BFing baby in a sling - how?

12 replies

JumpJockey · 14/02/2011 20:14

I'd like to give this a try as have a toddler who isn't very keen on sitting still while I feed dd2 (4 weeks) and it would also make bedtime for dd1 much easier. But how on earth do you manage it? dd2 isn't especially big, but I can't get her sideways on in a sling with her head anywhere near my boob - how exactly are you meant to position them? The advice I've seen just says things like "get baby into the sling then latch on" but the geometry of my baby, boobs and sling makes this impossible.

Any ideas?!

OP posts:

jkklpu · 14/02/2011 20:16

Depends on your sling and your baby's proportions, as well as your boobs! I had a baby Bjorn, which is quite structured, and that seemed to work pretty well with very hungry baby whom I'd feed o the train while taking ds1 to nursery.

organiccarrotcake · 14/02/2011 20:17

What kind of sling do you have?

Original poster

JumpJockey · 14/02/2011 20:27

I have a ring sling (though I find my back gets a bit sore as her weight is off centre, much easier with big toddler who can hold on!) and a Close carrier.

OP posts:

organiccarrotcake · 14/02/2011 20:37

I found that even with lifting the rings as high as possible I couldn't BF a tiny baby in a RS. The rings just got in the way of his head. I used a pouch which was much better - can you borrow one that fits well? I laid him in a cradle carry, and wore a nursing top which had an opening at the breast rather than lifting from the bottom.

It took some fiddling but I managed it in the end. I think a RS would work just as well with practise - but it would need practise.

Now I wear him upright, tummy to tummy (aged 7 months) and drop the rings right down so his head's at my breast. It's not totally comfortable but at least I can get on with things.

Can you get to a local sling meet?

japhrimel · 14/02/2011 20:51

The Close instruction booklet has a position suitable for feeding.

MoonUnitAlpha · 14/02/2011 20:53

I never managed it in the Close or a Babasling, but that's because ds objected to being anything other than upright! The Close has instructions on their website I think, you basically use one of the shoulder pieces as a cradle.

Original poster

JumpJockey · 14/02/2011 21:17

I'd lost the close instructions, will give the website a look, thanks for the pointer. We did used to have a slingmeet but the lady who organised it moved to Germany (!) so maybe someone else has taken over,

OP posts:

EauRouge · 14/02/2011 21:56

This site has some good videos and pics although I haven't had the opportunity to try it yet.

FutureNannyOgg · 15/02/2011 09:00

If the rings get in the way of baby's head, turn him around so his head is away from the rings and his feet hang out the other side.
Have a search on YouTube for nursing in slings, there's a wealth of videos that tell far more than i can describe in text.

FutureNannyOgg · 15/02/2011 09:09

Also, when feeding in an upright carry (like tummy to chest in a wrap) using a pull down to access boob, so it is supported underneath by your top, helps ke3p the nippl3 high for baby. In a wrap the shoulder band can go over his head and cover your boob.

SummerLightning · 15/02/2011 09:18

I used to manage it occasionally in the close - I was never completely hands free - it did take some wiggling and you have to to put them mostly in one half of the sling kind of like a ring sling I guess. I did it the way the instructions said anyway. Not completely hands free but i could walk around.

SummerLightning · 15/02/2011 09:19

Oh if you want to borrow a mei tai I have a spare one. No idea about feeding in them though!

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