Has anyone tried not using buggy and only baby carriers?

[Pinetreeland]

Hi,

I am considering not buying a buggy but just use a babycarrier/sling instead. I was wondering whether anyone else has done that? I have spoken to a few new mums and was told that it will be practically impossible and I should drop this stupid idea. However, I do like the sound of having baby close to me at all time when I am out and about...

Thanks for your advice in advance!

I couldn't put her down anywhere

Fin has hit on a big potential disadvantage to not having a pram, imo. There are plenty of places one could safely put a blanket down in the park, but not in cafes, for example.

Much depends I think on what you're up to. I didn't have a car, and was out and about walking for much of the day. If you're going to drive to the supermarket (or get your shopping delivered - not an option when I had ds) then I can see how it would be easy enough to get by. I found ds's pram invaluable to carrying shopping home (and missed it once he started walking everywhere!).

Another point - I suspect that it's easier to regulate a baby's temp in a pram, by adding and removing blankets. DS was an autumn baby and I found it a real faff to adjust his clothing in a sling. Yes it's doable - but not as easy. Don't underestimate how hot some shops are, for example. In summer, I (and he) found the sling unbearable hot and sticky - in a pram he could spread himself out wearing just his nappy if need be, there was plenty of air circulating around him and he was shaded. In a sling he seemed overdressed - either his bare limbs were exposed to the sun or they were covered. Perhaps ds and I are prone to overheating, thoguh.

I had a big German pram for him when he was tiny (lovely suspension, faced me and well shieled from autumn and winder winds if need be), which I picked up cheaply second hand. Then I got a brilliant Mothercare 3 wheeler, which was a dream to push and was fairly inexpensive.

WRT to snow; the big pram was fine - it had lovely big wheels and felt sturdy enough. A buggy would have been useless though, and I felt too unsteady on my feet to carry ds in a sling (the pavements were really icy in places and I lived in a very hilly city with uneven pavements).

But we only had a few days of snow when ds was a baby, so it wasn't a big deal either way. And we didn't have any dogs!

Didn't read the thread, but I am due winter time and after last winter when I couldn't even find pavement to walk on I definitly won't be considering it until at least spring time. I#d be so scared of slipping.

Re snow, I think you can see from a pic I've put on my profile that no buggy would manage the snow we had a few months back ...

Had just a sling with all of them at first - for the first 3 months or so. Very cosy and cuddly although I did fret about about whether they were being suffocated by my tits.

Had nice comments about how snuggly it must be for them. But they were all sociable from the moment they could control their heads and spent ages trying to look out at the world. DD2 was absolutely delighted by the pushchair when she first went in and squealed with joy. Ah well, I guess she just has an outgoing spirit and I was cramping her style.

Oh - did slip over once when pregnant and landed heavily on my big bump. Was very worried but all fine. Wouldn't have liked doing that with a sling though.

My African mate thinks buggies are a waster of time and does that brilliant thing with yards of cloth and carries her kids around on her back until they are about 14. Never could figure out the wrapping technique to be confident enough.

I have dogs and can't really afford a decent pushchair (we wanted a Mountain Buggy but that is now out of our price range) so hoping to do the sling thing too and watching this thread with interest. Now worried it is all going to be a nightmare :(

I think I'll need to grow several more pairs of hands to be effective...

That's so true, everything. People get really snippy about it, which is really

I do get a bit evangelical about my pram though, because it was so bloody useful.

wrt sling/pram in really icy conditions, I have no idea which would be best. A baby strapped into a sturdy pram has the protection, but if they weren't securely strapped in

I wouldn't trust my instincts in really icy conditions because then things happen far too quickly to react even instinctively, though I suppose you usually fall on your arse rather than forwards.

Fortunately I only had to make the call a couple of times. I am no expert.

DamnDog I'd suggest something like this Several birds, one stone

I used my Moby Wrap about 90% of the time until DS was about 4 mo. He hated lying down in the pushchair, and tbh we only used the pushchair because DH was smarting about how much it had cost!

Now DS is a big 9mo I use the pushchair much more often, as I can carry stuff as well! He's happy looking around, squealing at passersby and smiling at dogs.

Jenai

We have a few child + shopping in sledge days every year!

... but now you mention it, I've been missing a trick with the dogs ...!

I've only ever fallen on my arse when I've slipped on snow or ice, so that doesn't bother me.

I don't use a pushchair/pram/buggy and have used slings/baby carriers and then backpacks for all 3DC. As long as you get a good one it can be no problem at all- and much easier to walk off the beaten track, negotiate public transport etc etc. BUT my MIL cannot use one as her back isn't as strong so we have a buggy for whenever she minds the DCs (1.5 days a week when I'm at work)- and the childminder uses a buggy for the 2 morns she minds the DCs. I was worried about the babies being too use to being carried and not wanting to sit in a pushchair but they are fine in one.

FWIW I had c-sections with all 3 and found the wraparound style cloth slings great for carrying the babies and didn't hurt my scar (and maybe easier than pushing a buggy in the early weeks)- but all 3 were pretty small. Whenever the babies have got to 6 months or so I stop carrying them on my front and move them to my back or side. I have a hip replacement so tend to get dodgy back and knees easily but carried each child until two years old no probs and they're good walkers now (walking was encouraged as much as possible as they got older!! ).

Hello

I can't bare 'buggies'!
We managed with a baby bjorn sling (by the looks of this thread, we did it the hard way!)
Our 2 boys are only 19 months apart, we did buy a cheapy fold up pushchair, but only used it a handful of times for DS2 (zoo, beach, occasional long walk).

I feel like you have more freedom and they walk quicker!

Go for it, you can always get a pushchair later on!