I know a bunch of you wear your little ones. We bought a snugli with Bri and he refused to be in it. he wanted HIS space and didn't want anyone in it. Still that way. Now, Patrick on the other hand, and it may be because of what he's been through, it may be his general temperment, who knows, anywho, he totally loves to be worn, and his surgeon suggested it, one for my sanity and two so that he could get "quality" rest. He said that I should probably wear him longer and more often than most babies, but didn't say how long/often that should be.
How often to most of you wear your little guys/gals? I've had him in the pack since 5:00 and it's 10 here now.

I'm kinda proud of myself I've managed to cook supper, do homework, fold laundry, load and unload washer/dryer, change the sheets on my bed, and even use the potty with him on! All that in ONE afternoon. I'm sure some of you more "experienced" wearing mommies may be able to do more, but I had to "brag" about that. :-)

anyway, how long do you all average with your babies?

Kana, no advice from me, I just wanted to comment that I'm impressed. You're doing very well! I used a Snugli, also, and distinctly remember what it was like to tinkle while wearing an upright baby. :lol: Blessings, girlfriend. You're doing great! [OKOK]

[hug]

Joy [welcomewave]

No advice here either - I did try wearing Matilda while I was trying to make dinner one night but she's too small for the front pack and kept peeking through the arm hole and trying to crane her neck backwards to look at my face LOL. Oh well, at least the front back was FREE.

She'd get stroppy being worn too much too.

is it not just so cute when they're hanging out the side like that? when patrick was first born and I carried him in it, I folded a receiving blanket and put under his botom to raise him up a little. now, though, he's holding his head up pretty good, so we dont' do that. I actually have to fold the neck suport part down. I think he's gonna be a little claustrophobic. he hates the basinet and anything around his head, except my arm, LOL. go figure. :-)

Well, I probably don't wear Hannah a lot by some standards. But I do put her in the sling for walks and the like. And the other night, we went to a concert and I took her in there in the sling. Hannah was one who didn't take quite as well to baby wearing, so it's been a bit more of a learning curve for us. We do have a Snugli, but we prefer our sling. I guess that I've got to get the hang of doing things while she's attached to me. But a lot of the time that I'm not wearing her, she's either attached to me and nursing while I'm surfing the net or she's sleeping. I use the bouncer and the swing a lot too, to keep her nearby while I work or do other things.

And good for you, Kana, for getting so much done with Patrick attached!

I would love it if patrick would sit in his swing or bouncy. he hates them both. we can sometimes (stress sometimes) get him to sit in his carseat but most of time we have to hold him or wear him.
thank goodness right now he's sleeping, granted in my bed, but he's sleeping ALONE. I love my kids, but I'm not the type to be "attached" all the time. I firmly believe that they need their space and I need mine, only patrick doesn't share that pilosophy.

For us, balance is the key. I love snuggling Hannah up close a lot of the time, but I also like to be able to set her down and do something. One thing that I found is this hanging toy that I hung over her Pack 'n Play that she absolutely loves to stare at. So now I can have a little time to do something while she has "quiet time" in her bed.

Kana, it sounds like Patrick might be simply a higher need baby and good for you for figuring that out and adjusting accordingly. The nice thing is, is babies like that, if they have their needs met well infancy they tend to be quite independent later. Have you read Dr. Sears at all? He has a lot to say about the high need child.

Just curious, Kana, do you co-sleep with Patrick?

I do with Hannah and we absolutely love it! It helps both me and my husband get more sleep at night. It's not for everybody, though.

My son would never use those nifty swings/bouncy seats/etc...we either had to hold him, or snuggli....I would snuggli about 2 hours and then take him out and let him stretch/cool down/relax with me and then we'd go again if more needed done! Good luck!

yes right now we co-sleep. we are personally against it, but it's amazing what you'll do for some sleep. (BTW, I have no problem with those who do, and think that it's great for those it works for)

We've already had the ped tell us he's a high needs baby, but uh, duh, we knew that before he did, we're the ones with him 24/7, LOL. I just "LOVE" docs, they tell you things, only after you've figured it out yourself.

Our DS was born and on the second day of life began to have seizures, was in the Childrens Hosp. for a week & had to be monitored all the time. I was in the same position as yourself. So we did co-sleeping, however I did not carry him a lot. He did not like slings or carriers. He would sit in a swing. However, he will be 3 in Dec and still does not sleep in his own bed all night.

Now with DD she is a sleeper, she sleeps for 2 hours in the morning & 2 hours in the afternoon. I do carry her in a carrier, I actually mow the lawn on the tractor with her.. she loves it! It is different for each child. You have to use your own discresion and mommy intuition... above all else - we need to place our trust in God that he will keep them safe.

It took a while for me to allow my DS to cry in his crib... I was always concerned he would have a seizure. He never did.. praise the LORD! Just pray that you can do what is right for your children.

Hope I was helpful & not just a ramblin fool! :lol:

I have two pouches that I use one is a zolawear (which I am thinking of selling because I dont use that much and the other is Hotslings. I may keep the black zolowear one though because dh used it last weekend when I wasnt home. I thought that was so cute :wink:

I started out with a Snugli when ds was first born; it was one that you can use facing in or out, and also converted into a little pod sling, but I hated it!! It was so uncomfortable for me and tugged at my neck and shoulders. Babywearing isn't really popular around here so I didn't know that there were so many other options out there, but a few months ago I saw a Mei Tai carrier and decided to try and make one. Its an Asian carrier, so I figured it might work out since I have the same small frame as Asian women. Sure enough, it is soooo comfortable! Ds is 20 months so I really don't wear him more than a few hours a week anymore (unless we go out shopping or something), but I am shocked at how light he feels in a Mei Tai!!

I definetly used a Snugli when my babies were little. When they were fussy and i had things to do it was a life saver not to mention when i would just want them close and we would dance together! [lovesmile] Love those memories!

Alex hated the snuggly when he was really little (don't know why!) so I got a Moby Wrap/sling to wear him and he loooooooved that - I would wear him for hours, nurse him in it, everything - in the beginning he wouldn't sleep for more than 20 min if he wasn't resting on my chest, so that was a total lifesaver that gave me my hands back and let me stop worrying that if I needed a nap too he would roll off of me or something.

When he got a little older we tried the Snugli again and all of a sudden he loved it - by that time I would only wear him when we went out on short trips in the neighborhood or if we were going somewhere (like a crowded shopping center) and i didn't want to have to steer a big stroller and we could get him to sleep off of me if he was in the swing.

I am so glad he finally sleeps in his crib now! It seemed like that was never going to happen :)