SnuggleBub Babywearing

Problem: bub is hungry and miss 3 wants to keep looking at animals at the zoo

Why not do both?

Solution: carrier feed for bub while walking around the zoo

Bubs with reflux are often more comfortable and less distressed when being held upright. A good carrier can support this upright position which can reduce regurgitation and discomfort, and a carrier that supports a spread squat (“M” shaped) position of the legs helps aid bowel movements by helping to relax the puborectalis muscle

When you have serious FOMO but the sleepy dust in the carrier becomes too irresistible 😴😴

Let’s talk safety. Keeping bub safe is important, and a simple way to do this is by following the T.I.C.K.S guidelines.

T = Tight
I = (face) In view at all times
C = Close enough to kiss
K = Keep chin off their chest
S = Supported back

Check out the “safety” highlights for more info about each section of the acronym.

(TICKS guidelines used with permission from the UK Sling Consortium)

Wondering what happens in a comprehensive appointment?

These 90 minute appointments are tailored to individual needs so can be quite varied, but for someone new to babywearing they generally look a bit like the following:

We start off by finding out a bit about yourself and bub, if you’ve had any previous babywearing experience (and if so – how that went), why you want to babywear, personal factors that might impact carrier choice and if others will also be likely to use the carrier to wear bub.

We then go through the TICKS principles of safe babywearing before I give you a brief overview of different types of carriers (buckle carriers, meh dai’s, half buckle carriers, woven and stretchy wraps, and rings slings).

The majority of the time is then dedicated to you having the opportunity to select and trial some different types of carriers from my collection. I have weighted demo dolls that you will use initially. This gives you the opportunity to get a good feel for what carrier(s) you like the most and gain confidence in how to put on and take off without the fear of ‘getting it wrong’ with your actual bub. Demo dolls are also great because even the most patient bub gets overwhelmed by being taken in and out of toooo many carriers.
Once we have narrowed down your preference to 1 or 2 carriers, you can then try them on with bub. Throughout this, I make sure you are familiar with the different features of your preferred carrier and ultimately feel confident and comfortable in using it

Got any questions or want to book? Send me a DM! This also makes for an AMAZING baby shower gift 😉

Half Buckle and Meh Dai Carriers

What are they?
- A Meh Dai is an asian carrier that originated from China and has been used as much of the inspiration for the layout of modern day buckle carriers. It has the outline of a structured carrier (back panel, waist straps/ties and shoulder straps) but is made with woven fabric. This makes it very easy to use like a soft structured carrier but gives that comfort and moldability of a Woven Wrap.
- A half buckle carrier is similar to a meh dai, it has a back panel and shoulder straps but the waist band is secured by a buckle instead of by tying. A less common alternative for a half buckle is with a tie waist band and buckles on the shoulder straps.

Pros:
- Easy to get the perfect fit for multiple wearers as the straps mould to the wearers each time without having buckles and straps to adjust
- Generally comfortable for extended periods of time
- Can front and back carry
- Cooler option due to breath ability of woven fabric
- Most half buckle carriers have a buckle at the waist for quick and easy use
- Most are suitable to use from 3/3.5kg- 15/20kg (check with manufacturer for product specific upper and lower weight limits)

Cons:
- Some people find it hard to get the waist band tight enough to sit comfortable without slipping down when using a meh dai (not usually an issue with a half buckle with buckle on the waist strap and practice definitely helps with this)
- Longer shoulder straps can drag on the ground and get wet/dirty

Features to look for:
- Built in height and width adjustment of the back panel will ensure a good fit and optimal positioning as bub grows
- Some have padded shoulder straps which some people prefer and others hate - try some on to work out your personal preference!

Help! My neck or back gets sore when I use my carrier!

Often there are adjustments that can be made to how you are wearing your carrier that can make a massive difference in your comfort, or you may find a different style of carrier is better suited to your needs.

Want help to troubleshoot the difficulties? DM me or email [email protected] to book in for a consult

With the weather warming up here in Perth, you might be starting to think “Can I still babywear in summer? Will bub get too hot?”

In short - yes, you can still generally still babywear even in hot weather. Babywearing can get hot though - remember you have another body pressed up against your body but there are a range of things to keep in mind that can help keep bub and yourself cooler (scroll back through previous posts to find tips for this or comment below and I’ll find the post and tag you in it).

A ring sling like in these photos is a very popular choice especially for summer babywearing . The woven fabric is wonderfully breathable, there is only a single layer of fabric over bub, and without a waistband there is less of the carrier on you as well. It gets bonus points for being suitable for both little bubs and bigger kids too!

Babywearing can help with sharing our calm 💕