Paul was the December / January “Babywearing Smile” ERGObaby Sport carrier winner with his gorgeous entry:
“I’m a Dad.
One thing dads can never have is the bonding experience of carrying a baby inside them. I see my wife as she proudly and tenderly holds her belly (“His head is over here, and his feet are here. Oh, he’s got hiccups!”), and I feel a little sad that I can never experience that sharing time.
But once he’s born, I can carry him close to me, feel his weight, his every wriggle. He can hear my heart and breathing, smell me, and I can softly talk and sing to him. He can nuzzle close, and sleep safely against his dad’s chest.
It’s something very significant for dads. I don’t know how it compares to carrying a child inside, but it’s very special – and when I see other dads carrying their babies on their fronts, there’s always a look we share. It’s a bit of a smile, a quiet one, a connected look, that says “This is the best – and I know that you feel it too”.
I carried my first son in a carrier on my front, as much and as long as I could. Now we’re tight, him and me – we’re bonded, we’re mates. Son number two is on his way now, and he will be carried the same way – with son number one walking beside me holding my hand.”
