A question for (experienced) sling users

[glimmer]

The notion of having my baby close to me in a sling, wrap or caier has always appealled to me. Unfortunately, I DS (8weeks) is not terribly comfortable in neither the ring-sling or wrap I have. Especially cradle positions never worked for us.

Here are some question for experienced sling users: How long do you leave DC in the sling? Do you really have both hands free and get work done? Do you leave DC in sling for naps or put him/her down once they have fallen asleep? Did it always work for you or what helped? Any other questions/suggestions/experiences that might help?

Thank you!

Get a Wilkinet sling - a faff to learn how to put on, but takes seconds once you know what you're doing.

The baby is securely tied to you, so they don't sway about, and they can face in or out, or you can put it on your back. I've used them on newborns to 1 year olds.

Here.

Hi WanderingTrolley. Thanks for your reply. I didnt say that I have a BabyBjoern and we use it for walks instead of a pram. I am wondering if I should have another sling/wrap, so that he is not for too long in one position. As I understand some peope are again the "upright" position for young babies. I am a new mum and all of this is new to me.

How long do you leave the baby in the sling? Do you think it is much better than a baby bjoern?

Ds was a very upright baby and was happier upright. I used to carry him in a wrap in a front cross carry.

I used the sling for walks and he would always fall asleep in in but he would then tend to wake up after I got home. If he was tired and I was having trouble getting him to sleep then I had to put him in the sling and go out, he wouldn't go to sleep at home.

It was really quite rare for him to be happy in the sling while I did stuff around the house (but for some reason he would fall asleep on me out of the sling and tie me to the sofa

I think it all comes back to that age old "they are all different" thing.

I have kept using slings though and now he is one he will happily be in a back carry while I do things, don't use it around the house much but I run my Rainbow unit with him in a sling

Hi Indith. Thanks for our message. Yes, the front cross carry works best in the wrap I made (you can tell I made an effort using slings/wraps!!). My experience is similar he will fall asleep in it when he is overtired (almost like swaddeling, isnt it?), but will wake up once I attempt to put him down. But: Although my hands are technically free, I am not able to do any serious housework can talk on the phone, though :-) When awake and alert, he will not tolerate the front ross carry, though.

Like WT, I find the wilkinet works well too (it is a hassle to get on at first, but much easier with practice) -- DD and DS liked it much better than a ring sling (too long for comfortable cradle position, and DS just threatened to fall out all the time).

I could go for walks, cook, eat, hang out with toddler DD while DS is in sling etc and everybody is happy (it's a bit difficult to bend down in though, perhaps true of most slings). (Can't chop onions though, as I once did with DD ) Now DS is a bit older, he really likes facing forward, although he doesn't nap in the sling as readily in that position. Don't generally put him down just because he's napping, except if I want a break myself (he is 9+kg now)...