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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Ditch the pram idea for the first few months and make do with a sling??

74 replies

Violette · 28/02/2007 15:51

...in a bit of a quandry. Having first baby end of June.
I'm tight on cash, and will be getting a hand me down push chair which I know I can use from 6 mths +
So, can I get away with just buying a car seat and a sling for the first few months? Has anyone else survived without a pram or travel system for the first few months? I also do a lot of dog walking, so need a practical option...I just can't bare the thought of shelling out on a lie flat pram/pushchair when it's only necessary for several months
Help!

OP posts:

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phdlife · 01/03/2007 11:46

God - that Babywearer site is going to keep me busy for a while! Thanks, MrsB! What I want to know is how anyone thinks I'm going to practise with a sack of potatoes when I already have a massive extra weight under my jumper! Carrying a cup of tea and plate of biccies is about all I can manage these days

TheOriginalXENA · 01/03/2007 11:50

I don't know where you live but a friend of mine lives in london and she has a lovely pram she bought for her grandson that she would let you have for £20. I might have some photos of it somewhere

Muminfife · 01/03/2007 12:06

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Muminfife · 01/03/2007 12:10

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goldenpeach · 01/03/2007 13:19

You might want to investigate pramettes, which is a pushchair that becomes a pram with the car seat attached to it (which is also a carrycot). I bought a Mamas and Papas one from the NCT sale, or you can try freecycle if somebody has one to give away.

Original poster

Violette · 01/03/2007 17:21

Hey muminfife
thanks for that info. the website was really interesting. I just wondered whether you found it a bit fiddly to tie up etc?

OP posts:

Muminfife · 01/03/2007 17:48

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Chocolatepenny · 01/03/2007 21:13

an interesting one, but no Pram for 6 months? In Practicality you'll need one I think.

Muminfife · 01/03/2007 22:01

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maisym · 01/03/2007 22:04

used a baby bjorn sling and had a car seat - perfect.

Skribble · 01/03/2007 22:05

My DS was 11lb7oz and I had a section so no chance I was going to use a sling early on.

I got an excellent pram from the charity shop for £5. Some charity shops don't do them and others (often the independant ones) have a steady stream of them. In fact the shop I go to regular had one lying out the back as it hadn't sold, looked fine.

shag · 01/03/2007 22:10

you can get lots of babythings at nearly new sales which the national childbirth trust has. go to their website and search for the ones in your area. March is a popular month too.

if you go for a wrap sling which in my opinion takes some time and confidence to get used to but worth it in the long run. you can even start by using a piece of cloth of the dimensions mentioned on the Babywearing or Didymos sites. once you feel like you are willing to go for it, then invest in one.

the babywearing site has a page in the forum that is dedicated to DIY.

Muminfife · 01/03/2007 22:13

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welliemum · 01/03/2007 22:15

Another vote for slings and no pram. It's worked v. well for us (now on baby no.2) and I love being able to speed around town, up and down stairs, in and out of shops etc.

forgottenfreetime · 01/03/2007 23:37

Sorry to divert this thread somewhat but do any of you sling enthusiasts know how to use the wilkinet sling? I've been given one without instructions and the phone number it says to call is disconnected. Thanks

shag · 01/03/2007 23:58

wilkinet never used one myself

Chandra · 02/03/2007 00:19

Pruni, but even her had to eat her words and get one when baby was 6m old as her back was killing her!

...

Have not finished reading the thread but I agree with everything TeeCee said in her first post, besides.... DS hated the sling, any time I tried he went into a screaming fit... And while looking for one I realised that many slings are as expensive as the pushchair I got, that I'm very happy with and... 4 years on is still in very good condition (although... I got the puschair in offer and the sling was very expensive!)

macneil · 02/03/2007 03:21

I don't know how common this is, but I just have not been able to get my baby to go in a sling. I find it a bit awkward to get on (it isn't adjustable, but sold by woman-size) and the baby screams and screams when she's in it. Agree with people who say you should try/borrow before you buy.

There is, I think, although people will disagree, no great need to buy one before the event. I got a carry-cot for my buggy well after the birth, not realising that the buggy wouldn't work for her without this - it said 'suitable for newborns' and I didn't know how babies worked and ordered everything online. There were a couple of awkward doctor visits - one in the buggy tipped back, with the baby wrapped and wrapped - that was hellish, even though the dr is only round the corner - and the other parking in the dr car park and taking the baby in in a car seat, which was fine but a bit hairy because we were new to carrying a baby around. Then the pram carry-cot came a few weeks later, and I take her everywhere in that now. It is easier, because of the bag-carrying, and obviously for me, because of the no-screaming-baby. Also, it is just really good fun pushing a baby in a pram when you've never had a baby before.

twentypence · 02/03/2007 06:51

I used the pram for exercise walking. But when out and about just used to tuck a spare nappy and a small packet of wipes into the sling, a plastic nappy bag into my coat pocket with my house keys and off I went.

When BA lost ds's pram I kicked up a fuss and got a replacement, but found that I would have coped really.

belgo · 02/03/2007 06:55

twentypence - I agree that you don't need a whole load of stuff for the baby when going out.

SachaF · 02/03/2007 17:50

"how do you get on a bus?"
Wheel it on. I went into town 5 days after birth and it was too far so I got the bus back. Couldn't have walked with a sling that distance at 5 days.

"how do you go walking in hilly parks and trails??"
Urm, Push the pram.

"stairs??"
Take the wheelchair ramp. (or get DH to carry ) (agree this is sometimes a bit tricky, but kissing gates on footpaths are more tricky)

"and i'm not sure about the travel systems - there is a school of thought that babies ought not to be in that position for too long."
Agree. But you can get lie flat or almost lie flat car seats. My car seat cost £110. I think a lot of goor quality new born car seats are a similar price (but that doesn't help if you already have one).

"slings rule."
I love my sling, hanging out the washing today was a family afair, I was at a friends the other day and they suggested going for a walk, no pram so used the sling.

Both have a place depending on your lifestyle and strength.

Nemo2007 · 02/03/2007 17:59

Depends on you and the baby,Ds hated sling and prefered pram, both DDs love the sling over the pram. I use both as I have ds, 14mth old and 2mth old dds. I tend to use my sling to go shopping so the other two are in the trolley. I have a ring sling which is very comfortable and easy to get DD into a good position for her, think thats the mistake I made with Ds as I just had a tomy sling as didnt know about other types. I also agree about borrowing a pram or picking one up cheap on ebay/charity shops. If you are in northwest you are more than welcome to borrow my single but would need it back for when I hope to get one of the girls walking..lol

belgo · 02/03/2007 18:02

Sacha - I couldn't even walk down my stairs five days after given birth without nearly fainting- let alone a bus/walking trip into town!

3andnomore · 02/03/2007 18:15

As long as you don't get a Baby Bjoern kind, but a proper sling you will probably manage just fine.
I have several slings and find the Huggababy is probably the easiest to get the hang off.
It's a ringsling, and Baby can be put in lots of different positions.
Wraps are also great, but require more practice.

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