Babywearing is the act of carrying your baby close but it doesn’t have to mean just carrying your baby. It can be a toddler or even a pre-schooler. There is no time limit on how long you can carry your child for. The only limits are you and your child. The library has the motto: “helping the North East to carry their babies big and small” and we have slings which are suitable across all age ranges. As surprising as it might be, some of our most popular slings are for big kids.
So why carry a big kid? Well, even the most avid walkers’ legs get tired. Our big kid carries are always popular and often with people who haven’t used a sling since their big kid was small – thinking that they were now too big to be carried. If you think this is the case, you simply haven’t found the right carrier.
Big kid slinging is great but if your child has not been carried in a sling since they were little they may take a short period to adjust to being worn. I make a game of it when I carry my ‘I don’t want a carry’ 2.5year old or ask him if he wants a piggy back. I have also found that since Master H has watched me carry Master I since just a few hours hold he wants me to carry him – call it sibling rivalry or jealousy. Also when Master H is ill he wants to snuggle up on mummy’s back and will go to the wrap cupboard and select a sling himself and ask for ‘up’.
So remember you simply have not found the right carrier if you think that you can’t carry anymore. Yes your child may want to walk but a sling is a lot easier to transport than a buggy for that ‘just in case’ moment. So if you want to carry your big kid, what exactly is stopping you? There is nothing better than being at adult height to be able to engage in conversation.
- Select the right size sling – squashing pre-schooler into a standard size sling although doable won’t necessarily be comfortable for either of you.
- Make it a game
- If unsettled, go for a walk – this tip goes for little ones too. The change of scenery will help distract them.
- It is never too late to start
- There is no reason to stop – you simply need to find the right carrier
- Visit your local sling library, sling meet or arrange a one to one consultation to help find the right sling.
www.northeastslinglibrary.co.uk
www.ukslinglibraries.co.uk – To find a sling library near your
www.slingmeet.co.uk – To find your local sling meet.
www.babi.me.uk – To find your local consultant