My baby doesn't seem to like baby carriers very much. That wouldn't be a problem, except for I only have 2 hands and eventually have to get up and do other things. I can't just sit and hold her all day long. I tried letting her cry for awhile while being in the sling or frontpack and unfortunately my nerves couldn't take it any longer and I started losing my patience.

I feel so guilty when I get frustrated with her, so I try not to let her cry too much because it really gets on my nerves. So how do I get her used to the sling and frontpack?

When you aren't doing anything hold her but hold her in the sling..make sure to support her with your hands at first and gradually get her used to the "hanging" feeling..I did this with Angela and the preemie I kept at the same time..neither liked it at first but grew to accept it..

That's a good idea, Lis. Not tried it myself, but sounds good in theory ;)
I guess, maybe I actually have kind of done that, just did so naturally, didn't think about what I was doing, but can see it in retrospect. Anywho...

Just give it (and her) some time Ruth. Start her off in the carrier of choice when she's well fed. Let her fall asleep with a full belly in the carrier. That can help. Then waking up in mom's arms...that's a good connection for them to make.

You've tried both a sling (one shoulder ring or pouch I assume?) and a front carrier? (like....? the Baby Bjorn and the like?)

Some babies honestly don't like the sling. But if she's fussing too much when you just leave her be too, well, then I also would be doing all I could to get her to like baby wearing.

It may be carriers (carries) you're using. If she's being held in a lying position in the sling, that may not work for her. She may prefer to be more upright. But those upright front carriers aren't all that baby friendly. They just leave the baby there to dangle. Carriers like the Mai Tai and a Moby wrap (and the knock offs of each..just giving names to give you a better idea of what I'm talking about) will each better support the baby, keeping them snug to momma and legs in a better position. No dangling.

Let me know what carriers you're using/have available and I'll see how I might be able to help from there.

But most of all, it just takes time. If she's not naturally happy being worn..don't try to put her in when she's already ticked off. Start with it in a happy moment. :)

HTH

When you aren't doing anything hold her but hold her in the sling..make sure to support her with your hands at first and gradually get her used to the "hanging" feeling..I did this with Angela and the preemie I kept at the same time..neither liked it at first but grew to accept it..

Seems like good advice to me, too. :)

Thanks for the advice everyone. Tara, I have a Snugli frontpack and a SlingEeeze sling.

Have you thought of maybe an electronic swing or a vibrating rocker or something instead of a sling?

I have kept my box etc with my baby sling incase Matilda has the same reaction to it... I found quite quickly that especially little Paris was quite vocal about what she did and didn't like, so I understand where you are coming from on that one (she'd squark her face off if I swaddled her, she HATED it)

Trent hated his and I never could get him used to it but Autumn loved hers and it saved me many times while grocery shopping :wink: . I would cuddle her while she is in it and also put her in it when you are just sitting there with her during the day. She will get used to it. Stephanie :D

Agree with the ladies here. I used a sling for our first and he LOVED it! Used it on our daughter, she HATED it. Neither was crazy about the Snugli (I have really tiny kids :D ). We are now on a Mei Tai for her (shout out to Tara for that one :wink: ). Each child is different and may prefer different carriers. Is there anyone or a store nearby so you can test some various ones out? Otherwise like the ladies said, just keep trying. Most kiddos aren't sure how to react to this contraption (afterall, YOU know what it is and does but they have NO clue). Eventually she will calm down and enjoy the closeness and seeing new sites. Best of luck to ya!

That's what I thought you had Ruth. Ok, well, as Ive said..my kids never did like the lying down in a ring sling thing. I would tuck their legs in like a knagaroo and have them snuggled tummy to tummy. And as soon as they were old enough, had good head control, I could turn them facing outward. Again, feet tucked in, like a little frog. Don't worry, they don't mind it at all. Then just cinch up the sling nice and snug. They liked being able to look around. When facing in, they thought they had to nurse. That was the problem with the lying down sling hold. They're thinking...hey, I"m supposed to eat when I'm like this...why am I not eating??? LOL

Then with the Snugli..that has that 'dangling' thing going on bad. A good sling/carrier is going to allow the baby's knees to be up and bent. Just as though they were sitting on their bottoms in a chair or something. Carriers that let the legs dangle are hard on baby's hips. Their legs and feet may even go numb.

Do you have any long scrap of fabric lying around, Ruth? An old sheet or something? You could fashion a wrap with something like that. I'll dig up a link or two for you. Things that talk about the improper position of the Snugli type carriers as well as something about other carriers and how to use a scrap piece of fabric as a wrap...even if you don't sew ;)

I'll look those up for you after a bit. Gotta run get breakfast at the moment :)

Here's one http://www.jenrose.com/sling/slingtxt.htm

Here's the Moby I mentioned: http://store.peppermint.com/moby-wrap.html You can also go to their homepage to see more wraps/slings.

Maybe that will get you started :)

Well, I finally got the hang of nursing in the sling. And DD loves to nurse. So maybe now she'll like it better if she associates it with momma's milk. LOL. She's quite content in it right now.

That's great Ruth. Hope it continues to work out for you both! ~Kerri

Well I have a sling and I haven't even used it yet because the one time I tried to use it I couldn't figure the darn thing out. I was too nervous that she would fall out of it. I just can't work out how they are supposed to stay in them. And I put her in it and she just cried so I don't think she likes them either....

awww yea ruth! I've never nursed mine in the sling. Can you believe that? 5 kids, 3 have been worn, but none nursed in the sling.

renee...slings just take a little getting used to With ring/pouch slings, as long as you keep fabric between you and baby, you're alright. Tighten up the rings to cinch up around the back of baby. Just start when the baby is content and don't stress yourself over it ;)

renee...slings just take a little getting used to With ring/pouch slings, as long as you keep fabric between you and baby, you're alright. Tighten up the rings to cinch up around the back of baby. Just start when the baby is content and don't stress yourself over it ;)

Yeah I will try again but I have just been using a frontpack since then....

Hannah is snuggled quite contentedly in the sling and has my fingers on her mouth (she was sucking on my fingers a bit as though they were a pacifier) and has her hand wrapped around my thumb. Precious! :)

She's liking the sling a lot better these days! PTL!

My favorite is the Mei Tei because it is so basic and simple; it doesn't have all of those dang clips and straps like Snuglis do1

When facing in, they thought they had to nurse. That was the problem with the lying down sling hold. They're thinking...hey, I"m supposed to eat when I'm like this...why am I not eating??? LOL

Then with the Snugli..that has that 'dangling' thing going on bad. A good sling/carrier is going to allow the baby's knees to be up and bent. Just as though they were sitting on their bottoms in a chair or something. Carriers that let the legs dangle are hard on baby's hips. Their legs and feet may even go numb.


MINE WERE THE SAME WAY! :lol: and ITA about the Snuggli.

I think my favs are the MT and stretch pouch.

Anyway Ruth, point being, I had to be careful not to let baby get into a 'nursing' position. I also rubbed his bottom/back, and gave little kisses, and rock and sway while standing, etc. We still have snugglebug days and days where he wants to walk!

:cry: :cry: :cry: Matilda is too small for her front carrier... she'd get lost if I put her in there !!! Have to wait to use that one!!!

The only reason why it even bothers me is because when we take the kids to the playground it would be so much nicer if I could be more hands on in that department rather than standing back with the pram. I mean it's an all terrain pram but it's not so all terrain I can take it into boggy beach sand etc.

What are the actual baby slings like? Any good? Suggestions?

Aussie_Mum, I have a SlingEeze brand sling and like it pretty well. I would probably like a Mai Tei, but DH has (rightfully so) clamped down a bit on spending lately as our budget is tight. So I'm happy with my sling that I have and it works pretty well.

Might look into that one, there is a Baby on a Budget right near our house (although the prices are sooooo through the roof, the baby on a budget sign rings far from true) LOL.