable state, life with 2 children so far sometimes feels more like life with 5 (should I wish to imagine it, which at the moment I really don’t – 2 is more than enough).

When the Wee Man is bouncing on my back screaming ‘horsey mummy!!’ at the same time as I am attempting to breastfeed Bubby D, who quite rightly keeps pulling away and howling in fear of being kicked in the head, and the cat is miaowing loudly sitting right in the middle of the TV screen that’s displaying CBeebies in the vain hope of distracting the Wee Man, I wonder what I’ve let myself in for.

It is at times like these that I give silent thanks to the inventor of the baby sling.

As a new parent first time round, I didn’t give much thought to baby wearing. I spent hours investigating pushchairs and travel systems, car seats and cots, but when it came to a baby carrier I went for a standard four way one from Mothercare. (In brown, so the other half wouldn’t object to wearing it too). When the Wee Man was a few months old, and I started meeting other parents with babies a little younger than him, I noticed some of them wearing a really snuggly and comfortable looking carrier – the Close Baby Carrier (now called the Caboo) – and although it was too late for the Wee Man to feel the benefit, when I became pregnant again I decided that I really ought to get one.

Now that Bubby D is here, I’m so glad I did! It has a lovely snuggly position for her to be held in as a newborn, which keeps her warm and happy, and she’ll fall asleep for a good hour or two of quality nap time while I entertain the wee man. When she’s awake she’s happy cuddled up to me, and I’ve even found that when positioned right, I can feed her on the move (as the Wee Man inevitably begins demanding a drink, or a nappy change). Its got a lovely wrap around bit with butterflies embroidered on it (and I made sure I chose a shade which matched most of my clothes!) and the wrap also turns into a drawstring bag you can keep the whole sling inside when you aren’t using it. I also use the bag part of the wrap to store my wallet and keys in when I’m out and about, although I’m not sure that was ever an intended use of it! It took me a little while to master getting her in it right (there were a few instances of baby-round-my-knees-ness before I got positioning the material and tightening the ring bits right!) but now I’ve got it sorted its a real lifesaver.