8 week old - any tips for transporting her around without her crying!

[R1cciteddy]

Hello! I'm not complaining as I have a baby who never cries during the night so I know I am very lucky!

But by day she cries a lot. Screams in the car and the pram (on a very rare occasion she'll sleep) so it's difficult to go anywhere.

I've used a sling wrap but didn't get on with it. Have also tried an ergo carrier but find it hard to put on and she screams. I do think a good carrier will help as she will sleep if I hold her...but I want something really easy.

She's 8 weeks, she's a big girl at around 14lb and seems quite advanced and curious.

Just wondered if anyone has any recommendations for a carrier or any tips on helping her like the car and pram! We are now using the pushchair type bit (so a bit reclined) which she seems to prefer to lying down.

Thanks in advance!

I would go to a sling library if you can. If not, suggest the close caboo which is really easy to put on

No one ever tells you that some babies don't like lying in their pram! Mine didn't, so we tried the car seat part in the pram and he liked that - I think because he could see more. He also liked a sling, but agree with PP to try a sling library to find one you both get on with

She may have reflux so hates being on her back because of it. Try putting a towel under the bassinet bit of the pram or wheel her around in the car seat section. Took until 4 months for mine to be settled enough for pram /buggy some babies just don't like it. Make sure she's getting the recommended amount of naps Xx

I had a baby that hated being laid flat because he had reflux. We ditched the carry cot in the pram early on and kept him as upright as physically possible. For the times he did need to be laid flat, we used a dummy which seemed to help.

Sounds like she might like a sling she can look out of from the front. My friend had a curious baby like this. She hates being held facing backwards over shoulder and likes to be held so she can see what you're seeing, see who you're talking to etc.

Thanks everyone... my local sling library is only doing hire or consultations at the mo because of Covid. Will keep an eye out on the hire page

And yes, agree with the naps. Have to work very hard to get those in, she fights it so much!

Will try car seat on the pram base... she seems to like the car seat, just not when it's in the car!

Maybe persist with the wrap sling or Ergo. What didn't you like? At 8 weeks she might be OK in a structured type carrier without newborn insert. I've just started using the Boba Air with my 6 week old even though it's meant to be from 4 months. He has good head control and is long and he fits fine.

Thanks I'll check that one out too.

The Ergo one has to be clipped at the top of my back by my neck which I find really hard to do. The sling takes too long to put on and I can never put her in correctly. Just looking for something easy. I've requested to hire a Connecta... it looks like the type of thing I'm looking for

Close Caboo is a super easy stretchy wrap - you can wear it like a t-shirt and just pop the baby in and out. It has rings so no tying.

I used the Cosy abs found it super easy. DD absolutely loved it.

Ah there is a hack for the Ergo clip. Make the arm straps loose, stand in front of a changing table, lay sling out, lay baby in sling. Do up back clip, put over head (support baby with one hand) wiggle arms through. Tighten arm straps. Practice with a teddy first if you want. You can also use without this clip as the main purpose of it is as a chest clip when your baby is older and on your back.

With the sling it does get easier the more you do it. But it might help to get someone to show you in person. Maybe ask around local friends to see if anyone has used one? You need to tie it tighter than you'd think at first.

I don't know if this helps at all but this sling consultant woman doesn't use the back clip but instead crosses the straps. She has an Ergo Omni 360. I used an Ergo baby carrier 15 years ago, best thing ever as Ds2 had severe reflux.

Thanks, super useful!

It can be hard to get your hands on but the connecta sling is fab- I just found some wrap slings so fiddly but this

Sent too soon.. this one is easy to put on but also nice and soft. Lasts for quite a while too

Second close caboo - easy to use. At around 4 months we moved onto a Rose and Rebellion which was also great. My daughter never grew to like her buggy.

Have you tried the basic Baby Bjorn carrier? It didn't fit me too well being quite petite but it was ok especially when they're so small. DH got loads of use out of it. It's really easy to use.

I keep the back straps on the ergo done up in the right position for me and use the T-shirt method

m.youtube.com/watch?v=Pp-Jz_WDlhQ

I crossed the back straps on the ergo when my Dd was smaller. Strongly recommend persisting with a carrier - my DD was exactly as you describe in the pram and it was really stressful. She was fine in a carrier (especially with a baby wearing hoodie zipped over her so she was cosy and could nap)

DD1 had reflux so detested her carrycot with a fiery passion. We used car seat on frame for short trips, and a newborn head hugger in the main buggy seat, reclined back but not flat.

Re slings, she wasn’t keen on any of them because of pressure on her tummy - we tried SEVEN different ones!

We didn’t even bother with the carrycot for DD2, but it turns out that she’s happy in a buggy seat laid flat anyway, so long as she can stare at the sky. She can deal with a sling so long as she’s not in a nosey mood and wanting to look around, and we have a Close Caboo that I STILL cannot work despite it allegedly being simple, and an Ergo Embrace which I love for its sheer simplicity. I’d highly recommend the Embrace - if I can work it, anyone can!

My second baby was like this and you have my sympathy. Slept great at night and went down no problem but every single nap was in the baby carrier (BabyBjorn). I couldn’t sit down or he would wake immediately so had to move around the house. Only positive thing was once he got used to it and napped regularly he was a much happier baby. Transitioned him to cot naps around 4 months old and he’s been a dream sleeper ever since.

Everyone tells you how much babies love slings, but as with everything they have their own ideas. My second hated the wrap and upright slings I had. Did manage to persuade him into a one shoulder one so he was lying, but more upright. Definitely worth a go. Aside from that, it's just wait for them to grow out of it. Car was an absolute nightmare for the first 6 months or so,just screamed forever.

Thanks for the hack with the clip! I've managed to put her in more easily and she's been asleep for 2 hours, hurrah! I'm still going to try out the connecta as it's similar but easier to put on.

Do you think sleeping in a sling will get her into bad habits? I'm kind of living for the 'now' for an easy life and will deal with the next obstacle when it comes! Not sure if this is wise

It's fine :) Worryng about later is a bit pointless IME as babies and small children change all the time.

Perfect that's what I'm thinking... I'll ignore all the oldies telling me otherwise!