baby led weaning: day 8, give peas a chance

Balls and bolognese. I had a go at making some beef meatballs, putting in it some olives, ketchup and cumin. Very tasty and to this added some tomato sauce covered pasta. Lets just say he had sauce on his eye lashes, in his nose and the corner of his eyes!
The meat balls were crumbly so not all that easy to eat, but he had a good go and his pincer grip is greatly improving. I think this is something that can be practiced with foods like peas, sweetcorn and raisins.

He wore this great bib which has a fab plastic pocket and caught almost all of the fallen food! Making it easier to tidy up. Thumbs up for this product.
It was finished off with a lovely bit of soya yogurt and even this went more smoothly with the spoon action (less yogurt was flung over board).

I think I would like to make some hearty muffins next. Hmmm ... maybe with apricot as he does like those.

baby led weaning: battle of the baby corn

Toys to distract and keep them happy

Food is fun! This is definitely the message baby led weaning carries.
Children today struggle with many things as they grow up that children of the past would not have even considered.
Children fight technology to get to play outside as the Internet has made their life more restricting by being very addictive and open to abuse.
Some fight with education, they either don't get the right education and this hinders them or they are put under immense pressure to perform before they are ready.
Some fight against the mould they are often taught to fit into as children ,terrible two's, early sexualisation, the media feeding them images of their idea of perfection.
This can all lead to a very stressed younger generation.
Isn't it great then that we can take the pressure and stress of eating, trying new things and conforming to society's idea of an eating schedule away from weaning?
Some children do not mind being spoon fed but so many parents battle with their children to eat up, try something, not spit it out or just to sit down for dinner. Baby led weaning makes food and time to eat more pleasurable for the child and feeder.
The pressure to eat up or eat a certain amount is taken away. No tricks of trains and aeroplanes have to be played to get baby to open up for the spoon. Baby is trusted to try what they like at the speed they are happy with. They can investigate what goes into their mouths before eating it which is very important in learning to understand and trust foods are good or not so nice. When being spoon fed this exploration is taken away and they often spit foods out to take a look which then upsets the feeder and causes stress.
Yes baby led weaning is messy, but only for a while. This doesn't mean spoon feeding is BAD, but why not give baby led a try you might like it.

We had baby corn, green beans and a slither of organic carrot cake. Guess which went down fastest!
Baby corn needs investigating more as his face screws up each time it touches his lips, but he is not giving up, he kept trying.

cloth nappy: pop-in

Now that the cloth nappy journey has started I fear it will be like my sling addiction, lets try them all!
The pop-in is my second purchase, also secondhand.Colourful soft and definitely more nappy shaped.

Pros:

• cute colours (I have green, orange, blue and white)
• soft on skin
• change sizing birth to bigger as its one size, using poppers
• quick and easy to put on wriggly baby
• reasonably quick dry (I dry hanging by radiator)
• no poo leaks as the nappy has double gusset and good elastic on the waist band 
• not bulky

cons:

• a little small in height on my chunky baby
• not great for night as not easy to put a booster in and still fit his chunky botty
• can only wear for around 2 hours as the dampness then comes through

We are really enjoying these as they are good for the day time as they are not too bulky and quick to put on and they are great for the nappy bag too, nice and compact. Happy I bought them, would recommend these as part of a stash.

sling review: connecta

This pretty carrier has a great following and is very popular. Its simple, pretty and very versatile and when the company was recently in hand over there were many grumbles from women who were desperate to get their hands on one.
Colour:I love the pattern choices and colours of the connecta, I tried the carnival pattern above.
Texture: Its a nice soft strong cotton all over.

Dimensions and support: The connecta is based on the mei tai but has been turned into a ssc. For lovers of the mei tai this is a great quick alternative. It has a nice waist strap which can now also be padded with a separate belt. It is also a lumbar support to make it more comfortable for an extended wear. It has good, slightly padded shoulder straps which are nice and wide and spread the weight nicely. I felt the straps were supportive and the main body was a good shape, but when I tightened the carrier it was not comfortable. It felt like my son was pushed against me with a very straight back. I tried the back carry and this was even more uncomfortable.
Sleep test: Even though the front carry wasn't greatly comfortable my son did fall asleep in it, so maybe he was more comfortable than I was.
Recommend: Some mothers swear by this carrier and so I do believe it works for many, but maybe the fact that my little man is nice and chunky and I don't like feeling restricted means that this carrier just wasn't for us.

This is my personal opinion and every carrier is different for different people depending on body shape and baby shape and size. So I would always recommend seeking out a sling library to try before you buy.

sling review: African baby carrier (ssc)

My Deluxe African baby carrier arrived. The first carrier Ive bought in a while with no try out first.
My local sling library had not heard of it before so I researched myself and found this lovely website and facebook page with pictures and satisfied customer comments. The UK agent was very friendly and helpful in helping me to decide whether the carrier was for me.

www.africanbabycarrier.co.za
http://www.facebook.com/pages/UK-SA-Front-and-Back-African-Baby-Carrier/207521155953216

I was not disappointed. As soon as I got it out I could see how beautiful it was.
Colour: My carrier is green with a lovely brown striped accented pocket and sleep hood and hood straps.
Texture: Its a nice cotton canvas style material which is strong and durable yet soft. The body is not padded so nice and soft on the baby's body.
Dimensions: This is one of my favourite as many carriers are either too narrow, too wide, too short or too high. The body on this carrier is just the right height for my big 6 month old AND there is a fab zip at the base of the body which will allow me to extend it when he gets even bigger. Another fab part is the width as it goes nicely from knee to knee on my son and has soft cuffs to protect his legs. The belt looked very big in pictures but it is close to perfect. I have tried many padded waist belts on carriers and some have buckled under my baby or sat uncomfortably on the unpadded part but the wide belt on this carrier is very snug and comfy. The straps are long enough to be adjusted for male, female and different body sizes. The hood is nicely shaped to hug baby's head and can be adjusted to suit baby's height which I have not seen before in this way. Its lovely. The shoulder straps are in fixed rucksack position.
Support:If you were to use it with a little baby I would look into getting an insert like the one used for the ergo. Ive not tried it but I would investigate whether it would work. For my 6 month old however it is just right. The padded shoulder straps protect me nicely from his weight and the belt seems to help spread the weight well across my hips making my son seem very light, especially in front carry. He is well supported as the seat is deep enough and to make him snug the un-padded part of the shoulder straps can also be tightened.
Sleepy test: He soon fell asleep in the carrier and the hood was perfect to stop his head falling back. The hood straps are nice and long so can be reached easily when doing a back carry.
Recommend: This carrier is definitely worth buying if you are looking for a comfortable, beautiful, 3 months to toddler carrier. It is currently a small company in South Africa with an agent in the UK, but I believe if they traded here they would sell like hot cakes as they have all the good elements from other ssc's put into one.



This is my personal opinion and every carrier is different for different people depending on body shape and baby shape and size. So I would always recommend seeking out a sling library to try before you buy.

cloth nappies: smelly mess or cleaner world?

When I was pregnant I looked into doing things with the green touch, being more nature friendly. I asked around about cloth nappies and the main response I got was 'too messy', 'too smelly' and 'takes up too much time'. So I was thoroughly put off and looked into a more eco throw away nappy.
I did find them and have tried them, but my little man is a big wetter and somehow manages to poo outside his nappy explosively!
I had to think of something else. I looked all over the world of the Internet and came out completely confused! There are so many different styles, sizes, colours and brands that once I thought I liked one I'd read about another.
I contacted a lovely lady called the nappy lady and she helps parents review their needs and recommends nappies at a reasonable price.

http://www.thenappylady.co.uk/ 

She helped guide me in the right direction but I still wasn't ready to commit to a whole collection which is still an investment.
I heard about a website where you could buy secondhand nappies so you wouldn't lose a fortune if it didn't suit you after all.

www.naturalmamas.co.uk

I bought my first lot.

Pros:

• 9 x motherease one size with a couple of easyflow wraps.
• Plain white inner, soft, absorbent, 'bomb proof' and will grow with baby
• the wrap is to stop leakages and works very well and have cute little pictures
• easy to use
• great for night time: I add an extra booster
• easy to wash: I use an extra rinse and then add it to my normal wash with a little powder only as liquid and softener stop absorbency
• if badly stained put them in the sun or dye them! ( a tip I read)

Cons:

• bit bulky
• takes longer to put on as its 2 parts
• not as pretty as others

I have used paper liners but to be honest the pooey nappies have been easy to rinse and the stains have washed out straight away unlike in his old clothes.
I have stored them in a small bin in my bathroom and unless disturbed you don't really smell them. I have washed them every other day as the bin is only small and so is my nappy stash.
I am glad I started with these as they have shown me what my baby needs and as another mama said 'they are essential in a good nappy stash'.

baby led weaning: day 7

We love biscuits! Now I know this might sound like I am turning him into a junk food baby but he really only has one every few days. At our regular sling library group he wolfed down 2 wafer biccies without me noticing. I was checking how much he had dropped and could not find a bit!
It was also good to talk to others about the weaning and was recommended broccoli and on a new facebook page I have joined I had some fabulous comforting messages explaining I should worry a little less and just trust my baby to decide what he can and cant eat. So I went for it, I gave him vege lasagna and although he didn't ingest much I think he at least had fun exploring it. I was going to try potatoes today but he fell asleep early after a long day of whinging, I think he is either growing or teething.
Some new bits recommended to me were:

• sweet potato
• steam veg till softer
• put a hole in your banana ring (like my cucumber)
• cauliflower
• mushing not always needed, just let them explore softened food (steam veg a little longer)

baby led weaning: day 6

It is going well. We ate pasta in sauce and soya yogurt. Both favourites, he gets sad when its finished which is difficult as he doesn't understand when its the end of a meal. Found a great way to give him cucumber as it was very slippery at the start. I have given him a slice instead and made a hole in the middle, like a pineapple ring. Its difficult to think of other things to give to him which he won't struggle with when he has no teeth. Will have to do some research.

Co sleeping- new age or age-less?

 or

When you are planning to bring to this world a new little being you have to consider that they will enter your space, your home,your routine and they will need you for everything. Its hard to imagine that once they arrive they become your life. So now its up to you to decide how much of your life and your space are you willing to dedicate to this little being. Will you work? Will you still go to the gym? Will you use a pram? A new question which is increasing in regularity is will you co-sleep? Share your bedroom, your sleeping space, with your baby.
Many parents are now seeking out things done many years ago and still done across the world which the west seems to have steered away from such as baby wearing, full time breast feeding and co-sleeping. Why is this?

I myself felt that there was another side to motherhood, to parenting. A more natural approach instead of assuming that this little baby would fit into the time table written for it to stick to. Timed feeds, bedtime routines and all attempts made in getting it to be independent as soon as possible. This to me felt a waste of the precious bonding time Allah swt blessed us with in the early stages of this baby's life. I was willing to look into sharing my space with my new baby if this meant he would get a better start in life as I'm sure how his first year goes will affect how he grows and develops. At this point I hadn't thought about sharing my actual bed though, I just wanted to have baby in his basket next to me for as long as possible. Close enough to touch and still leaving me my space to sleep.

The first night in hospital I was so tired but all I kept hearing was a gagging coming from my baby as he was trying to cough up mucus from his little lungs. I was afraid he would choke so I took him and rested him on me. Here I felt I could make sure he was safe,here he fell asleep and soon after so did I. I still wake now and look up to see if baby is OK ( he is 6 months old now)

At home I had set up the basket next to my bed, but when I tried to go to sleep my new mommy instincts kept tingling and this meant moving myself up to see over the edge of the basket. After 2 nights of waking a lot to check if he was OK I gave up. He slept next to me and this way we both got more sleep. I fed comfortably and slept knowing he was safe with just a glance or a feel of his small breath. I never rolled onto him and always knew where he was and you just become aware of your movements so you know he is safe. After 2 weeks however my back ached from laying in one position for so long. So I researched other options,but a bedside cot was too expensive. So with a little DIY we converted a £30 Ikea cot into a bedside cot and haven't looked back since.

My son sleeps next to me, I can see him, smell him and touch him with ease. I only have to sit up to reach and feed him. We both sleep more soundly knowing that we are close. He is not clingy, he goes to sleep before I go to bed and I feel,for me and him this was the best option and I would do it all again in the same way, minus the moses basket. I don't look forward to moving him to his own room. I love having him next to us and would recommend it to anyone.

Below are some good websites with medical, scientific, Islamic and personal opinions which I found useful in helping me feel comfortable in chosing to co-sleep. From the bottom of my heart I hope all mothers feel free to be the mother they want to be and that their babies deserve. Follow nature, follow instinct, follow Allah swt whatever you end up doing let it be out of love and not pressure from others. Please do not feel like you have to follow a strict guide written by those who want baby to suit their lives and desires.

http://www.themodernreligion.com/family/bed.html

http://www.naturalchild.org/guest/tami_breazeale.html

http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/sleep-problems/co-sleeping-yes-no-sometimes

sling review: JPMBB

The stretchy sling you CAN wear with bigger children. When I was looking at wraps I went for a woven one to try as my little man is quite heavy, but then a lovely mama I know introduced me to this stretchy as I think stretchy is still more comfortable. I tried it and was amazed.
Colour: It comes in lovely colours, bright summery or more nuetral. The main part is one colour and the pocket has a lovely accentted colour.
Texture: because it is stretchy its nice and soft on both the wearer and baby. It molds nicely around both bodies unlike a woven which can feel a little stiff at first.
Dimensions: the wrap comes in 3 sizes, long, short and one for dollies ( I love that) Its nice and wide and covers the baby's body wonderfully. It also stretches width ways allowing tightening of the carry on the shoulder (as in the picture)
Support: this is what made me a fan. My big baby was well supported and he felt so light! I had to have one. There are many different carries all supporting well as the cloth is nice and wide.
Sleepy test: this sling has not been tried untill sleepy as I have preferred to unbuckle him to put him down and I haven't worked out how to unwrap him from my back without waking him, but I am sure he would sleep.
UPDATE: We have had a great double hammock back carry this morning and had a nice long nap in it. Comfy for both of us.
Website: (an added one for this carrier) The website is fab! I love the video entrance and tutorial guides. It is clear, fun, funky and very easy to use with google translate (its French)
Recommend: I would and I have recommended this carrier for new wrappers and ones who thought stretchy is only for newborns. If I am blessed with another I will definitely enjoy this sling inshaallah.

This is my personal opinion and every carrier is different for different people depending on body shape and baby shape and size. So I would always recomend seeking out a sling library to try before you buy.

sling review: chunei

When I started baby wearing I looked at everything, the benefits, the disadvantages, colours, padding etc. I found a great website called ihosausa.com and it was selling some lovely looking baby carriers which seemed old and timeless in design but new in style. Its a jacket style and spreads the weight comfortably through the whole carrier and not just over the shoulders. It is designed for the child to sit in a deep pocket seat and is supported with a strap. It can fit small baby, very snuggled and would probably need extra padding up to bigger children.

Colour: lovely prints both feminine and  masculine.
Texture: I have bought a jean style carrier so its a soft jean and wears comfortable and is a nice colour.
Dimensions: its a broad and snuggly carrier, nicer for colder weather or like us for the snuggly times. The shoulder straps are comfortable even though they are not padded. The adjustments are a little tricky, but once you have set them its great.
Support: Although there are no funky buckles and straps the sling is well supporting and makes my chubby little man feel very light. Its comfortable on my front and since he has grown I've worn him comfortable on my back too.
Sleepy test: This is definitely my go to carrier for a snuggle before bedtime. When he falls asleep I unbuckle and then slide the shoulder straps down leaving me to move him to bed.
Recommend: I would definitely recommend it as it comes in different sizes to suit different bodies, there are so many patterns that I'm sure there is something for everyone and its very comfortable for baby and the wearer.

 Update: This is a great sling to wear when you are pregnant as the belt can sit nicely above the bump and still feel very supportive.

This is my personal opinion and every carrier is different for different people depending on body shape and baby shape and size. So I would always recomend seeking out a sling library to try before you buy.

sling review: manduca

will come soon inshaallah

sling review: ergo

will come soon inshaallah

baby wearing and teething (necklace)

On the Internet are vast numbers of sites telling you all the benefits of baby wearing but truly,for me,its a life saver! My little man is a beautifully rounded baby mashaallah and I love every little crease, but to be honest, carrying him in my arm can be a real mission as I'm not that strong. My baby carriers have saved me the arm and back ache especially since this week the teething has really bothered him. I'm continuously changing bibs and offering chew toys and my knuckle to help sooth his gums. Poor little mite, it cant be easy. So now the back of my shirt regularly plays host to my babycalm teething necklace http://www.babycalm.co.uk/gumigem-teething-necklace/prod_25.html and a big patch of dribble as I carry him in one of my carriers while i do my daily things.

The necklace is very pretty. I can wear it even when baby doesn't need it. The heart is a nice soft gumi and he loves to chew and suck on it when he is in the sling. Not only does this entertain him but it also sooths his gums. Bonus!

baby led weaning: day 5

And We have enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents: in travail upon travail did his mother bear him and in years twain was his weaning: (hear the command) "Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents: to Me is (thy final) Goal. (surah 31, ayat 14, qur'an)

My last banana attempt today, someone suggested leaving some skin to create grip. Sounded good,but left him to eating and found him eating the skin, so I am officially giving up on my yellow challenger (for now). I thought I'd try the healthy option by introducing some veg. Green beans and baby corn. Good intentions, not so good results. He scrunched up his face even before it touched his lips. He touched the veg a few times to his mouth but they went straight onto the floor. Hmm... not what I expected. Will keep trying.

natural product review: green people baby shower gel

I have read many a shower bottle as I've walked around the supermarket considering which will be least damaging to my skin. So when I knew that I was pregnant I wanted to make sure this pure little bundle would not be scrubbed with anything that would make him wrinkly and dry at an early age. I hear about an Internet company called green people and looked them up. Their prices are good (even if they seem a little high at a glance) if you compare them to other companies who sell products a little less chemical than supermarket products and green people seem to have the highest percentage of natural ingredients.

Ingredients:   Aqua (spring water) , Sodium coco-sulfate (from coconut), Cocamidopropyl betaine (mild cleansing, foaming agent from coconut), Decyl glucoside (gentle foaming agent from corn), *Chamomilla recutita (chamomile) extract, Levulinic acid, *Aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) powder, Yucca schidigera (yucca) extract, Potassium sorbate (gentle preservative system), Citric acid (pH regulator). *81.80% certified organic ingredients

 'This natural baby wash is made without SLS, Parabens, Lanolin, phthalates, artificial perfumes, petrochemicals and colourants to bring you the purest wash that nature can offer.' (www.greenpeople.co.uk)

It even has an eco friendly award. It is unscented as I had a perfume allergy and didn't want to risk it. They have other lovely products with or without a scent and I can not wait to try some of their other bits. You need very little per application and it spread well. This shampoo/body wash is a GREAT buy and has lasted us 6 months (its still not finished!)

Baby led weaning: day 4

So after our first food shop where we actually had to consider little man and get nice healthy food I was very excited to give him something new today. Another lovely mama gave me some great food ideas, yogurt, green beans and baby corn (not mixed together) We went for soya yogurt (daddy has dairy allergy) today and I was a little worried about him stuffing the spoon down his throat, but was told to trust my baby so I did. I dipped the spoon and passed it to him,it went straight past his mouth and almost in his ear! I dipped it again and slowly he found that it was tasty and I had to keep it coming. He was doing it! Eating his yogurt,with a spoon! I'm such a proud mama. It ended up everywhere hair,nose,bib,face and the surrounding area incl daddy. He loved it,but it did call for a good scrub in the bath. Soya yogurt is a HIT!

Sling review: Beco butterfly duo

While I was pregnant I had all sorts of ideas about what type of mommy I wanted to be. All natural,re-usable nappy using,baby wearing, full time breast feeding hippy mum. That was how I wanted it. I tried to give my baby a good start by eating healthily but honestly, that was way hard. All I wanted was chocolate. salty crisps and ice cream! I had the odd olive craving but unless I reminded myself it was easier to eat for two!
I did find have my heart set on baby wearing as I had read about all the benefits for baby and parent and a close friend recommended this beautiful beco butterfly duo. I read reviews as its not mere pocket money I would be spending and the majority were positive so I made my mind up.
When little man was a few weeks old I bought it and loved it.
Colour: The beco carriers all have fabulous prints and there is something for everyone.
Texture: It is soft and durable cotton. Most straps are over padded areas so shouldn't bother the carrier.
Dimensions: The carrier is nice and slim, not too bulky which helps when you want to do the washing up when carrying on your front. The straps are wide enough and well padded. However my baby is rather chunky and his weight at 5 months put more pressure on the padding which meant I felt the buckle on my shoulder which wasn't comfortable. The waist strap was great, padded and supportive,but I would recommend trying before buying as I have noticed with myself and other mamas that some carriers buckle on some and not on others. The beco ended up buckling on me. It has an extra piece of material which means you can tuck in either a cloth,sleep hood or a spare baby hat as you would with a pocket. It has a fantastic sleep hood, the best one I have experienced so far. Easy to attach,use front and back and doesn't smother baby's head. Buckles are easily adjustable and have an extra safety button on the waist buckle.
Support: This is the carrier which has made me fall in love with buckle carriers. Its easy to use and supports very well. The extra newborn insert secures small babies without undue stress to them and the larger internal harness means you can take baby on and of without taking him out of the carrier. This is great for anyone new to baby wearing as it gives added security and it means you can swap between wearers with ease. I am prone to backache,but never had it with the beco.
Sleepy test: My little man would only sleep in the beco and often fall asleep as I was still buckling up.
Recommend: I would definitely recommend this carrier to anyone,but would say that the size of your baby might affect comfort when the get bigger. It can be worn untill they are toddlers,but I can't say I have tried it as little man was already 20lbs at 5 months so sadly had to stop using it. Ive had to find something a little more padded on the straps and a bigger main body. It is great for both mom and dad as my hubbi wore little man quite happily and he has cronic back problems. He even said the pain seemed to be less while wearing him!

This is my personal opinion and every carrier is different for different people depending on body shape and baby shape and size. So I would always recomend seeking out a sling library to try before you buy.

baby led weaning: day 3

All morning little man was practicing his chewing on.... well nothing but it definitely shows me he is adapting to food. SO on today's menu was a bit of pitta bread,penne pasta coated in a little sauce (from my lunch) and our challenger,the slippery banana, but today I cut it into chunks to see if that would help. The pitta went in first but bread is not the easiest to chew AND swallow so I took it of the tray as the fact that it sticks inside the mouth still unnerves me a little. He kept trying the banana,even using the tray as a scooping device,but to no avail. The pasta was a huge HIT. The penne is great as it has the air flow through the centre so that it doesn't get sucked down so quickly and it holds the yummy sauce. Every time I thought he was done he'd pick up another bit,chewed and swallowed. Yay for pasta!
The chair is also fantastic! I can clean the tray in the sink as it comes off!

Sling review: Napsack mei tai

The wonderful world of mei tai's is vast and there are so many styles,shapes and prints. The napsack is one of them and little man and I gave it a try.
Colour: Black with no pretty patterns, good for men.
Texture: A strong cotton feels durable and sturdy.
Dimensions: The body is a unique hour glass shape which gives a good rounded shape for the baby to sit with the natural curvature of the spine. The body is quite large so smaller babies are quite hidden,even my little man who is not small felt he had to peek over the top to be able to view the world. The straps are nice and wide and long enough to wrap around comfortably. Good neck support for when baby get a little bigger,this part can be folded over when baby is a little smaller.The larger body also needs tightening against the body to it smoothly so good if your baby like to be snug.
Support: I likes the waist strap as its sturdy and wide so felt well supported. The broader straps carried his weight well but as he wasn't comfortable with the difficulty he had to view his surrounding he wriggled which made it less comfortable around the waist.
Sleepy test: Unfortunately we didn't wear it long enough as we weren't that comfortable together,he likes to see more and be less snug.
Recommendation: Its a strong well made sling great for men and bigger babies and babies who like to nice and snug against the body. Maybe good as a winter carrier.

This is my personal opinion and every carrier is different for different people depending on body shape and baby shape and size. So I would always recomend seeking out a sling library to try before you buy.

Sling review: Maya tie mei tai

As my son is happiest when he is viewing the world as his mama views it we need a nice comfy baby sling to help carry his chunky botty. This week we are trying the maya tie mai tie. Its a mei tai with broader straps which cup the shoulders comfortably and spread nicely across your back. The waist strap is slightly sturdy on the front and there is a handy pocket on the body. I wore it on my front. It is recommended for older children on your back.
Colour: A nice cadbury purple
Texture: Although its 100% cotton it still feels a little rough to touch and wearing it with a strappy top was not greatly comfy on my shoulders. I like softer materials. It does however feel nice and durable and not too hot.
Dimentions: The pannel is broad and the head rest is nice and supportive. The straps comfortably hugged my shoulders which added to the supported feeling of the sling. This too however made moving my arms up (to put cups away) a little uncomfortable.
Support: It was supportive and little mans weight was spread nicely across the wide straps.
Sleepy baby test: The real test is if little man falls asleep. He was comfortable and once we got the straps comfortable under his bottom he fell asleep and napped for a long time so thumbs up from him.
Recommendation: I would recommend it if you like wraps and your baby is over 6 months as the main body is quite large and I would not be comfortable putting a little baby in there. Although you could roll up the waist strap and make the main body a bit smaller in height.

This is my personal opinion and every carrier is different for different people depending on body shape and baby shape and size. So I would always recomend seeking out a sling library to try before you buy.

Baby led weaning diary

My little man was a good size when he was born and has always received lovely comments such as wow he's big and he MUST be bottle fed from the start. No wonder I worried a lot about how I fed him. Even so, I (proudly smiling) have managed to breast feed full time and will continue to do so for as long as I can, god willing. We are now at the point where he looks longingly at my dinner and I can no longer put it off, my little man wants to try more!
All for trying new things which might be better for him and me I heard about baby led weaning which although new to me isn't actually new.

Baby led weaning is a great and natural way of introducing your little one to real food at his (I will be using he but of course it can apply to she too) own pace. I'm still new to this but it definitely seems like the best and easiest way for me to get little man to try real food. Its fun, easy and I can keep breast feeding full time until he is ready to eat more solids. It is not recommended for babies to eat solid food before 6 months (la leche league,nhs)

Mothers may breastfeed their children two complete years for whoever wishes to complete the nursing [period]. Upon the father is the mothers' provision and their clothing according to what is acceptable. No person is charged with more than his capacity. No mother should be harmed through her child, and no father through his child. And upon the [father's] heir is [a duty] like that [of the father]. And if they both desire weaning through mutual consent from both of them and consultation, there is no blame upon either of them. And if you wish to have your children nursed by a substitute, there is no blame upon you as long as you give payment according to what is acceptable. And fear Allah and know that Allah is Seeing of what you do. (surah baqarah, ayat 233, Qur'an)

I've started reading a great book by Gill Rapley&Tracey Murkett called baby-led weaning and so far very useful. Will post what ever new info I learn. My baby is 25 weeks old and so I thought it was time I found out what signs I should look for to find out if he could start to try something other than my full-fat mama milk. He has been taking baby sips from my glass so I was very excited (if a little nervous) about the idea of  letting him explore food.
The book explained very clearly what is and isn't a sign:
Not a sign if:

• baby wakes at night
• weight gain slows
• baby watches parents eat (little man stares at all my food and pretends to chew)
• making lip smacking noises
• not falling asleep straight after milk feed
• if baby is small or big

Good signs to spot are:

• sitting up with little or no support
• reaching and grabbing things with accuracy
• gnawing on toys
• making chewing movements

Checking this we were ready.
Day 1: We bought a fabulous high chair from babies r us. Plastic seat so easy wipe as we expect this will be a messy journey. So excited to set it up and try it out. I downloaded (from netmums)  this list of finger foods to make sure I got something appropriate.

• chunks or slices of carrot, broccoli, potato, butternut squash etc (cooked until soft)
• pieces of banana or melon
• strips of lightly buttered toast
• plain rice cakes
• unsalted bread sticks
• pieces of cheese
• chunks of apple, peach or pear
• slices of avocado or cucumber
• soldiers of eggy bread (but be sure it’s cooked all the way through)
• strips of pancake or omelet
• mini sandwiches with mashed avocado, humus, cream cheese or banana in them
• cooked pasta shapes
• pieces of cooked meat, fish or well-cooked egg
  We sat little man in the seat, bibbed and ready. Our chosen food was cucumber and banana. Banana was this first to be tried but it was so slimy that he soon gave up. The cucumber was a bigger hit. It was sucked til it was floppy. He chewed a little but mainly sucked it. He was sad when it was all gone. (when I thought it was the end of the dead cucumber). A definite success.
  Day 2: Lunch time presented little man with bread soldiers, plum and again some banana. The bread was brill.easy to hold and swallow even if this new sensation can make them gag a little to start. The plum was in pieces but this nearly slid down his throat to I gave him half and this was a huge HIT. It was all over the place but most of it was eaten. Even the banana was partially consumed. Yay!