Do I need a stroller too?

[dragonjewels]

dc1 is due in 14 weeks and I've decided it's finally time to do some baby things shopping. I'm planning to use a sling - either this one: sling or this one carrier If I manage to find a sling I get on with, will I really need a stroller too? Is it viable to use a sling as the only transport method? I like to get out and about quite a lot but the area I'm in has pretty good public transport, I'm considering getting a bike trailer and I drive.

I think there are as many answers to this as there are people!

We started with a stroller and thought we'd just have a sling as an occasional nice alternative.

Turns out we got a really clingy one, who wanted to be carried all the time, and hated pushchairs. Those people you see pushing an empty pushchair, while holding the baby, in the rain? That was us.

So pushchairs weren't an option for us, and you could say we have been forced to learn to get by without (walk and public transport everywhere). And we do, very nicely.

But on the very few occasions when DD slept soundly in her pram and it was scorchingly hot, I was quite grateful for the pushchair.

Also, depends whether other people will be looking after your baby. If they're not comfortable with using a sling, or physically fit enough to do so (especially when your baby gets heavier and they haven't gradually built up the baby-toting muscles) then you might wish to have a pushchair handy for them.

One advantage of a sling is that no awfully well-meaning 'friends' or relatives can give you a stealthy shove so that they can snatch the pram from you, unasked, and 'have a go' with pushing the baby

Also, our unused pushchair came in handy for friends who needed to borrow it when theirs got soaked

I'm sure others will be along with other views.

BTW can't see the types of sling in the links - what are they? Looks as though one is an Ergo.

And congrats on your bump!

Hi dragon
I used my slings everyday for months with my two babies 9 (one of whom is now almost as tall as me!) but I also needed and loved our pushchair

However much a baby loves a sling a pushchair is really handy for when you might want to walk somewhere and baby is in the mood for laying down and kicking his legs etc.
A pushchair is a really handy safe place to put baby when he/she is asleep and you want a sleeping place for him.
Also great for when people other than you are caring for baby
Pushchairs are also often easier once baby gets bigger and chunkier - and perhaps doesnt want to sleep and snuggle next to you quite so much

Id get one - perhaps secondhand or up to £100 or so, then its not a huge expense if in the event you dont used it that often.

Try to get one where baby can face you as you walk.
Bike trailers are great - when baby is a bit older!

HTH

dragon how about this for a compromise? Why not do some research into pushchairs and pick out which one you think you would buy, if you decided you wanted one, then once baby is here, see how you get on with the sling?
Make sure you pick a pushchair that you can buy from a shop e.g. mothercare and take away the same day, I mean not one you have to order and wait 2 weeks for delivery, then no loss if you don't need it, but easy to fix it if you decide you really do want one.

I have a 6 wk old and must admit use the pushchair (in horizontal mode) more than the sling while outdoors because:

• it takes all the shopping in the underpram carrier, plus I can add some more in a backback (I do most of my food shop by foot)
• when I get in from being out, my LO often sleeps for (comparatively) ages. This is a prime time for me to have a quick kip, it's such bliss just to leave her there.
• also, and this is probably sling wearing heresy, but after spending so long being pregnant, and struggling a bit with BF, I actually appreciate not having to carry the LO around all the time.

Everyones milage may vary, I know other people manage fine, but these are a few things that I wouldn't have predicted until I experienced life with a month old baby.

I tend to use a pushchair when I am going shopping, purely to carry the bags!

However I second the advice above about choosing one, but not buying it until the baby is born, if you decide you need it. Lots of people manage without pushchairs at all, but equally, they can be useful. I love slings and still use mine (Advice BTW - get the Moby and then when your baby is about 10 months old get the toddler version of the Patapum - like the ergo but half the price because they do it in baby and a toddler size. It is more supportive than the ergo as well)

I think I will look in to pushchairs a bit and see what there is. Thank you for the advice. They seem to technical and there is such a massive choice that I've basically been ignoring them to avoid having to think about it until now. I'm getting a bit too close to follow this policy much longer though.
I've thought of a few more questions. The sling in the link is a Moby and other is an Ergobaby carrier. Can anyone tell me the difference between a moby and a carry-me? Can I use all the same knotting techniques with both?
BertieBotts, why do you suggest only using the Moby until 10 months? Is it better for very small dcs? My DH picked out the ergo - I think he thinks it looks a bit less feminine. Do you not think it's ideal for under 10 months?

When I say Moby I mean any stretchy wrap, they are all much of a muchness. I just prefer them for younger babies to the Ergo etc because they are more snuggly!

I'd say you will struggle to use a stretchy wrap past the end of the first year, because the stretchy fabric is not as supportive with a heavier baby, and you can't do back carries with them. But they are so fantastic for younger ones that I wouldn't let this put you off. If the cost is a problem you can even make your own - just buy 5 metres of any cotton jersey and cut to 20" wide, no sewing or hemming required (because cotton jersey won't fray) - I did this and used it for months and months and it ws much cheaper and prettier than a moby etc.

I think that you can use the Ergo from newborn with the insert but I am a bit of a Patapum fan, for older babies/toddlers, because it's a lot more supportive, longer in the body which stops them leaning out (the ergo has quite a short body when you are thinking about carrying toddlers) and has some extra straps which stop this backward lean and bring the child's body in closer to yours which is much more comfy. I have tried an Ergo, being used to a Patapum, and it was not as comfortable to wear for long periods with a heavier child (1yr+)

The only thing is that the Patapum has a separate toddler and baby version, and only the toddler version has the extra straps and long body, the baby version is very similar to the Ergo. I would say you could use the Patapum on your front with a smaller baby but you'd probably want them to at least be able to sit up by themselves and you would need them to be chunky enough to be held in place by the straps. DS is skinny though and fits in it easily, ie is not on the smallest setting.

Apologies, my a key is a bit sticky so sorry if I have missed any out!

Agree with Loopy that if you BF, you'll be more mobile while out and about if you use a sling. My own experience was:

Sling that you can bf in = BF while I walk, baby drifts off to sleep, am relatively free to do things, such as continue my walk.

Pushchair = constantly having to stop, sit down somewhere, bf baby for potentially a long time until she sleeps, then hope she doesn't wake up as I put her back in the pram - and if/when she does, start all over again.

One thing I forgot to say is that regardless of whether you use a sling or a stroller, you need to set yourself up with certain paraphernalia.

Stroller:

Comes with big tray for all your stuff, handles for hanging bag from, and may have to buy a stroller net.

Clear pull-over raincover for stroller, raincoat for parent.

Sunhat for parent, sunshade for stroller/hat for baby.

Warm coat for parent, cosytoes/jacket/snowsuit for baby.

Slings:

Good rucksack for when your baby is small, a changing mat that has incorporated pockets (such as oioi, but we have a cheaper one that I can't remember the name of)

Choose between messenger bag, backpack that attaches to sling, or shopping trolley, for when you carry your baby on your back.
We did carry our baby in the sling and push our things in a stroller, but found it more awkward to manage than a rucksack or trolley (although a stroller does hold more!)

A big umbrella for both of you, or one of the specialist babywearing raincoats on the market (that cover both of you) or you each wear your own raincoat or a specialist rain cover for the sling (such as Wilkinet) and you have your own raincoat or umbrella

Babywearing coat or poncho for both of you (can DIY) or a warm sling cover for the baby and you wear your own coat, or dress baby in warm clothes

Sunhats/UV-blocking sling cover/parasol

Many of these things can be bought second-hand and re-sold without losing too much value (depending on how much wear and tear and what the market's doing)

Sorry if this is waffley but I guess you get the picture - you have to equip yourself equally heavily, but quite differently, for a journey by either sling or stroller.

We struggled to get by with all-day outings with a sling because we only had the equipment for stroller use. If we have another baby, we'll be set up for it and probably won't bother with a pushchair at all.

Having said that, if I could go back in time and money and storage room were no object, and I had no idea whether my DD would take better to the sling or the stroller, then I'd equip myself thorougly for both

Oh and try here - check out the common questions secition

Anyway, good luck, and let us know which sling(s) you get!

Hi
With my DS1 I wasted money on a bulky and hardly used travel system, and gave it away. With my DD I didn't even buy a pram, we just used the sling all the time. I think if I were you I wouldn't buy one, but wait and see if you feel you need one - you can get one later, the shop isn't going anywhere! You would also get a better idea of what your needs are, once the baby is born. We did end up using a folding pushchair a bit as DD got older, they aren't suitable for very small babies but with the sling you might not need it for the first few months xx

I used cheap umbrella fold strollers for both of mine, if you look you can get ones that lie flat and can be used from birth for under £50, places like mothercare online and argos.
I found that I didn't use it a lot but as others said, the days I did I found it very helpful. Mainly for things like shopping (can;t try stuff on while wearing a baby, and you have somewhere to put all the bags!) and day trips to the beach etc where I might want to lie/sit down without worrying about DD's
For the first few months though I didn;t use them at all.

I much prefer using my sling in general than a pushchair and when they were tiny the babies were in the sling for over 90% of outings i'd say.... BUT I could never have actually done without a pushchair completely. As others have said they are particularly useful for 2 things (i) if you are meeting friends for coffee / lunch, the baby sleeps in the pushchair and you are completely free and (ii) if you have quite a lot of heavy shopping.

Also, you need to think about when the baby is older. With DD2 I used a sling up to about 18 months - but she was V heavy by then and i was pg with ds. I needed a stroller for some longer outings when I couldn't carry her and it was too far for her to walk. DS is currently 11 months. he's still usually in the sling, but I also put him in the pushchair quite often for DD2's nursery run as it is a bit easier since he is V heavy and it is quite a long walk. So if you are going to get one later anyway you may as well buy it now and have it around for the odd occasions you need it early on.

I would buy some sort of umbrella fold stroller that lies flat and so is suitable from birth but will last through until the baby is out of the buggy stage (around age 2 to 2.6 in my experience) i have a Jane energy stroller which has been great and not quite as hideously expensive as some of the from birth pushchairs

Do you have a good local freecycle?
People give pushchairs away quite frequently on ours, especially if they've got a bit tatty or mildewey so have almost no resale value (but otherwise are in perfectly good condtition).

Or a good local Gumtree to buy something pre-loved?

Message deleted