Has anyone forced a pram on their baby?

[Tiredmama94]

I have a 3 month old who is very fussy. So far he has hated every mode of transport apart from sling (pram with carrycot, normal pram facing in, facing out, with and without cost insert) and the car seat. He also hates napping by himself I think he just loves being held. So far the slings have been our best friends. This week as he has been getting more alert he has started fussing and crying in the sling. Now he will only let me carry him in my arms facing outward. It’s the issue that he wants to see but hates not being on me hence why he’s now refusing the sling. I think the pram would be perfect for him (and me!) but he won’t accept it. He will be able to sleep and look around whenever he wants.

my question is simple: has anyone tried just leaving them to cry in the pram till they get used to it??

and before people pull in with the “it’s torture to let your baby cry” pls don’t. My question is very specific for people that have tried letting them cry. DS will cry for 10 mins sleep for 30 at home and then go back to screaming. He’s too young to be forward facing in the sling (our pram can be used from birth in non carry cot and also he’s a large baby with good head control!). I’m currently stuck at home I can’t go and socialise I can’t even take the dog for a walk. He’s not uncomfortable doesn’t have wind or anything as the moment I pick him up he’s fine. He is just fussy. But after 3 months I now need my life back and to be able to leave the house with him for an hour. Pls help if anyone has tried to just let them cry for a while - do they eventually get used to it?? Or even after days of trying no luck?

thank you all!!

@ColonelSpondleClagnut yes I do think I’ll have to carry him most times and that’s fine I’ll invest in a better sling (I have the bjorn mini as I wasn’t planning on only carrying which only straps to your shoulders he’s now close to 7kg and it’s getting painful). I was thinking of investing in the ergo omni 360 that has 4 ways to carry when he’s older. Do you have any sling recommendations from your three babies??

Why would a baby ever HAVE to go in a pram though (as some posters are suggesting)? I’d have thought there were lots of situations when a pram would be either totally unsuitable or a massive hassle but a sling (unless you have back problems) would work fine. (Neither of my babies liked the pram but that was fine by me because I didn’t like using it either - I always found it really unwieldy and awkward and hated how much space it took up.)

OP if your baby doesn’t like the sling cos they want to look around then just use a hip carry - then they can see around but you’re still holding them. If you get a ring sling you’ll use it loads when they’re more mobile and want to be in and out of it all the time too!

@ZebraDanios - because sometimes I didn’t want to carry baby 24/7. I co slept, and we live remote so he was in a sling 90% of the time. We still use a sling now back carry and he’s 3 years! (Toddler Tula), so I’m all for slings. But sometimes I needed a break. If Ds was in a sling he also wanted to feed often, etc. and you just get touched out and need 30min break.
Theres also times now he’s a toddler and can walk and run that I just need him contained safely for 30mins. Either for convenience, speed, so he’s dry etc

@ZebraDanios to save your back, to leave hands free, to allow someone else to take your baby out and give you a break?

@ZebraDanios thanks! Yes I agree but need to wait till 4 months for forward facing and 6 for hip and back. Ate there any slings for hip facing from earlier months wise??

Are you sure baby doesn't have silent reflux? Does he sleep okay generally? Any other symptoms?

@Tiredmama94 - we used ergo embrace for newborn. I don’t think there was an age on facing outward, just said to only face outwards for 20mins at a time and not to let them sleep outward. I think that was for all ages though

please let me know when you get your life back my baby is now 15 years old and i'm still waiting. she still screams uncontrollably and i've

tried just shutting the door on her but she opens it

Have you tried a parent facing pram with an upright or semi-reclined seat? Some babies are uncomfortable lying flat, sounds like yours might be one.

Also a pram but with baby lying on their front can be great but they may hate it if they don't like tummy time. If your pram has a zip off panel at the head end of the carrycot, this is what it's for - front lying babies to look out.

If you want to try different slings I'd strongly recommend going to a sling library, babywearing consultant, indie baby shop with babywearing section etc. If you ask on general parenting forums, you'll get 50 recommendations for the Ergo because it's the most widely available one and frequently the only ergonomic carrier people have tried. If you ask on sling specific forums you'll get whatever's trendy in the sling world, but they are a bit like jeans, they don't fit everyone equally. Go somewhere that you can try multiple ones on.

Babies need good head control and to be able to sit with support for any hip carry. I loved ring slings for hip carrying though. You can do a front carry and a back carry fairly easily with them too.

I'd also say that any of the backpack style carriers offering hip carry are basically just a gimmick - for a proper hip carry you need a one shoulder carrier, not a two-shoulder.

A simple suggestion, but one that worked for my carry cot hater - a dangly toy! Around 3 months he just enjoyed staring at things and was like a magic hypnotising device. Might be worth a go?

This 100%.

Also had one of these babies. Mainly used the reclining car seat which she just about tolerated. She suddenly one day accepted the bassinet. So my advice is not to give up, if you give it a break, test it out again in a few days.

We also found rolling up 2 blankets and putting those either side of her in the bassinet helped - I assume she felt more "hugged".

You could try walking the pram/pushchair whatever on bumpy surfaces initially, if this is possible. Really helped us. DS went from yelling to sleeping when I found a good gravel track

No advice but you have my sympathy! Baby hates the pram bassinet, car seat & has started to fuss in the sling! Even her cotbed so we cosleep. I also have a baby Bjorn mini and with her getting bigger it absolutely kills my shoulders. We’ve moved to the parent facing incline seat and it’s a hit and miss - sometimes she naps, other times she cries and her cry is not one you can easily drown out! No amount of touching or soothing words does it but as soon as she’s held she stops. I get stares like I’m torturing my baby!

im about to brave an hour commute on the train and tube to see my mum as I’ve lost my mind being stuck at home (she’s now almost 4 months). Need to take the pram as my back cannot carry baby + changing bag & my stuff.

wish me luck!

Hiya, the Bjorns are not ergonomic and therefore the baby may just be fussy with it.” As they anre uncomfortable.

After having the exact same experience to you I went to my local sling library and got an Ergobaby and it’s honestly game changing as baby no longer fusses!

baby wearing UK is a great source of information on Facebook.hope the journey goes well! :)

also going out of my mind today in the home so I’m with you!

Ds1 hated pram - as in lying down flat in contained bed on wheels.

I had to prop him on a pillow so he could see out to take him anywhere after about 6 weeks. Not at all recommended but he wasn't going to fall asleep. He never slept.

Then moved him into a supportive push chair as soon as he reached the right age - iirc I got one which said from 4 months was ok semi-reclined. Something like that. He was also big and strong with head control. He was much happier in that.

He just hated not being able to see what was going on.

He is almost grown up now and still the most inquisitive thing on earth. Still doesn't sleep but I gave up trying to make him a long time ago.

Really feel for your exhaustion.

DS2 was perfectly sensible and liked to cosy down in his nice pram. He's much easier going.