23/06/2017
Carrying.
It’s easy to describe the actual act; it’s a much more complex affair to express its meaning.
It can mean different things to different people, and people carry their babies for many different reasons.
From the start to the end, carrying is love. It’s about family, bonding, togetherness, but not just the act of being together - it’s a deeply profound, as-one togetherness. It’s a secure attachment, borne of the sharing of experiences and emotions found in the every day.
Even on the hardest days, when the parenting journey seems to have taken a disastrously wrong turn (you know, those days), carrying is love. You’re picking up your baby, responding to their needs, bringing them to your body and exchanging warmth and touch. In that one act there’s a message of respect and understanding. It also means you can drink that cup of tea whilst it’s still hot - bonus!
Carrying isn’t done by any particular type of person. Carrying is human. Perhaps in carrying, we’re not just building deep connections with our children, but with our own humanity too.
If you’re considering carrying your baby in a sling, do. The support and information is out there to help you. Reach out to your local sling library, or sling group, in person or online. There are lots of wonderful Carrying Consultants across the country with the experience and knowledge to help you carry safely, comfortably, and with confidence.
When you use a sling bonds are built and solidified between baby and all who carry them. These shared bonds connect us all, they help build a sense of family, community and in turn help make the world a better place.
Because carrying is love.
