Tate Modern

 I took E to the Tate Modern!

 

Leo was out for 24 hours on a date. I'd hung out with local friends the night before (waves at kaberett and me_and). I considered rustling up some company on Saturday, but decided to enjoy some time with just the two of us. I'm so glad I did. I really enjoyed it.

 

We were up early - E has recently started waking at 7.30am rather than 8.30am. (We're trying to move bedtime an hour earlier too, from 9pm to 8pm, with variable success.) It took a few hours to get out of the house, but we were still on the road before noon. I decided to take the long woven wrap, even though it's a faff to take off and on. It's so much comfier than the ring sling for wearing for longer periods, because the ring sling goes over one shoulder and the long wrap distributes the weight symmetrically. I packed a bottle of expressed breast milk so I could feed E a bit without unslinging them.

 

It was such a nice day! We looked at all the free exhibits. I loved the political photography, although E found it a bit dull as it was all black and white. After we'd gone round the first gallery they were asking for food. I gave them half the contents of the bottle, but wanted to save the rest for later. So when they were still hungry I decided it was time to stop.

 

Gave them a nappy change before going to the cafe. That was unpopular. E hates the fold down baby changing stations in public loos. They don't like being up high, the hard surface, the bright lights. Normally if it's a private accessible cubicle I just roll out their changing mat on the floor. But in the Tate Modern there was just a fold down baby changing table on the wall of the public bit of the loos, by the door, with people walking past. Brushed chrome walls, bright lights, no privacy. They HATED it, and I don't blame them.

 

Rushed through the cafe with a still upset baby in a sling, grabbing a water refill and a box of food for me. Then found an armchair and breastfed for a bit. Once they'd calmed down and had enough milk I popped them in a high chair and shared my food box with them. They really enjoyed the cauliflower and had a good chomp on a piece of spinach. I kept the kimchee and chilli aubergine to myself though. Not sure their digestive system is ready for chilli yet!

 

It was lovely hanging out with them in the cafe, eating with them and chatting to them. And I felt very organised. I'd brought their baby led weaning bib and wipe clean tray with me, which is a really good system where baby and floor are all protected from spills. I had damp clean face cloths in a ziplock and their silicone spoons in another, although I didn't use those in the end. Once they were done eating I gave them another breastfeed to quench their thirst, and cleaned them up.

 

So far I'd had them slung on my front in a rear facing carry. I'd wondered if they'd nap on the way in, but they hadn't. I'd been planning to do a ruck carry for going around the gallery - which I have now learned, but badly need practice at - but then I realised that wouldn't work with my winter coat, which was too bulky to go under a sling or to fit in my bag.

 

So I slung them on my front again, facing forward. They giggled throughout, and it came together pleasingly quickly. Then we bopped around looking at more exhibitions. The materials and objects exhibit was super fun, and I was really glad I'd put them facing forward. They had bits of materials hanging on string for touching. Iron and steel and pine and cedarwood and rubber and hemp rope. E gave everything a good feel, and some of it a bit of a chew, and I told them what everything was and let them get a sense of it. I loved sharing it with them!

 

Towards the end of that gallery I realised I was nattering away to a sleeping baby. The advice is to not let a baby sleep in a forward facing front carry, as it's a suffocation risk with the head hanging forward. I managed to loosen the sling and get them turned around and tucked into a nice snug rear facing front carry without waking them. Felt very proud of myself. 

 

After that I was free to bimble around with a sleeping baby until I got bored. I looked at the rest of the free galleries, and then my feet were starting to hurt and my phone was nearly dead, so I headed home.

 

As soon as we got outside there was a blast of cold wind and E woke up. So they didn't get as much of a nap as they needed. I tried to get them back to sleep, but it didn't work. They were quiet until we were on the bus, at which point there were Wriggles. So I wiggled their arms out of the sling to let them have a stretch, and then when they kept trying to turn around I turned them back into a forward facing front carry. Standing on the bus swaying with the motion of the vehicle. The tying felt very quick and smooth. I felt like a babywearing pro!

 

We got home without mishap. I was really pleased with myself. Going out with E in the sling is a lovely way to enjoy their company and my own company. It's parenting, but it's also strangely like solitude. It fills my cup. I enjoyed feeling independent and self-reliant, being able to keep them happy and anticipate their needs, getting some stimulation and enrichment for both of us without it feeling arduous. Taking the sling made the whole thing so smooth and easy. I'm loving my physical strength at the moment. The stronger I get the lighter E feels, and the easier everything is!

 

I'm now considering taking them on holiday for a long weekend or a week, just the two of us. A European city break. Leo's hip still isn't up to a holiday, but I could have one anyway? Is that a good idea or am I massively underestimating how hard it would be?