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Parenting

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Original poster

Baby carrier not working for us

38 replies

Ddimynswr · 15/09/2023 16:53

I invested in a baby carrier and a sling before birth and put baby in several times now. Watched lots of videos and read instructions etc.

I think baby was in correct position and she seemed OK but tbh I just didn't really like it. It felt odd and uncomfortable and I didn't feel comfortable wearing her for too long. She also didn't seem to like it for too long either.

Carriers and slings seem all the rage and I feel like I'm missing something here. Friends have raved about how great they are and I see positive videos about it on SM often.

Please tell me there are other parents out there who don't see what the fuss is about? Or am I missing out here?

OP posts:

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piglet81 · 15/09/2023 16:57

Can you try visiting a sling library so they can check you’re adjusting everything properly and give you some tips? But if it’s not for you then that’s totally fine - there’s no one way to parent and everyone does things differently.

Mrsjayy · 15/09/2023 16:59

Just use a pram it's fine.

DustyLee123 · 15/09/2023 17:01

When mine were little we were told that it’s best for their backs to be lying flat, so mine went in the Moses basket/pram.

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LolaJ87 · 15/09/2023 17:04

I tried 2 types of slings and 1 carrier and felt the same. It seemed like it always needed tweaking once I moved about. I was constantly checking his positioning. He got restless quickly too. I imagined wearing him in a sling in the supermarket, on dog walks and while sorting laundry.... in the end it didn't happen that way and it just wasn't the right fit for us. It's ok if you feel the same!

Wtafis · 15/09/2023 17:04

Do whatever works for you!

jannier · 15/09/2023 17:06

Just use a pram it's fine not everyone wants to baby wear millions of us never been in a sling are we emotionally damaged?

TheBeesKnee · 15/09/2023 17:06

My baby hated the sling and carrier. I was so relieved that I'd bought them second hand for this reason. I've packed them away in case the next baby is a fan.

Do you still have your receipt?

Clefable · 15/09/2023 17:08

I used mine way more with my second baby as I found I wanted to be mobile in the house and used my hands with older DC and also when out I found it more of a pain managing pram and a 3yo. I didn't get the hype with first baby but my god I wore that sling every day for the first 3/4 months with DD2! It was the only way she would nap apart from me holding her, which just wasn't practical the second time around!

PikachuEars · 15/09/2023 17:09

I think you hear people raving about them if you have a baby that hates being put down. But if your baby is happy in a pram and you’re happy using one then there’s no problem to solve really.

I don’t know what sling you have but I found a soft stretchy bamboo wrap comfortable for the first few months for both of us, and a structured carrier better when old. Lots of other sling types I didn’t get on so well with.

Swifty1newmama · 15/09/2023 17:10

Feel the same! Friends love it and have worn theirs loads. I’m glad I just got mine secondhand as much prefer having baby in the pram.

zurala · 15/09/2023 17:16

Neither of mine were ever out of the sling! I used them for almost everything and my youngest loved it so much he would crawl over to the pile of slings when he wanted a nap! I couldn't have survived without them. But there are lots of different types and you need to find what works for you. You will have a local sling library where they can help, if you want to use them, but if you don't then don't!

RedHelenB · 15/09/2023 17:41

Never used a sling/carrier aoart from for short periods like getting on a bus. Baby went on a play mat/ bouncer or bouncy chair if I wasn't holding them. Seems a quite new thing.

Needmorelego · 15/09/2023 17:45

My baby was mostly fine about being in a carrier but I found it a faff because I still had to carry a changing bag/my bag plus usually shopping etc so I felt like a pack horse.
I preferred the pram because I could put the bags on it.

DrMarshaFieldstone · 15/09/2023 17:46

What type did you buy?

It’s completely fine if it’s not for you or for your baby.

CuntRYMusicStar · 15/09/2023 17:47

I had a Tula and never used a pushchair after 4 months - it was so much more convenient and easier to deal with than pushing the pushchair! I second the suggestion about visiting a sling library, it may be that a different sling would work better for you and your baby and the staff can also offer fitting advice.

birdglasspen · 15/09/2023 17:52

Sounds great. Reality my idea of hell. I found it uncomfortable to carry baby around I did not find it easy to “just make beds and get on with housework/cooking” with baby in a sling or carrier. Used a carrier only for walks not in the house. Just get baby use to a routine with naps in Moses basket going on to cot or pram and then you will have free time from baby to get things done instead of carrying them everywhere.

WetherspoonsCarpet · 15/09/2023 18:00

If you want to give it another go you could try the Babywearing UK group on Facebook and get a fit check, and/or try hiring one from a sling library as others have said, as they all fit so differently. I used one all the time as my baby hated being in a pram, and now he's a bigger toddler who likes prams still use it for naps at times. For me I like the flexibility of having both options, but really if you're happy with a pram then it's not a necessity and amongst friends I have some who never used them as their babies were happy in the pram. So don't feel pressure if it's not for you!

CurlewKate · 15/09/2023 18:02

"When mine were little we were told that it’s best for their backs to be lying flat,"

Tell that to most of the rest of the world!

DrMarshaFieldstone · 15/09/2023 18:04

DustyLee123 · 15/09/2023 17:01

When mine were little we were told that it’s best for their backs to be lying flat, so mine went in the Moses basket/pram.

Edited

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/plagiocephaly-brachycephaly/

Plagiocephaly and brachycephaly (flat head syndrome)

Find out about why some babies develop a slightly flattened head, what can be done about it, and how long it will take to improve.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/plagiocephaly-brachycephaly/

CurlewKate · 15/09/2023 18:05

@Ddimynswr One of mine I wore until she got too heavy- the other was only happy for an hour or so at a time until he got big enough to face out. He was happy for ages when he could watch the world go by.

Kangaroo1 · 15/09/2023 18:12

My DH said that baby wearing for him was like 'two obese people trying to get into a lift together'. It just doesn't work for some babies and parents

RobinsPelt · 15/09/2023 18:21

You could try different slings if you want to persist but in all honesty I wouldn't bother.
I thought a sling would be great with a small age gap. The reality was the toddler hated the baby being a barrier between us and the baby would only sleep lying down. Plus as someone who mostly walks everywhere I felt like a one man band with a sling, a back pack, shopping bags and various items shoved in coat and trouser pockets.

pythongreenporsche · 15/09/2023 18:24

I found it hard. My baby was born early Feb and I sweated like anything when wearing her, even though the weather was awful. It just didn't work for us

FoxtrotSkarloey · 15/09/2023 18:27

The sling was a lifesaver for me for DC1 who would not be out done. He spent days in it because it gave me my hands to eat, do chores, go to the loo!!!

DC2 was quite happy to lie in her Moses basket or on a playmat so I barely used it with her.

If you don't feel you need it, don't use it and certainly don't worry about it.

FoxtrotSkarloey · 15/09/2023 18:27

*put down not out done!

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