I get asked this question all the time. But unfortunately there is no magic answer or carrier that will suit everyone. The best carrier is one that suits your individual needs. Take this analogy for example: if someone asked you to recommend the best pair of jeans – well this would differ from person to person, the same applies to baby carriers. Some people are not interested in learning to wrap so would prefer more of a click and go type carrier. Some people are on a budget and want something very affordable. Do you plan to wear the carrier for several hours a day or just when you don’t want to lug out your stroller? Do you want to wear right from newborn until preschool years, or just for a short time? These are just some of the questions that could help you to decide which carrier might be the best one for you. If you’re not sure where to start, that’s when hiring a carrier from the sling library can be of great benefit. This way you can try out a few options to see what features are a must for you, and what kind of carrier will best suit your needs.

Congratulations! Now you’re a new parent and all of sudden everyone seems to have an opinion on how you should raise your baby ;-) Sometimes people make comments with the best intentions but not always with the most accurate information. Perhaps someone has said to you that if you hold your baby “too much” that you will be creating a bad habit making ‘a rod for your own back’. However recent brain development research has shown that babies have a physiological and emotional need for loving touch. In Dr Rosie Knowles book “Why Babywearing Matters” she states “Close contact and responsive nurturing does not lead to the clinginess and neediness our society has come to fear, but in fact will guard against it.” (p.31, 2016). When we as parents meet this need for loving touch, then a baby can grow into a trusting, confident, independent child. Babywearing can offer a tool to help parents provide nurturing touch to meet baby’s needs. All babies are unique and their desire/need to be held is more dependent on their temperament. Some babies crave touch almost constantly, while others are content to play and explore for longer without protesting for physical contact. Often it also depends on their developmental stage. Babies experience times of ‘higher needs’, such as during growth spurts, or times of major emotional development or brain growth (for example: during the separation anxiety stage when they begin to understand object permanence). Once this stage has passed usually the child will be happy to be put down again to have more freedom. The latest neuroscience shows that babies who developed a strong sense of attachment early on, showed more signs of being confident and independent as preschoolers. Science really does support a loving responsive parenting style, so you can go ahead and hug your baby and pick them up as often as they need, knowing that you are doing exactly what nature intended. You are developing their sense of trust in the world, helping them to wire their brains to thrive in a complex social world as they grow and become more independent.

To ensure you get the most out of our time together it is helpful if you complete the pre-consultation booking form with as much detail as possible. This will allow me to prepare all relevant equipment for your specific needs. When booking your appointment we can try to aim for a time of day when baby is usually content, eg fed, clean nappy and well rested, however working with children requires flexibility. A consult provides enough time to work around baby’s needs for feeding and settling etc. Please tend to the needs of your child as first priority. I can demonstrate options or discuss safety points etc whilst you tend to baby if required. Weighted demonstration dolls will be available, to allow you to practice techniques and gain confidence before trying with your real baby. This also means that if your baby is sleeping or not able to go into a carrier for whatever reason, that you can still practice/try the carry during your appointment. The appointment (usually 1h15) allows enough time to look at one or two carrier types going over a few different carrying options. After some demonstrations and once you have decided what you are interested in trying, you can then practice the techniques with the dolls. If baby is awake and settled, then we can try the option with your baby, or you can try at home. After the consultation I can email you with links to a video showing similar methods to what we covered to serve as a reminder until you feel confident and familiar with it. I will also be available to answer any questions you have via email.

Yes. You are welcome to bring along your partner/wife/husband etc or another support person at no additional cost. This can be really helpful as someone familiar can hold baby whilst you practice and try out different options. If you have a friend with a baby and you both wish to come along together to learn, then please get in touch as I can offer a special discounted rate for each of you to come together. We may require more time depending on what options you are both interested in. If you have other children you are, of course welcome to bring them along with you. There are plenty of toys available to help keep them occupied whilst we work together.

A standard private consultation costs $40. I aim to keep this service affordable whilst also covering my own costs and time. This one off fee can often save you money in future by helping you find a babywearing option that suits your needs, avoiding spending money on a carrier only to discover that it is not quite right for you. Please note that carriers being hired from the Taupo Sling library are an additional cost. For further details about hire fees read the ‘Sling meet’ FAQ or check out the Taupo Babywearers facebook page. For those who are in a challenging financial situation free advice and support can be sought at the monthly Sling meet. However if you require one on one assistance, do get in touch to discuss your needs with me. Payment can be made either online prior to your consultation or in cash at your appointment. Please contact me for instructions if you wish to pay online.

The non profit group Taupo Babywearers is run by four passionate mothers who want to share their love of babywearing with the community. We hold a main meeting once a month where the Sling library is made available for people to try on carriers and have a look at different options. At the meet you can hire a carrier for a month for $10. This gives you the opportunity to use the carrier at home with your child to test out how it works for you. It gives you a better understanding of what features you like or don’t like in a carrier. You can then return the carrier at (or before) the next sling meet and you may decide to purchase your own carrier (we can point you in the direction of NZ stockists if you wish) or perhaps hire something else to compare. You are also welcome to bring along your own carrier and we can help you with safety, baby positioning, fit, comfort, and troubleshoot any issues you may have. Our volunteers will provide peer level support (mum to mum) to help you on your babywearing journey. It is free to attend the slingmeet, the only cost is if you choose to hire a carrier. Tea and coffee and home baking is also provided. You can also come along to simply get out of the house and meet and connect with other mums and families with young children. Please be aware that Sling meets can get quite busy. We will do our best to help everyone during the meet and this may mean that a volunteer will be demonstrating a technique to a few people at the same time (one on one support may not always be possible). Also due to the limited time available to each person, we often demonstrate options and techniques reasonably quickly. This allows you to see what it possible and then you can practice or research further (we can post tutorial videos on the facebook page if requested) in order to learn the process in more detail. Slingmeets are held on the first Wednesday each month from 10am till 12pm. You are welcome to drop in anytime within that window. However if you are returning a carrier we request that you come at 10am so that others can then try and/or hire the returned carrier at that meet (or simply arrange to return it before the meet). The venue is the function room upstairs in the Taupo Library. The stairs are located beside the toilets and there is a lift if you are coming with a stroller too. To see what carriers are stocked in the Sling library, check out the photo album on the Babywearing Taupo facebook page. If you join the Taupo Babywearers facebook group you can also access the local babywearing online community.

I offer this consultancy service around the needs of my own young family. This means that my active exploring toddler will be present during the consultation or workshop. Therefore I prefer to offer consultations in my own home so that my toddler can play/eat/sleep whilst I attend to your needs. However I understand that it can be a huge challenge to leave the comfort of your own home with a newborn during those first few weeks. If you are not feeling ready to venture out then do get in touch with me to enquire about me coming to your house. A travel fee may apply depending on your location. Also extra time and flexibility may be required to allow me to supervise and settle my child in a new unfamiliar (and possibly not yet babyproofed!) environment.

For this question there is no golden rule that can apply to everyone. There are several different factors to consider. Here are a few things to think about: What kind of carrier do you have? It can be easier/safer to wear small/younger babies on your back in carriers that are less structured and more adjustable such as woven wraps or mei dai style options. Often buckle carriers aren’t able to provide the right support to ensure no slumping to protect baby’s airway. How does your baby’s temperament and developmental stage affect the way you carry them? If your baby is at a stage where he or she wants to push away from you or straighten his or her legs often, this could affect the different options you wish to learn for example. Why do you wish to back carry? There are many reasons parents may feel a need to wear baby on their back. These motivations can make a difference to how and when this milestone is achieved. If baby is curious and wants to see more, perhaps a hip carry could satisfy this need or maybe you want to have your front free so you can do something without baby on your front. What level of experience do you have? Back wrapping is a skill that requires a bit of practice and learning. Some people might not have the confidence or ability to safely manage this until they gain more confidence and skill. These are just examples of a few of the points to consider. Everyone’s situation is unique. It will come down to assessing your own situation to work out when is the right time for you to move baby onto your back. If you are unsure, it can be helpful to talk with a trained consultant or a volunteer at a slingmeet. Once you are ready to learn this new skill, it can also help to have some hands-on help either at consultation or a slingmeet so you can achieve this safely.

Yes, I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have. Feel free to get in touch by email and I'll will do what I can to help you.