Sling it, Mama! #2 Guest Post: Boba 4G

On Tuesday, Chantelle compared wraps and mei tais for the babywearing series. Today, our second guest blogger Donna is raving about her Boba 4G carrier - thanks Donna! 

I only carried my first child, LP, in a carrier a handful of times - I found it easier to use a pushchair, somewhere to put the change bag above anything else! But since having my Little Man I have found babywearing invaluable.

I had two children 20 months apart and the eldest was new to walking so I looked for any ways to make my life easier. During pregnancy we bought a huge monster of a double buggy but when we started to use it as a double I found it so cumbersome - It wouldn't fit in the car boot unless I took all the wheels and footmuffs off and it didn't fit through our doorways at home. To make things easier I started to only use the double buggy when I was walking somewhere from home - About once a week, and the rest of the time I would drive somewhere and take a single pushchair and carry Little Man in my Close Caboo.

Unfortunately though Little Man got too big for the Caboo very quickly so I borrowed a friend's Ergo and then was sent the Boba 4G to review - I haven't looked back! In hindsight I think I would still choose the Close Caboo from newborn as I love the stretchy wrap style but the Boba 4G is definitely my carrier of preference for long term usage.

The Boba 4G is a structured baby carrier that has multiple straps and toggles to make sure that it fits you and your baby perfectly. It is suitable from 7lbs onwards and comes with a newborn insert to use when your baby is tiny - I know many other carrier manufacturers charge extra for a newborn insert. The Boba 4G also has a detachable hood to protect your baby from the elements but also to give it some support when sleeping and a high back makes it incredibly supportive when carrying your baby at any time.

A few things that I love about the Boba 4G compared to other carriers are mainly the little details - It has a clip on the shoulder to attach your bag strap, camera strap or baby toys so that they don't fall off your shoulder. Detachable foot straps are included to give your child's legs support as they get bigger and the whole carrier is incredibly easy to put on and adjust by yourself. I honestly have nothing negative to say about the Boba 4G and if you're looking for a carrier that will last from newborn all the way into toddlerhood then the Boba 4G may well be for you!

At times babywearing has saved my sanity, it's let Little Man sleep whilst I have my hands free to look after his sister and it's made shopping trips and running errands so much easier. There have been times where I don't know what I would have done without a baby carrier!

Donna blogs at http://redheadbabyled.com, and you can also find her on Facebook and Twitter - Do pay her and visit and give her some love!  

Guest post - Life Before Kids

It's an honour to have Rachel from activities4kidz here today guest posting while I'm out of action and I'm really grateful to her for taking the time to pen something for me. Today she's reflecting on how life has changed for her since having kids. There's certainly plenty here that I can relate to!

 

In my life before kids (now known as LBK), I was a twenty something primary school teacher who spent a fortune on clothes, shoes and nights out! I lived at home with my parents until I was twenty six weeks pregnant with our first, Harrison, so had no responsibilities! Now, with two boys under three, my life couldn't be any more different - and I wouldn't change it for the world! Seeing what my childless friends on Facebook are up to though made me think about LBK and what I miss most.

1) Sleep! I've gone now almost three years without a full, decent night's sleep. Harrison started sleeping through at seven months, by which point I was pregnant with Alex, and who sleeps the whole night when they're pregnant?! Alex is fifteen months old and is yet to sleep through. He rarely sleeps more than two or three hours at a time. Yawn....

2) Alcohol! The thought of going and queuing and paying for nightclub priced alcohol sounds like my worst nightmare these days, but what I'd give to go to the pub or have a glass (or bottle!) or three of wine at a friends house! I still breastfeed Alex so a big drinking session is out of the question. A glass of wine at home occasionally is about as much as it gets!

3) Drinking a hot drink whilst it's hot! 80% of the time my coffee is stone cold, or at best lukewarm by the time I've remembered it or had chance to drink it, and microwaved coffee is vile!!

4) Wearing clothes not covered in snot/milk/sick/good/other unknown substance! Yes, I've succumbed to the typical slummy mummy uniform of leggings and long tops, because after ten minutes whatever I wear is covered in something, and leggings don't need ironing!!

5) Listening to inappropriate music! I love hip hop, rap, rock - all full of sweary inappropriateness. I used to love blasting it out in the car. Now it's more likely to be Gangnam Style or the Hokey Cokey on repeat.

However, I have swapped those days for days full of giggles, cuddles, sloppy kisses and 'love you mummy'. I get to cuddle up to little warm bodies, see their faces light up when they discover something as simple as their own shadow, heat their little chatter about everything and anything, and that is more amazing than anything in my LBK.

Visit my blog http://activities4kidz.wordpress.com to see all the things we do at home, or follow me on twitter @activities4kidz

My Petit Canard: Breastfeeding Stories

Revisiting an old post today over at My Petit Canard as part of her Breastfeeding Stories blog series.

Preparing, greeting and beyond

Lots of guest posting for me during December, which is such a pleasure!

Today I'm absolutely over the moon to be over at The Oliver's Madhouse, talking about my top ten things I wish I'd known as a first time parent.

Baby movements - Friday's Thoughts are elsewhere.

This week I'm thrilled to be blogging as a a guest over at Wriggly Rascals about baby movements with some tips about what to do to get your baby moving.

I'd love it if you could pop over and have a read, and maybe even share your experiences of baby movement too.

Happy Friday!

I'm not here today...

Instead you can find me here...

http://www.kiddycharts.com/parenting-tips/preparing-baby-two/?fb_action_ids=618937135542&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%5B1383340068573169%5D&action_type_map=%5B%22og.likes%22%5D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D

...where I'm talking about preparing for baby number 2.

I'll be back soon!

Father's Day Guest Post

I write about serious stuff. Soppy stuff. Sentimental stuff. I enjoy reading this stuff too. But I also love reading the more light hearted stuff that my fellow bloggers write, especially when it comes to parenting. A few weeks ago, I stumbled across Dad Man Talking's blog and literally wept with laughter. I regularly check in on his posts now and they never fail to entertain. 

I'm absolutely chuffed to be able to host him over here today with a Father's day special, which had me chuckling over my coffee this morning...

*****

I have been kindly asked to do a guest blog for the lovely Thursday's Child on Father's Day. I figured that most of her readers will be mums, so I thought it was only right that I should give you all a few essential hints about what Dads actually want on this special day. 

Firstly - and this is very important - we do not want breakfast in bed made by small inept chefs. The perfect start to the day is not coffee made with cold water and four heaped spoonfuls of Gold Blend rounded off with a foosty bap from the back of the breadbin smeared with something that might or might not be marmite. When we smile and say "This is the best breakfast I've ever had," I'll give you a hint. We are lying.

Honestly, a nice slice of toast will do. 

Next, Father's Day gifts. No matter what they have told you, we do not want compilation CDs with stupid dad names like "Daddy Cool" or "Dad Gets his Funk On" or "Music For Dads to Listen to on the Car Stereo as They Sob Gently in the Pub Car Park Thinking of their Lost Youth". 

I'm being serious. We don't want that. We know what music we like. We've spent decades building up out CD collections - they are extensions of our very selves. And we do not need anyone else giving us crap compilations that will contaminate it. The CDs will end up on charity shop shelves faster than a dead man's suit. 

Nor do we want golf equipment. We are dads now and we will never, ever find the time to golf again. Not until we are retired and our bodies so ravaged by time and gardening that we will barely be able to lift a club. That packet of tees the kids bought us only serves to remind us of our childless friends striding down fairways in the evening sunshine. 

What we really want of course is a shed of our own. Just a small shed where we can retreat to away from the kids. That's what we really want for Father's Day - somewhere we can get away from them. A little space with a radio and some woodworking tools and maybe a bottle or two of strong beer. 

Happy Father's Day!

You can find my regular blog at www.dadmantalking.com or follow me on twitter @dad_man_talking 

Felt odd posting without a picture.
Here's E and D enjoying a silly moment recently!