to not “wear” my baby?

[Cosmiccowgirl84]

I’m pregnant and all I keep hearing about is baby wearing. I’ve been told so many times I must go to the sling library ...I’ve been given so many leaflets on baby wearing.

Ok so it’s my first child and I don’t know how I’ll feel when it’s born. Maybe once baby is here I’ll want to “wear” him or her.

But it seems like such an obsession. I was speaking to a Mum who reacted in horror when I suggested I might want to put my baby down.

Is it so bad to not wear your baby?

[PinkAvocado]

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/what-you-need-for-baby/
Certainly does not look as though they advise against slings here...

[noeffingidea]

I've had 3 babies and never owned a sling. I've never known anyone to carry their babies around in a sling. Very rarely you see someone carrying their baby in a sling outside but nearly everyone here uses prams and buggies. Obviously not a mumsnet area.
It's up to you, OP. Personally I absolutely loved pushing a pram/ buggy, but some people might not like it. Indoors I put my babies in a carrycot/moses basket/little rocking chair. I never had any intentions of carrying them around while I did the housework and thankfully it all worked out fine.

[meandmytinfoilhat]

My son was hardly in his pram. I had use of 2 hands when I had him in a sling.

Great for walking the dogs/popping to the shop. I had a wrap sling from Victoria sling lady so not a bulky carrier.

[Fluffyghost]

I tried a ring sling and a soft carrier with my first who hated it and would scream more being carried in a sling than he did in the pram. However he was hardwork, he screamed at pretty much everything from day one and didn’t stop until he was about 20 months. With my DD I carried her in an Ergo as she hated being put down and I believe life is too short to listen to a baby screaming needlessly. She went everywhere in that Ergo until she learnt to walk at 10 months and from that moment on has hated being carried and much prefers her pushchair. You never know what your going to get until they are here, don’t count it out as an option just yet.

[Sunrise888]

I love slinging my 7mo and keeping him close to me. He sees plenty from where he is and we'll move to back carrying soon. I'm hands free and feel much more mobile than when I'm encumbered with a pram. I also get lots of smiles and warm comments, lots of people making way for me and looking out for me on public transport - similar to bring pregnant!

[halfwitpicker]

I didn't do it.

Pram was handy for when I needed a break , plus I'd be scared of tripping over and squishing the baby if I was baby wearing.

And babies are heavy too! I'm knackered enough as it is.

[Caterina99]

I use one when I need to. Airport, country walks, soft play with my toddler, M&S food hall on Christmas Eve. I also use a pram. I use the ergo more for baby DD than I did with DS as I need my hands free to chase a toddler round. The only thing that annoys me about it is that you have nowhere to put them down if you want a break from carrying them, especially if you are alone. Plus it’s very hot in the summer.

[Londonwriter]

This must be a Mumsnet thing because I rarely, if ever, see anyone carrying a baby and I've been treated like I'm being wilfully weird for lugging DS around.

We're in London, I use public transport all the time and a pram is a heavy, clunky nuisance. I can't walk my dog with a pushchair/pram because he trips over it (he's a notoriously clumsy dog). I have to take huge detours to avoid high kerbs and stairs.

DS is now 16 months and now rides in a Littlelife Traveller. I get lots of (complimentary) comments from passersby because no one expects to see a toddler in a rucksack. My PIL and mum keep telling me I'll do my back in because DS is a chunky fellow, and why don't I use my BabyZen Yoyo, which my SIL says is the 'it' pushchair (this wasn't why I bought it).

The only person who agrees with me is DH who has used both the much-maligned pushchair and my carrier. He's definitely heavier pushing uphill as opposed to carrying.

I'm surprised and delighted there's a community out there where carrying is less weird than pushing - because I've spent 16 months of my life feeling like a hippie freak.

[headoutofthesand]

Like all things related to parenting, don't make definite plans until you see what your baby is like. When you do know that, just do what works for me.
Like most of my friends, I've used prams, pushchairs, slings & back carriers.
I used both the pram & sling with DC1 when out & about depending on what I was doing. At home, she was quite happy from a few weeks old to lie on her playmat & before that she'd mainly been feeding. DC2 was a different kettle of fish as he had reflux & was clingy so was happier in the sling but it was also the case that, as a second child, he did things as a young baby that DC1 never did & it was just more convenient to have him in a sling. Unless I had the double pushchair with me, I would always take the sling when going out with both DC as it meant to could put DC1 in the pushchair & DC2 in the sling if necessary.

[Kiwiinkits]

It can't be good for your back, surely, to lug a baby around all the time. But my babies were good sleepers with a bit of routine, a nice little bed of their own and a decent swaddle, so

[Mustang27]

I love carrying and I find prams utter shit and have spent a bloody fortune on the buggers, Iv had one connecta for 4yrs that cost me 80 quid can't beat that. Now I have two I use my double as carrying them both just isn't practical plus my toddler is so tall. My carrier still comes everywhere and for shorter outings where I know toddler don't get tired or need a nap baby is in the sling.

I just don't get the obsession with prams tbh but I have a disability that gives me wrist weakness so that doesn't help.

If you walk loads you should find the carriers easier.

[RemainOptimistic]

The faddishness is really annoying. But yabu to rule it out because of the minority of people who bore on about it.

[SuperBeagle]

There was a 0% chance I was going to wear my summer born babies in the Australian heat. Was absolutely not going to happen. You swelter without another small person's body heat on you, let alone with.

Tried it with DC3, who wasn't fussed. Very independent baby/toddler. Was never one for cuddling and much preferred the pram. But DC2 loved it, and it was a godsend with him because he was a difficult baby who didn't want to be put down.

So, it depends on the baby, but also depends on the time of year and whether or not you're going to be wearing them in 30+ degree heat.

[TheHulksPurplePants]

I couldn't even if I wanted too, two herniated discs in my back and two big babies made wearing them for any length of time incredibly painful, so it was a pram all the way. However, DH wore them when we went holidaying in Bali. It was the only way to get around all the bad sidewalks and temples and stuff. He didn't mind it.

[DalekDalekDalek]

My SIL wasn't in to it and then she needed to unpack a suitcase one day when my DN didn't fancy being put down and she discovered the wonder of "hands-free"! It's ok to not fancy "wearing" your DC (I agree is seems a bit weird to think of a child as a fashion accessory) but don't ignore how much you might appreciate having a free pair of hands at some point.

[lifechangesforever]

I'm currently pregnant too and I know exactly what you mean! People keep telling me about these libraries - what a whole new world.

I am getting a carrier but only because we have 2 very strong dogs that still need walking and often in very muddy places, so the pram (which is BEAUTIFUL) just simply won't do for that. We also go to Florida when she'll be around 4 months and I don't want her just being stuck in a pram everyday walking around the parks.

I think it's like everyone says; you see what baby is like when he/she arrives and just do what's right for you. I don't like the term 'baby wearing' though!

[Drycleanonly7]

I would have loved to use my sling more but owing to plus sized bosoms (!) my poor lad became really hot there and slings aren't designed for big boobs really. I also had severe abdominal pain after a ventouse delivery so it hurt using a sling. Lovely if you can use one though.

[TheHulksPurplePants]

We also go to Florida when she'll be around 4 months and I don't want her just being stuck in a pram everyday walking around the parks.

We went to Florida when DS was 9 months. The parks are so child/pram friendly and it's so hot and sweaty (regardless of the time of year) that my DH ditched the sling pretty quick. Everyone was happier with the pram.

[Mustang27]

@lifechangesforever I had two big strong dogs I walked every day with my first unfortunately just lost my girl if you are doing the bulk of the walking don't just buy any carrier they are not made equal and do try those libraries as the wrong one for what you are doing will make you bloody miserable.

As I said down thread Iv had one 80 quid connecta for 4yrs it's brilliant and you can just throw it on front or back whatever you are comfy with and I found I could walk the dogs just the same even when he was 18 months old. It also folds up very small. The stuff in the shops just doesn't cut the mustard. Had friends that bought stokke, ergo and Bjorn and all changed to other brands through library.

[Mustang27]

Dryclean I'm a double GG and get on ok. My babies love smooshing their face into their milk supply lol.

[helloBuddy]

It'd be my worst nightmare having my baby attached to me all the time. I do suffer from a bad back though. What do you do at night time? Is it not difficult to get them to sleep in their own bed?

I use a pram and carrier, whichever is most convenient at the time. I also put her in her bouncer chair when I need to do things. She loves falling asleep on me and I love her doing it but I'll always put her in her bed after I know she's in a deep sleep.

[speakout]

My first baby didn't sleep in his own bed no. He had his own cot but spent 10 minutes there.

[YerAuntFanny]

Our local (NHS) hospital actively encourages the use of slings in the neonatal and prem baby unit. They have their own supply which they lend out to parents within the grounds.

Also, here in Scotland every baby is entitled to a "box" containing useful stuff and, in our area atleast, one of those things is a stretchy wrap.

Yes, there have been tragic accidents but they're definitely not advised against!