When did you stop using a sling?

[ASomers]

I have a 3 month old who loves to be in the sling. She won't go down for naps for longer than 30 mins so usually ends up napping in the sling, although she sleeps well in her crib at night. I just wondered when you guys stopped using your sling? I don't mind having her in the sling so much now but I'm worried she'll never go down for naps when she's bigger! Did your babies just grow out of the sling? Thanks

[kowari]

DS got too heavy for a stretchy wrap at 6 months. I then used a ring sling, sitting on my hip when awake, moved to my back when I needed him out of the way, front if he fell asleep. I got an Ergo carrier sometime after he turned one, though used a stroller as well at that age.

[Fooshufflewickbatbogeysthe3rd]

My lad has cp so is a part time wheelchair user but I used my slings until he was 5/6. I started of with a stretchy then used wraps then got buckles when he was around 2. I still have a preschool rose and rebellion which I can use in emergency!

[kowari]

DS napped for longer once he was down to two naps.

[Orangesarenottheonlyfruit]

I used a sling until Dds were about three but there are lots of steps on my route so a pushchair was a pain. I moved on from a stretchy wrap at about 3 months to a woven wrap. I wore them on my back from about 6 months. Believe me I am not a hippie type. I just think baby wearing is extremely practical. This site has a good explanation lovetobenatural.co.uk/woven-wrap-buying-guide

[ASomers]

@Orangesarenottheonlyfruit that site is really helpful, thank you!

[whatwouldyoudo85]

For me it was about 6 months, like you I found them helpful for naps but eventually both DC grew out of that phase.

I was quite happy to give up the sling and switch to the pram though. I only used it in the early days out of necessity, but some people love them and carry on using them for years and years!

[PineappleUpsideDownCake]

I used a stretchy wrap initially but moved onto a non stretchy after a few months, and an ergo. I used the ergo on my back until about 2.5 and loved it!

[PineappleUpsideDownCake]

2.5 years.

[RidingMyBike]

We switched to cot naps at six months once she was in her own room. There was an awful bit between 4 and 6 months when she'd only nap in the sling. With hindsight I wish I hadn't stuck rigidly to the 'must be in the same room as you' all the time and gone for cot naps earlier, as things were so much better from then!
I used a sling about 50% of time for first year but didn't use after 13 months as it was too inconvenient.

[SpamIAm]

DS is almost a year and still has his morning nap in the sling. Started going down for his afternoon nap a few weeks ago (although he's ill at the moment so is back in the sling for them). I use a structured carrier out and about.

[MindyStClaire]

DD1 would only nap on me so I used a carrier for that. Then suddenly at about six months she was able to nap in the cot (amazing!) so that stopped then. It's a couple of years ago now but I think I read something develops in their sleep around then that means they need a quiet, dark room to sleep rather than being rocked etc.

DH used the carrier once a week until she was nearly two (favourite brunch place too small for a buggy!), and I used it a couple of times on holidays when she was 18 months.

[bumblingbovine49]

I used a sling around the house until DS was about 1 year old. I switched from a stretchy in to a ring one and would carry him on my hip a lot.DS used the hip carrier with DS for trips out with DS until he was almost 3. We used the pushchair as well, probably around 50 50

[NoodieRoodie]

I have 3 DC and used various slings until they were all about 2 and a half. Like PP I wouldn't class myself as a hippie mother I just found them far more practical I'm some circumstances. By far the best point was the toddler years when they all did the want to walk/don't want to walk think when it was far easier to carry a sling than try to one handedly push a pushchair and hold onto said toddler!

[modgepodge]

I never used it for naps specifically, though she did occasionally nap in it out and about. Used it a lot in lockdown when she was 12-15 months for our daily walk as the local woods aren’t buggy friendly. Then she learnt to walk and we came out of lockdown and I haven’t used it for about 4 or 5 months! Problem is past a year I found her too heavy to wear on my front and I found it really hard to get her on my back - had to have someone help me. I wouldn’t bother now as she’d want to be in and out to walk bits which is easier to manage in the buggy. Does restrict walking routes somewhat though. Massive respect to the poster carrying a 5/6 year old, you must be mega strong!!

[Ihaveoflate]

I still carry my 17 month old in a Connecta for dog walks and short shopping trips. It's just really handy and I can see me using it until she can walk proper distances, so a little while yet.

She hasn't napped in it since she was about 4 months old.

[JC12345]

My twins are 3.5 and I still take sling on school run in case one doesn't want to walk all the way. I mostly use a toddler connecta now, but have used standard connecta from about 4 months with my eldest, then twingo for the twins (not tandem carried for a few months now). We've probably used slings more than the buggy as we've found them more practical.

[Cdl84]

Until 4 months when he was big enough for the seat on the pushchair rather than the carrycot as he wouldn't use that. He would only nao in the sling until 4 months, then only in the pushchair or after being rocked to sleep and held until 7 months. Then he was just too heavy so put him in his cot for naps and luckily he just slept, and has done ever since. I was also worried about him only ever sleeping in the sling but at the time it worked so I just went with it.

[soughsigh]

Mine was a contact napper, but I started putting him down for cot naps at 4 months. By 6 months he refused to fall asleep in my arms. So don't worry about using the sling if you need to.

He would still fall asleep in the sling at 14 months (the last time I tried).

I was still putting him on my back in the sling during lockdown at 22 months.

[DappledThings]

About 3.5 years with DC1. He was still napping regularly at that age and it was easier to pop him on my back than have to continue with the double buggy just for him napping 30 minutes.

DC2 is nearly 3 and isn't napping every day but we are keeping the sling for now for the odd day she needs it.

We have a Beco Gemini and it's been the same one since DC1 was 8 weeks. We will have had the best part of 5 years out of it by the time we're finally done. I'm going to be a bit heartbroken!

[ASomers]

@modgepodge I'm carrying a 3 month old, not a 5/6 year old! 😂

[Sitt]

My 8mo has probably one nap a day in the cot and one in the sling. All naps were in the sling until about 5mo. I’ll carry her for as long is practical. I find there is a point where back carry is more comfortable and also useful for those days where they want to be in your arms all the time because I can do things around the house more easily with them on my back

[Pearsapiece]

Used a stretchy wrap for a few months then an ergo 360 until ds was 18 months (however, was the size and weight of 2 year old!) I only stopped because I got pregnant and didn't want the strap around my tummy affecting anything, otherwise I would have kept going. There was always the risk he would fall asleep though, even at 18 months!