Baby Wearing Advice?

[BoraBora]

I have very recently come across Attachement Parenting and I'm so relieved - it's everything I've been doing (or being trying to do) because its what feels intuitively right.

Annoyingly, up until now I've been fighting my natural instincts with a lot of things - so putting baby down on play mat, trying to stimulate her, feeling guilty for be sharing and generally carrying her all the time!

Now I've discovered baby wearing I've introduced the sling. Problem is my 12 week old daughter doesn't like it! She tolerates both the "flex" from mamas and papas an the bjorn fine if I'm out and about. Very occasionally she'll be okay at home, but only when I'm walking about. Mostly she struggles an thrashes in it. wont let me sit down with her, unless its specifically to play with her. she needs to be constantly walked. this is obviously tiring, but it means we cant eat as a couple at the same time. do i just need to accept this is how it is for now?

Part of me thinks I should persist, but I feel I'm not being sensitive to her needs to do this - I don't want to make her cry! Is it too late - have I missed the baby-wearing boat?

No you haven't. My dd2 didn't like the sling until she was about 4 months, then liked to be carried on my hip in the pouch sling. Even now at 12 months, she has her moments when she would rather be carried.

I think I'd listen to her and try again in a couple of weeks. She might prefer hip carry when she has some neck control.

Trust your instincts and do whatever makes you happiest. For both you and your DD.

Mine didnt like me sitting down in mine either. I'm pretty ap but put DS in a swinging chair so I could eat. Dd would just sit on my lap.

Have you gone to a slingmeet. Some will loan out different styles for you to try.

My DS (4 months) hates being in my sling that faces inwards but loves the Bush Baby Cocoon in which he can face outward and see the world (which is a shame, as it's not as comfortable as my inwards facing Ergo which my first DC had no objection to!)

Thanks - ill persist. Especial thanks for the sling meet link!

I can understand doing this if your child is happy and settled, but why would you persist with something when she is obviously letting you know she isn't happy? Try putting her down for a bit and see if she is happier. You can cherry pick from parenting methods to suit your child, it doesn't have to be all or nothing.

Because valium she isn't settled on the floor - she wants to be carried and its knackering me out.

Have you tried a swing seat? Rocking baby chair?

Yup, I've spent a fortune on every contraption going and she just screams blue murder.

Can you put her in her buggy and rock it for a bit?

I live in a first floor flat and buggy lives in cupboard out side.

But rocking her in buggy would just send her off to sleep - we don't have sleep problems at all (touch wood!). She just wants to be in my arms when she's awake, seeing what's going on, iyswim.

A baby bjorn is not a sling it's a carrier. I can't tell from the pictures of the flex whether its any good but I'm already put off by pics of the baby facing outward.
I second going to a sling meet or library. There are much better slings available than what you have - sorry but Bjorns especially are not 'knee to knee' (the safest carrying position) and so not hold the baby in the froggy position with no pressure on their spine/joints.
There is a Facebook page called slings and things - it has info/pics of lots of methods of baby wearing to give you some ideas

I second the advice to go to a sling meet if you can, we chose our current baby carrier (an ergo) by trying several different ones at a sling meet. I've only ever carried dd in it out and about though, she needed to be constantly moving in the sling when tiny (though i started off with an old tomy carrier, if i have another baby i'll try a wrap next time). Dd still loves being in the sling at nearly 2, she rides on my back most of the time (when she's tired of walking) but if she's feeling sad she likes to cuddle up on my front still. So you have plenty of time to enjoy it.

If you're breast feeding I also recommend going to la leche league meets, they kind of follow ap philosophy and you'll meet lots of like minded people.

Slings really are best for older babies and toddlers. I would recommend a stretchy wrap for a babe that young. It'll hold her securely to you and let you have your hands free. Woven wraps are also a good option, they are more multifunctional but a bit more finicky with the really little ones. Either way you'll want to do the front wrap cross carry at this age. If you do a search you should find how to do that, very simple with a little practice :)

I don't 'baby ware' but have daily trips (which can be 2 x 3 hours) which involve trains so my sling has become essential.

I replaced my BabyBjorn as it was buggering my back with a Rose & Rebellion which are suitable form 3 months - brilliant and my DD loves it.