tips for getting baby on back?

[belindarose]

We've recently gone from a hip hold in a ring sling or front carry in moby to a connecta. It's lovely and DD (14mo) LOVES being on my back (and usually falls asleep instantly!). We're really restricted with it though as I just can't manage to get her on by myself, only with someone else's help. Any advice?

I am not sure what connectas are but I carry ds on my back with a piece of fabric about the size of a towel (same way they do in africa). I also had trouble at first getting him on my back but its sooth sailing now. Here is what I do: lay the fabric out on the bed flat, and put him on top of the fabric (as if I were gona swaddle him with a blanket). Then I pick him up with the fabric and put him on my left hip. I bend forward tword the floor and reach my left arm above and around his head to the other side of his body and slide him on my back.I hold him there by his bum if he squirms while bouncing a bit til he settles and I can secure the wrap. If you look up videos of how african women carry babies on the back you can get a closer look. The more times you do it the more secure you will feel with it. Practice over the bed a few times and see how you feel. I have an ergo sling and a moby and ds melts like butter when I carry him this way on my back, he loves it.

Thanks. Your way sounds intriguing, becknnico! I've looked on youtube now and have seen a range of ways, so I'll have a practise with DH and DD over the weekend. Will get much more use out of the sling if I'm more confident doing this.
I keep trying to find slingmeets, but no luck - strange, as so many people use carriers round here. I guess that means they don't need slingmeets?

I'll do that! I'll be brave (have become more so recently, so it might be okay!).

I have an ergo, which is similar to the connecta.
when I wear dd on the back I put the belt on sideways put baby in and then the shoulder strap of the left shoulder first (where I slid it to) then slide baby and all to the back and tighten straps.
I do that sitting down just in case.
dh put dd in the first few times, so that I knew how it should feel.

I have an Ergo and a 13month old. I just sort of swing him on my back and then grab the straps...all whilst leaning forwards and close it round him. I shifty him around a little and then I do the chest strap up. It took a lot of trial and error but it works. Just keep practising!

I have an Ergo and I did the same as brachy, over the sofa but now that DS is that much older he just jumps onto my back from me sitting on the sofa. Fancies himself as a bit of a cowboy me thinks!

belindarose, where are you?

Oh, thanks for that! At the moment I just sit ds on the carrier on the sofa and sit in front of him as I do up the straps. I might get brave and try another way now.

How about getting them off your back though? Especially when out and about. At home I just sit down on the bed or sofa, lean back and loosen the straps so that ds ends up lying on the sofa/bed. But if I'm in the park and it's damp on the ground I don't want to be doing that. How else can I do it?

i slide dd4 off my back. undo the straps or wrap, reach down and let her down gently.

in the park I just go to a bench or slowly slide dc out.

I got all the housework done yesterday with her on my back (poorly and didn't want to be put down). Used the easiest looking method I'd seen on youtube, sort of hitching her round from my hip. I had the shoulder straps already done up, so slid my arms through them and tightened them up. It was great, probably because she couldn't be bothered to wriggle though!