I have chronic pain in my right arm, right shoulder, and back from a car accident in 2013, which makes parenting harder than normal some days! Pregnancy was especially hard on me because it threw my core completely out of whack, which caused me severe lower back and hip pain throughout both of my pregnancies. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to babywear (so convenient and cuddly) because of my back pain, but, thankfully, I was wrong!

We have a few different carriers (an Ergo, a JJ Cole one-size, a Beluga Baby, and – our most recent purchase – a MEC structured carrier), but my favourite for everyday use is definitely the Beluga Baby! It’s super soft, and once I was used to it, it became super easy to wrap! It’s also light enough that I can leave it on over my shirt if Isla is getting changed, in the car seat, napping, etc. without feeling like I’m wearing anything extra.

Babywearing Isla in The Lori Beluga Baby Wrap

Both Isla and William are pretty chill, independent small humans, but when Isla is super over playtime and we’ve gotta get stuff done, she’s content to hang out like a little koala baby. She hung out in there more often than not while I prepped final presentations for my last semester of my BA, and Travis has worn her while cooking dinner more than a few times.

I know she doesn’t look particularly pleased in the above photo, but that’s just my (apparently v hereditary – check out Will’s face) RBF shining through.

I also like that in warm weather she’s almost completely shielded from the sun – only her face and neck are in direct sunlight, and they are fully slathered in SPF 50.

I also, also LOVE that Beluga Baby makes carriers for big sibs to carry their own “babies” (non-human babies only)! William has ‘worn’ his loveys and dolls countless times, and it’s so nice that he doesn’t feel left out when Isla is literally strapped to me, because he gets to carry his babies around, too!

I also, also, also (last one, I swear) love that if you have any questions or concerns about the carrier or how to wrap it, the Beluga Baby team will help you out!

I have way more photos of us wearing Isla and William, but they’re all backed up on a hard drive, so if you’re itching to see them, check out my Instagram (@rhiannonmairi) or sit patiently and I will eventually add more (maybe, probably).