Advice needed on putting down a sleepy/sleeping baby from a sling without waking him up!

[AngelDog]

I wasn't sure whether this should go in the slings section, or the sleep one, so I'm posting it twice.

DS is 12 weeks old and will only go to sleep during the day in a sling (and needs to spend most of his day sleeping). He's a big boy and I'd like to be able to put him down once he's asleep (and eventually try putting him down when drowsy if I can). I have a Close baby carrier and a single ring sling.

When we've tried, it has usually taken two of us to get him out of the Close carrier (which is the one that both he & I prefer to use) and he's often woken up, although I have sometimes taken him out when I thought he was waking up, and he's stayed asleep .

Does anyone have any tips for being able to put him down e.g. techniques, how long to wait until he's 'properly' asleep?

[reikizen]

I had one of those front carrier things (a cheap version of a Baby Bjorn) and it unclipped at the sides so I would bend over and rest dd1 on the bed/cot then unclip the sides and leave her lying with it underneath her and the straps lying on the bed too.

[BertieBotts]

I used to just take DS out of the carrier and then feed him back to sleep (if not breastfeeding a dummy might work?)

[sasamaxx]

I think it would be v difficult to do this with a close.

It's very easy to lie a baby down when they have been in either a front carry in a mei tai/ssc or if you prefer to use a wrap, if you use the kangaroo carry, this would also be very easy to lie baby down in and then untie yourself and stand up.

Every day, my 21mo goes to sleep on my back in a rucksack carry (in a wrap). (it's far more difficult if using different carries though as all the fabric needs to be unwound etc)

I lie down on the bed with her, untie myself and roll away. For younger babies, in a front carry, this is much easier and you can lie them down in their cot no problem

The benefit of a wrap v a mei tai/ssc is that you can just leave the wrap on them as a blanket and it's v comfortable for them to lie on. Whenever I've done this with another carrier, I always have to remove it and then nearly wake her up in the process.

[BertieBotts]

Although actually when DS was that small I would just leave him in the sling and go on MN etc!

[AngelDog]

Thanks for the replies. I agree that the ring sling is likely to be better than the Close one. I don't find the ring sling comfortable, but seeing as I'm trying to put him down, I might as well give that a go, as I won't be wearing him for any great length of time.

I think a friend has a wrap sling, so I'll see if I can borrow that.

I have fond hopes of being able to jiggle DS until he's drowsy and then put him down, since he will go into his cot when drowsy at night. I suspect it may be wishful thinking but definitely worth trying.

Bertie, I'll try your suggestion. He doesn't like being fed to sleep during the day and he won't really take a dummy, but he does like to suck on my finger: it may help.

[sasamaxx]

Good luck!
Definitely try to borrow your friend's wrap - I find ring slings better for older babies personally

[MatesNeedPals]

With the close i removed the middle wrap, held the baby and fully loosened the wrap and popped my arms out the bottom so it was just around my neck, then I leant over the cot and lowered baby in close to mattress and slipped my head out and tucked fabric round/under baby.

[cowbiscuit]

we have a bush baby cocoon carrier which unclips at the front completely and you can put baby down without taking you or baby out of carrier...it also has holes for 5 point harness so you can put them straight into a carseat without taking them out... havent used it yet as baby not due til june so cant say whether this all works in reality, but sounds great!

[wellbalanced]

Prob dont want to buy a new one but i can get mei tai off with DS asleep, He is a very light sleeper and often wakes when i try move him.
I have the close, how about get him to sleep then get one arm out then other and drop sling (ok if indoors)
Ive not tried and ds too big for his now but can picture it in my head!! Hope makes sense