Babywearing and housework

[Pen_esque]

How to you wear your LO for housework? Nothing I have tried feels right.

DD is just over 3 months and weighs about 12lbs. She has pretty good head control, but I'm not ready to put her on my back yet.

I have a BHMT, a fleece pouch, and a Gypsymama wrap to choose from so I'd love to use one of them but I can get another carrier if it means clean floors.

[Drummer's Wife]

I do. I think I am just used to it, though. It's definitely harder to load the dishwasher and take the laundry out of the dryer, but it's doable.

DS is 22 months and twenty something lbs. I usually wear him on my back in a Toddlerhawk MT or Beco Butterfly.

I think you will find in a month or so it's easier cause she will be on your back. When DS is feeling extra snuggly, I have him on my front but it really limits what I can do, and I get tired/sore quicker.

I have a gyspy mama wrap, too, but I don't think it's as supportive the older/heavier they get.

[Down2Earth]

Forget the housework! I told myself not to worry until I could do it with DD on my back. She just turned 3mo so about the same age as your lo.

The housework will still be there when you are ready for a back carry. I just follow my DD's lead. So today I tidied the living room and vacuumed before she let me know she had enough. Oh well, DH will have to do the rest of the house!

I use my moby wrap with the rucksack tie.

[baturay]

Back carries are AWESOME for housework, cooking, running after the older kids, etc.

You can do a back carry with your mei tai. I like the instructions on www.kozycarrier.com. Check them out. Practice over a sofa or bed a few times. With practice you can get your 3 month old up there easily. I had my 2 week old in back carries. It made taking care of my older one (and the home) much easier.

[pixiepunk]

yeah, if you're worried about getting stuff done, get comfy with a back carry.. much safer for cooking as well.

[MaryLang]

I've used a back carry with dd since she was about a month old. First I used a homemade wrap, but now that I figured it out I'm LOVIN' my MT's. I've been using a Freehand and a Kozy. I like the Kozy better because of the headrest, she's 2 mnth now and needs a little head support.
I could not live without back carries.

[Pyrodjm]

I have put DD in my Babyhawk on my back since she was a few months old, in order to get things like cooking and dishes done. I will sometimes wear her in a ring sling for quick things like switching out laundry.

[4Blessings]

At that age I used a ring sling or a homemade wrap (something like this )
Now at age one I put her on my back in the Kozy.

[Materfamilias]

ditto. Back carries in the Kozy mei tai. I rearranged our living room the other day wearing dd. Dragging furniture, vacuuming, the whole 9 yards. It's easier for me to support her head in the MT than the wrap in a back carry. Maybe you can get a used one?
p.s. I was FREAKED OUT about doing a back carry until I had practiced over our bed a few times. I was a confident pro in about a day and a half. Really.

[VOBetz]

Originally Posted by baturay

Back carries are AWESOME for housework, cooking, running after the older kids, etc.

You can do a back carry with your mei tai. I like the instructions on www.kozycarrier.com. Check them out. Practice over a sofa or bed a few times. With practice you can get your 3 month old up there easily. I had my 2 week old in back carries. It made taking care of my older one (and the home) much easier.

Yes! Back carries are very much more comfortable than front carries when you are trying to get stuff done.

[Quirky]

It's really hard to get anything done with baby in a front carry...quite honestly I would put the baby down to get something important done because I just don't think it's comfy for the baby when they're on your front and you're bending over a lot. Plus it's just not easy.

The high back carry was a lifesaver for me when my second child was born. The Kozy website was how I learned to do it -- over a bed, in front of a mirror -- it did take some practice but it was worth it. :

[Cersha]

I can't do housework unless LO is in a backcarry. It's just too hard to bend over with him on the front. I couldn't sweep, do the dishes, or even pick up.