Tell me - what exactly do you get done whilst wearing your baby in a sling?

[Germanwife]

So, everyone always tells you - carry your baby in a sling so you can get stuff done. How does this work? Am I just a complete amateur? I never seem to be able to do anything whilst wearing one.

I am a huge fan of baby carriers/ slings and have been using one (a Manduca) for several weeks with 9-week old DS. I usually carry him if he is unsettled or when he won't nap. Sometimes he dozes off if I move/dance around.

So, apart from use my phone, write emails, reading books and magazines, I've never actually managed to do anything useful whilst DS sleeps or sits in sling. Every time I think of something to do, it turns out to be completely impossible. So, DS is like a huge bump on my front and so I can't reach into cupboards or the fridge to make some food. Not to mention cooking - there is no way I could reach the hob or see the chopping board. Same with making a cup of tea! The only thing I've managed to do is to put the washing on.

So tell me, how do you get stuff done? Are there tricks I need to learn?

Also, do you manage to go for walks in the sling when the weather is nasty?

To feed in a sling you need biggish boobs and then to either lie the baby down sideways (not possible in all slings) or have it hanging really loose which then means you can't move very quickly or easily in case they slip out. (I am small of boob though which means I can't stretch it to where they are, perhaps for the larger of nork you don't have to have it so loose!)

I got loads done with a sling. First baby had reflux and second wailed if put down. I was too soft to ignore the wailing and toddler dd1 has a low tolerance for noise hence dd2 was spoilt.

I had a baby wrapped up tight in a moby for about 4 months and this allowed me to sort laundry, play with dd1 and most importantly eat. I could make a sandwich and sling chips etc in the oven. I even managed to dangle dd1 for a wee behind a bush if necessary.

When the babies were small I could zip them up in a big rain coat which probably looked odd but they were cosy. I think I wore one of dh's as he is a big chap.

Couldn't have managed without slings in the early months but some of my friends hated them. Whatever works for you.

Drspouse- great idea for carrying lo shopping once out of the car seat! I never thought about it, but that's only as I avoid shopping at all costs (did so even before DS) and tend to order everything in. Good for visits to the gp and the like, also.

BertieBotts, that's what I was thinking too. It didn't look very safe to cook with a sling. I did manage to make a peanut butter sandwich once, so I confine myself to 'cooking' with dry ingredients and blunt utensils only.

Pint of tea- me too! I also seem to do a lot of online shopping when DS is in sling!

Bertie - thought so. Whenever I tried to feed DS in the sling it seemed my boobs had to be at least three times the size to make it work!

Allegrogirl - borrowing DH's coat is a great idea! I really admire how you got so much done, looks like I have to practice more.

From memory, I could:

Load/unload the dishwasher, then put the clean stuff away.
Load/unload the washing machine and dryer
Hang out the washing
Hoover
Strip and make the bed
Prepare food and cook (I would sort if stand sideways to the hob)

I had a stretchy wrap so ds was tight against me and didn't move at all. I'm not familiar with your sling, do you think maybe it needs adjusting?

Sideways to the hob! Of course! It never occurred to me!

The Manduca sling is a cotton carrier with buckles and clips (looks and feels a bit like a bullet proof vest!) so DS is quite snug in there and it's adjustable. I think I have to get used to having a huge bump (again) :)

I didn't find it at all useful for housework - sod that! I just found it useful for getting out and about very easily with a baby in tow ...

I found it much more useful as a form of transport. Doing the school run was much easier with a sling than a pushchair and left my hands free for dd1. Similarly, going to the supermarket was a doddle as I could push the trolley and had no hassles with car seats, and I could also just walk onto a bus and not fight to get a pushchair on and off, and chase after dd1 on her scooter!

Not sure I got much done with them in a sling though...

Most things are fine now dd is bigger (15months, but from about a year) as I can talk her through and entertain her whilst cooking/general house work. The only thing I can't do is lift over my head (high shelf in cupboard) and carry heavy things (bags of washing, mainly) up and downstairs but just tend to do two trips if desperate.

^^ back carrying, that is

With DS1:
Popping into town - ie drive there, and then into sling for bank, and small, light shopping.
Tesco shop and put stuff away
Getting him to sleep
sorting washing/pairing socks

with DS2 - the above, plus going to the park/toddler groups etc and playing with the toddler.

I didn't do hot cooking iyswim, but would prep stuff for later, or make a sandwich (presliced bread).

For DS1 it was invaluable, as he was a velcro baby. If DS2 was first, I might not have been overly impressed, but by then I had worked out ways to do things with sling, so tended to stick with what I knew I could handle.

Addicted to sugar - great idea re: prepping stuff for later whilst dc in sling!