baby carrier and no pram?

[lemon101]

Hi all,

My dh and I are pretty keen to keep the level of baby accessories to a minimum and we had this idea of just getting a baby carrier/sling instead of a pram (until the baby was a bit older and then get a running pushchair).

As this pregnancy progresses and I start thinking about life after pregnancy however I am starting to think the whole 'no pram' idea might be a bit bonkers. The main reason being (and I appreciate this sounds ridiculous), but we do like going out for meals, a swifty drink at the pub etc. It's genuinely an important part of or lives and yes this will change etc etc (but still going to try!). In this sort of situation where do you put the baby if you just have a sling and haven't driven so the baby isn't in a car seat?

Is it a crazy idea to not get a pram? I'm sure there are other situations (and possibly more pressingly practical ones!) where a sling and no pram is problematic. I'd be grateful for the knowledge of the experienced ladies out there!

whatabout yes I used a ring sling at first so baby wasn't near the scar. But then it was only the first week or so really it might have been an issue and I didn't really go anywhere anyway! My first c section baby the MW recommended a sling rather than pram as there were many steps to my house and she said it would be better not to be lifting the pram. Each to their own of course, nothing wrong with using whatever works best for your situation :)

If you have the slightest sign of a uterine prolapse then you should use a pushchair rather than a sling.

You will get a lot of pro sling mums on here, and you may turn out to be one of them. I hope it works as well for you as it does for many! However, slings do not work for everyone (and these threads tend not to attract too many posts from those for whom a sling really did not work/who prefer buggy because they tend to generate the kind of comments above).

I will say keep an open mind. Maybe research buggy options so you know exactly what you want to get if you need it and can buy online/send DH/a friend to get it post-natally if you want it rather than trying to research and shop with a newborn and in whatever physical and mental state you are in post-delivery.

I really wanted to use slings and tried loads of different ones from a sling library (as well as purchasing a few of my own). For me they are not a good option. My body grows big babies and struggles to deliver them. My joints and my pelvic floor cannot, post natally, cope with carrying my baby for long periods of time. My babies grow quickly and their size and weight continues to outpace my recovery and ability to carry them. Plus, like a poster above, I really enjoy those few brief minutes that having baby asleep in the pram can give me to be 'me', unencumbered and baby free.

Where does the change bag go if you only have a sling? Do you carry that too?

TakesTwo that's a lovely and balanced post, and you're right, you don't see that many of those about slings!

In all my time of being pregnant and reading the 'just get a sling ' comments on here I thought sling would be by far the best option but despite trying loads of different ones I couldn't carry DD for more than 10-15 minutes without being in a lot of pain. It was doubly unexpected as I'm usually pretty fit and strong. The pram/pushchair has been a godsend. Once DD got used to it she'd happily nap/sleep in there, and it really helped us get out and about. I was bf as well so when she was in the pram was actually a nice break from having her glued to my body

Thanks apples

koala I either carry changing stuff in a tote over my shoulder or in a rucksack on my back when I am wearing a sling.

Like a PP I also have a wheely trolley for big trips to supermarket/shops on foot (had this anyway pre-DC as I live too close to supermarket to warrant getting the car out) - find I can carry more this way than loading up the pram.

I have never had a changing bag as such - I just have a folding mat which holds a few nappies and wipes etc which gets transferred to whatever bag I want to use on a given day.

I loved my pram but also found a sling handy once my child was a bit older and they could wrap their legs around my body. This was in a Rose and Rebellion sling - similar to the Ergo.

Useful for:

Some playgroups, baby clinics etc where you have to leave prams outside (get a bike lock).
Airports
Beach
Just going for a walk when your toddler gets tired legs.

Koala - never took a main changing bag. Just added few nappies and wipes to regular handbag. If I needed a lot of stuff I took a rucksack

Just to answer a few of the OP's specific questions, in the first few months we did go to the local pub for a drink now and then, and DH or I would wear DS in the sling. We saw a few other couples doing the same thing. I don't remember going out for meals much at first, but we definitely did once DS was a few months old, and he would either be in the sling, on a lap or laid in a blanket on a pub bench or the grass (obviously taking care he couldn't roll off anything). In some pubs or restaurants it would be more difficult and inconvenient to have to take a massive pram in with you.

Other situations which will arise in the first few months are visits to the Dr, e.g. for the six week checkup - we just took DS in the sling, it was no problem at all.

The OP is probably hoping for a fairly straightforward birth and recovery - I don't see any reason to rush into buying a pram now, just because there is a small chance she might have to have a CS which may make it harder to use a sling. I agree with TakesTwo though, that the OP could usefully think now about what pram to get if it turns out she does want one, so that someone else can pop out to buy one if necessary.

Thanks for answering Art and Plate.

OP, I think it depends on your baby. My baby is very clingy so if I only ever used a sling I don't think I would get a moment to myself.

However, I'm going to get a sling so that I can do some stuff around the house when she's awake (as she screams if I put her down). Or if she won't settle down when we are out and I need to have use of both hands!

But, for my sanity I need to have the travel system for when we are out and about and she falls asleep, I need some time to myself

Personally I would say to get the pram first, and then if you want to get a sling, you can always get one afterwards. Prams are such a nightmare to buy, and having to deal with that straight after the birth would be a nightmare.

Personally I am of the view that slings are great when you are just popping out (especially if you live in the city) and having to get the sodding pram downstairs would take almost as long as what you were going out to do. Short jobs, like getting cash out, or a local doctor's appointment or whatever. Also depends on what kind of baby you get. If you get a dainty little 6 pounder that's one thing, if they come out a stonking 10lbs at birth then there's no way I'd be able to manage that in a sling in addition to whatever else I'm carrying.

Prams are better for when you are actually leaving the house for any extended period of time. It's a personal thing, but I would find it awful to finally go out for a drink or to socialise, and to still have a baby attached to me at all times. It's nice when you can just park the pram and have some space and freedom.

I could easily have lived without a pram. I went to Portugal when ds was 6 weeks for 4 weeks. Went for dinner every night with him in sling and he was perfect. Sometimes waiters commented they didn't realisd he was there until they came to the table.

Couldn't cope without pushchair now ds a toddler as he sleeps in it for nap and I can put him in it to stop him escaping and put shopping in it! But if I have dc2 I won't bother with pram.

I think it really depends on the child, aside from external conditions like c-section/time of year weather wise etc.

DD1 hated slings, she wanted to lie down spread eagle style and adored her pram.

DD2 just wanted to be cuddled and snuggled up, so she hated the pram and lived in the sling.

Pregnant with DC3 and I'll have both, just take it how it comes. There is no right or wrong here at all.

I would recommend a sling library too. Maybe borrow a friends sling/pram for the first few weeks and try the slings/prams when not pregnant and baby is here. Also, I had one of those stretchy cloth ring ones, Closer, I think it was called. DD1 was 9.5lbs when born, by 2 months she practically sagged to my waist, I just couldn't get it tight enough! With DD2 I bought a Beko which was great. Ergo 360 are brilliant too. A sling that you can have baby on the front facing in and out, on the hip and on the back.

Best of luck with your baby and enjoy finding what works for you.

I'd echo PPs saying find a sling library and see what works for you. I personally love my slings/carriers and probably use them about 90% of the time I'm out with DD (now 6 months and about 16.5lb). The only times I use the pram are if she's asleep in her car seat and we're going out somewhere, and I don't want to wake her up. Even then, if it's the supermarket I usually just put her car seat in the trolley. I just find carrying her so much easier to manouver than pushing a pram, and she loves it. She loves being held so even if we had the option to put her down somewhere she often wanted in the sling while we were eating anyway, so having a pram wouldn't have made any difference.
FWIW I used a stretchy wrap from birth, then an Ergo Original from about 3 months. I've recently got a Tula and a woven wrap. They're great for back carries, which are very useful if wandering around the shops etc.