Having a dog as well as a small baby is a massive extra challenge and a huge blessing. Thankfully my husband's job usually allows him to walk her before work because the thought of having to take her out every day would be daunting. That means that when I do take her out I can really enjoy it.
As soon
as you're expecting a baby everybody immediately seems to be falling over
themselves to tell you how difficult it is, how you'll never be able to
do anything again, how you wont be able to do anything you want to. It was
one of the things I really disliked when I was pregnant, particularly as I'd
waited so long to for it, people seemed to think I hadn't thought about how it
would change my life. Of course it is an enormous challenge, sleep deprivation,
a baby that refuses to be put down, trying to work out why on earth they're
crying, weeks when you don't have an evening with your husband because you're
upstairs trying to settle the baby. It is hard but it is not horrible and it is
perfectly possible to still enjoy and embrace life, in fact I enjoy it and
embrace far more than I did before.
Adventures in Baby Wearing
I
genuinely do not understand how anybody can be a parent without using a
sling. It has been an absolute necessity in my first 6 months of
parenting. I wouldn't say I'm a die-hard attachment parent who feels
that their baby needs to be attached to them 24hrs a day but I would definitely
say I lean towards attachment parenting. I get why new-born babies don't
want to put down and need to be kept really close and I think it's my job as a
parent to respond to that and cope with it rather than try to find ways to
train it out of her. If you're expecting a baby it's worth having
a read about 'The Fourth Trimester' which really helps to explain why the
emotional needs of a new-born baby are as important as their physical needs, this article from the Huffington Post is a really
great place to start.
So for me having
a decent sling or 2 has been a parenting essential item. When Jem was
tiny I carried her in a stretchy caboo wrap and as she's got bigger I've used
my gorgeous Connecta carrier. If you're interested in buying a sling many
areas have a sling library where you can hire out slings to try before you buy
and get advice and support, there's also lots of facebook groups that are really helpful. I'd really recommend this rather than just buying a
cheapy one from a baby superstore as often these aren’t very comfortable for parent or Baby and could really put you off the whole idea of baby wearing.
The benefits of babywearing are demonstrated by the fact that I'm actually standing here writing this while hands free breastfeeding Jemima in the sling.
Freedom
Getting out and about and taking advantage of the freedom that a sling gives you has made a massive difference to my ability to enjoy the first 6 months of parenting. When I'm really tired or I'm going mad from being stuck in the house just popping Jemima in the sling and taking the dog our for a walk has been so therapeutic. Being out in the fresh air and clearing my head has really helped me keep perspective and appreciate every little joy and challenge of being a parent and conversely being a parent has helped me to focus on enjoying the beauty of things around me.
I don't want to belittle many of the difficulties and lows that people go through as parents but as a starting point if you're expecting a baby try not to buy into the expectation of negativity, yes it is a challenge but it's the kind of challenge that isn't just there to be fought through and overcome but to be embraced and enjoyed along the way. Though of course if you are really struggling after having a baby make sure you seek help and supoort. Here's just a few snaps from my latest ramblings.
