Getting out with a baby: finding freedom

It feels like a long time has passed - so many things have happened since then - but it's just a few months since I acknowledged having suffered post-natal depression over the last few years.

When I wrote about that, specifically when I researched how to prevent it happening this time around, the psychologist's words that still ring in my ears are: "It's now familiar; (those who have suffered before) know what to look out for and to ask for help earlier.” I've given this a lot of thought. What were the things that made me depressed? And most importantly, what can I do to make my life better? Make me happier?

The one big feeling I had during that time was of being trapped. I felt like so many choices were taken away from me and I was trapped in a life that I was losing control over. Literally trapped in the house.

And so it is that now, whenever I think "I can't" or start to feel anxious about doing something - I go ahead and do it anyway. Conversely, if I think "I'd really like to do that" - I go and do it. I'm not trapped. I'm free. Two kids in tow, yes, but not chained to the house.

Walking is my sanity saver. It clears my head, breaks up the mundane day-to-day rituals of life with a newborn, and gives me some space to think. It gives me the chance to chat with Steve and Abbey, too, and it's during our walks that we really connect as a family. Away from gadgets and televisions and toys, we talk. We listen. We solve all the problems of our world.

When baby Iris was born we had to come up with a way to make walking still possible - on our terms. When and where we want to go. Pushers don't cover many of those terms of ours: where we live there are many hills, lots of roads without footpaths, and a national park that we love to explore; and where we go on mini-breaks there are always rough tracks to be trodden. Extra props would be required in order to accommodate this baby.

Baby carriers. The whole thing can be pretty confusing! and we ended up trying most of the big names on the market, with thanks to loans from friends, and shops who let us return things we ended up hating once we actually had the baby in them.

Our criteria ended up being: something safe and comfortable for the baby; comfortable for both Steve and I to walk with; easy to use; one that allows the baby to look around; and not too bulky or heavy.

We soon had our answer, and we were just tossing up between a new or second-hand Baby Bjorn carrier when, in a case of supremely great timing, I was asked if I'd like to write about one here on the blog.

Comfortable for baby? Tick!

It's this, the Baby Bjorn Miracle Carrier, that fit all our criteria. It's safe in terms of materials (BPA free), comfortable for Iris, carries her in a good position that fits with the hip and posture research we did, and is comfortable and supportive for both Steve and me (even on longer distances). It's easy - it only took me a minute or two to have her in it after I opened the box - and it's light which makes it good to carry and simple to pack when we go away.

And it's this that has allowed me to have some freedom. Since her birth I've been bushwalking, camping and sightseeing, doing tasks around home (like helping at kindergarten, supermarket shopping, walking with Abbey) more easily, and I've been able to take on some work that involves me taking photos for publications, knowing the baby will be sleeping soundly while I have my hands free.

It's helped - and is helping - me be active again.

The right attitude and the right props.

Free.

Sightseeing in Walhalla

Disclosure: I received a Baby Bjorn Miracle carrier to review, I was engaged by Digital Parents Collective for Baby Bjorn, and have been paid for writing this post (for my time, not my opinion; I was very clearly asked for my honesty). I accepted this as my first sponsored post in a long time as I like the product, we really use it, I felt it fit with where my blog is at, and knew I could write a post that would be enjoyable to read (I hope you agree!).