I am a Wife of 1, Mother of 2, Grandmother of 3, all are males, so “work” is where I get my female nurturing. I am a Midwife, Childbirth Educator, Lactation Consultant, Hypnotherapist and Natural Therapist.

I qualified as a Midwife in 1970, and birthed and reared my children in the culture of the times, and luckily over the years my outlook has changed as my knowledge has increased, to a point where, though I cannot go back in time and change the things I feel were wrong with my birthing and parenting, I can strongly encourage others to look at making other choices.

In the past we were not encouraged to be instinctive parents, to listen to our bodies and our babies, to make choices to enhance our joy of love and life, which is why I encourage parents to read widely especially the work of Dr. William Sears, and “Attachment Parenting” By Katie Allison Granju, and some of the many other wonderful writers and to use some of their ideas for happier, healthier babies and children and parents.

Although I was brought up in Africa, where slings were a huge part of African life I never thought to use them, and it only occurred to me in recent years that I do not have any memory of crying and unhappy babies. Could it be because babies were carried so much that the received all the attention they needed without having to beg (cry) for it. Over the years there has been much research on “Kangaroo Care” Where? Africa, and its importance on physical and mental development of pre-term infants.

Over the years I have tried many slings , many of which were reasonably comfortable and supportive of the baby, but I have a chronic back problem (in keeping with many nurses ) and I have never been able to use one for long periods of time, without some distressing discomfort.

I have been using the HUG-A-BUB for many years, and find it the only one I can use on a regular basis and for long periods of time. I have found that by keeping the babies close it helps to spread their weight over the whole of my back, and reduces the alteration in the centre of gravity and back discomfort. I have frequently taken and worn it at work, (nursery nightduty,) where the babies appear when the lights go down, to be settled and pacified away from their own mothers (mothers request, dare I say, demand.). As we do not feed or use pacifiers unless provided by the parents, I have few options. I find I can settle one baby in the sling while attending to another, the babies are comfortable, relax and settle very quickly. It is easy to put the baby in and easy to take baby out without disturbing them. Babies with cerebral irritation, reflux and colic seem much more settled, and I can do other things while cuddling them so that I do not get bored and my arms do not get sore.

I also do post-natal massage, and frequently I get babies that become a bit unsettled (not getting their own massage) which is not conducive to a relaxation massage, and often the only way to settle them and mother is to wear the baby.

Thanks HUG-A-BUB

I think we should also consider the mother herself. Her ligaments and muscles will take on average of 3 months post delivery to go back to her pre-pregnancy firmness. So the Hug-A-Bub, protects and nurtures her, not to mention that by keeping the baby with her she reduces her own stresses and she can continue with her normal life style choices, while getting to know her baby.

Thanks and continued success with this wonderful product.

Ann