Top tips please - getting hands-free time with a small baby?

[SmallSCREAMCap]

I know everyone says "just enjoy your baby, everything else can wait!" and I fully subscribe to this, as the piles of stuff, stains and spills all over my house will testify.

However there are some jobs requiring both hands that can't wait, actually. School stuff for older DC - ironing uniforms. Chopping veg. Showering/bathing myself alone, at a decent temperature. Going to the loo (would like to treat myself to the odd solo loo trip and do my jeans up with ease). Pegging out washing.

I have tried 3 different slings and they all don't quite cut it in different ways.

Please share the things (if any) that you do with a small baby to get even 4 minutes of hands-free time! I've forgotten what I did last time...

[sagan]

How small is small? I really recommend a stretchy wrap for a little baby, I got one when ds was a week old and I was fed up of the BabyBjorn killing my back and it was great for popping him in and gettign on with things. Failign that, do you have a playmat and gym he could go under?

[SmallSCREAMCap]

I have a wrap sling, a cushioned sling, and a front carrier but none are comfy due to bad back and c-section still niggling a bit - can't really justify buying another, even 2nd hand.

He does have a baby gym, but it seems to cheese him off! He's 2 months old.

[tillymama]

Sling solved the problem for me too...like Sagan, we had a stretchy (Moby) wrap for her when she was tiny. Once she got too heavy for that, I moved on to a woven wrap.

Once you get the hang of wraps, they really are fantastic and very flexible.

DD (12 weeks) is currently fast asleep in hers at the min!

[iwascyteenagewerewolf]

The Moby was the only thing that worked for me when DS was tiny. I had trouble with it too at first (put my back out after not tying it on tight enough) but am so glad I persevered. One of the ladies on my postnatal thread used hers very happily for a year despite having ongoing CS issues (not saying that to make you feel bad btw! More to show that they can be okay with CS scar...I'll shut up now )

[SmallSCREAMCap]

hmm... just off to google moby wraps then...

[Tee2072]

bouncy/vibrating seat with toy bar over it.

[MyNameIsInigoMontoya]

I vote bouncy chairs - especially if you are doing something that is interesting for them to watch, like cooking (chopping veg is a perfect example). I used ours loads with DS, even outside sometimes for things like washing or garden jobs. You can talk to them at the same time too which they also like.

Our baby gym was good too, I see you had some trouble with it but don't give up as he might start liking it as he gets a bit older. Or there are those play arch things, we had what we called his "fishy thing" - a plastic contraption with a panel to lie under, with fish, crabs etc to pull/twist/push that made noises and lights. That was always good to keep him occupied for a little while!

Also if you are using a baby gym or arch thingy, make sure it is comfy, it might help to put something underneath the mat (we put a spare crib mattress underneath when we used it on hard floors).

[moosemama]

I have a moby, which I can't recommend highly enough, but we also have a graco swing,(we have this one) which has been fantastic. They aren't cheap, but I have had one for all three of my dcs and would definitely say they are worth the money. The one we have also has a vibrating seat which was great when dd was tiny as we didn't actually need her to swing to fall asleep.

Dd is now 9 months and still falls asleep in it, which is really useful when I am cooking the tea or helping my boys with their homework.

[Bramshott]

Ear plugs !

[SmallSCREAMCap]

Ah ha, the moby looks like the one then. I will get a second hand one, I think.

SIL has offered me her old baby swing and I thought it would take up too much room, but I'll go for it then.

Ear plugs - lol! I don't like hearing my baby cry but must remind myself that if he starts crying when I have nearly finished something (esp the loo ) that it's okay to finish what I'm doing before running to him, rather than going straight to him, feeling frustrated and cross, and leaving a string of things that were 45 seconds away from being finished in my wake...

[belindarose]

Bouncy chair has been great for us too - DD is also 2 months. We've got one that we're happy for her to fall asleep in, so she will sometimes sit in it then drop off. We put her under the baby gym last week (8 weeks) and she stared/ smiled at the toys for a couple of days. Now she's kicking and hitting them, concentrating for ages at a time. She gives a little 'wah' when she's had enough and needs taking away, but it gives me much more time to get things done.

[mamasunshine]

bouncy chair!

[hattyyellow]

My DC all loved watching the washing machine and dryer going round and round from an early age - I would put them in pram or car seat and get a few minutes peace that way..the droning noise would also make them nod off nicely..

Slings never worked for me either and we tried a lot of different makes.

[pointyhat]

yes to bouncy chair
and one of those baby gyms. Used to give me about 15 minutes

[pointyhat]

when they got a bit older they could be propped up in a doughnut with some toys - those baby nest things

[insertwittynicknameHERE]

DD2 is 12 weeks tomorrow and I swear by my moby wrap, I couldn't do without it TBH. She also loves her vibrating bouncy seat and will sit/sleep contentedly in that for ages.

I find the best thing to help her go off to sleep is to vacuum the carpet while she is in the moby wrap, it send her off into a lovely long sleep.

[roslily]

I have a close baby carrier which he loves. That means I can have lunch! I put him in his bouncy chair in the bathroom while I shower.

Bouncy chair for a little while, but he soon lets me know when he has had enough. I have a "womb to world" cd which is womb and white noise which sends him mesmirised, which allows me to wee in peace. Or teh hairdryer- that works too!

[RGPargy]

Get a Moby wrap!! If you come and join in HERE you can see the FSOT board (For Sale or Trade) where you can always find secondhand moby wraps, or you can put a post up on the ISO board (In Search Of) and go from there.

I had a Babyhawk MeiTai carrier when DD was tiny which i used from when she was a few weeks old. Now she's nearly 2 and i'm still carrying her in a MeiTai (although one built for toddlers!) as well as a woven wrap too, depending on my mood and what i want to use and i wouldn't have it any other way. Babywearing is FAB!!

Good luck!