Carrying heavy baby

[Haahoooo]

Looking for some advice please!

My 6 month old DS is heavy (11kg / 24 lbs) and loves to be carried facing outwards. It's breaking my back.

I've tried slings (currently have a Manduca) but he doesn't like facing me, and I know outward facing is not recommended generally.

Does anyone have any tips for this predicament? Or know of any outward facing slings that are safe and comfortable for DS and me?

Will try the sling section too.

TIA

Have you tried putting him on your back?

Thank you! I haven't tried because I'm so clumsy! Wonder if I'll manage it. But I'm desperate so will give it a try!!

I would back carry too. There are a couple of different ways to get a baby on your back - I prefer to toss them over my shoulder but you can put him on your hip and scoot him round too.

Not sure if you can do this in a manduca but I buckle the waistband above my waist right under my boobs, so the baby is high up and can see over my shoulder (I have an R&R).

I have a manduca and a heavy 6.5 month old too. Pop him on your hip, lean forward a bit, put your arm over his head and push him/jump him onto your back while gently pulling him round with your other arm iyswim. If you do it over a bed the first few times that helps till you have confidence. Back carrying is the way forward!

Definitely back carrying - there's no way you will find it comfortable forward facing at that weight (my DD weighs the same). Alternatively get a ring sling and do a hip carry with it - best of both worlds!

I have to say that ds was heavy and by this age we'd long stopped carrying him on us for any length of time and switched to a Maclaren...

The saving grace was that ds walked relatively early. I just remember thinking 'thank fuck for that, I won't have to carry him up the stairs any more'.

Pilates classes to build up your strength - if you have can afford.

Yep, put him on your back. With a connecta, start with him on your front, don't put the shoulder straps on you, scoot him to your hip, put your arm over his head - hey presto, he's on your back. Scoot him around a little more so he's centred and lean forwards to put the shoulder straps on. Tighten up the waistband, it should sit on your hip bones, not slip down around them. Use a chest clip if your carrier has one. Get someone to stand behind you just in case for the forst try.

I have a Beco Butterfly II which has an integral harness meaning you can put baby on your front and move it round to your back without being scared baby will fall out. I don't use it any more but it was invaluable for a few months while I learned to shuffle baby round safely.

Definitely back carry. The Manduca should last you ages too, my toddler even felt almost weightless in it. :)

I didn't have a go, but the Manduca inductions did have hip carry inductions, if you wanted to try it?

A big walking rucksack would probably work well too, like a little life or bush baby type one. They are really high in those, so he would be able to see loads! You pop them in before putting the rucksack on so no danger of flying babies.

Thank you everyone, especially for the instructions on how to get baby onto back! I will definitely be practicing this on the bed the first few times . I hope he'll go for it as I do like the manduca generally.

Thanks again!

If you look on you tube there's a video (probably lots) for getting baby on back with a Manduca.

I also prefer tossing over the shoulder, but I did the hip scoot at first line in the video till I got the hang of it.