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Original poster

Baby wearing

43 replies

Prequelle · 14/03/2019 16:30

Just wanted to see if people would share their thoughts/experiences on it

Would you/have you done it? If you wouldn't why not?

Any recommendations of good slings etc?

Thankyou!

OP posts:

voxnihili · 15/03/2019 06:28

@happymummy12345 - I was the same. I was never going to wear my baby. Both DP and I were against it - me because I had a friend who was very preachy about babywearing and it put me off, DP because of the safety risk.

We then had a baby with colic who screamed non-stop unless she was close to me and upright. I bought the Stokke and it saved my sanity. I love it although I don't like to go out just with the sling as I find it hard to carry DD for long periods now she's bigger and there's nowhere to put her or my bags. I now have the caboo dx go as well - it folds really small so is much easier to carry about as a 'just in case'.

DameSylvieKrin · 15/03/2019 06:41

I bought several different ones second hand for £10 each, which I would recommend to be able to try them out, and they are machine washable after all. Some are comfortable at first but a few hours in start hurting your back.
I had a cloth one which was a godsend when DS was premature as other sizes have a weight minimum. Marsupi is great for small babies and folds up small so it lives under the buggy for meltdowns. The manduca was the best generally for us because of the main band that is big and padded and distributes the weight around your hips. However, neither of mine could cope with the newborn insert so I couldn’t use the manduca until they could make the m shape with their hips. Manduca can also be used on your back when they are bigger.
I have a lot of back trouble but I haven’t found the sling too bad as you start when they are so tiny. But you may find that the baby sleeps longer if your other half wears the sling as I have the feeling that they can smell milk and wake up sooner.

Zooop · 15/03/2019 06:47

I did - in London it’s a lifesaver as no worries about getting the buggy on the tube or bus. And also a hand free to hold onto my older child.

Also kept me warm and kept the baby happy - win / win.

You do need the right sling - if it doesn’t for it will hurt. Like shoes, what suits one won’t work for another, so the sling library is a great idea.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families

SnuggyBuggy · 15/03/2019 06:47

Mine was such a velcro baby as a newborn so I found it really useful. Like a previous poster I started with a stretchy wrap and later bought a ssc from a sling library when she was bigger.

Heulog · 15/03/2019 06:50

I love it. Stretchy for first 6m, then used either an ergo or woven wrap for another 3ish years. So much easier for long walks off road, coast paths, beaches woodlands etc are difficult with a pushchair but it's so liberating to get out with a baby on your back.

Bromeliad · 15/03/2019 06:54

A stretchy wrap aggravated my upper back even after trips to the sling library to have it tied for me, as did a Mei tai. I kept being told that this tie would fix it but it never did.

We bought a more structured carrier in the end (ergo 360 omni) which was amazing for my Velcro baby. Completely saved my sanity as she'd scream hysterically in the pram and car seat.

DinosApple · 15/03/2019 07:00

DD1 hated the ring sling I had, but liked the upright chesty sort of thing that clipped on but was a faff to do on your own. Sadly my back hated that one.

DD2 loved the ring sling, and I carted her about in it until she was walking confidently. She used to stick her head out and watch the world go by like lady muck .

FusionChefGeoff · 15/03/2019 07:34

Couldn't get the hang of it with DC1 but loved it with DC 2 and carried her for over 2 years in a mix of stretchy Closer Cariboo (?) to start, woven wraps for the majority and then a Connecta buckle for DH.

Look up baby wearing / slings and your town name on FB - they are usually very active on there. When I started there wasn't an official Sling Library but a really lovely group of Mums who helped me learn.

MummySharkBabyShark · 15/03/2019 07:58

Love the ErgoBaby.
Great for dog walking.
(Don’t regularly fall over!)

DelurkingAJ · 15/03/2019 08:04

We had a Baby Bjorn which I know lots of people don’t love but I’m fairly tall and adored it. We also had a toddler structured back carrier and there are some splendid photos of DH wearing a four year old on his back and a 9 month old on his front.

Adored them. Could do anything wearing one.

killpop · 15/03/2019 08:10

I wore my DC.

DC1 I started around 18 months (other than the cheap basic newborn carrier I'd used for a few weeks) and used a Mei Tai. Used that up til around 2.5 years.

DC2 was worn from birth. I had a stretchy wrap, a couple of pouches, mei tai and a wilkinet. Only used til around 18 months as she was an independent feisty wee lady 😂

blueskiesovertheforest · 15/03/2019 08:11

I used a woven wrap (Didymous) for several hours per day at least, with dc2 from 10 days old until about 7 months.

It didn't wreck my back at all although I've had minor back problems before I had my kids and worse ones during and after my third pregnancy, I didn't have any issues during the seven months I used the wrap (nor during the preceding pregnancy, for context).

I think a woven wrap is possibly the best for your back, and of course you start with 3 or 4kg of baby and don't notice the gradual increase the way you would if you started on day one carrying a 10kg older baby or toddler!

Woven wraps are a pain to put on especially at first, but once on they're no more inconvenience than pregnancy was. Dc3 breastfed and slept in the wrap and was my best nighttime sleeper despite or because of (who knows which) the daytime sling naps.

It gave me my hands free for Dc1 who was a small toddler when dc1 was born and worked very well indeed during that life phase. I tailed off using it automatically once he could sit securely, though I actually used s sarong (not a fashion sarong but a very sturdy balaneese sarong I've had 20 years) which I kept in my bag to carry him on my hip as a toddler.

heidipi · 15/03/2019 08:14

Buying second hand is great - I had 3 different ones with 2 DC, got them all on eBay and resold again afterwards. It makes what would be a big purchase much more affordable!

Heulog · 15/03/2019 21:46

@blueskiesovertheforest my woven was a Didy too. Its still precious to me, even though we don't use it anymore. I'm tempted to have a cushion made or a piece of it framed or something but I don't know if that's a bit over the top for something that is essentially a scrap of fabric?

JHaniver · 15/03/2019 21:55

I never fancied a sling, but then some mums I knew bought Connectas and raved about them so I got one when my baby was four months old. Absolutely loved it, he rarely went in the pram after that. I even brought a sling without a waistband so I could continue carry him when I was pregnant with my second! My second baby only ever went in the pram a handful of times. As they got older and were able to walk further I liked to keep it in my bag in case of emergency.

I’ve carried up to age three without any aches or pains.

I just loved being hands free and the sleepy cuddles.

MyBreadIsEggy · 16/03/2019 08:07

Should have added to my initial post, I didn’t even bother getting a pram when DC2 was born.
He was carried from the day he was born. He’s only now, at 2 and a half started going in a cheap umbrella stroller because I’m pregnant with DC3, and him wiggling on my tummy or the waistband of my Tula pushing on it if he was on my back just made me feel sick
Won’t be bothering with a pram for DC3 either

ThanksItHasPockets · 16/03/2019 08:17

What if you fall for one? Right on top of your baby? That's what prams are for.

I take it you never carry your child in your arms then? I mean, what if you dropped them?

blueskiesovertheforest · 16/03/2019 08:57

Heulog my mother insisted I send my baby stuff (we don't even live in the same country) to her for my sister's first baby. I did, and then later when I visited my sister wasn't using it so I asked for it back and my mother had thrown it away! When I expressed shock and upset she said "oh, I mean I must have put it in the recycling I'm sure" as if that made it better! She has a gigantic attachment to a hideous Moses basket which she insisted I have, so I took it with me when we moved overseas, bought a new mattress and tried to get the non removable material on the sides clean, and tried my babies in it but found it easier and less awkward and troubling to use the cot and carry cot, then she insisted I courier that back for my sister at a cost higher than buying a new one because she wanted all family babies to sleep in it... Yet she dismissed me as ridiculous for being attached to the Didymous! Even if I wasn't emotionally attached it cost 60€ and they're better after 6 months of use and washing than new...

Hmm I think that touched a nerve!

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