Hush a buy baby

Stephanie Wigglesworth became disabled while pregnant with her first child. But when she and her husband decided to have a second child, they became frustrated at how few firms sold equipment suitable for disabled parents. So they set up Mumability to do just that. Here are some of her favourite products

Parenting is difficult, and if you have a physical impairment it can be harder. I have researched disabled parenting for several years, and have found some fantastic products…and some that are not so good.
Here are some of my best finds.

The BedNest, initially designed to encourage breastfeeding, is a small, sturdy, bedside baby crib, securely attached to the parents’ bed. With height-adjustable legs and a removable side it allows baby to be close to its parents throughout the night. It only takes 10 minutes to set up and another ten for the first bed attachment (which only needs to be done once), is fully height-adjustable, has the option of castors or feet, fixes to the bed easily and releases just as quickly. The BedNest makes those horrible unstable Moses baskets seem like something from the Dark Ages. It is perhaps not as aesthetically pleasing as it could be, but there is due to be a revamp at the end of this year. Prices from £211.20-£235.50.

Baby slings/carriers are somewhat of a passion of mine – I have tried at least two dozen and have only found a few I like – some are just so impractical and put such a strain on your back and shoulders. But I think I have found the answers.

The first one is the Coory Carry. It allows a natural position for baby and hands-free carrying, as
well as distributing baby’s weight evenly across your back. It is comfortable for baby and has adjustable sides. There is a handy pocket, a padded shoulder strap and it is easily adjusted with just one hand. It can also be used for hip-carrying, and so is suitable for users of walking-aids. It costs £34.

The second is the Freedom Sling, which is what is known as a ring sling, and is a tad more complicated.

But it does come with a very good instructional CD and the company provides telephone advice. The slings are very reasonably priced, from £23.99 – £31.50.

My last item would have to be a new find: a feeding pillow by Thrupenny Bits (right). It is suitable for bottle and breast-feeding or simply holding baby close. There’s a removable inner sack, filled either with foam beads or hypo-allergenic buckwheat hulls. It is so light and yet gives a lot of support either on the sofa or in a wheelchair, and can easily be tied around your waist.

It can also be used as a pillow when babies are starting to hold their heads up and beginning to sit but still need that little bit of help. Also, you can simply take out the inner sack and voila – you have a lovely bag.

They are priced between £30 and £45 (a new size more suited to most wheelchairs has been exclusively designed and manufactured for mumability).

INFORMATION

For more advice and information on these and other products, visit www.mumability.co.uk