Black Babywearing Week 17th-24th June 2019 – UK Launch

Off the back of my interview with Mars Lord where we discussed inclusivity within the western babywearing world , you would have picked up on my passion to celebrate and raise awareness of Black Babywearing Week here in the UK. This week Mars and I have been discussing our intentions to run a UK branch alongside the founders of the movement stateside. And so, with only a few days of preparation and working tirelessly behind the scenes to bring you awesome content, brand contributions and giveaways, we cannot wait to bring you Black Babywearing Week UK 17th – 24th June 2019.

To kick off our launch, below is a quick introduction to the team behind the UK branch as well as our plans for the week ahead .

Mars Lord – Abuela Doula

When my first child was born, I knew that I wanted to carry him in a sling. I don’t know what it was that made me feel that but it was a desire inside me. I bought a Baby Bjorn and proudly carried my son.

As a Jamaican woman, I did not know about the traditions of African baby carrying, even though I had seen it around. When I think about it, I realise that the traditional ways to carry babies were taken from us, generations ago and so as a result they had been lost to me.

For me the best thing about baby carrying was following my instinct to keep my baby close, despite friends laughing at me for not following current trends.

I would use my sling whether I was home or out. I loved it. I carried my next two children as well. It was so useful when I had a toddler and a baby. Much easier than a double buggy.

My one regret with my twin babies was that I didn’t know it was possible to carry twins. But we work with what we know.

Dani This Woman’s Word (Me)

Cira 2016 when my Firstborn entered this world I was an exhausted, sleep deprived first time mother who noticed during the newborn days, my exclusively breastfed Son did not want to be put down at all and only wanted to be held by me.

The first first few months were a haze, often spent indoors in my bedroom, on the bed. Nothing was getting done around the house as Eco was constantly in my arms. So I sought a solution and came across Babywearing.

I began to wear him in my first wrap, a close caboo courtesy of Close Parent aged 3 months and that’s where my Babywearing journey began. Eco is now 3.3 years old and still occasionally requests to be carried if tired or just wants a hug / piggy back.

It’s also a fantastic parenting tool when big emotions are expressed and used as a ‘time in’ to calm down. I also have a 1 year old daughter (Fleur) and she has been worn since birth. To date she still sleeps in her carrier during daytime naps.

I LOVE the practicality of wearing my children. They are happy and content because it is reassuring and calming for them… Its their safe place in this big world that they are still making sense of.

And I’m happy because it allows me to get on with the day whilst being hands free. I can breastfeed discreetly and be more responsive to their needs.

But most of all, I LOVE that Babywearing has given them the benefit of seeing their world at head height. Being exposed to everyday life at our level has enhanced their communication and honesty believe it has greatly helped their development.

Jozan Plus 3

I’m a mum of three and I never really knew about baby wearing with my first two children. Between having my second and third child, I trained to become a midwife. It was during this time and my early career as a community midwife that I would see the odd woman wearing her baby.

This lead me to look into Babywearing more and I happened to find a little book called why baby wearing matters by Dr Rosie Knowles and it all made sense. I decided that if I ever had another baby I would definitely baby wear.

When I was pregnant with my third baby I went to a information session at my local library. Feeling inspired after the visit the hunt was then on to find the perfect wrap that was within my budget.

I brought a beautiful rainbow woven wrap and I started wearing my daughter when she was about five weeks old both for the practical and physiological benefits.

Having three children is hard work and being able to have my hands free to see to the other children really helped but it also helped the school run be a breeze as we live on the second floor and it meant I didn’t have to carry a buggy up and down two flights of stairs.

I loved my experience of baby wearing so much that I started volunteering at my local library and
was able to complete my peer support training and I’m really enjoying helping families find the right sling for them.

Ilhan – Mataanolife

I’m a babywearing peer supporter, mother of 2 year old twin girls and a paediatric doctor. Babywearing was a lifeline for my family in the sleep deprived whirlwind of raising twins!

It gave me my hands back to carry one baby and keep them content while changing the nappy of another, breastfeed on the go or just to enjoy a cup of tea!

I wanted to share this amazing parenting tool with other caregivers as it was so transformative for my family, so became a peer supporter at Sheffield Sling Surgery and became exposed to the wonderful babywearing community.

Now that I have two increasingly independent toddlers we aren’t carrying as often but it always puts a smile on my face to see people of all backgrounds carrying and connecting with the child

Follow Us!!!

Now you are familiar the faces behind the UK movement of Black Babywearing Week 2019, we look forward to sharing awesome content, brand interviews and the odd giveaway via my blog, Black Babywearing Week UK Instagram so do make sure you are following us!

While you’re at it, please ensure you also follow Black Babywearing Week, as after all, it our cousins state side that inspired us to join forces and have a UK branch to raise awareness when it comes to Black Babywearing.

Donations Welcome

To conclude, if you are a brand or individual that would like to contribute to Black Babywearing Week UK 2019 by offering donation of a wrap, sling or carrier, free sling hire at your library setting or to simply give us permission to use your images and stories across our platforms please get in touch by emailing us via blackbabywearingweekuk@gmail.com