Sling obsessed 6 week old..

[Bol87]

Before I start, I think slings are fabulous, wonderful inventions and must be brilliant for those able to happily use them. I understand a newborns need to be close & cuddled etc.

My issue is that I have a really bad back (waiting on surgery, probably now in about 3 years time!) & despite trying various slings/carriers & visiting a sling library prior to lockdown for fitting, it’s agony to wear one & have been advised by my back cons not to use it.. rather unhelpfully, it’s the only place my 6 week old will nap in the daytime. And if she’s not asleep, she’s crying. The last couple days of not using it have been awful 😰 She never falls asleep on her bottle. Thus, won’t fall asleep in arms. We’ve got a swing - will settle in it for 10 minutes, then scream. Won’t accept a dummy, we’ve tried 6 brands. Bouncy chair, nope. Sleepyhead, nope. Snuz, nope! 😩

Any tips/ideas/advice?! I’d imagine she’s now chronically over tired as her night sleep has been awful as well..

Please send help (and wine) 🙏🏼

Ohhhh that sounds absolutely dire, im so sorry! Don't have any wine to spare, but I'd share if i did.

Maybe you could try mimicking the feel of the sling? Could you maybe swaddle her, and then sit with her on your chest, maybe with your cardigan wrapped round her, so she's close and cosy but not putting strain on your back?

The only place my youngest ever slept was on me until she was about 6 weeks, never got her to lay on a play mat or in a bouncy chair but a friend gave me a swing and it was an absolute god send as it meant I could put her down and she would sleep for ages!

Might be worth a shot? Think ours was just a cheap £30 thing but I'd have doubled it and more for the sake of my sanity 🤣

That aside are there any signs of why she might be crying so much? It's so hard when they can't tell you isn't it.

Sorry, just re-read... You've tried that.

Long day 🤣

Can you sleep with her in a cuddle then, place her down. Is it the sling your using.

Do you have a partner who can carry her in a sling? Or have you set up a safe co-sleeping space and tried that? Lots of sympathy - both my dds were sling lovers as babies (it was pretty much a miracle off-switch) and not much else worked.

Have you tried a stretchy wrap carrier?