Baby crying in pram - how long did it take you to give up pram?

[slummyyummymummy1]

Hi all,
My 8 month old DD1 has never been a fan of her pram and recently has really hated it so I started using a sling about a month ago. I wish I had done this much earlier as she's much more content! Now I am feeling guilty about not having done it sooner and am even losing sleep over it. There were times when she'd be whining and I couldn't take her out eg whilst in the supermarket or out on a walk in town and I'd have to bomb it home/nearest park or cafe to breastfeed or cuddle her. This would usually take 5 minutes, max 10 minutes depending where we were. I'd try and talk or sing to her during this time and sometimes it would work, sometimes not. Now I'm feeling I should've just stopped what I was doing and taken her out. I just wanted to know if anyone went through the same thing? How did you cope? Thanks x

I started wearing a sling allot at about 4 months and wish I had done it from the beginning. On occasions that I do take the buggy out she screams the place down. I've ended up walking in the rain, carrying DD and pushing the buggy. It's so much easier and comfortable to sling up

I tried for ages with DC1. Ended up mostly using the song until he was just over one year old, when he was suddenly fine in the pushchair (and has been ever since).

DC2 is 6.5mo and has been in the pushchair about five times. It's just not worth the tears - they get there when the get there.

Thank you for your replies! Good to hear other people's experiences.

5-10 minutes of her crying with you present comforting her verbally as it was the best you could do at the time doesn't sound like anything you should feel guilty about to me.

Dc1 cried lots in pram. Kept persevering until 3 months then introduced sling but still used pram lots despite crying.

Dc2 sling from 4 weeks

Dc3 sling from day 0. Walked at 10 months. Sling til 3yrs. Rarely been in pram.

I'm a huge sling fan!

Please don't feel guilty. Your baby would not have been harmed in any way by those short bouts of crying. It's great that you thought to try a sling, and that she's happier in it! This is trouble shooting - it's good parenting - and it's not worth losing any sleep over.

My DD is 5 months now and didn't like her pram at first, until we tried elevating the back a little. I think she didn't like being flat on her back. We also have an ergobaby carrier that she used to scream in, but once we got her used to it she was fine, and now she goes to sleep in it most times. Babies are tricky, it can take a while to figure them out!

Don't feel guilty! Parenting is such a learning curve! How were you supposed to know exactly what your baby wanted from day one? I feel guilty about this stuff ALL THE TIME, but I just remind myself that I'm still learning and can't know the solution to everything first time. You sound like a lovely mum, I've seen loads of people leave their babies to sob for hours in the buggy and don't bother I try and comfort them/dash to the nearest place to feed or cuddle

..not 'I', I meant 'to' in penultimate line. Stupid iPhone

Thank you so much for the lovely and reassuring posts. It makes such a difference hearing your views and kind words and I am feeling less guilty!

Badlywrittenpoem- I guess it really wasn't that bad if put in context. Thank you!
Weasle- I'm a converted big sling fan too! If I have more DC, I will be using it much more and earlier if need be!
Infinitejest - glad your baby likes the ergobaby carrier now. Ditto with my baby preferring being upright. Thanks for your kind words.
Mummyluce- Yes I also feel guilty about stuff all the time, so much that I have been losing sleep over it. It's worse if it gets bottled up inside so I'm glad I posted! You are right, it's a learning curve learning what our babies want. Again thanks for your lovely post.

I wish I'd just used a sling from the start, but I only had a baby bjorn and it was awful on my shoulders, I didn't realise better slings existed... At around 4 months I tried a wrap and never looked back, I only stopped carrying him when I got pregnant with dc2. I miss the slingy cuddles and naps now

Ps DS suddenly liked his pushchair at about 15 months, and now prefers it to the sling, he enjoys having his own view of things I think whereas before he liked to sort of merge into my point of view. I am not buying a double, planning to sling new baby and push DS1, or tandem carry.

Can I ask which wrap you used chocolatemartini? I am using a baby bjorn which I like but good to know about other slings too. Congrats on your new baby.

The wrap I have is an Ellaroo one. It takes a bit of learning to tie it but is sooo comfy once on. I got a friend a Didymos one which was softer and prettier than mine... There is a whole insane world of wrap slings out there, some go second hand for more than they cost new... www.lovetobenatural.co.uk have some lovely ones. I also used a Beco Gemini a lot which was also waaaay better than the BB, and then from 15 months + I got a toddler Tula. All of these spread the baby's weight better than the BB which is why someone not particularly strong like me can still carry a 2 year old for reasonable stretches, at least I could before I got pg. If you do find you want to try different slings there are sling libraries up and down the country where you can see what works best for you

That's brilliant chocolatemartini, thank you! Starting to feel it on my shoulders if I use BB for long periods so will definitely check out other slings soon and look into sling libraries. There does seem to be a whole new world of slings which I'm going to tap into! Thanks again.

When I was a student one of my lovely tutors once said,

"You don't know what you don't know because you don't know it."

Bit of a mouthful, but it stuck with me, as basically you can't know these things in advance until you go through it. It's all about experience and learning for yourself and your baby.

You're doing a great job, hooray for slings :)

You're welcome I found the main bonus with slings is smelling your baby's head all day. We won't be able to do that in 20 years time, must make the most of it while we can

Thank you Needlescuties. I love the quote and it's so true. I am going to think of it when I'm having a bad day! Yeeay for slings indeed! It's lovely to hear these words of encouragement :-)

Chocolatemartini- agree must make the most of this time! DD currently napping in sling as I'm typing (and smelling
her head) and I'm loving it :-)

Mine has always hated lying flat on his back but is fine propped up or sitting up.

He is the same age and is happy in a pushchair, or a sling now.

I didn't keep trying too much with the prams we had - I put something under him so he was sitting, or whatever, but normally ended up carrying him...