Babywearing and nursing

[MSinghsMama]

I wear my 17 week old in a homemade wrap, usually sitting facing me. He's a frequent nurser (approx every hour) and i'm sick of having to re-do the wrap every time to feed him and so have ended up just carrying him in my arms all day. This is getting pretty difficult, and uncomfortable too as i have a spinal fusion and lots of pain.

Is there a particularly good baby carrier for nursing in? or a better nursing position in the wrap? Life would be so much easier if he had boob access whilst in the wrap, please tell me there's a way?

(He's about 15 lbs and 25 inches if that makes any difference).

[4JMJ]

Hi,
I'm in the same boat as you. My LO is a little over 3 mos. We just ordered a Kozy, heard some good things about nursing in it, so we'll see! Good luck!

[fruitlove]

Hi,

My DD is 18 months now and I have used the Ergo Carrier with her since she was 4 months old. I am 5'11" and find the Ergo very easy to adjust. Last year - shen she started teething - she nursed and napped in the carrier all the time. In fact I could rarely put her down for her nap. She always wanted to nap while on the breast.

We still use the Ergo almost every day. It has been a great investment.

V.

[Quirky]

I think a two-shoulder carrier that's quick and easy to adjust up and downwards would be your best bet. A mei tai would work well, and so would a buckle carrier. Although a ring sling is easy to nurse in, I wouldn't recommend it in your situation given your back pain as I think you'll be more comfortable in a two-shoulder carrier. Personally I'd lean towards a buckle carrier as they're quicker to use in loosening and tightening the webbing straps than in untying/retying the straps on a mei tai, but even that goes very quickly with a little practice.

[Adasmommy]

I don't see why a wrap would be any harder to adjust upward and downward than a mei tai.

I would have my dd in a front wrap cross carry nice and high on my chest. When she needed to nurse (also very frequently), I'd reach behind and untie the knot, bounce so that her weight would lower her on my torso (while holding the two wrap ends behind my back--not holding her body), then retie at the lower level. She'd nurse in the same upright, tummy to tummy position, just lower.

You could leave it low like that, but it's much comfier to cinch up again when she fell asleep or was just done nursing. Just untie (holding the two ends behind your back), give a bounce to bounce the baby's weight up off the wrap, and when the baby is up, you tug the ends to tighten the wrap. Repeat if necessary until baby is high enough to kiss, and then tie the knot.

I did the exact same maneuver when nursing with the mei tai and it is very easy in either carrier. But wraps are definitely nicer for nursing in.

[firewoman]

I agree with the PP. I have a Storchenwiege wrap and have nursed in it while out for a walk quite easily. If you have a wrap and don't want to spend any more money, give it a try. I used this carry and found it easy to adjust.

http://www.youtube.com/user/stargirl.../2/wSso3fmYbac

[AbigailGrace]

Originally Posted by firewoman

I agree with the PP. I have a Storchenwiege wrap and have nursed in it while out for a walk quite easily. If you have a wrap and don't want to spend any more money, give it a try. I used this carry and found it easy to adjust.

http://www.youtube.com/user/stargirl.../2/wSso3fmYbac

Thanks for the video! I have always used a Maya wrap but am having issues with my back and neck due to a wreck almost a year ago. I am leaning toward a wrap like this for more support...

[snow girl]

Hope you have found a good solution....... I thought I would put in my 2cents to nursing babies in slings (even thought a pouch wouldn't be good for you, due to your spinal issue...I thought others may like this option to nursing in slings). I have a pouch sling from slings and baby things and there is an area that is made in the sling made just for nursing. Too cool- anyways, I haven't seen any other pouch slings that have nursing options.

[SallyN]

I used a mei tai for nursing my high-needs refluxy DD1... she was latched on a lot more than she wasn't. I found the mei tai much easier for adjusting/readjusting (and more durable for all the spitup :P

all mei tais are not equal though... you may need to try some different ones... they differ in the angle of the straps, padded vs. not, but most significantly, the dimensions of the body panel.