testing the Connecta

I've borrowed a Connecta baby carrier www.connectababycarrier.co.uk from a sling library. I'm looking for a carrying solution which can work for us on a day to day basis - the Baby Bjorn seems a bit OTT for everyday. The Connecta is a similar principle but made from softer material with a few buckles. I had B in it for about 20 mins today and she fell straight to sleep... so a good endorsement so far! We'll be trying it out all week with a full report to come...

a trip with the bjorn

We tried B in the Baby Bjorn www.babybjorn.co.uk today for just the second time. The first time wasn't v successful, we hadn't practised at home first and she mostly just looked shocked! Today she was put in it when she was asleep and it seemed to work better. At just over 9 weeks old she is an impressive 7 kg so carrying her any distance is difficult. There are so many baby carriers on the market, like buggies it's a bit overwhelming. The Baby Bjorn has been around a long time and seems tried and tested. Apparently suitable from birth but I'm not convinced it's the most comfy for very little ones. B seemed more comfy than the first time round, we seemed to have it adjusted better but there isn't real head support and the harness seems to hold them on top of the legs rather than the bottom. Maybe it's us not using it correctly... Also her head was quite exposed and although she was pretty snug, her cheeks were chilly. On the good side, the Bjorn is well made with v good back support for the wearer.

Anyway, we walked about 3 miles and she slept most of the time. A good result and we'll keep using it but I'm keen to try other baby carriers to compare. Tomorrow, the Connecta www.connectababycarrier.com ..

a mountain buggy?

The other day we went on a short ramble along a track. It wasn't particularly rough but we got stuck in all the fallen leaves. At the moment we are using my SIL's Bugaboo, for which I'm v grateful. It's been great for B when she's small and while I'm getting my fitness back. However, after a few dodgy jaunts on rough tracks it's clear we're going to need something tougher. I looked at a lot of buggies online when I was pregnant but back then I was a bit overwhelmed at the selection. What do we need in a buggy? What are the pros and cons of each feature? I gave up, knowing we had the bugaboo to use when she was born.

So...what are we looking for in a buggy?

It needs to be able to handle 'normal' rough tracks. Like forestry tracks. Somethings will always limit access - stiles, fences, narrow trails. But if there is a decent-ish track there we want to be able to take it. We know a buggy won't get everywhere but if we can find one which gives us the best chance possible we'll be happy bunnies.

The Out n About Nipper was recommended to us http://www.outnabout.com/products/nipper-360-single.asp. Its a 10 inch 3 wheeler and looks pretty good. Good price too at around £250. And 9.8 kg is an ok weight.

Then there is Mountain Buggy http://mountainbuggy.com/uk/. The name is definitely appealing! The Swift and the Terrain seem like the two most suitable models. The Swift http://mountainbuggy.com/uk/Products/buggies/swift#.UoT9RKJFD4g  is v like the Out n About Nipper - a bit lighter at 9.5 kg and narrower, but again has 10 inch wheels.  At £400 its a bit more expensive.

The Terrain http://mountainbuggy.com/uk/Products/buggies/terrain#.UoT9V6JFD4g is marketed as Mountain Buggy's premier jogging buggy with 'precision engineering'. It has 16 inch wheels but is a hefty 13.5 kg.

The Mountain Buggy website features video clips of the buggies in action -the Terrain is taken through a forest and ends up in the sea with a lovely mountain backdrop! V clever advertising!

I'm pretty taken with the Terrain but it is pricey - £569. Is it worth £200-300 more than the Swift or Nipper? The massive wheels look great for off roading but will it look silly on the streets around the village? Although I've just noticed you can get 12 inch wheels to swop for those more mundane trips...

Ideally we'd love to take B wild camping in Scotland next summer and have an idea for a trip on a good forestry track into a lovely Glen. If the buggy can carry B plus some gear, that would be fab. Or perhaps we should just carry our stuff? So many decisions!!

Intro to us

My husband and I are outdoorsy types - birdwatchers, naturalists, conservationists both at work and in our spare time. Weekends are spent walking, birding, botanising when we can. Our life also seems to centre around holidays - always excitedly planning for the next one be it a couple of nights away or a 3 week trip. Often we're under canvas in one of our trusty tents (recommend Terranova Quasar! http://www.terra-nova.co.uk/tents-and-spares/all-tents/quasar-tent/). For the past few years our summer holiday has been a big adventure for us - 3 weeks camping in Alaska and two trips to Arctic Sweden hiking and carrying all our stuff for 2 weeks at a time. These are the times when we are able to dedicate our days to the natural world and we totally relax.

Trusty Terranova, Sweden

Stream crossing, Sweden

Cooking in the rain, Sweden



View from the tent, Glen Einich, Cairngorms

In September, we became parents for the first time to a beautiful little girl. This marked the start of a new life as a threesome.  Its a funny thing to happen and we're just starting to get our heads round the fact that we are parents and now responsible adults! But everyday I look at our daughter I wonder and dream of the adventures the three of us will have together. Different adventures to the type we are used to maybe but better and more exciting because we're a family and every experience will be new to her and even in a small way will shape and influence the person she'll grow into.

It is important to us that we try to keep up our outdoor lifestyle and take our daughter along with us. We want to give her as many exciting experiences as possible and expose her to the wonder of the natural world. But I don't mean that we are trying to force her interest in it. It doesn't matter what path she chooses in life. We ask only that she is happy, takes opportunities that are given to her and is kind and respectful to others. She may have no interest in the outdoors or the natural world as she grows up but we hope she has an adventurous spirit which will help her in later life.

But all children love animals - just look at how many toys and books have an animal theme. I love this quote by David Attenborough:

"When people ask me, ‘How did you get interested in animals?’ I reply, ‘How on Earth did you lose your interest in them?’ Every child is interested in animals.”
David Attenborough

Its also well known now that being outdoors has a positive impact on well being and health  http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/355439-just-one-in-five-uk-children-connected-to-nature-groundbreaking-study-finds and scarily, only 20% of children have a connection with nature http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/connecting-with-nature_tcm9-354603.pdf.

I don't what my child to be in that 80%.

So this blog attempts to document some of our adventures, some of the gear we use and where we go. When I was pregnant I looked on the internet for advice on what buggy to buy, how to take kids camping, what baby carrier is best etc etc. Info was hard to find. So I'll post anything I think might be interesting or useful here too.