Why do you carry your baby??

[misdee]

just something i'm musing over.

i love carrying dd4 for many reasons

its lovely having her babbling away whilst on my back

feeling her getting comfty and falling asleep is magical

she is happy and content to be next to me

we chat a lot more when she is being carried than being pushed, even in a rear-facing buggy.

it keeps her safe away from other children at times. when there are lots of older ones running around.

i have an unexplainable need to keep my baby close.

[CMOTdibbler]

I love chatting together, and that DS can see all aroung him and interact with people.

And its so snuggly - the feeling of my hefty toddler cwtching in and snoozing is soo nice

[newlark]

So that I don't need a double buggy

So that I can hang the washing out and generally get stuff done

and all of the lovely reasons above too of course

[CarmelaDeAngelis]

If it's cold - it keeps you and your baby warm!

It keeps a cranky (or potentially cranky) baby happy while you make the dinner.

It entertains your little one while you do the housework (they love to watch!).

It's a great way to feel close to your baby - and it's also a nice way to snuggle together while you feed your baby - whether that be breastfeeding or bottlefeeding - or even babyled weaning!

It's very convenient - especially if you're about to use public transport!

There are a multitude of babyslings or carry cloths available and some of them are VERY pretty / smart and snuggly to touch!

[FaintlyMacabre]

It is so much easier than a pushchair in most situations.

And all of the above as well!

[Fruitysunshine]

How old do you generally carry your baby/toddler until? I really wanted to do it with my last one but not sure about the whole concept really.......have a fear of falling over!

[HaggisNeepsnTatties]

I prefer them to walk....it tires them out more which makes bedtime far easier!!

[CharCharGabor]

I haven't been carrying DD (2 last week) for the lst 2 months ish due to being in the throes of morning sickness and pg tiredness, but up until then I carried DD almost every day. I started carrying her because she'd scream in the pram after about 10 minutes. As time went on I enjoyed it due to being close and being able to chat easier. She kept me warm in winter and I didn't get annoyed with people getting in the way of the pram [impatient emoticon]

[CarmelaDeAngelis]

If I asked my baby to walk everywhere - he'd be doing a total of 30 miles per week - minimum..... a bit excessive just to get him "tired enough for bed" I think, so he does plenty of walking - AND gets a lovely snuggly carry when he needs it too.

Oh, and the carrying isn't just about transport - it's also about closeness - which can aid the settling of a child for bed in as much as a warm bath, or a story can.

CharCharGabor - not only was it easier for you to chat - but your little one was learning about the art of conversation from a closer viewpoint (taking turns, facial expressions, hand movements, listening etc. etc.)...

Carrying a baby is so much more than "an alternative to pushing them in a buggy" which is often the first thing that pops into peoples heads - they only see the issue as transport.

I also use a buggy at times - but I really value my slings highly - because they are truly multifunction!

[CarmelaDeAngelis]

Or even truly multifunctional! (which is more than can be said about my brain at times)!!!

[newlark]

I still carry my 2 and three-quarter year old sometimes - if ds is asleep in the pushchair and she is too tired to walk - she loves it but I try not to do more than half an hour or so

[Roomfor2]

Bonding/comforting for the baby
Hands free
Good exercise
Easy to walk the dog on terrain that's not fit for a buggy.

[NumptyMum]

I'm still carrying DS at nearly 2, though I have pram too which is great for his afternoon nap. The sling is great for going to the park - he'll happily walk there, but often needs carting away and having sling saves my back and means I don't have to abandon the pram. Also it's great for going into town on public transport, once there he'll walk when he feels like it so I put the sling in my rucksack.

Slings give flexibility. And it is nice to be able to point and name things I know he's looking at - when he's in the pram because he's so much lower down he feels a bit more cut off.

[whyme2]

I love carrying dd3 but I just wondered how you manage your bag/baby stuff. Some days I'd like to leave the buggy at home but then I have a bag to carry (have ds who is nearly 3).
Any suggestions?

[newlark]

I have 2 who are 21 mths apart and nearly always take a single buggy - I have one in the sling and one in the buggy and they often get swapped round e.g. if dd wants to walk for a bit ds goes in the buggy then dd wants to be carried... the buggy is useful for the shopping if nothing else

[whyme2]

I think that is why I like my buggy so much newlark. Perhaps I need a shopping trolley instead of a buggy.

[NumptyMum]

For me, baby stuff goes in my rucksack on my back as I've got a Scootababy so DS is on my hips - it balances out the weight! But if I'm going shopping, either it has to be the shops close by, or not much shopping. I've made the mistake once or twice of carrying too much too far... ouch. But if I'm trying to get DS to nap, it has to be in the pram as I can't carry him for that long anymore (he sleeps for over an hour...).

[aendr]

So I have my hands free for doing stuff like holding the hand rails when going up narrow staircases to clinic. So I can get a few things done when he's feeling clingy. So I don't have to get the pushchair out when I'm only going a short step. For the closeness. So he can see more, from up higher (front facing out).
When/if I have a second, to avoid getting a double buggy when the first is still getting tired from walking.
I also find I talk to him more when he's being carried, he's more a part of my world (lots more interaction with others too) rather than being in his own little pushchair world.

[sasamaxx]

Get an OnBag or, like others said, use the pram as a trolley

[cheesesarnie]

i used to carry mine because it ment i had hands free,we were close,i knew where they were so i couldnt lose them,i could get stuff done-cooking/cleaning.just because it was easy.