Babywearers' stories
Our members came to babywearing in many different ways, and they enjoy it for all sorts of reasons.
Read some of their stories here.
Read some of their stories here.
Babywearing journeys
Cuddles and kisses
Babywearing was recommended to me by a friend and it's the best thing I've done with my baby son. I have a stretchy wrap and I love being able to give him cuddles and kisses all day. I really feel it has enhanced the bond we have and I've met some lovely people as a result, which was completely unexpected but very welcome! Sarah
Babywearing was recommended to me by a friend and it's the best thing I've done with my baby son. I have a stretchy wrap and I love being able to give him cuddles and kisses all day. I really feel it has enhanced the bond we have and I've met some lovely people as a result, which was completely unexpected but very welcome! Sarah
Essential for two children
My daughter was a very unsettled baby and my Natibaby woven wrap helped a lot, but I didn't really get into babywearing until I was expecting again. With only 2 years’ difference between the children, I knew I needed to be able to keep the new baby close while still having hands free to play with and cuddle my daughter. Those early few weeks with my baby son were brilliant - cuddles all round, a very settled baby as he was on me all the time, and a contented toddler still getting fuss and attention. I love carrying my son, and at nearly 3 my daughter still likes a carry when she gets tired legs. Charlotte
My daughter was a very unsettled baby and my Natibaby woven wrap helped a lot, but I didn't really get into babywearing until I was expecting again. With only 2 years’ difference between the children, I knew I needed to be able to keep the new baby close while still having hands free to play with and cuddle my daughter. Those early few weeks with my baby son were brilliant - cuddles all round, a very settled baby as he was on me all the time, and a contented toddler still getting fuss and attention. I love carrying my son, and at nearly 3 my daughter still likes a carry when she gets tired legs. Charlotte
Some babies need to be held all the time
I seem to be blessed (!) with very cuddly children. My eldest was a Velcro baby, and would scream if I even handed her to my husband, so babywearing was a necessity for us. I started with a Wilkinet and LOVED it, and when she got bigger we used an Ergo. When my son came along he got heavy very quickly and the Wilkinet wasn’t comfortable, so I got down my unused Storchenwiege woven wrap and it went from there. Sharon
I seem to be blessed (!) with very cuddly children. My eldest was a Velcro baby, and would scream if I even handed her to my husband, so babywearing was a necessity for us. I started with a Wilkinet and LOVED it, and when she got bigger we used an Ergo. When my son came along he got heavy very quickly and the Wilkinet wasn’t comfortable, so I got down my unused Storchenwiege woven wrap and it went from there. Sharon
Hooked on babywearing
I wanted to make my daughter's transition into the world as happy as possible. My husband and I used a Victoria Sling Lady stretchy wrap to begin with. When she was six weeks old I got too hot and bothered in the stretchy in the summer heat, so I started used the pram, but I spent a fair amount of time carrying her and pushing the pram one-handed. I then got a Boba 3G soft structured carrier, and I love this for popping her in quickly and to put on outside the car in the rain as no dangly bits to drag on the wet ground. I also borrowed a Babyhawk mei tai and enjoyed using it so much I bought my own...and got hooked on carrying my baby. Liz
I wanted to make my daughter's transition into the world as happy as possible. My husband and I used a Victoria Sling Lady stretchy wrap to begin with. When she was six weeks old I got too hot and bothered in the stretchy in the summer heat, so I started used the pram, but I spent a fair amount of time carrying her and pushing the pram one-handed. I then got a Boba 3G soft structured carrier, and I love this for popping her in quickly and to put on outside the car in the rain as no dangly bits to drag on the wet ground. I also borrowed a Babyhawk mei tai and enjoyed using it so much I bought my own...and got hooked on carrying my baby. Liz
Freedom and comfort
We just drifted into using slings - like with all great parenting decisions, it happened accidentally! I just enjoyed the freedom of being able to get out into the countryside without being hampered by a pram - it was only later that I realised that I was comforting and soothing my baby while he was being held close to me so effortlessly. I really couldn't do without a sling of some sort now while trying to balance the needs of two children! Laura
We just drifted into using slings - like with all great parenting decisions, it happened accidentally! I just enjoyed the freedom of being able to get out into the countryside without being hampered by a pram - it was only later that I realised that I was comforting and soothing my baby while he was being held close to me so effortlessly. I really couldn't do without a sling of some sort now while trying to balance the needs of two children! Laura
My sling saved my sanity
I started with an Ellaroo woven wrap, and babywearing quickly became an essential part of my daily life. In the early colicky weeks when I couldn't put my daughter down, day or night, I think I would have gone mad without it, and it allowed us to go out and about without limits. As a toddler, my daughter benefits from snuggles on my back when she gets overwhelmed or tired, and I still carry her whenever we go out. Katherine
I started with an Ellaroo woven wrap, and babywearing quickly became an essential part of my daily life. In the early colicky weeks when I couldn't put my daughter down, day or night, I think I would have gone mad without it, and it allowed us to go out and about without limits. As a toddler, my daughter benefits from snuggles on my back when she gets overwhelmed or tired, and I still carry her whenever we go out. Katherine
For mums and dads
I didn’t carry my daughter much when she was small, as I couldn't get on with the woven wrap my wife liked to use - I just got tangled up in the fabric. But when maternity leave was up and I started spending a day a week at home, we borrowed loads of baby carriers from Sheffield Sling Library until we found one I liked (a Boba 3G soft structured carrier). I was worried at first that I wouldn't be able to get the little one on my back on my own, but it didn't take long before I got the hang of it. Now I always babywear when I take my daughter out, and the buggy we bought for me to use still languishes in the corner! James
I didn’t carry my daughter much when she was small, as I couldn't get on with the woven wrap my wife liked to use - I just got tangled up in the fabric. But when maternity leave was up and I started spending a day a week at home, we borrowed loads of baby carriers from Sheffield Sling Library until we found one I liked (a Boba 3G soft structured carrier). I was worried at first that I wouldn't be able to get the little one on my back on my own, but it didn't take long before I got the hang of it. Now I always babywear when I take my daughter out, and the buggy we bought for me to use still languishes in the corner! James
Carrying a premature baby
My eldest daughter was born prematurely at 31 weeks. I knew I wanted to carry her, but I had no idea about baby slings – I just knew about BabyBjorns and similar. While my daughter was in NICU/SCBU, I would look at the babywearing section on a parenting forum; through this I found out about the benefits of other slings and I ordered a pink Hoppediz stretchy wrap for when she came home. I started wearing her when she was just 4lbs and the stretchy was lovely. I soon bought a mei tai too which I loved as it was easy to use, and I have owned and sold on various slings since. My husband was reluctant to wear her until I got a Rose and Rebellion full buckle, and then he had the babywearing bug too! My baby son is slightly more reluctant to be worn, but when he is in the right mood he loves a carry. I have definitely noticed an increase in the number of babywearers since 2009 which is just fab! Rachel
My eldest daughter was born prematurely at 31 weeks. I knew I wanted to carry her, but I had no idea about baby slings – I just knew about BabyBjorns and similar. While my daughter was in NICU/SCBU, I would look at the babywearing section on a parenting forum; through this I found out about the benefits of other slings and I ordered a pink Hoppediz stretchy wrap for when she came home. I started wearing her when she was just 4lbs and the stretchy was lovely. I soon bought a mei tai too which I loved as it was easy to use, and I have owned and sold on various slings since. My husband was reluctant to wear her until I got a Rose and Rebellion full buckle, and then he had the babywearing bug too! My baby son is slightly more reluctant to be worn, but when he is in the right mood he loves a carry. I have definitely noticed an increase in the number of babywearers since 2009 which is just fab! Rachel
Colic, buses and a tired baby
A midwife friend told me about slings. I started out with a Kari-Me stretchy wrap which was fabulous for holding a screaming, colicky baby to me to get her to settle. I carried her out and about more when I started having trouble getting my pram on and off the bus, and it went from there. It has also come in handy as a way to get my daughter to sleep, because she doesn’t like being cuddled when she's tired and grumpy. Sally
A midwife friend told me about slings. I started out with a Kari-Me stretchy wrap which was fabulous for holding a screaming, colicky baby to me to get her to settle. I carried her out and about more when I started having trouble getting my pram on and off the bus, and it went from there. It has also come in handy as a way to get my daughter to sleep, because she doesn’t like being cuddled when she's tired and grumpy. Sally
An attachment parenting tool
I got into babywearing because I never felt like putting my baby down or in a contraption. Also, I had read a lot about attachment parenting, which made sense to me. Now my baby is older he sometimes demands to go in the pushchair, I think as a novelty. I don’t mind and it makes the next carry even more lovely! Lizzie
I got into babywearing because I never felt like putting my baby down or in a contraption. Also, I had read a lot about attachment parenting, which made sense to me. Now my baby is older he sometimes demands to go in the pushchair, I think as a novelty. I don’t mind and it makes the next carry even more lovely! Lizzie
Finding the right sling for the job
I started off like many Mums who don't know about babywearing but like the idea of carrying their baby - with a hand-me-down BabyBjorn. My eldest was a big baby so he soon became too heavy for it. I already knew I wanted to keep carrying him, but when I looked into other carriers I was just bewildered and made the mistake of going for a relatively cheap ring sling, thinking that if that worked out we could get something more expensive. Well, it worked to an extent – we loved the practicality of it - but it wasn't very comfortable so we stayed predominantly buggy users. However, when my youngest was born I did some research and bought my first soft structured carrier, a Beco Butterfly. Since then I've had a few different slings, upgrading and changing style slightly as my baby girl has grown. Now she is 2 and a half, we have a Didymos ring sling (not the original cheap one!) and a half-buckle sling. Kate
I started off like many Mums who don't know about babywearing but like the idea of carrying their baby - with a hand-me-down BabyBjorn. My eldest was a big baby so he soon became too heavy for it. I already knew I wanted to keep carrying him, but when I looked into other carriers I was just bewildered and made the mistake of going for a relatively cheap ring sling, thinking that if that worked out we could get something more expensive. Well, it worked to an extent – we loved the practicality of it - but it wasn't very comfortable so we stayed predominantly buggy users. However, when my youngest was born I did some research and bought my first soft structured carrier, a Beco Butterfly. Since then I've had a few different slings, upgrading and changing style slightly as my baby girl has grown. Now she is 2 and a half, we have a Didymos ring sling (not the original cheap one!) and a half-buckle sling. Kate
Why we love carrying our children
Closeness
My husband and I both loved having our eldest daughter close when she was a baby, and she loved being close to us too. Rachel
My husband and I both loved having our eldest daughter close when she was a baby, and she loved being close to us too. Rachel
Practicality
It's so much quicker to leave the house with a sling than taking the pram, especially when going somewhere in the car. I love how I can chat to my daughter as we walk along. I love how close she is, and I love having my hands free. It's great to be able to use stairs and not have to wait for lifts. Carrying my daughter in a sling is incredibly practical but also emotionally fulfilling as I feel like I'm meeting her needs. The only time I use the buggy now is if I'm walking to the shops to buy heavy goods which I stick in the bottom of it...but I usually take a sling as well in case she is unhappy in the buggy! Liz
It's so much quicker to leave the house with a sling than taking the pram, especially when going somewhere in the car. I love how I can chat to my daughter as we walk along. I love how close she is, and I love having my hands free. It's great to be able to use stairs and not have to wait for lifts. Carrying my daughter in a sling is incredibly practical but also emotionally fulfilling as I feel like I'm meeting her needs. The only time I use the buggy now is if I'm walking to the shops to buy heavy goods which I stick in the bottom of it...but I usually take a sling as well in case she is unhappy in the buggy! Liz
Fun
I love it when we go to the park and we all play together. Instead of the baby being sat in a pushchair looking on while the toddler plays, he is involved in the fun because I'm wearing him. He particularly enjoys bouncing on the seesaw! Charlotte
I love it when we go to the park and we all play together. Instead of the baby being sat in a pushchair looking on while the toddler plays, he is involved in the fun because I'm wearing him. He particularly enjoys bouncing on the seesaw! Charlotte
Outdoors
Going for walks is so easy when babywearing, and it's lovely to talk about everything we see and sing songs together. The other day I came to the end of a long path and found stepping stones - with a buggy we would have had to turn back but we kept on going. I did have to ask my toddler to stop giddying-up while I was balancing across, though! Kat
Going for walks is so easy when babywearing, and it's lovely to talk about everything we see and sing songs together. The other day I came to the end of a long path and found stepping stones - with a buggy we would have had to turn back but we kept on going. I did have to ask my toddler to stop giddying-up while I was balancing across, though! Kat
Rest and snuggles
Now my daughter is 2, I carry her to rest her weary legs after lots of walking, for snuggly sleeps during the day, and for trips on the train to see grandparents. Kate
Now my daughter is 2, I carry her to rest her weary legs after lots of walking, for snuggly sleeps during the day, and for trips on the train to see grandparents. Kate
Surprisingly easy
The other day I used the buggy… and it turns out that pushing my chunk of a preschooler is harder work than tandem carrying both her and her little sister! Also, I could barely hear her chatter. A fancy sling isn't important, just those lovely snuggles! Kirstie
The other day I used the buggy… and it turns out that pushing my chunk of a preschooler is harder work than tandem carrying both her and her little sister! Also, I could barely hear her chatter. A fancy sling isn't important, just those lovely snuggles! Kirstie
Sling meets
Sheffield Babywearers - the group and the sling meets - is important to me because I want to know I'm making the most of this too-short babywearing period, and I want to help other parents do the same. Katherine
Sheffield Babywearers - the group and the sling meets - is important to me because I want to know I'm making the most of this too-short babywearing period, and I want to help other parents do the same. Katherine
