Kingsley: Marsipo

Kingsley has become accustomed to being carried. Everywhere. He has not seen the inside of his buggy in months. The first week of February was the last time we carted the infant about in his buggy but since then he insists on being somewhat attached to either me or his dad. I tend to use the baby sling, and Erroll this red front carrier (though I like it too!) We hear no protests and as a bonus, its hands-free!

Kingsley is carried everywhere. At 4.5 months of age, Dubai

Kingsley is carried everywhere. At 4.5 months of age, Dubai

In Europe these baby carriers are called “Marsipo’s”,  after the marsupials who carry their young in a front pouch. You know them well: kangaroos, wallabies, wombats and koalas. These subclass of mammals are characterized by premature birth and continued development of the newborn while attached to the nipples on the lower belly of the mother. They give birth very early and the young animal, essentially a helpless embryo, climbs from the mother’s birth canal to the nipple.

There, the baby grabs on with its mouth and continues to develop for months. The short gestation time is due to the mother having a yolk-like placenta. Placental mammals (like me) nourished the Seahorse using my own blood supply, allowing that 40 week gestation I felt every second of!

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Addicted to the baby carrier – both Kingsley and I.

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