Last week, Timo from the Instagram profile @_happy.dad_ gave us a live interview on our Instagram profile (https://www.instagram.com/kokadi/) with your questions on the topic of "babywearing". For all of you who couldn't be there, we've packed the most popular and exciting questions into a little interview once again. Have fun reading!

Dear Timo, thank you for taking the time to tell us a little bit about your everyday life!

- Would you like to introduce yourself and your family?

With pleasure! My name is Timo, I am 32 years old and since November 2017 I am the proud father of Joris. We have been married since September 2017 and have thus gone the very bourgeois classic way. Well half. The house with the pebble driveway is still missing ;). I was born in Hamburg, my wife comes from Dinslaken and we met and fell in love at work in the office. Meanwhile we live in the beautiful Neuss in the green directly at the edge of the forest - a dream to grow up for the little one. As long as he sees it that way later on.

- Babywearing has become more and more popular in recent years. How did you get into babywearing? Was it something you guys decided to try while you were pregnant?

My wife's family has been involved with alternative parenting methods (now called Attachment Parenting), alternative diets, and babywearing. So she was also carried in a baby sling through the day, calmed and protected. So it was clear from the beginning that we would also like to establish babywearing for ourselves in any case.

I personally started reading about it with the beginning of my pregnancy. The topic of bonding and also the feeling of security and closeness for the carried baby were so plausible and beautiful for me that I was immediately convinced that carrying must be the absolute most beautiful thing for every child.

- How would you say carrying enriches your everyday life? In your opinion, what are the advantages and disadvantages?

The enrichment of everyday life is - once carrying has become established - enormous. I think it's especially nice that everyone can feel it. As a dad, I have the feeling that I'm closer to my child than ever before, and that triggers a feeling of love and security that really can't be described - as cheesy as that may sometimes sound to a man's ears. Of course, this feeling is also transferred to the carried child and makes it feel comfortable and secure.

And to make it pragmatic (especially for us men), here is a list:

Advantages:

- The baby falls asleep incomparably fast and well

- The baby can be calmed down immediately in case of crying fits by wearing the baby carrier

- In a good carrier you have a wonderful feeling of closeness, which as a dad is often either not so easy to find, or has a much higher importance due to less time with the offspring.

- You have the feeling that you can protect the baby much better than in a pram.

- Last but not least: Wearing the baby outside just makes you proud and with a fancy carrier it looks pretty darn stylish too!

Disadvantages:

- Like now?

- As a babywearing dad, you are unfortunately often still in the minority in the community. Do you have the feeling that you stand out?

I think it's normal that we as men and dads are still in the minority. Sure, I wish it wasn't like that, but that has to grow like everything else. The father role has undergone the biggest change in history in the last few decades. Just 20 years ago, parental leave for dads and slings on men's bodies were almost unthinkable. Today, you sometimes get the feeling dads would prefer to be the better moms.

That's an exaggeration, of course. And at the same time I think this development is just great - especially for the child. And that's what it's all about, isn't it? In this respect, I like to stand out a bit here for that reason alone. To show as often and as loud as possible: Babywearing is not a "woman thing"! Carrying is not a gender-dependent thing at all. The focus is on your child - and everything that is good for your child and the bond should be considered.

- Have you encountered any prejudice towards babywearing, especially as a babywearing dad?

Oh yes. And not too scarcely. Most of the time, the criticism comes "through the grapevine." A funny look paired with a "it wouldn't be for me" says a lot. In the birth preparation course I was in there was also a "men's group". There I became quite aware that topics like carrying are still a little taboo in most men's minds. I think that men just generally prefer pragmatic, tangible and above all tried and tested things. One child = stroller. "Always has been, always will be." Zack. Stroller bought.

Trying new things and new ways is so worth it! But when you do, you just have to expect a little headwind - that's the way it is with everything.

- What advice would you give to other dads who are afraid to give carrying a try?

Only two really important things:

1. be open to all topics regarding your children. No topic is too feminine, none too masculine. With the birth of your child everything is new anyway. So be open to all topics that seem strange to you and try everything out. If it makes your child happy, the goal is achieved. We men may have to put our own concerns on the back burner.

2. book a good babywearing consultation. This has helped me immensely. Just google for "babywearing advice + city you live in" and ask if the advisor has Kokadi Tragen at the start (is in most cases so). Then just try it out openly with your own baby and let yourself be surprised. Afterwards you can always make a decision for or against carrying. But I'm pretty sure that even the last dad will be convinced about carrying when he sees the soft forehead and the tender closed eyes of his sleeping baby 5 cm below his face.

Thank you very much for your detailed answers and the little insight into your carrying-dad-world, dear Timo!

We want to know how it looks like with you! Is your dad as passionate about carrying as Timo is? We are looking forward to your comments!