At wits end

[jstarh]

Nothing has worked out as planned and dreamed.Nothing. Now Ellie cries anytime we try any position in the moby wrap. I just want to go for a walk outside or to carry her aorund the house or be able to go to church now that I am recovered enough from the c-section. She is 5 weeks today. Any suggestions? I have a moby and a moby D

Star

[Limabean1975]

Can you get ahold of a sling? It may be that your baby would prefer the lying down position for now - she'll want to be upright later, but down may be her preference right now.

Also, if at all possible, try to relax into it yourself; and do it when she is already in a peaceful mood. If she starts to cry as you are getting her into to it, try to breathe deep, relax yourself...you may be tense because it's new and you are learning to get the wrap on right and you're hoping it will make her happy when she's upset...and so on.

The other things is to get her in it, then GET MOVING. Even if she *is* crying - try for at least a few minutes to go striding down your street. You may find that once you have a good walking rhythm (outside is best), she settles after a bit.

Good luck!

[icy02]

Originally Posted by Limabean1975

Can you get ahold of a sling? It may be that your baby would prefer the lying down position for now - she'll want to be upright later, but down may be her preference right now.

Defiantly try a sling. My little guy hated the moby til about 8 weeks but loved the hotsling.

[seagreen]

It's so hard when we want to carry out attachment parenting ideals, and our little ones have other ideas!

I agree with the suggestion to get moving immediately upon putting her in the carrier. And if you can try different types of carriers, that might help... try looking for a babywearing group in your area so you can try different carriers without having to buy!

Good luck!

[katmann]

You can try before you buy. Make a sheet into a sling and see if your lo likes it. FWIW, I feel your pain. My ds only sort of like the moby sometimes, and I'm frustrated by the whole babywearing concept. It's freakin' expensive and it takes a lot of trying to figure out what works.

[bettyjones]

Pop your baby in the sling/ moby and getting outside. Walk walk walk. Mine never liked the moby- too much fabric. Once she could hold her head up and look out things got better w/ baby carriers.

[pixiepunk]

do you have a length of fabric about 3 yards long and in the neighborhood of 25-30 inches wide? a pashmina/scarf/scrap of fabric from something or another/old bedsheet you can cut to size?

you can tie like a rebozo with a slip knot (lots of vids on youtube if you don't know how to do one). this is very much like a ring sling but without the rings - thus without having to buy anything additional. you can try a cradle carry and a tummy to tummy and see which baby likes.

but ITA that often times when mama is nervous (and anticipating that the baby will not be happy) the baby can feel those feelings and tension and often responds, then you get more tense because baby is crying, then baby cries harder because mama is tense. i can't tell you how many times i've put a baby in a sling when a mom asked me for help and said "he just hates it" and i pop him in and he's fine. but i'm relaxed and know what i'm doing so there's not a lot of fiddling and no tension to be passed along.

can you practice some without the baby? like with a doll or something? get yourself a little more accustomed to doing it. and like the pp said, be relaxed, breathe deep, and walk walk walk.

[LittleLlama]

Both of mine took a while to settle into a carrier for a good couple of months. Check for reflux symptoms and all, but ITA with the suggestion to get walking and get you and baby calm and confident.

[Smirkin]

You feel really silly doing it (or at least I did) but I found it to be extremely helpful to practice with a doll. This was how I learned to nurse in a sling. Before practicing with the doll, my LO would scream bloody murder every time I tried to maneuver her into nursing position in the sling. So I waited til she was occupied and got a doll to practice.

I used a big teddy bear, and even though of course it's nothing like the real thing in most ways, just having the ability to get in front a mirror and practice putting the "baby" in and out, and getting used to how it feels, changing positions, shifting things around, and just basically getting used to the whole thing made such a difference. Being able to do this leisurely, and without the "baby" squirming around, really helped me get the FEEL of it, which I think is really key.

After the doll practice session, it was a whole new world when I tried it with my LO. It was so much easier and before I knew it, we were nursing

[KBinSATX]

Mine didn't love the Moby either and I expected such great things from it! Even worse I got it from a friend and don't want to hurt her feelings when she suggests I wear DD in the Moby. Of course I also don't care for DD screaming bloody murder in the Moby when she does much better in the Moshy Baby for me or the Ergo for her dad...
Try some other ones. DS loved the Hotlsing for a little while when he was around 4 months old.

[PeacefulSprout]

At 5 weeks, I was still wrapping my LO in a light swaddling blanket to keep his arms and legs from flailing around, and using the tummy to tummy position in the Moby!!! Keep trying becase once you have it down, it's heavenly!