Hands free breastfeeding tips please (for Novmama but anyone can join in!)

[CherryChoc]

Novmama, not sure whether you saw my post on the feeding lying down thread, so I thought I would start a new one for you.

Does anyone have any tips for feeding hands free (ie using slings?) I know it is possible but my own attempts have been a bit disastrous, so was hoping I could hand over to your collective wisdom!

I use a ringsling to breastfeed. When dd was very tiny, I had her with her head on the opposite end from the rings. I just turned her in the sling so that she was lying sideways, facing the breast, helped her to latch on and then adjusted the fabric to keep her in position, if you get what I mean. Now she doesn't need any help! I tried it a few times at home walking about the living room, until I'd got the hang of it and felt comfortable going out.

Oh, and I don't pull it too tight around the head, I find it more comfortable with a bit of breathing space.

Thanks so much CherryChoc - i have purchased a hugababy sling but only used it twice in past 4 weeks as found still having to use my hands to support which was painful. But maybe i did not have the sling in the right position. Anyone out there have experience of the Hugababy sling? My dd is quite lively so hope she does not find sling too restrictive.

I have a Hugababy and BF handfree in it on occasion, never out and about though, because DS was usually asleep in it .
He became too big at around 5 months and then v rapidly far too busy for Bfing on the move - v fidgety baby with swivvel head, IYKWIM.
I did pretty much what alexpolismum discribed above: head on other side of rings, help with latch, adjust cloth and away. I needed it mainly for bedtimes with other two monsters when on my own.
For me it worked, but I cannot say I loved it... . I suppose, keep trying, you and baby will get the hand of it.

I fed in a ringsling - I had an Ellaroo which is an open tailed sling, unlike the HuggaBaby, so is easier to adjust it.

Best way of doing it is to lay the baby on your arm, latch on, and then tighten the sling round - then put outer arm round baby, extract arm, and tighten fully

Haven't used a huggababy myself but have just looked on google and it appears to be a ring sling. It sounds like maybe you had it too loose - if there is a sling meet near you you might be able to get some help with it.

I found a site here which has video instructions for the huggababy - you need realplayer to see the videos but you can download that for free if you haven't got it already.

www.bebeco.co.uk/huggababy-594-p.asp

Invest in a 'widgey', completely invaluable for b/f. Am b/f now while typing this, using 2 hands! happy days x

Thanks so much for help/advice - CherryChoc I'll check out the video link.

Moongroove - what is a 'widgey'?

www.widgey.com/

Mothercare do a very similar one for £19.99. I found a pillow like this invaluable bfing my son. This time am going to try a wrap sling (I have a ring sling but didn't get on with it)