Arabella Greatorex from the Natural Nursery -( fantastic Lactivist Sponsors!) has chosen the Boba Baby wrap as one of her top picks, this is why:
The Boba Wrap is made from a soft yet sturdy cotton knit (95% cotton, 5% spandex) to give a simple to use, comfortable and supportive carrier for your baby.
There a no buckles or straps, simply wrap the sling around yourself and pop your baby in.
The fabric is slightly thicker than some other brands so some parents find it a little more supportive.
The stretch means that you can tie the sling in the morning and pop baby in and out during the day without having to take the wrap off and re-tie it.
Benefits of the Boba Wrap:
Stretchy wrap baby sling for premature/birth to toddler (35lbs)
Tie the sling on then pop baby in – much easier than trying to tie a sling around a wriggly baby
Snug, cuddly sling for newborns yet supportive for older babies and toddlers
One size – no fiddling with buckles/straps to adjust for a different carrier
Weight distributed evenly over both shoulders
Many positions – full instructions included
Machine washable
Suitable for breastfeeding
Ideal for the school run – tie the sling on before you leave the house and then you can pop baby straight into it when you get out of the car and need to take an older sibling into school
This is written by Arabella Greatorex who runs the Natural Nursery – fantastic Lactivist Sponsors!
The ERGObaby Heart2Heart Infant Insert is a specially padded and shaped cushion that can be quickly and easily placed in the carrier and readjusted as needed. This design easily enables parents to ensure that their newborn is positioned correctly on the pillow, keeping pressure off the developing sacrum, and supports the development of the spine and hips. It snaps closed around the infant, holding the baby in a cozy, protected environment close to the heart, as well as in an ergonomically correct natural sitting position.
Kiri
We used this with our newborn when we went to Portugal. It was superb and I was pleasantly surprised that she didn’t get too hot in it either. Also washed very well.
Kate
Great product, well made and seems comfortable for my baby. Service excellent!
The Natural Nursery is run by me, Arabella, Devon born on-off resident of Exeter for many years.
I am mum to 2 cloth nappy’ed, babyworn girls aged nearly 10 and 2 years.
In a past life I was a solicitor but have been running my business, The Natural Nursery, for 8 years.
I just love cloth nappies and baby slings and have been happily spreading the fluffy love via demos in baby and toddler groups, sling meets, ante natal classes, breastfeeding support groups, shops, libraries, other people’s homes, my home and our shops since 2005.
Over the past 7 years, I have helped hundreds of parents find the right baby sling or cloth nappy for their family and many customers have turned into friends too.
If you want any help finding the right baby carrier or washable nappy, just get in touch.
Parents in the UK throw away around 3 BILLION disposable nappies every year. To put that in perspective, this is what ONE BABY in disposable nappies produces:
And don’t forget that every disposable nappy ever made is still in existence in a land fill somewhere as it is believed they will take up to 500 years to decompose.
In contrast, a set of 24 reusable nappies will look super cute on your little one, can be passed onto another baby, will save you around £500 per baby (even taking into account the cost of washing) and are much better for the environment and your baby.
(For those who don’t “know” us, we are a family living in Devon with one nearly 10 year old, one 16 month old and assorted chickens, cats and dogs.)
The toddler is teething badly again which means she is feeling very sad for herself. I am never sure how families that don’t babywear cope with illness/teething/under the weather babies; I find slings let us have all the snuggles that the poorly one needs but I can actually move around the house a bit.
The teething is making her very restless overnight and wanting to feed like a newborn, so after lots and lots of snuggled up together in bed breastfeeds, we are all rather tired in the morning.
Normally the toddler runs around like a manic thing during breakfast time but today she really didn’t know what she wanted. One minute she wanted a cuddle, the next to be down playing with the dog or feeding the cats, then back up for a breastfeed, then demanding fruit juice, then at the table for some breakfast, then back up for another cuddle.
It is pretty full on in our house before school – there are 13 of us that need to be fed, watered, walked, nappy changed, dressed, school bags packed, lost PE kit found, etc so I really need to be able to crack on and get things done.
To enable me to move about the house, I popped her in a ring sling, so we could have quick up and downs and she could nurse if she wanted. Once she realised she could have all the cuddles she wanted, she did cheer up until it was dog walking time.
DH normally takes L out with him in the Ergo when he walks the dog in the morning but today we decided that it was too cold and she was too poorly for this. Cue one heartbroken toddler who actually brought me a Didy wrap to put her in – from as soon as she could crawl, she has always fetched slings (or rucksacks or cardigans) when she is upset and wants help to calm down.
After the DH and nearly 10 year old left for school and the house calmed down, I kept the toddler in the Didy (in a front carry for snuggles) while I tidied up the kitchen, put a load of washing on, chased a cat round the house to stop it sneaking into one of the bedrooms and generally fluffed the house.
Then it was time for another feed which made the poorly one sleepy. I put her in the Ergo on my back so I could get on with some work – having her on my back means I can just about sit on a chair at the desk to type (she is currently asleep on my back as I write this) and also pack parcels, deal with deliveries etc.
Within 10 minutes or so, she fell asleep and I was able to do a solid 90 minutes of work before she woke up.
After nappy change and a play, it was time to prepare lunch but grumbly toddler didn’t want to be on the floor and started scrabbling at my clothes as I was cooking. I REALLY can’t bear to have my clothes pulled (as she knows), so it was back into the ring sling which just about gives me the ability to cook something simple. If it is a full on meal, I tend to put her on my back as she has a habit of grabbing for knives, pans etc.
After lots more playtime, it was off for the school run. I don’t drive, so we walk which takes about 55 minutes each way, going along the Quay and through the park.
Although L is big for her age at weighs in at around 2 stone, I tend to keep her on my front still for long trips like this – I like to be able to talk to her, show her things and gauge her reaction plus there is little chance of her going that long without a feed.
So back into the Ergo – the pocket on the front has just enough space for a washable nappy, wipes and my purse so I don’t need to take a bag, and we set off.
It is raining by the time we get to school, so we bus back – the sling means we don’t fall foul of the 1 (or 2 if you have a nice driver) prams on a bus rule and we sail past the 2 prams that aren’t allowed on the bus as the buggy space is already full.
L falls asleep while we are on the way back, a bonus as I can help the 10 year old with homework when we get home.
The rest of the afternoon/evening is pretty much a repeat of the morning – up and down toddler in a ring sling and on my back for cooking then oodles of daddy cuddles once DH gets home.
All in all, L spent about 6 hours being carried today, in 3 different slings. If we didn’t use baby carriers, I would have still had to carry her in my arms for all that time as she was in too much pain/too miserable to be on the floor. With the slings, she gets the comfort and reassurance she needs to help her through this time, my back is protected and I can actually get things done.
You can spend thousands of pounds on disposable tampons or pads, or you can get one mooncup that will probably last you till your menopause. It’s a no brainer!
They are so easy to use, it’s easy to clean them, they are better for you, save you lots of money that you can spend on chocolate instead and the Mooncup company are incredibly helpful.
The Babywearing Peer Support course offers formal recognition of the skills of people who give information about slings and baby carriers through Sling Meets, sling libraries, antenatal classes or postnatal groups. The course focuses on the Practical Skills of Babywearing, including sling safety and checking slings for wear and tear. You’ll attend a one-day workshop and complete your qualification through home study and coursework. By the end of your training, you should be able to:
Show an awareness of different ways of using a range of slings and baby carriers to meet individual needs
Assess the benefits and potential disadvantages of different types of slings and baby carriers for specific parents’ needs
Understand how slings should be worn safely and how the incorrect use of slings can affect the health and wellbeing of parent and baby/child
Babywearing Peer Support: Friday 25th January 2013
From 10am – 4pm
Places on this course have been subsidised and cost £90. (£72 Early Bird)
We have two concessionary places available on this course. If you feel you’re eligible for a concessionary place, please contact us or note this on your application form. Cambridge: http://www.schoolofbabywearing.com/cambridge-babywearing/
Karen from www.boobiemilk.co.uk who are lovely Lactivist sponsors is off to Texas for Christmas so she is having a clear out of stock,
All of the bras, tops and briefs that are end of season or end of my stock are listed on the website with prices starting at only £5. Take a look and bag a bargain.
Each month we will be putting the spotlight on one of the fantastic Lactivist.net sponsors.
The money they pay to advertise their breastfeeding friendly businesses on www.lactivist.net keep the site running and help us keep supporting breastfeeding mums. If you have a breastfeeding friendly business that would be of interest to Lactivist.net readers please check out the advertising rates and contact me if you are interested. Rates start from a mere £5 a month and reach thousands of breastfeeding mums through this site, the Lactivist Facebook Page and Twitter.
How to use a wheat bag to give comfort during pregnancy and after childbirth when breastfeeding.
Warmth brings a deep reassuring feeling to the body and provides a sensation that is also extremely therapeutic. A wheat bag can be used in pretty much the same way as a conventional water bottle is used. However with a wheat bag there is no need to heat up water and then fill it with the water. All one needs to do is put it in the microwave oven for a couple of minutes to heat it up and then it can simply be applied to the problem area on your body. And that is not where the therapeutic use of the bag ends. It can also be used for cold treatments as well as hot treatment. If you place a wheat bag in your freezer it is then ready to be used for cold therapy as well.
The “drug free” healing properties of a wheat bag for a mum-to-be on pains, aches, the after effects of labour and breastfeeding are outlined below.
For late pregnancy and labour…
Use a wheat bag whilst pregnant and during labour as a warm compress to help alleviate backache, aching limbs and labour pains on the lower back.
For after-birth and breastfeeding…
To ease the after-birth pains from a contracting uterus, pop a warmed wheat bag on your tummy.
For blocked ducts and Mastitis apply a warmed wheat bag to the sore area of breast.
Engorgement – If breasts are really sore, hard and feel too full, then putting something cool on the breasts after a feed helps reduce what feels like hot swelling. A cooled wheat bag from the freezer can give relief.
A warmed wheat bag is also great for shoulder pain associated with breastfeeding.
For pain relief the wheat bag is both a natural and drug free answer. They are a flexible and very easy to use heat pack or chill pack that actually mould to any particular body part to give complete therapy to that area.
With all this in mind we at The Birthing Shirt Company decided to create a perfect sized wheat bag designed to be used during late pregnancy, labour and as relief & comfort to sore breasts.
Created in a rectangular shape of a pillow, our versatile and pliable wheat bag is handmade in the UK with a supersoft, removable organic cotton/hemp fleece cover and is filled with a cotton pouch of cleaned & graded whole organic British wheat grain. – £19.99
All wheat bags are sent out with heating, cooling and washing instructions and a freezer bag for cold applications.
For more information and to buy one of our wheat bags please visit
Can I give a warm welcome to More 4 Mums who are the latest lovely small business to advertise on www.lactivist.net. It’s the advertisers that keep this place running so please take a moment to check them out. All the businesses who sponsor Lactivist are breastfeeding friendly and you can see a list of them on the Sponsors page, as well as their ads around the site.
More 4 Mums in an online business run by Lynn Hogg, a mum of 2 and Breastfeeding Supporter. More 4 Mums aim to offer a great range of Affordable Maternity & Breastfeeding Bras, Tops and Accessories. When Lynn was Breastfeeding she found many of the nursing products available were uncomfortable, unstylish and expensive. She decided to source quality products at a great price and started selling in 2008. She is proud to support UK based businesses and working mums. Some of the smaller brands featured include Mama Feels Good Tops, Bellebelly, Breastvest, Glamourmom, Mummy Darling and more.
The site has a wide range of Nursing Tops from Basics such as vest tops and tshirts to Funky Nursing Tops from Mama Feels Good. Prices start at under £20 and most are under £30. The newest addition to the site is the Bare Minimum Nursing Top, attach to any nursing bra to create a nursing vest to wear under any top – extend your wardrobe in a flash.
Nursing Bras are another item that can be expensive and uncomfortable. The new seamless range from Emma Jane is a best seller – at only £11 it covers a cup size from B-F and is perfect for the early days of breastfeeding when cup sizes fluctuate on a daily or hourly basis! The Bravado bras are the Rolls Royce of Nursing Bras – comfortable and great quality with the Body Silk Seamless being a favourite.
There is also a range of Accessories including Minene Nursing Covers & ponchos along with pretty Supersize Muslins for baby. The cute Ruby and Ginger Nappy Purses are perfect for Breastfeeding Mums who don’t need to carry around bottles, just pop the purse in your handbag and you are good to go.
Each month we will be putting the spotlight on one of the fantastic Lactivist.net sponsors.
The money they pay to advertise their breastfeeding friendly businesses on www.lactivist.net keep the site running and help us keep supporting breastfeeding mums. If you have a breastfeeding friendly business that would be of interest to Lactivist.net readers please check out the advertising rates and contact me if you are interested. Rates start from a mere £5 a month and reach thousands of breastfeeding mums through this site, the Lactivist Facebook Page and Twitter.
A useful tool to getting into a new baby routine and plan your day.
Trying to get into a routine with a new baby can be a juggle and it is hard to keep track sometimes. With our new Baby’s day log book you can say good-bye to bits of paper and post-it notes.
Baby’s Day Daily Log Book, sold exclusively by The Birthing Shirt Company, is a fabulous new journal that can be used to quickly and easily record your new baby’s daily feeding, sleeping, crying, activity patterns and will help you plan the day and feel more confident.
Designed and developed by a new mum after her own experiences, the aim of Baby’s Day is not to offer advice or prescribe a routine – there are plenty of books out there that do that. It is simply to support whichever method you chose by allowing you to see what your baby’s day is like and see achievements, such as longer night time sleeping, clearly.
By using Baby’s Day you can be confident that all your baby’s needs are being met, whatever your routine.
Baby’s Day uses two A5 pages per day, and splits each day into fifteen minute periods. There are ten columns:
In Bed, Sleeping, Crying, Awake, Eating, Nappy Change, Playing, Out and About, Bath and Blank
These columns pretty much cover everything a young baby does (yep, that’s it)! Using a highlighter and a pen you can very easily mark what your baby has been doing throughout the day.
High quality and hard wearing, Baby’s Day is easy to slip into your changing bag or keep to hand around the house. At just £9.99, it is a must have for any parent!
For more information and how to purchase your own book please visit our website:-
Each month we will be putting the spotlight on one of the fantastic Lactivist.net sponsors.
The money they pay to advertise their breastfeeding friendly businesses on www.lactivist.net keep the site running and help us keep supporting breastfeeding mums. If you have a breastfeeding friendly business that would be of interest to Lactivist.net readers please check out the advertising rates and contact me if you are interested. Rates start from a mere £5 a month and reach thousands of breastfeeding mums through this site, the Lactivist Facebook Page and Twitter.
How kangaroo care and skin-to-skin contact can increase breast milk supply.
Kangaroo care is a method of holding a baby, either premature or full term, that involves skin-to-skin contact immediately after giving birth and beyond, that will soothe and calm your baby and will aid in their development.
Straight after birth the baby is placed directly next to the mothers skin, on their bare chest upright between their breasts with a baby blanket or mother’s clothes covering his or her back.
This snuggling of the infant inside the pouch of the mother’s clothes, experiencing her warmth, smell, and familiar heartbeat will feel like a warm “womb with a view” to the baby much like a kangaroo’s pouch, hence the term “kangaroo care.”
What are the benefits of kangaroo care / skin-to-skin contact?
Results from studies on mother-Infant skin-to-skin contact suggest that this type of contact has several benefits to both mum and baby.
The benefits of kangaroo care / skin-to-skin contact to your baby include:
A happier baby
More successful initiation of breastfeeding
Better regulation of their body temperature
Elevation in their blood sugar
Stabilization of the baby’s heart and respiratory rates
Improved oxygen in their blood
Spend more time in deep sleep
More rapid weight gain
Decreased crying
Earlier hospital discharge
The benefits of kangaroo care / skin-to-skin contact to the mum include:
Improved bonding
Feelings of closeness with their babies
Increased breast milk supply
Increased confidence in ability to care for their babies
Increased confidence that their babies are well cared for
Increased sense of control
With all this in mind Bamboo Birthing Shirt from The Birthing Shirt Company has been designed with a convenient extended pop down front especially for the purpose of skin-to-skin with your baby post birth.
For more information on the many benefits to a bamboo birthing shirt for pregnancy, labour, breastfeeding and bonding please visit our website:-
Each month we will be putting the spotlight on one of the fantastic Lactivist.net sponsors.
The money they pay to advertise their breastfeeding friendly businesses on www.lactivist.net keep the site running and help us keep supporting breastfeeding mums. If you have a breastfeeding friendly business that would be of interest to Lactivist.net readers please check out the advertising rates and contact me if you are interested. Rates start from a mere £5 a month and reach thousands of breastfeeding mums through this site, the Lactivist Facebook Page and Twitter.
At the Birthing Shirt Company we are always looking for great products that will compliment our birthing shirts and they have just started selling 2 delicious herbal teas from Mama Tea to help with your birth preparation and afterwards when nursing your new baby.
The birth preparation tea ‘Ready mama’ contains Raspberry leaf and motherwort which are both herbs that stimulate the uterus and help to cause contractions.
‘Ready mama’ tea combines traditional raspberry leaf and motherwort and is blended with fruity hibiscus and rosehip to provide a powerful, fruity blend – great for anyone who likes fruity teas and perfect for pregnant women (after 38 weeks)
The breastfeeding tea ‘New Mama’ contains active galactagogues (a substance that increases milk supply) which help stimulate milk production and flow.
‘New Mama’ Tea is made of delicious liquorice root and fennel to sweeten up this lovely tea, so perfect for those of you who have a sweet tooth and normally find herbal teas a bit bitter. (for use post birth only)
‘Ready Mama’ – Raspberry leaf tea for birth preparation – £3.45 for 16 sachets
‘New mama’ – Breastfeeding tea – £3.45 for 16 sachets
Both these teas are great for every mama-to-be or breastfeeding mama and available from our birth prep shop :-
Lactivist SponsorsThe School of Babywearing are a social enterprise which aims to share information about the use of slings and baby carriers. As well as offering training courses in Babywearing Peer Support and Babywearing Consultancy, they use their profits to produce free resources to help parents and parents-to-be find out about the benefits and practicalities of babywearing. They also have resources pages which provide unbiased information and we put parents in touch with the local sling meets, groups, libraries and consultants in their area
Lactivist Sponsors pay to advertise on www.lactivist.net from as little as £5 a month and this helps towards the running costs of keeping www.lactivist.net online. Without the sponsors there would be no Lactivist!
The School of Babywearing™is the first babywearing programme in the UK to offer training courses accreditated by an external body: the Open College Network. The accreditation establishes babywearing as an official ‘vocation’ within the UK.
Victoria Ward founded the School of Babywearing™ with Karent Hunt in 2010. Together, they had over fifteen years of babywearing experience from carrying their own children to running sling businesses – manufacturing and retailing – and sling groups. After several years working as babywearing consultants, they were keen to train others. The School of Babywearing™ was born!
Victoria is an experienced adult educator and feels passionately that courses should be fun and interactive, and provide learning through doing rather than listening. The ‘curriculum’ captures the ins and outs of babywearing with enough structure and content to satisfy an awarding body but without making it overly academic.
The main course is the babywearing consultancy training. Aimed at anyone giving one-to-one support to parents: sling vendors, health professionals, midwives, doulas, breastfeeding counsellours, antenatal teachers and parents with a deep interest in babywearing. The consultancy course revolves aroundthree themes:
Practical skills – how to use all kinds of slings and carriers to meet a range of different needs, babywearing safety and the benefits of different kinds of sling & carrier
Principles – history, links to UK parenting practice and culture, ways of working with parents to assess and meet their needs
Anatomy, physiology and development – pregnant and postnatal bodies, baby’s physical, social and emotional development.
The shorter babywearing course is for Peer Supporters: people who talk about babywearing as part of antenatal classes or postnatal groups or through volunteering with a sling group or library.
Courses are assessed through a mix of practical assessments and written coursework. Courses are delivered, assessed and verified by trained adult educators to make sure that the work meets set standards.
Qualifying as a School of Babywearing™ Consultant is an achievement to be proud of. The accreditation has allowed some trainees to access government funding or use their course as evidence of prior learning to access midwifery courses. Feedback has been hugely positive.
Babywearing still isn’t yet fully ‘mainstream’. For this reason, the School of Babywearing™ is a social enterprise, the profits generated are used to promote the benefits of babywearing to parents and professionals. For example, we have given away over 5,000 copies of our free babywearing guide. The leaflet is also distributed by the NCT to reach even more families.
With courses being added regularly to our calendar and plans well under way for the 2013 European Babywearing Conference, it’s certainly a busy time for the School of Babywearing!
Lactivist SponsorsThe School of Babywearing are a social enterprise which aims to share information about the use of slings and baby carriers. As well as offering training courses in Babywearing Peer Support and Babywearing Consultancy, they use their profits to produce free resources to help parents and parents-to-be find out about the benefits and practicalities of babywearing. They also have resources pages which provide unbiased information and we put parents in touch with the local sling meets, groups, libraries and consultants in their area
Lactivist Sponsors pay to advertise on www.lactivist.net from as little as £5 a month and this helps towards the running costs of keeping www.lactivist.net online. Without the sponsors there would be no Lactivist!
Do you have a keen interest in babywearing – carrying children in a baby sling or carrier?
Are you a health professional working with pregnant mothers or new parents?
Do you run a sling business or teach parents how to carry their baby?
Then the first European Babywearing Conference taking place in Bristol on July 6-7th 2013 is an event you won’t want to miss. The conference will:
Provide continuing education and networking opportunities for parents and professionals interested in babywearing,
Promote safe, comfortable babywearing to parents, health and parenting professionals,
Promote babywearing businesses and their products and services.
Parents, pregnant mums, health care professionals, birth professionals, grandparents, siblings – anyone with an interest in carrying babies is welcome. Whether you are an experienced babywearer or have never used a baby carrier before, there will be something to learn and experience.
Take a peek at the list of planned workshops: babywearing 101, toddlerwearing 101, emergency babywearing, sling dance and fitness, babywearing for dads, tandem babywearing, setting up a sling library and becoming a babywearing consultant, using slings for labour & birth, babywearing research, baby massage, advanced wrapping, kangaroo care, babywearing & breastfeeding, babywearing in special situations (babies & parents with special needs), make your own slings, and make a babywearing doll.
There will be an exhibition of babywearing-related products for babies and families. Tickets go on sale in January 2013 and demand is expected to be high. To be sure to get yours, you can sign up for the newsletter or like the Facebook page. We’ll be publishing information for affordable transport and accommodation options, and other travelling tips.
We have several volunteer opportunities, from event management to PR and marketing. If you live in the Bristol area and are happy to help, get in touch with us too. If you have a sling or family-friendly business, we have several sponsorship packages which might be of interest. Again, demand is high so do get in touch soon.
We look forward to seeing you in Bristol in July! Let the fun begin.
Lactivist SponsorsThe School of Babywearing are a social enterprise which aims to share information about the use of slings and baby carriers. As well as offering training courses in Babywearing Peer Support and Babywearing Consultancy, they use their profits to produce free resources to help parents and parents-to-be find out about the benefits and practicalities of babywearing. They also have resources pages which provide unbiased information and we put parents in touch with the local sling meets, groups, libraries and consultants in their area
Lactivist Sponsors pay to advertise on www.lactivist.net from as little as £5 a month and this helps towards the running costs of keeping www.lactivist.net online. Without the sponsors there would be no Lactivist! This month our featured sponsor is The School of Babywearing and we will have all of October to find out more about them which is perfect because it is the same month International Babywearing Week is held in.
Introducing the Babywearing Peer Support Training
There are several babywearing training courses available to people who would like to further their knowledge about carrying babies and children. We often get asked what the Babywearing Peer Support course entails so here is a bit more information:
Who is the Babywearing Peer Support training for?
Parents wanting to use a baby sling with their child,
People who give out information about slings through groups such as Sling Meet, sling libraries, antenatal classes, and postnatal groups.
Who is the course outline?
Practical Skills of Babywearing
Sling safety and checking slings for wear and tear
Using a range of slings and baby carriers to meet individual needs
Benefits and potential disadvantages of different types of slings for specific parents’ needs
How long is the course?
The course is a Level 2 course of ten hours. After attending a one-day workshop, you will need to complete a short amount of coursework.
What can I do with this qualification?
The Peer Support Training course is designed for people who give out information to groups. You may decide to run a sling library and you will be bale to access insurance via our Sling Library insurance scheme after completing this course. If you’d like to offer one-to-one consultations, you should consider attending Babywearing Consultancy training course. If you are relatively new to babywearing, we recommend that you start with the Peer Support training course. Once you have built-up more experience, you can attend the Consultancy course.
Where is the next training course?
You can view the list of upcoming babywearing courses on the School of Babywearing website. We continually add more training courses to our list, so be sure to sign up for the newsletter so that we can let you when a new course is added.
I can’t find a course near me?
Just email us: enquiries@schoolofbabywearing.com and we will do our best to organise a course in your area. Did you know that some of our courses have affordable accommodation nearby? Contact us for details
Can I bring my baby?
Babies are always welcome on our courses. If you have a moving baby or toddler, it may be easier if you can bring along another adult to help occupy them. But if this isn’t possible, do let us know as we may be able to find a venue that offers childcare.
Lactivist SponsorsThe School of Babywearing are a social enterprise which aims to share information about the use of slings and baby carriers. As well as offering training courses in Babywearing Peer Support and Babywearing Consultancy, they use their profits to produce free resources to help parents and parents-to-be find out about the benefits and practicalities of babywearing. They also have resources pages which provide unbiased information and we put parents in touch with the local sling meets, groups, libraries and consultants in their area
Lactivist Sponsors pay to advertise on www.lactivist.net from as little as £5 a month and this helps towards the running costs of keeping www.lactivist.net online. Without the sponsors there would be no Lactivist! This month our featured sponsor is The School of Babywearing and we will have all of October to find out more about them which is perfect because it is the same month International Babywearing Week is held in.
Every year, families around the world get together to celebrate ‘International Babywearing Week‘. What is it, you might ask? And why the need to celebrate what is actually something simple: carrying your child? Is there anything novel about that?
For thousands of years, women carried their babies everywhere: in the house, at work, outside… It was the best – and possibly the only way – to keep them safe and warm. Then it became usual to place babies in various contraptions away from their mothers – from buggies to car seats, rocking chairs, cots, even walkers. As usual with these things, you might have noticed that the tide is turning. More and more parents (re)-discover that it is practical and convenient to carry their baby. And it is actually a good thing.
Parents can be at a loss to understand their newborn. Why is he fussing? Is he hungry, tired, does he need a clean nappy? Carrying your baby close helps you understand his signs much quicker, establishing the early foundations of communication and satisfying his needs before he gets to the full-on cries. A much nicer experience for the whole family.
The extra cuddles and closeness give the baby just the reassurance he needs to transition from the womb to the ouside world. It can be bright and noisy out there but snuggled up against mummy or daddy’s chest, it’s alright. The closeness allows baby to sense his parents’ reactions much better and gradually makes sense of his experiences.
If you have to be separated from your baby for work or other reasons, carrying him closely in a baby sling while you are with him – perhaps on the way to nursery – is a good way to catch up on closeness. It is also true for working fathers who might not be able to see their little one as much as they want during the week. A baby sling is not just for parents: try lending a baby carrier to your childminder and show her how you use it. She will be able to comfort your baby throughout the day even if she has other children to care for.
‘Babywearing’ is not just for newborns and babies. There are numerous child carriers designed to fit toddlers. They allow you to carry your child right up to about 20kg (45lb). You can help him catch a nap on your back in the middle of a busy day, or encourage him to walk independently knowing that if he gets too tired, you can pop him on your back. A baby sling is a good way to keep young children safe in busy surroundings – at the market or when you’re travelling on public transport for example. Perched on your back, they have a good view of their surroundings (probably less scary that if they were much lower on the ground, surrounded by what must surely seem like giants!).
So why celebrate International Babywearing Week? Because parents all around the world are choosing to parent their children a different way, a way that suits the whole family. Because carrying their baby or their toddler in a comfortable baby carrier allows parents to live the life they want to live with their child.
Close Enough to Kiss is the UK’s first babywearing magazine, crammed full of everything you want to know about slings. Babywearing is very important to us and by helping libraries purchase more carriers, we can spread the word of how great babywearing is. Our magazine will be a quarterly publication and will be sold in sling libraries as well as online. We are UK babywearing community based so the articles you read will have been written by those who babywear on a daily basis, we involve the community as much as we can and strive for a magazine that is not only easy to read but will appeal to everyone from every walk of life, in the hope we can enable more families to babywear.
Babywearing is a growing trend, even celebrities are becoming wise to the positive impact it can have on their lives. Close enough To Kiss Magazine was created along side Sling Libraries within the UK, to bring together their collective knowledge and experience, with news and reviews on everything babywearing.
Babywearing has gained popularity in recent years and as the ability to purchase carriers has increased, so has the thirst for knowledge by mothers.
Across the UK every month a new sling library is started and currently stands at a little under 100 active libraries, this isn’t including the growing number of sling meets, where mother’s interested in babywearing gather for peer to peer support from like minded women. Close Enough To Kiss has been produced for mothers interested in reading about babywearing, to help them integrate it into their daily lives, giving stories of other baby wearers, reviews, safety advice as well as news from across the UK sling libraries community. Helping get mothers back to the roots of having their baby Close enough to Kiss!
Arabella Greatorex from the Natural Nursery -( fantastic Lactivist Sponsors!) has chosen the Boba Baby wrap as one of her top picks, this is why:
Stretchy wrap baby sling for premature/birth to toddler (35lbs)
Care Instructions – Shopping Bag 
Mummy Milk Rocks – Shopping Bag 
Any Old Cow – Shopping Bag 
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