Ring sling. How big is too big?

[MommaFox]

I drive a school bus, and I get to bring my baby with me. Fear not, they installed a seatbelt and everything and I put in a carseat so he's nice and safe on the bus. I use a RS to get him from the car, across the lot to my bus. He's 14 months old and I have pleanty of sling left (it was a custom job and is 3 yards of fabric) and I'm comfortable carying him and he's comfortable being carried. So I guess what I'm looking for is some reassurance that I'm doing right by him to keep him in the sling. He's safer in the sling than he would be in a stroller, the sling is easier to stow on the bus, he can't walk yet so it's safer than having to juggle him, the diaper bag and big brother not to mention the bus keys and everything else that goes with the job. People still say he's getting a little big to be carried like that, and I can understand it looks that way because I'm pretty small. Anyway, I just need to hear from someone that I'm doing the right thing.

[ElaynesMom]

Well, I still carry my almost 28 month old dd in a baby carrier/sling, so if you're doing the wrong thing then I must be really wrong

I love toddler wearing, I find it just as good a parenting tool as babywearing. I think it would be especially helpful for you as your lo isn't walking yet You're doing fine.

[lifeguard]

We still use our ring sling pretty regularly (although I prefer the ergo now as ds is heavy) - people just don't think we should carry our babies so much.

[NickisDiapers]

You are doing just fine. Carry your baby as long as you want. (I still wear my 25mo) In my opinion, if you'd be picking them up and carrying them in your arms anyway (if you didn't have a stroller) then it's just the same using a carrier for some help!

[Prisca]

I think a ring sling is perfect! It sounds like it's working really great for you and that's awesome! If your little guy is only 14 mo, you'll be able to still get lots more use out of your sling. Keep it up mama!

[Pookietooth]

I think I used mine with ds til he was 3 or 4.

[s_kristina]

I used a ring sling with my dd until she was over 3 years old and she was a very tall 3 year old at that time. She was walking by a year old, but still needed help with longer walks or just needed to be close to mommy at times. It worked well for both of us and I only quit carrying my boys at younger ages because I was pg again and my body does not do well with pg so I can't carry them.

[Quirky]

Here I thought based on your post title that you were going to be asking about ring sling sizing!

But as said, as long as it works for you and works for him -- then there's nothing wrong with it. Putting him in a stroller doesn't make him more independent. Quite the opposite for many kids, I think -- I have friends who still push their almost 5 year olds (with no physical disabilities) from the car to the playground in a stroller! In other words I think that when over-used the stroller can cause dependency and discourage kids from building up their muscles and endurance.

My kids went from baby carriers to walking/running -- we do use a stroller on occasion, but with all three of them, extended babywearing has not done anything to impede their physical development in the slightest.

Besides, it won't be that long before your toddler may decide he doesn't want to be carried -- enjoy those babywearing snuggles while you can, because sadly they're not forever!