He hates his pushchair - advice please!

[marsup]

DS, 5.5 months, hates his pushchair (Mclaren Techno) and screams if we dare take him out in it. It was ok in winter when we could put the weathershield up, cover it with a sheet to block the light, stick a dummy in his mouth and pray he'd sleep eventually, but with all this light and heat he is wide awake and ready to yell. Any suggestions about how to get over this aversion? It is very embarrassing to be pushing around a screaming infant and my, does he have good lungs!

[islandgirl]

really sorry but have no suggestions. has he always been in this - is it that he wants to see you, and is nervous of facing out?
I'm sure someone will come along in a minute with a solution though.

[Yorkiegirl]

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[Branster]

have you tried an umbrella (the sunshade ones you clip to the side of the buggy)? could it be that the sun upsets him? buggy books, lots of little toys (or household items he finds interesting) that you could attach to his buggy so he plays with them...try taking him out when he needs his milk ONLY IF he drinks from a bottle so he has something to occupy him...talking to him about how blue the sky is, how high an aeroplane flies, what a nice doggy going for his walk etc things you see...singing to him...oh i can't quite remember all the silly things i had to do with dd but i hope something helps although you might have tried all these suggestions already

[midden]

I don't think technos are padded/comfy enough for small babies. I know they say from birth but i would never have put my newborn in mine. Got one for my first child when he was around a year, used it for my second but only for very short journeys and not until she was sitting really strongly herself.

Even now (19mths) wouln't put her in it for a long walk or if I knew she was going to sleep. I have a three wheeler and I think once you see how comfy they are and what a smooth ride they have (even on pavements) it is hard to think of the techno as comfortable. You can feel the ridges with your hand - babies must be able to feel that on their backs.

[Branster]

i agree 3 wheelers are fantastic. we used on e with dd from birth (it does lie flat) and she still loves it. v v comfortable. i don't know how the tchno looks like but in comparison we have a lightweight umbrella folding buggy which we used since dd was about 8m and although we use it a lot she still preffers the 3 wheeler. so v good point midden! maybe that's what you need marsup? i'm not much help sorry but i did think the idea of a different buggy is good.

[Marina]

Marsup, midden has a point. We love our Techno and so luckily does dd, but on the advice of another Mumsnetter we also bought a lambskin liner to provide a less bumpy ride. Lambskins are also cooler than synthetic pushchair seats in hot weather, because air is circulating through them underneath the baby.

[LIZS]

Agreeee with Island Girl could it be that he doesn't like not being able to see you ? Does he have other signs of separation anxiety ? Can you remove the hood for a while until he is reassured that you are still there ? dd was rearward facing until about 10 months because she wanted to see us more than the world in front! Have you tried a little mirror or one of those activity bars from elc ?

[elliott]

Are you taking him out hoping he'll sleep, or when you're happy for him to be awake? He may just be bored - agree with the ideas for little buggy books or toys - ds1 wasn't much of a one for sitting looking at the world either, so we always had toys attached. Or gave him a rice cake to be eating...
Have you thought about a back carrier? - similar motion to the sling and the high up position is great for inqusitive babes. More tiring for you though.

[clairemagnolia]

My ds wouldn't tolerate a buggy of any sort until he was about 6 months old so I used a variety of baby carriers. In fact, although it was tiring at times, it was a lot easier when it came to public transport and I am sure it enhanced our relationship as it was a lot easier to communicate with him with his face so close to mine. After all, we are a carrying species and buggies, however comfy, are no substitute for an extended cuddle!

[marsup]

Thanks all, good idea about the umbrella Branster and the lambskin Marina. I think there are a few things he doesn't like; the sun is definitely one and the bumpiness might well be another, though he sometimes seems to prefer the bumpy bits (or at least he yells less). I think thought that part of my problem might be close to what Clairemagnolia says - we've been carrying him in a babycarrier since he was born and he is used to being cuddled and walked. I still find that much more practical and comfortable than a pushchair, but I'm worried that we won't be able to use it for much longer: he is getting bigger (though my back is also much stronger now so he actually feels lighter!) but also it is getting hotter. Can you use a babycarrier for long periods of time when it is hot? anyway I'm feeling almost guilty now about using the babycarrier all the time because it is just so much easier than trying to struggle withthe pushchair.

[marsup]

Oh forgot to say, we use the babycarrier both for naps and for looking-around walks, and ideally I'd like the pushchair to be able to do both too (eventually).

[ThingOne]

I've used a maclaren techno since birth but put a fleece in around six/eight weeks (when I got round to it rather than any decision). I had bought it to keep him warm-in-winter cool-in-summer but am now not so convinced about it keeping him cool! Agree that it makes it feel more comfortable. I find it quite suitable for long walks.
I also use a shade-a-babe, and have done since the first very sunny days this year (ds is now 6m). This means he can see out but doesn't get the sun in his eyes (or flies) - which he hates - several times I've had to come home from walks in the sling because the sun was upsetting him so I know it's not just the pushchair. I am a seriously big fan of this though I've been warned he may complain about it when he's older .
I also had to sit him fairly upright from quite a young age. He does like to see the world around him and that usually means the second most upright setting.
But being low down in a pushchair can be troubling for a baby, especially if they're not used to it and they're in a busy place. I would take him out for short trips in calm places and gradually build up his tolerance levels. I had to do this with my sling as DS refused to face inwards after two months and being outwards facing wasn't recommended until much later. When I reintroduced it he was a bit nonplussed. So were my shoulders after not using it while he got so heavy but that's a different story .

[bloss]

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[marsup]

Bloss, my pouch is a wilkinet - very comfy, though I'm not sure you can use it on the back. Glad someone worked out that I wasn't into little green men but strange pouched mammals. I originally wanted to be called 'Platypus' but someone had already taken it.

I'm a bit worried that DS's tolerance levels aren't great for outwards-facing wilkinets walks either. Maybe we do need to get him out more. Thingone, what is a shade-a-babe? it sounds like just what I need - draping an old sheet over the top looks a wee bit odd and it's windy up here in the north!

[midden]

marsup a shade a babe is like a raincover but made of black mesh material. ds will still be able to look out but will be protected from uv rays, wind, sun in his eyes and will make a nap last longer!!!!!

[Tigerlillies]

Hi Marsup,
If you need any help with slings/baby carriers just let me know.
I don't think that the baby trekker is very good for your baby. The postioning creates a lot of pressure on the babies spine. I wish more people knew about it as it drives me crazy seeing all of these tiny babes in outward facing baby carrers. It isn't just that though it is the fact that all of the weight is hanging off your shoulders.
For a 5 month old you would do really well with an ABC (asian baby carrier). kozy
These are better for you and your baby because he will sit in it rather than hang from it.
Also consider an Ergo when he is sitting up. These are the best mainstream baby carriers around.

[bloss]

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[Tigerlillies]

Hi Bloss,
Thanks for your reply. It is an important issue and although there has been no definitive evidence and conclusive tests I can see the logical arguement as can many doctors.
heres an article you might find interesting

[bloss]

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[Tigerlillies]

I don't think babies should lie completley flat infact I believe young babies should be in pouches and ring slings which hold them in their natural fetal position.
My instinctive hold is the cradle hold or to put my arm behind his legs. Young babies want to see their mother. In the case of a 5.5 m old baby I would advise the kangaroo hold (legs crossed facing out) in a ring sling as an alternative to a facing out position in a possibly damaging carrier.
Is it comfier to be in a seated position or to be suspended?
I'm not going to bother with more links as you are obviously well read on the matter but I feel in this area it is important for every area to be looked at and for every parent to be informed so they can make their own decision.
Although any carrier that encourages mothers to hold their babies more is fine by me.

[marsup]

Hi Tigerlillies,

Thanks for these links - I hadn't heard of these discussions at all, and find them interesting though I don't know how to evaluate the risks. As it happens a friend gave us a sling very like the ergo ones and we tried it early on but ds never accepted it. We also have a wilkinet which seems to me to work on the 'seated' principle (there is a strap between the legs but the weight goes onto a padded strap under the legs). True, his feet aren't supported but to tell the truth at this point he is so used to the wilkinet and comfy in it (as is my back) that we'd have trouble changing over. We did buy a tomy sling as it seemed easier to put on for just around the house, but it is much less comfortable for me and he is held much less against my body and doesn't like it for very long. Today though we went to the supermarket with him facing out in the wilkinet and he got very upset after a while (dh was carrying him and he has been away for a few days and ds couldn't see me for a few minutes - enough to panic an over-sensitive little soul) and I had to take him out and carry him in my arms. So maybe we won't be able to use the pushchair OR the wilkinet...

[Tigerlillies]

Hi Marsup,
I'm sorry you are still having problems. It sounds like he just wants to be close to you, what bigger a compliment can a mother receive?
If you are using a wilkinet and getting on with it then that is wonderful. I normally always advise people to use wilkinets for young babies but I had become bored of the "oh but its so fiddly" comments that I have stopped bothering. It is so comfy and we still use it for our 10 month old its his favourite carrier by far. The facing out position is a bit scary for little ones as well as being possibly damaging for his spine so facing in is great for him especially at this clingy stage. An Ergo is a great carrier but he isn't old enough yet. I am very knowledgable on slings and babycarriers so if you need any help or just a natter about them then please send me a message. I can also show you carriers suitable for the summer and for heavier babies.
I think you are doing an excellent job.