It seems almost mandatory these days - you have a baby you set up a business. There are features in every one of the parenting magazines I now seem to have developed an addiction to, articles in the press, even on the TV. These women are designed (seemingly) to make me feel inadequate - they always have happy families, incredible careers, money in the bank... pretty much the opposite of me in almost every respect. So it comes as something of a personal surprise to be attempting to join their ranks.

After having my baby at Christmas last year (a whole other story) I soon found myself embroiled in an entirely new world - one where I regularly sit in groups singing and shaking rattles, worrying about everything and feeling like I'm making this entire thing up as I go along. Initially, in the dark days I refer to as The First Two Weeks, I made a pact with her: if she finished the day alive, then I win. As time passed I found to my delight that I kept winning. Although I am still very much at the amateur mum stage (a secret I'm trying to keep from her) I have hopes of soon passing my first parenting award - the bronze certificate: 'Successfully surviving the first year'.

Although I love being her mum I find that my days have become very similar. When my husband comes home and asks how my day is I used to be able to reply with the odd anecdote about work and gossip about my colleagues, but suddenly I found myself stuck. 'Er, she slept for two hours today...'

I found myself reading the articles about mums starting businesses and beginning to think that maybe I can do that too... but what shall I do?

The answer seemed obvious at 3am one morning while encouraging my baby to realise that dark = sleep. The one thing I have become passionate about in the last 8 months is the use of baby slings. After spending long weeks researching and buying the perfect travel system I find myself using it about once a week - but the sling I bought on a whim, I have used every single day since she was born.

Well, OK. I admit it, not just the one sling that I originally bought. My sling count now stands at 5 as I looked for the perfect one! Sorry hubby...

They do have magical properties though. I am truly not a hippy kind of girl. I promise. I have a car and everything. But slings really are incredible - when she was born she was what you might call a grizzly baby. But as soon as I put her in the sling and walked round the block she went to sleep. Without fail.

I have decided my perfect small start-up will be to sell baby slings and help convert other mums to the joys of snuggling a baby hands free. I have even come up with my business name - Slingading. Now you have to admit, that is catchy.