Up until what age did you use a sling?

[FebMama]

DS2 is 3 months old now and I use a wrap/sling every day without fail. He has most of his naps in the sling as he sleeps well in it and will only have 30 minute naps if I was to put him in the crib.

I'm just curious as to how long others used their wraps/slings for? My back is starting to suffer with it now given that I use it daily and multiple times a day too!!

If your back is starting to hurt then you are using the wrong sling and/or have a poor fit and are wearing it wrong (very common).

You can easily carry toddlers with the right sling and have no issues.

I recommended either visiting a local sling library or posting on Babywearing UK on Facebook for a fit check and/or recommendations.

I carried my six year old at Disney in the autumn.

agree if it’s hurting with a three month old you may nerve to change sling. There’s a great Facebook page called Babywearing uk for advice

I used mine until they got too heavy for me- maybe 10 months or so? Dp used one to "hip carry until they complained! Maybe 3?

Carried my 5.5 year old for a 20 minute walk yesterday in the sling. Echo PP that it would be worth getting the fit and carry checked out

3.5 months and just changed from a stretchy wrap to a carrier. I worked with my local sling library to find the right ones for me but as PPs have said it is absolutely possible to carry using slings (especially woven) until much later (we’ll into toddler and early childhood years) but you may need some help finding the best ties for you. Otherwise your local sling library can help you choose the best buckle carrier to move on to.

About 3 years with a woven wrap.

I carried my kids on my back in my Tula until they were 3.5, no issues. A good semi-structured carrier distributes the weight to your hips, not your shoulders and back, and a properly used stretchy wrap also distributes it.

I carried mine until they were about three and half. I had a really comfy woven wrap that distributed the weight so it was fine. It’s well worth checking out your local sling library.

1 year with a stretchy, then until maybe 2.5 years with a buckled carrier. I wanted to wait until his constant vomiting was resolved as wraps are much easier to wash!!

Another vote for trying a different sling or different fit. I used a sling every day until 4 and then longer for special things. (I’m another who used a sling at Disney - he could sleep and I could keep going and not worry about getting him from the park to hotel without falling asleep.)

I’m a big fan of soft buckle carriers with no extra structure or padding, though younger I used more wraps.

If you can get to a sling library and still have back pain, then maybe look at what could help your back or if something is niggling so you can improve it now before it has long term issues outside of ferrying small people.

Regularly, about 9 months.
But, we borrowed a sling when DS2 was2years, (and DS1 was 4) as we were going somewhere not suitable for pushchairs. I carried both kids on that holiday (one at a time!)

Last time was the walk back up the cliff from the beach with a tired just-4yo. I had a meh dai and knew all the tricks to make it comfy (twist under the bum for more support, cross straps to keep them firmly on my shoulders) and it was fine on my back though quite tiring going uphill.

Mai tai till about two.

I was carrying one on my front and one on my back until my DS's were 1 and 3.5 years respectively. Not that often by then obviously as DS1 was walking most of the time, but I could do it reasonably easily, and I am 5ft 0 and not particularly strong or anything. It was much easier to have a mei tai scrunched up in my bag for when he got tired than mess about with a buggy.
I agree with everyone else. If you're having back problems carrying a 3 month old you need to change your sling or how you are using it. Different slings or ways to carry work better for different people - there is no one size fits all solution - so it is definitely worth looking for a sling library or meet up to get some alternative ideas. Hope you get it sorted soon.

Still carry my 4 year old occasionally (at festivals or when we are out all day)

About three and a half. Agree with PPs if it is hurting your back already it's a crap sling or badly fitted.

Thank you all for the replies! Sorry should have made it clearer, it's not the sling causing me the back issues, I've always had tense shoulders and issues with my upper back since I had DS1 so its not the slings fault! Probably just exacerbating the issue I already had. Thank you all! ☺️