So this week is international Baby wearing week! What better time to write a blog post about my personal favourite baby carrier, my baby Bjorn baby carrier one and express my fondness of babywearing.

I love babywearing! A phrase I never thought I would be saying back in the days when I was young, free and childless. But I do and you know what I actually think babywearing can be pretty cool. Going out and about with a baby can be pretty stressful (for me anyway). One thing I have always found irritating is trying to manoeuvre my pushchair through narrow shop doorways, out of people’s way and around stores. It’s hard work, particularly when spacial awareness isn’t one of your strong points (you should see me trying to park my car…actually you definitely shouldn’t). Babywearing makes it so much easier to get out and about. It doesn’t matter where you are going either or what the terrain is going to be like. We are lucky enough to live near the new forest and also several the coast and several beautiful beaches, and carrying Rafe in the Baby Bjorn makes going for country walks far easier and more enjoyable for everyone.

We purchased our carrier when Rafe was around five months old, right when your baby can start facing front (depending on their individual neck strength). Right from the word go this was a hit with him. He loved being able to see everything that was going on around him and being able to look about whilst still being snuggled and secure and close to mummy. There are hazards to your cute baby being exposed to the world though. On several occasions I have had people come up to me to speak to my baby (fine) and some have TOUCHED HIS FACE! (NOT FINE!) I am not OCD but this did not go down well. So be warned and be cautious of approaching strangers making a beeline for your child!

Obviously fitness is something I love and I have found becoming a mum can make it difficult to find the time to fit workouts/exercise into the day. It’s pretty impossible to workout if you have a teething or unhappy baby on your hands that just wants to be permanently held and comforted. This is where my carrier has made life so much easier. You can just pop the baby in and go for a walk. Walking is great exercise, especially post partum. It’s gentle and effective and it’s great not only for fitness levels, but also mental health. Sometimes being a stay at home mum (or just a mum in general) can be tough and getting out of the house and going for a walk can do the world of good. Fresh air and exposure to daylight can be good for babies circadian rhythms aswell, supposedly helping them sleep at night. I can’t say that this has been effective for my insomniac, midnight feasting baby…but we won’t go into that! Also having the (ever increasing) weight of your child attached to you adds some resistance to walking, meaning you get some extra toning benefits to your stroll…hills are definitely getting more challenging as Rafe nears ten months that’s for sure!

As mentioned I have the Baby Bjorn baby carrier one, and I have been using it almost daily for five months now and it’s brilliant. Firstly its super comfortable, I haven’t experienced any back pain or discomfort using it. You do have to make sure it’s properly adjusted to fit you but as long as it is then it is really comfy.
Secondly it’s surprisingly easy to get baby in and out of the carrier by yourself. We practiced a couple of times in the safety of the lounge first, but it really is so simple to get him from car seast to Baby Bjorn that I tend to take it everywhere with me.
Granted I haven’t tried that many baby carriers…I did dabble with the baby K’tan but it wasn’t for me, too complicated to put on and difficult to get the baby into in my opinion. I love the simplicity and sturdiness of the Baby Bjorn. Everyone is different though and  I believe that there are carrier/sling libraries out there which allow mums and babies to try out different carriers to see which is best for them, so that might be worth a Google to see if there is one near you if you are thinking of purchasing one. I am also a fairly tall 5ft 8 so I cannot say if this carrier would be as comfy on somebody shorter. I cannot actually remember what we paid for our carrier (baby brain/no sleep brain) but from what I have seen they retain at around the £100 mark. Maybe this seems a little steep but considering you can use them up until your child is three and I can safely say I use mine all the time I think it is worth it. Plus the carrier is a great addition to any post baby fitness journey!

Here are some facts about the Baby Bjorn Carrier one;

• It can be used from birth to when the child is around 3 years of age (Maximum weight 15kg)
• Ergonomic (comfortable and safe) leg positioning and wide seat area for child
• Well padded shoulder straps
• Wide waist belt that I can confirm makes carrying baby much easier and more comfortable.
• Has an integrated infant insert, perfect for newborns.
• It can be worn in four different positions which include a special position for newborns and the options to wear child facing inwards or outwards or on your back.

All in all I think that a baby carrier is possibly one of my favourite baby purchases. It has just made life and getting out and about so much easier and more enjoyable. And hands free! My baby seems to love it aswell and being able to see so much more of the world around him at a similar level to an adult must be great for development.

Jess

xox
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