Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

Original poster

Can babies spend all day in a sling?

21 replies

blushingmare · 08/05/2012 18:52

I've just had an email from the Olympics people telling me that they've now decided babies don't need tickets for the Olympics, but they have to be in a sling - no prams etc allowed. We have tickets for the cross country phase of the eventing in Greenwich Park and our baby (which obviously wasn't conceived when we got the tickets!) will be, worse case scenario, as young as 6 weeks. We were planning on buying a sling of some sort anyway - probably a mei tai. But would a baby this young be ok all day in a sling?! I'd have thought for baby's and adult's comfort, we'd need to take baby out for a spell, but not quite sure where we'll then put him/her! I was kind of just banking of pushing the pram around all day and just getting baby out for feeds etc. any wisdom anyone can share?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

UntamedShrew · 08/05/2012 19:02

They can and will probably enjoy it.. But your back will be killing you by the end and you could both get a bit hot.
I'd also take a picnic plus baby blanket and put them on the floor whenever there is the chance

RetroMum1 · 08/05/2012 19:34

I use a Kari-me, it is a wrap style. I got it with DD because she hated the pram and being put down so she pretty much spent all day in a sling for the first 16 weeks. Put them in layers so you can strip them off if they get hot and they'll b fine. You both need to share wearing the baby though to save your back and if you have c-section your scar too.

Badgerina · 08/05/2012 20:02

Yes and they love it! Take a Mei Tie carrier (Babyhawk is a good one) and you can carry him/her on your front or your back, and can easily swap with whoever you're going with, to get a break

chocoroo · 08/05/2012 20:05

The baby will be fine in the sling, you'll get him/her out and sit them on your knee, cuddle them etc whenever you fancy anyway.

I'm v jealous - we're taking DD to a couple of Paralympic events and she'll be 18mo. No chance of keeping her quiet in a sling all day!

Murtette · 09/05/2012 02:27

Blushing - we're in the same position except DC2 should be 8 weeks old (if he turns up on time!) and have tickets for the swimming. The email says that babies will only be admitted to the venue if they are strapped to you & that there will be buggy parks just outside the venues. I'm trying to work out whether this actually means that we can take a pushchair into the Olympic Park itself but DC2 will have to be in the sling when we enter the swimming pool after which he can either stay in the sling or be taken out of it or if the buggy park is outside the Olympic Park itself. I think it must be the former as I imagine that a lot of parents of toddlers/young children who bought tickets for them will be planning on taking a pushchair for when the child gets tired.

Having said that, we may not take a pushchair anyway as, given how busy public transport is going to be, it will be much easier to get a baby in a sling onto a tube or train than a baby in a pushchair.

With DD, I was encouraged to "wear" her a lot (by which the paed said she meant several hours a day) as DD's hips were shallow and the position they are in in a baby carrier can help to make them sit deeper so there shouldn't be a problem with having them in a carrier for several hours provided both the baby and the person carrying them are comfortable.

Fraktal · 09/05/2012 05:42

DS was for the first 3 months in a sling except when he was feeding (and once I'd cracked that he stayed in) or having a nappy change.

I would favour a stretchy or woven wrap but a mei tei is also a good option.

feesh · 09/05/2012 06:02

Murtette, did your paed recommend a particular sling or way of carrying your DD? Did you carry her in the foetal position?

I am very interested, as there is a family history of hip dyslpasia in our family (including me - 14 surgeries before I was 11!) and I am keen to do as much as I can to help our future child.

Fraktal · 09/05/2012 06:32

feesh we carried DS tummy to tummy with knees to either side to prevent hip dysplasia (and still back carry him with legs in the same position).

wonkylegs · 09/05/2012 06:49

I lived with DS in a sling when I was at home as I couldn't carry him properly
any other way due to problems with my hands and wrists and he was a very cuddly baby who generally wouldn't be put down when he was wee. We used a close baby carrier worked for both me & DH (I'm tiny, DH isn't) even in summer although you can get a little warm at times.

chocoroo · 09/05/2012 07:12

murtte I was at the Olympic Park yesterday attending an event in the stadium with work. On the outside of the stadium (kind of like where the food stalls and toilets were) there were several buggy store rooms. No idea how it will work come games time but hope that helps.

alwaysanauntie · 09/05/2012 07:22

Thanks for this post OP, we too have tickets for cross country eventing at grenwich park by which time the baby will be between 8 & 10 weeks, so pleased to hear we will be able to take her after all as I am desperate to go! Useful info in the different types of slings, we have a monthly sling meet in our town where you can try out and hire slings, might be worth seeing if you have something similar in your area (i googled it to find mine), then you don't have to go to expense of buying something you may only use for a day. Might see you at the cc! :)

InmaculadaConcepcion · 09/05/2012 07:48

So long as the baby isn't in a "crotch-dangling" carrier (Baby Bjorn or similar) and not in a "face the world" position, they should be fine.

DH and I had DD in a sling all day for a few days when we went to festivals when she was tiny. We found a wrap sling to be ideal as (with a picnic blanket) we could use it to make a nest for her on the ground once in a while too (if you're in a park, you may well be able to do that as well). Take turns carrying the baby with your OH and make sure you've got a good supply of nappies etc. and you'll be fine.

Best position for a baby is with their legs "froggy-style".

Good info on positioning here.

Lucky you! Good luck for the rest of your pg and enjoy the Olympics!

PS I had DD in a woven wrap sling during the summer in Madrid and we didn't get too hot. Maternal body temperature actually help regulates the baby's, provided they haven't got too many layers on!!

lagoonhaze · 09/05/2012 07:50

Immaculda you took the words right out
My mouth!

NeedlesCuties · 09/05/2012 08:58

Interesting thread!

Have bought a fabric wrap sling for DC2 when he/she arrives in August and was wondering about practicalities such as how long they could stay there for!

When DS was born 2 years ago I got a huge travel system pram as I thought it was 'essential' but he hated it the whole time and just wanted to be carried (think it was maybe partly because I bf him on demand and he wanted to be near me always). So for this one I've just decided to go for a sling and not bother with a buggy till he/she is bit older.

Plus, I'll be running round after DS anyway, so a sling is likely to be handier! :)

Oblyx · 09/05/2012 10:26

Glad I saw this thread - I will be in a similar situation, except that DC will only be about 3 weeks old.

With DS I used a kari-me from birth, but only for short walks, not all day. However, a friend of mine has carried her DD in one almost constantly since birth, so I think it must be fine. Also, we will be able to take them out of the sling once at the venue.

I would be interested to hear how others get on, especially how the buggy park thing works out. I have visions of losing the pushchair or queuing for hours to get it back. Maybe better not to bother taking one.

Mothpop · 09/05/2012 10:42

DH and I thought all of our christmases had come at once when we got our Olympics 100m final tickets :), likewise when I became pregnant after our first round of IVF :). Oh, how our hearts fell when we realised that both events were due within 7 days of eachother ! DH is holding out hope that somehow things will work out, and I guess that if all else fails he will get to go with a friend. Its not what we would do with DC when we are there that bothers me it is the travel and trying to get through London that will be the nightmare :(

soandsosmum · 09/05/2012 12:46

Can I ask if you contacted them and if you have an email address. I have tickets to the judo and a one year old I'd like to take

Original poster

blushingmare · 09/05/2012 13:04

Thanks for all the replies - great advice!

Soandso - I think I contacted them originally through the contact us page on the website. This was about 2 months ago and I got a reply saying that they hadn't decided what the plan was yet for babies and I should contact them at the end of April. I didn't actually get round to contacting them about it, but they emailed me yesterday. I guess someone kept a list of people who had enquired and sent a message once they'd decided the policy.

OP posts:

AdiVic · 09/05/2012 13:08

Ah, the xcountry at Greenwich park! I'm very jealous:) Anyway, back to slings and babies being in them. When my DD was 12 weeks old we spent the day at Badminton and I only took her sling - we had a trico slet one (think that's how it's spelt) Basically it is a huge long bit of fabric which you wrap around yourself and slot the baby in. DD spent plenty of time out of the sling also, when we were sat down etc. Obviously she was older than yours will be, but she seemed very happy. Have a great time!

Walkingchloe · 09/05/2012 13:10

Ooh so glad I've seen this thread. We have show jumping tickets and dc will be 3 weeks old if he or she arrives on due date (unlikely
I know!)

Tbh I'd be worried about leaving an expensive pram in a storage place unless you can lock it or something, I used to work in a stadium and was constantly surprised that dozens of prams got left in a room with no lock etc. maybe I should just be more trusting!

I'm desperate to go to the Olympics so fingers crossed me and dc are up to it, we shall see! Glad to know babies are ok in a sling all day though, I've bought a close carrier, hope baby likes it!

Murtette · 09/05/2012 19:46

Soandso - its now the general policy that babies under 1yr can be taken in without a ticket so I don't think you need to be contacted specifically.

feesh - the paed actually recommended a Baby Bjorn to me and that was what we used with DD (and will with DC2 as that's what we have now) although subsequent reading I've done suggests that actually the wrap carriers would be better.

chocoroo - that's helpful. Thanks.

walking - I know what you mean about leaving the pram but its something I've got used to since I had DD. The pram is often left on side of the park, in a corner at soft play, outside a shop. You can get locks for buggies (which are similar to bicycle locks) or just use a bicycle lock.

Flip