I adore 'baby wearing'. I have carried William and Zachary since they were tiny babies. When Zach was really small and Wills was still young I carried them both together a few times too!! One on the front one on the back! That was pretty extreme though, I'm not sure I'd recommend it!

When we go on longer walks Wills still hitches a ride when his little legs get tired and it works really well for our family and our outdoorsy lifestyle. Zach doesn't walk yet so he is carried until we stop somewhere. He is getting a bit big for front carries now so I am learning a whole new type of baby wearing on the back!! Back carries are a fun new challenge and are very useful now we are venturing into cycling (but that's another story!).

Baby wearing was very popular in Sydney when we were travelling in Australia and all the babies I saw carried this way seemed more content than the children I saw in prams and pushchairs. So in true Vicki style I did some research and read up on baby wearing and the research backed up what I'd seen. Yep carried babies cry less. Cool!!!

The more I read about baby wearing the happier I am that I discovered it! I love carrying my children. Zach and I have such fun together and people often interact with him because he is at eye height. And he smiles at everyone and rarely cries! Bonus!!

Andy has enjoyed carrying the boys and still carries one or the other if we are out for a big walk. We did a 10km starlight hike for Sue Ryder recently (we'd appreciate your sponsorship). It was our second one and carrying our boys meant they joined in by sleeping!

I love the freedom I have when carrying a baby- no bulky pushchairs to squeeze through narrow aisles in shops, I can nip over the bridge rather than have to wait for the level crossing at the local station, I don't need a huge car to transport the wrap either!!

And the best trick I have learnt that I never managed with William - hands free breast feeding on the go! Woo hoo!

... a bossom for a pillow!

Zach loves sleeping across my chest. If I want to make sure he has a long lie in it is the best way by far. I get to stay snuggled in bed reading whatever book I can reach and Zach gets to feel safe, secure and sleepy!

Wills was the same when he was little. No early morning get ups for this mamma! Even now Wills is still a good sleeper.

Breastfeeding has been a god send for those days when we had a difficult night full of wake ups or feeds or teething troubles. Latch on and hunker down for a few more hours of sleepy warmth in bed! Delicious!!

That's not to say that I don't sometimes find it frustrating being pinned to the bed when I really want to get up instead. Not wanting to wake the babies and feeling trapped. It passes though, that frustrating feeling. Especially when I remember the mantra I read somewhere that keeps me calm and patient as a mum:

"this too shall pass"

and then I take a few deep breaths and remember how lucky I am to have this time with my children. And I find something interesting or inspiring on my phone to read or watch or just snuggle down and have a bit more sleep!

Breastfeeding makes my life easier in so many ways. Long lie-ins is just one way!