Product Review: The Suppori Baby Carrier (and a GIVEAWAY!)

We were recently given the opportunity to take part in the Suppori Memoirs project and road tested the carrier over a three week period. For your chance to WIN a free suppori, read on!!!

When I first saw the Suppori, I quickly realised it isn't a baby carrier as I would normally define one. This isn't a snuggly wrap for a newborn and it isn't a place for naps on the go. What it is though, is a support for hip carrying older babies and toddlers and that appealed to me.

As a 50 year old grandmother with chronic back, pelvic, shoulder and neck issues – I see a chiropractor twice a week! – I need to be very careful with how I use my body. Even five minutes of carrying seven-month old Charlie on my hip can throw my pelvis out of line and leave me in pain until the chiropractor or physio put it back again. So anything that helps me avoid that gets a thumb’s up!

At The Toy Library

At the supermarket

At Spotlight

The other appealing feature is its obvious water-friendly design. This was going to be fine in and around some of our favourite places to be – the beach, the local aquatic centre and the beautiful hot springs not far from home. Wearing lycra and carrying someone else wearing lycra on your hip is a challenge I well-remember from my days with my own babies!

Working out which size Suppori, to order was important and I did really well – when it arrived, I was confident I had the right fit. What I didn't count on was my daughter being just a little larger than I – the sling we had thought to share was too small for her. Luckily, Suppori, were exhibiting at the Pregnancy, Babies and Children’s Expo that same week and we were able to get her fitted in person. We organised for her to get the next size up but that turned out to be a little too big! I emailed and was told:

“We have experienced 'mid' sized people. There is approx. 5cm difference between sizes so it is possible.  With the 2L, you could tuck the sling deep under bub getting the sling right up to her knee area and then right up her back.  This could help. Yes, it is important to get the correct size and for those who do it is described as 'prefect' but such a shame for the very few who don't.”

We did as suggested and Kaitlyn was able to use the carrier with Charlie. There is a bit more of a gap between their bodies than with mine and Charlie’s.

I love the way the Suppori, folds up to about the size of my phone, meaning I can keep it in my handbag – our family sling library is split between Kaitlyn’s car and mine but occasionally we make the wrong call and just take the pram, without adding a carrier. Inevitably, Charlie doesn't want to miss out on the action – she loves seeing what we are doing – and she ends up in our arms. Whilst I love to carry her, my back doesn't  so having the Suppori handy means everyone is happy.

The Suppori, really came into its own at the swimming pool, and I think water is what sets it apart from other carriers. I found it easy to get on and off in the water, meaning we didn't need to exit the pool to do so. And Charlie loved being in it! We spent a good two hours at the aquatic centre, with Kaitlyn taking time out to have a spa while I walked in the warm-water pool with Charlie happily splashing and watching everyone else!

Wearing the Suppori, correctly takes some focus – you need to position the discreet strip in the fabric centrally over the spinal curve of the baby and correspondingly, on your own shoulder. Swinging the baby just that bit further round on your side takes practice and a helpful second pair of eyes until you work it out. Once there, you can make sure the fabric is going “knee to knee” to create a good seat and stretch the fabric right up the back: on Charlie, it goes to around her arm-pits. With the fabric correctly cupped over your shoulder, there is no digging in and the weight is balanced correctly – I was not tipping my opposite hip out to counter-balance, so my spine remained straight.

We attracted lots of interest when we had the Suppori, in action – people wanted to know what it is and where did we get it. This was especially so when we spent a day at the hot springs: other visitors were impressed. We could easily go from pool to pool and safely hold her without fear she would slip from our arms.

Not everyone found the Suppori, right for them: some of the mums in our babywearing group were not sure it would suit. In a straight comparison with alternatives like a ring sling, the Suppori, comes off second best – although you can have hands-free moments, this is not a completely hands-free carrier. The fabric does not reach as high up the baby’s back as most and it would be completely unsuitable for a baby without good torso strength. This is not a carrier to lull your baby off to sleep or to use for long carries. You need to get the position right – not always easy with a wriggling child. If you don’t get enough fabric under their bottom, you won’t get the knee-to-knee position, key to the desired “M” shape. Some babies who are “leg-straighteners” will need frequent adjusting. I wonder if some of the issues people have mentioned stem from the fact this is a Japanese product, designed for a different body shape to ours. I think the width of the seat fabric could be extended – especially for cloth-nappy wearers like Charlie.

Overall, I think the Suppori, is a great alternative to carrying on the hip. It is ideal in and around water and for short carries at home or out & about. Anyone only wanting/needing to carry an older baby or toddler occasionally will find this meets their needs. Those who practice babywearing on a frequent or constant basis, parents with babies under six months and those who use a carrier for more than short walks will find the Suppori won’t be for them. As always, it comes down to different options for different circumstances.

Want your own chance to try out the Suppori? One lucky Ramblings reader can win a Suppori in their size, with thanks to Suppori,.

To enter, simply comment below why you love babywearing! Entries close midnight December 15th and a winner will be announced on Monday December 16th. Ans if you don't win, stay tuned for a great discount offer!

Product Review: Hug-a-bub Baby Carrier

I always knew that one of these would join the family sling library I had promised to create for my children to use as parents. As Kaitlyn was first cab off the rank, she got to choose her beloved green, this time in the form of Pistachio and I opted for my preferred organic in the style with a pocket. We bought it on-line prior to Charlie's birth.

Every time I ran a Slings and Things event at the Breastfeeding Centre, the overwhelming response from mums was start with a Hug-a-Bub for the first four to six months. Even just that few years ago, there were very few optimal carriers in the market bordering on mainstream and these held their place.

So - a lot to live up to!

And it did.

The Hug-a-Bub quickly became the go to carrier in Charlie's first few months.

Without realising it, tucking her head inside the band of fabric became a sleep trigger that works in any wrap or carrier even now she is older!

The cocoon-like environment of the Hug-a-Bub meant Charlie was fully supported and cosy against whoever was wearing her.

 

Learning to use the Hug-a-Bub can be a little daunting - indeed, pregnant Kaitlyn wasn't even sure she would like it! But the DVD tutorial is easy to follow and soon it becomes a simple technique.

Kaitlyn and Melissa turned heads when a baby-switch at the library became a lesson, though the staff member who offered to assist was disappointed when it turned out they didn't need an extra pair of hands to hold the baby!

   

The Hug-a-Bub is definitely a young baby carrier - as Charlie has gotten older and heavier, it isn't as suitable for longer carries. However, recently we loaned it to a friend whose premmie daughter needed some extra skin2skin to get breastfeeding going once she left hospital. The Hugabub is so soft and cosy, it is perfect for this and mums can even wear their baby without a bra or shirt, ideal for kangaroo care too!

Precious cargo

I have found the Hug-a-Bub easy to use and without any strain on my back, neck or shoulders. I quickly worked out the technique and could put it on quickly when I was settling Charlie. I love the way she snuggles against my chest and falls asleep and the first time I cared for her when Kaitlyn was out for a short time, she quickly did so and stayed that way for a full sleep cycle.

Caring for the  Hug-a-Bub is easy and the way it folds up, with the pocket flipping through to become a carry pouch makes it easy to take along outside the house. I love that the product is produced in India by a Fairtrade certified company and that there is an organic cotton option. After 16 years on the market, this Australian product (Hug-a-Bub are based in Byron Bay) has stood the test of time. 

We love our Hug-a-Bub and it has earned a permanent place in our family sling library :)

I am also thrilled that Hug-a-Bub are supporting the babywearing community by donating both a wrap and ring sling to our Mornington Peninsula Babywearing Group. Trying different carriers at sling-meets is important for parents to not only find out which best suits their needs but also to be sure they are wearing it safely and correctly. 

And for those wanting to buy their own, they have also offered readers a special offer:

Simply enter this code GDU20 when you place any single-product order over $99 and get a 20% discount! (Does not apply to bundle orders) http://www.hugabub.com/ 

Taking the Suppori for a swim

Took the mini-mermaid to the pool again for the third time. She must remember going there before she was born, she is just so relaxed in the water! The SUPPORi Baby Sling earned its stripes this afternoon: Granny and baby did some deep-water walking in the warm-water pool while Mummy had some time-out in the spa!! So much better for my body than trying to hold a slippery little lycra-clad baby on my hip!!! .Not sure why she got to nap after I did the exercise - must have been the post-spa Mummy milk!

Close Enough to Kiss

It is Australian + NZ Babywearing Week and tomorrow Charlie will be six months old! So I thought I would celebrate both events with a collage of photos of wearing her close to our hearts. Enjoy 

Babywearing: anywhere, everywhere! #babywearing

via Instagram http://instagram.com/p/fO6XsBmwaZ/

Review: Pollara Magic Fairy Wrap from Tinoki

When the opportunity to host a travelling wrap came up, I quickly said yes! The fact it was a purple wrap in a fairy design made it extra appealing :)

Pollara Magic Fairy
http://tinokislings.com/woven_wraps/polloraslings/pollora-magic-fairy/“When the first baby laughed for the first time, the laugh broke into a thousand pieces and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies. And now when every new baby is born its first laugh becomes a fairy.“ (James Matthew Barrie: Peter Pan)
Pollora slings are woven from the finest materials in Jacquard technique, the bond is stable, yet very soft, grippy and smooth.
A good companion through your entire time of babywearing.
Pollora slings are tested according to the strictest criteria to ensure that there are no harmful substances.
100% cotton
ca. 220g/m²
Three-coloured: blue and reddish purple warp and white weft – therefore the colour seems to change depending on the light.
$135.00 AUD

When our turn came up in the circle of people spending time with this wrap, the timing was great. It arrived just as a busy period for our family was starting and there were lots of experiences for 5mo Charlie to be worn out and about in a variety of environments. Charlie's mum Kaitlyn, my daughter, has a similar woven wrap, which is her go-to carrier at the moment, so it was great for her to try another option from the vast array of woven wraps. I also got to use it quite a few times and see how it stood up to the demands of a busy pair of practiced baby-wearers!

Over the course of three weeks, this few metres of fabric enjoyed a whirl-wind tour of duty, which included events like our first local farmers market, trips to major shopping centre, craft markets, walking on the beach, sling-meets of our local baby-wearing group, the Royal Melbourne Show, a local family picnic day and the annual Tulip Festival! Pretty tough work, yet the wrap is pretty tough stuff.

Wearing a baby in a wrap always seems to draw attention and public wrapping a baby certainly catches people's eye, so it matters if you struggle to do so well. But this lovely fabric always felt as comfortable as it looked and we got great feedback from everyone who commented. And in a family where the fairy doors in different homes obviously lead to each other along magical pathways and fairy gardens are places of joy, the motif won our hearts and this wrap was just referred to as "The Fairies".

We are sad to see it go but we can catch up on Sunday at the Australian Babywearing Conference Expo, which we are so looking forward to attending to celebrate National Babywearing Week and maybe one day, the fairies will send us one we keep, because we do believe in fairies, we do, we do, we do!

Barnets perspektiv! by Epelzen (Babies Perspective)

I got some FB help to track down this wonderful video I hadn't bookmarked. It shows the baby's experience of being in a pram versus in a carrier.


Barnets perspektiv!

En liten film om vogntur kontra bæretur.

Back to Baby-wearing

Sunday afternoon and I find myself, once again, with my granddaughter asleep against my chest while her mum enjoys some time-out with her brother, sister and father.

1987: Kaitlyn's first Christmas

I have to admit, Charlie is a wonderful excuse to indulge my love of baby-wearing! It feels just so right to have that close warmth and the sound of her sleeping breath close by and to be able to touch or kiss her head. I wore all of my babies and have followed the growth of baby slings and carriers over the past thirty years with interest.

The choices were few back in the mid 80s when Melissa was born and before I knew better, I purchased a carrier that would now be classed as a "crotch dangler"! Later, I bought my first NMAA Meh Tai and the rest is history! I still have that navy Meh Tai and have popped Charlie into it a couple of times when needed and it is still going strong! Despite the strong presence of the fashionable Snuggli in the parenting magazines, I stuck with what worked!

Baby-wearing was our life-saver when Kieran came along in 1991- the Meh Tai was one of the few ways I could get him to sleep and have my arms free! As I qualified as a Breastfeeding Counsellor when he was 1yo, my Meh Tai became a teaching aid and came along to group meetings, antenatal classes and the weekly postnatal visits I did at the local hospital - it is probably one of the most-seen Meh Tais since Mary Paton's! (More on that later)

In 1995, I returned to work and got paid to talk about Meh Tais and demonstrate them! My job in the Melbourne store of Merrily Merrily (now Mother's Direct), the retail division of NMAA (now ABA!) was a wonderful chance to spread the word and I got so much practice demonstrating them, I had to make sure I did so slow enough for customers to follow!

Part of my role over the next five years was to organise photo shoots for various catalogues and publications and that usually involved getting various friends to model different products - including the Meh Tai and also the new NMAA Simplicity Sling - a variation of the Meh Tai that utilised clips in place of the traditional knots. At that time, mid to late 1990s, most slings on the market had these kinds of fastenings and feedback was that parents preferred these to the traditional Meh Tai.

I once had the pleasure of two Chinese midwives, visiting NMAA Head Quarters in Nunawading, exclaiming in delight when they saw a poster in the shop for the Meh Tai - they told me that this was very familiar to them and that it translated as Meh (tying on the back) Tai (with a belt). The traditional Asian baby carrier was this design and the story of how it appeared as legendary in an Australian breastfeeding support organisation never tires for re-telling:

In 1966, NMAA Founder Mary Paton and her family were featured in a Herald newspaper series about Melbourne families. This busy mum literally flew home from another engagement to meet with the reporter and photographer at her home. Whether by good luck or intention, Mary had her youngest child on her back in a Meh Tai and the photographer  suggested she "do something" he could photograph her doing in this strange thing. Mary grabbed the vacuum cleaner and was thus captured for eternity cleaning the house wearing a smart dress and high heels - donned for her earlier engagement! The response from readers was amazing, contacting the newspaper asking where they could buy such a thing - and Mary quickly announced that NMAA made and sold them. And so the seeds for Merrily Merrily/Mothers Direct were sewn! Literally sewn, in fact - around kitchen tables in sewing bees for many years until eventually outsourced to Melbourne manufacturers Dawsons, who were still supplying them 30 years later when I was selling the products!

At the 2007 Hot Milk conference, I was invited by Mary herself up to her hotel room, where she handed into my personal care her very own copy of that newspaper article. I got this professionally framed and had in hanging by my desk at the Breastfeeding Centre until I left recently  - it now hangs in my lounge room as a reminder of the volunteers that have been the core of the organisation since February 1964.

Fashions came and went over the years and so did the colours and designs of the Meh Tai fabric - and what was on-trend one year would turn up a few years later in the bargain bin! This was how I came by two red Meh Tais, reduced to clear, which I gave to my baby-sitting daughters.  Kaitlyn is now proudly using hers as part of her baby-wearing wardrobe for Charlie.

The gorgeous red Meh Tai

And so I come to the modern chapter of my baby-wearing story: in recent years, with the aid of online shopping and forums such as Facebook, baby slings and carriers have hit a new popularity. There are now whole businesses dedicated to the sale and promotion of baby-wearing options. Some are wonderful - and some are pretty awful. Thankfully, the majority are beautiful and a new breed of baby-wearer has appeared: She who cannot stop at one! Different styles for different stages, circumstances and whimsy sit happily in the baby-wearer's wardrobe. Groups meet to share techniques and admire the beauty of different fabrics. Other groups allow sales of pre-loved carriers while others exist to promote safe baby-wearing and dissuade the use of poorly designed and/or made products.

I had promised my daughters that i would buy a family "library" of slings and carriers that they could all use with their babies as they came along and Kaitlyn is making the most from that promise!

So far, the library also includes:

• Ergo, plus infant insert
• Hug-a-bub
• Girasol woven wrap (waiting for delivery!)
• Wrapsody Bali Stretch wrap (also in the post!!)

We have also tried out a borrowed a couple of ring slings and plan to buy some rings to use with a woven wrap.

Baby-wearing is a guaranteed way to get 11 week old Charlie to sleep, almost within moments, and is how she has her longer daytime naps. It is as natural to pop her in a sling when she shows signs of tiredness as it is to put her to the breast when she is hungry and usually works just as quickly. She is 100% portable as she not only always has her food wherever she is but also her sleep space! In her first three months of life, she has been out and about without a care in the world :)

Freedom!!!

So, finally - here are my baby-wearing links to share:

• Mothers Direct (Meh Tai, Simplicity, Ergo, Hug-a-Bub, Breeze Baby, Manducca
• Babes in Arms (Ergo, Hug-a-Bub)
• Fertile Mind (Manducca)
• Tinoki (multiple brands and styles)
• Woven Wraps Australia (multiple brands and styles)
• Baby-Wearing International  everything you need to know, including safety guidelines
• Mornington Peninsula Baby-wearing Facebook Group - local group
• Baby-wearing Buy, Swap and Sell Facebook group - Australian, welcomes international members

These are just ones I have had personal contact with, either as a customer, member etc. 

If you are new to baby-wearing, I hope you find something useful here. It all takes a bit of practice and maybe trial and error as you find the right option for you, but once you do, it is one of the most enjoyable ways I know to keep your baby close and still be free to do everything else!

Attachment Parenting: for life

I was drawn to Attachment Parenting  before I knew its name. I have written previously about that journey:
Babes In Arms: A Rod For My Own Back.

What is attachment parenting?

Attachment parenting (also called “natural parenting” or “instinctive parenting”) is an approach to parenting that has been practised widely for thousands of years. There has recently been a renewed interest in this approach to parenting in Western societies. Attachment parenting is based on the principle of understanding a child’s emotional and physical needs and responding sensitively to these needs. The focus of attachment parenting is on building a strong relationship between parents and child.

A strong and trusting relationship with your child can be developed by following your intuition; responding to your baby’s cries; “demand” breastfeeding for an extended period; carrying or “wearing” your baby; using gentle ways to help your baby sleep; co-sleeping with your baby and minimising separation from your baby during the first few years.

However, attachment parenting is not a set of rules and does not necessarily mean following all of the above. These practises simply help to develop a close, empathic relationship with your child in order to better understand your child’s needs and feelings. Children are not seen as manipulators who must be controlled. Attachment parenting extends beyond the early infant period and involves a life-long desire to know your child and to parent in an understanding and nurturing way.

 http://www.attachmentparentingaustralia.com/

 But now my children are all grown, and one has even started a family of her own, is Attachment Parenting still relevant? How does an approach associated with infancy flow into childhood, the teenage years, early adulthood and into a new generation?

Kieran (22), Kaitlyn (25) with her Daughter Charlie, Melissa (29)
Mothers Day 2013

Firstly, let me reassure you that all my babies have weaned, sleep in their own beds and are no longer carried in slings! These were the key fears raised by others about extended breastfeeding, co-sleeping and baby-wearing - that they would never be able to stop! They did :)

So, how did AP have role in our family once everyone was eating family foods, sleeping in their own beds and moving independently away from the parental circle?

Firstly - and perhaps surprisingly to some - my children enjoyed occasional child care, 3 & 4 year old kinder and were educated in the local primary and high schools. I wasn't drawn to home-schooling and having the children attend neighbourhood  schools was important to us from a community perspective. Each of our children was challenged by learning difficulties and there were times I considered if they would be better off at home with me teaching, but their social bonds to school were strong and they voiced desire to stay there. By working hard to get the teachers to understand how our children learned and what made it difficult for them to do so, we were able to support them all to complete 13 years of schooling and pass VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education) and a successful Year Twelve.

10 years ago - 2003 - not your average family portrait!

They also took part in extra-curricular activities of their choice - except for swimming lessons, which are really not optional when you live alongside the sea and surrounded by swimming pools. They were encouraged to try what they were interested in and supported to stop if they felt it wasn't right for them. One daughter took ballet lessons until she became shy about being on stage at eight, while her sister danced for nine years - she dropped ballet and took up soccer! My son preferred solitary activities and we respected that choice. With zero interest in sport, he had an early passion for games and joined a Pokemon Club! All three were involved with Rock Eisteddfod at high school - our extrovert was onstage, our introverts happily in the back-stage crew!

So - independent, educated people. But what about emotionally? Some people fear that strong attachment to the parents - particularly the mother - might stifle the ability to form other attachments. But that misunderstands how attachment works:it is normal and natural for children to have their first attachment to their mother but to embrace other relationships as they grow. First, with other immediate family, then extended family and moving on to the friendship circle of the family. As they begin to explore a wider circle of community, they begin to make independent friendships. Each of my children developed a strong bond with a best friend around age three, with children they met through my friendship circles and our playgroups. By the time they reached kinder (age 4/5), they embraced multiple friendships and in early primary school this continued. As their mother, my role become one of being the base-station they returned to each day. We encouraged talking about feelings and respected their's during the beginning or end of close relationships. The middle childhood years allow children to practice relationships and the parent's role is to model good ones and allow the child the freedom to make their own choices - and give support when needed. You don't have to like your children's friends - and they don't have to like yours!

By high school, my children had closely bonded with a group of friends and some of those relationships have continued into adulthood. Interestingly, I have adult friendships with many of those now-grown children and my adult children have independent relationships with many of my friends! As adults, they have wide friendship circles and continue to make new friends easily.

My 29yo daughter lives independently as a single woman. My 25yo daughter is married with a baby and my 22yo son continues to live with us at home. All have grown up knowing they are welcome here as long as they wish: the eldest back-packed overseas for two years, returned to the family home and moved out in her mid-twenties. Her sister moved out a couple of years earlier. They live in the same suburb as we do and we see them regularly and happily spend time together.

"Look Mum - no hands!" Attachment Parenting of adults means letting them fly -
and being there if they fall. Melissa back-packing alone in NZ 2004/5

And so, finally, to the new generation: ten week old Charlie is the daughter of my second daughter and her husband. Born to a woman who was drawn to motherhood from her own infancy, there was never any doubt about her choice to have a family. So - what sort of parent is she?

Kaitlyn and NMAA Meh Tais - right from the start!

My granddaughter is asleep against my chest as I type, while her mother and uncle are in another room, sorting out their childhood toys for her. (Aunty will be disappointed she is missing out, she is at work!) Charlie is fully breastfed whenever she needs and we have no idea how often or how long those feeds are! She is growing in leaps and bounds! Charlie sleeps alongside her mother in the family bed, with her father tucked on the other side. The co-sleeper bassinet alongside the bed is a safe place to lie her when mum needs the toilet, as is the cot in her nursery, otherwise, they are handy places to keep stuff! Her baby-wearing options are many, with a wardrobe of slings and carriers purchased by this baby-wearing Granny, for use by all the family . There is also a pram, which she does use but not as much as it is used to carry shopping and her nappy bag when out, while she sleeps in a sling! Oh and those nappies are cloth ones, for the record!

As her grandmother, I have seen Charlie pretty well every day of her life, as the attachment between her mother and I continues to grow stronger. She is often in my arms and sleeps happily on my chest - babysitting with mum still in arms-reach gives her some time out and me some time-in!

Looking back, looking forward - this still all seems so right, so natural so - successful! The days when I doubted, the nights when I struggled, have faded into their place in history: such a small part of such a long time. My children are three of my closest friends and people I choose to spend time with. My granddaughter is someone I plan to spend as much time with as I can, with no worries about housework etc taking me away from more stories, more play, more sharing treasures. And I hope, as I approach the mark of my first half-century, that I am lucky enough to be attached to her siblings, her cousins and even her children because it turns out, there isn't anything more important than holding them close before letting them fly!

Keeping it real: They still do like to hang out in the family bed!
Watching DVDs, drinking tea, hanging out with Mum.
Just in case you wondered!
Then they go home to their own ;)

Why your baby won't let you put him down

Sometimes my daily blog reading hands me great treasures and today is such a day!

This just rolled through my Google Reader and I want to share it with the World as it explains exactly one of my own favourite theories!

Why you aren't covered in hair

"The fact that, like all other primates, our ancestors also grasped their mothers' fur is suggested by the grasping reflexes that are still present in human infants. If one places a finger in the hand of a newborn it will respond by firmly grasping the finger. Or if a newborn's feet are touched it will respond by curling the toes in what looks like a grasping motion. But why should a human infant have such reflexes? A likely answer is that they are the vestiges of an ancient reflex to grasp the mother's fur. 

Luckily, however, the infant's lack of ability to hold onto the mother could be compensated for by the mother's ability to hold onto the infant. For one of the remarkable advantages of bipedalism is that it frees the arms to carry things. 

However, the mother's ability to hold the infant was only part of what was needed. The other part was the mother's strong desire to hold the infant. This is because continually clutching an infant is hard work. One can imagine that many of our early ancestors found the task so daunting that they frequently put the infant down while they did other things, only to have it snatched by a predator or swarmed over and destroyed by insects. Clearly, anything that aided in strengthening the maternal desire to hold the infant would have been selected for. But what sort of factors could have strengthened such a desire?"

I have long-believed that we were over-looking a very serious conflict between the baby's need to be held and the mother's need to be free of the baby to work - as the gatherer part of the Hunter/Gatherer pair it was essential that mothers could have free hands. But putting the child in a bed on the ground is a high-risk behaviour, especially if the mother is out of arms reach. And so the baby sling was invented.

So you put all of the pieces of the puzzle together and it all makes sense:

• Human has evolved to bi-pedal life. 
• Human has evolved to hair-free state.
• Baby can no longer cling to mother.
• Mother needs to move about for food and shelter.
• Baby is at mortal risk if left lying on the ground.
• Baby needs to be within instant access of breast for frequent feeding.
• Human designs baby wearing solution that allows mothers to have free hands and continue to carry baby.
• Baby continues to have instinctive fear of being alone in a prone position. This distresses mother.

So our poor "stone age babies in a space age world" (Dr James McKenna) want to spent all the 24 hours in an upright position nestled directly between the mother's breasts, never laid on their backs, never away from body contact. But our space age mothers in a stone age body need to put the baby aside for the bulk of their day so they can do other things and despair the baby who cries in distress whenever laid in his bed, whether awake or in a light sleep and spends most of her time fruitlessly trying to do so.

It is so simple.