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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think slings aren't the solution to housework with a baby.

37 replies

TheOddity · 23/03/2016 17:27

Don't get me wrong, I love slings. Use a woven all the time when out and about, never use a pram. I have a ring sling too for pottering round house and a baby bjorn that DH loves for little walks. I can help DS brush his teeth with sling on, can just about reach to carry things from room to room tidying.... But that's it. Anything more and baby cries! Am I doing something wrong? I would love to be proved unreasonable

OP posts:

Sparklingbrook · 23/03/2016 17:31

I tried a sling back in 1999. I couldn't do anything with it on let alone housework. It made me boiling hot and reminded me of being pregnant.

Couldn't get near the sink.

But I am sure a sling expert will be along soon and tell you what to do. There must be a way.

Bluecarrot · 23/03/2016 17:32

I could only do it when dd1 was v tiny (dd2 was huge from birth) and when they were old enough to go on my back.
Besides,babies are a great excuse to sit on the sofa and snuggle. Relax and enjoy!

Gisla · 23/03/2016 17:34

A buckle carrier which lets me put my baby on my back allows me to do pretty much anything.

RedRainRocks · 23/03/2016 17:35

i found mine were unhappy if the ring sling wasn't holding them tight enough to me... :)

Artandco · 23/03/2016 17:36

Put them on your back, they are out of the way then

FauxFox · 23/03/2016 17:36

Don't try to load the dishwasher wearing a front baby carrier - DD nearly fell in it!

Terramirabilis · 23/03/2016 18:55

My DS hated the sling once he got to even 4 months and was more alert. Not all babies love them.

GreenTomatoJam · 23/03/2016 19:01

I stopped trying to do too much with DS when I bent down to put something in the oven and realised that put him straight in their...

Oh, and that time I was pushing a trolley, and realised that I was occasionally bumping it forward with the baby (rather than my stomach as I would have done before he arrived)

Luckily DS1 was early on his feet, so from 6 months we stripped a rocker down to its frame so he could stand in the doorway holding on to it like a zimmer frame between the kitchen and the living room watching me.

Needmorechocolate · 23/03/2016 19:03

Back carry once they are old enough and then you can do most things. I've got four DC aged 6 and under and couldn't survive the afternoons (or get anything done) if I didn't put DS4 in the carrier.

mmmuffins · 23/03/2016 19:06

YANBU, DD is 2 months now, spends the day in a wrap, and it is getting increasingly difficult to do anything that requires bending or using the space in front of me.

Starspread · 23/03/2016 19:10

Slings are totally the solution to getting out of the house with a baby (am spending maternity leave with a 4 month old pottering round parks, galleries, museums, cafes etc) but not the solution to housework other than a desultory picking-up-serious-clutter, bits of washing up, I occasional hoovering.

I find the solution to housework is to do less and care less ;) more baby snuggles! Less scrubbing!

badg3r · 23/03/2016 19:14

On the front is not so practical after a v young age but on the back in a structured carrier makes housework very easy. My sling has a hood thing that stops DS's head lolling about all over the place once he conks out.

Just don't sit down and lean back

ohlittlepea · 23/03/2016 19:20

I found a stretchy good for hoovering etc until dd was about 8 weeks, then had to wait until she was about 8 months before she managed being on my back, i found it hard to get her in and out...its not easy doing house work with a velcro baby...i ended up learning to do a lot one handed with her perched on a hip xx

Maudofallhopefulness · 23/03/2016 19:21

Mine were happier watching me from the bouncy chair. They also slept a lot in the day so I was lucky.

KP86 · 23/03/2016 19:48

DS hated his (very fancy and expensive) carrier after 10 mins, it always made his nappy gather and leak everywhere and my back killed me.

We shall stick to a pram all day long, haha!

Believeitornot · 23/03/2016 19:50

Only when dd was tiny. When she got older I would use a bouncer or even better lie her on the floor and give her some tummy time. She was crawling by 6 months as was ds probably because they had a lot of floor time plus sling time.

Woodhill · 23/03/2016 19:51

Made my back ache and such a faff to put on.

Imnotaslimjim · 23/03/2016 19:53

I back carried DD for nearly 2 years, she was extremely clingy. I managed to get most things done

Mousefinkle · 23/03/2016 19:54

Slings are a twat to put on and I agree, back killed with any carrier and I tried a few. Settled with the ergo eventually but once they were about ten months it was just too fucking painful.

I don't think it is practical for housework. I always felt like they'd fall out if I bent down and there's A LOT of bending down when you're cleaning really.

Original poster

TheOddity · 23/03/2016 19:55

Yes, here's the thing: before 4 months you're advised not to put them in a back carry if you're not a total guru.... You know, those four months where they don't realise that they are not a part of their mums and cry the minute they feel their mummy limb has gone missing. So, so far people are telling me
I am a bit screwed until I can stick them on my back and I have to just starve

OP posts:

witsender · 23/03/2016 19:55

I used mine all day every day with both mine...youngest was back carried from about a week old for hooveribg and bathing the toddler.

Decent wovens and learning lots of different carries well saved my sanity and helped me keep a habitable house, and food on the table!

MissusWrex · 23/03/2016 19:55

There is only one solution to doing housework with a baby.

Not doing the fucking housework.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 23/03/2016 19:56

I found that when DD was really tiny a ring sling with her on my hip was best for getting things done.

witsender · 23/03/2016 19:57

Go to a sling meet or book a consultation with a consultant...they will help you if you are unsure.

SylviaWrath · 23/03/2016 20:00

They can be, sometimes. I have four children. No 1 and 4, never in a sling. No 3, sling for walks and school run etc. No 2 though, yes in a sling for housework and everything else! Because of quite severe issues dc2 lived in a sling day and most of night, only place they were even close to happy. Literally a life saver.

So usually no, but sometimes yes.

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