What if I dont't want to use my shoulders?

[LionessMom]

what if i can't life my arms up to do my housework when useing a babycarrier that hangs on my shoulders? What else is there? And how do you do it really? esp with a back carry? shouldnt it be super easy to take baby down to change dipe and feed and put right back up? esp little ones who eat all the time? a ring sling is impossible for me to do house work in. i still cant use one arm. i might as well be carrying baby without it. i want my arms back! but i want to carry my baby. she hates being put down. i cant get anything done! anything that hangs off my shoulders is going to get in my way.

[Alisse]

I am a huge chunei advocate: It's quick to put on and take off and back carry is very easy to do. I can't deal with a lot of buckles or wrapping material all over the place (because i'm lazy and impatient ).

[ElaynesMom]

If you want nothing over your shoulder you could use a kanga (like in africa). Here is a video from youtube as an example, there are other videos on youtube as well:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6ICsaGzxAM

You can also do a torso back carry with a short woven wrap:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygIZZRsY6o0

Here is one site you can order kangas from (I haven't personally) - I'm sure there are other places to get them if you want more styles to choose from, just google it :

http://www.kangausa.com/order_online.htm

With a little practise I have found both carries to be quite secure, just make sure to wrap tightly.

[Sheryl1678]

I have a carrier called a "Hippie". I know it isn't exactly what you are looking for but it puts ZERO weight on your shoulders and all on your hips. It is a little seat that you can pop kids on and off of in about a half a second. My four year old and one year old both love it. You need one hand on them because they aren't strapped in but it's worth it sometimes for the easy on/easy off.

[GoGoGirl]

I can't do anything in a ring sling either, I feel like the fabric pins down my good arm and the baby is in the way of the other!

If you really don't want anything on your shoulders, then you can try a torso carry. You can use a beach towel if you don't have a wrap. Here's a video.

If you just want arm mobility though, I think most back carriers should work. I can move my arms everywhere with DD on my back in the Ergo, the mei tai, or a woven wrap. The most comfortable for me is a woven wrap in the double hammock carry. Here's a video. I've even heard it called the housework carry!

I mostly wrap DD on my back when I know she'll be ok back there for a while. She's older though (10 months) so she can go without eating and being changed for an hour no problem. When you first start doing back carries, it feels like it takes so long to get the baby on that as soon as you're done you have to take them down to feed them. It get's faster though. I can get DD on my back in the Ergo or mei tai in about 30 seconds, and the woven wrap still only takes a minute or two.

[MamaPhD]

I have a Korean Podaegi that my mom got for me and DD. It works like thishttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0K52H...B5C0F6&index=5. If your baby is younger, you can put down podaegi on a sofa, sit your baby in it, then sit in front of them to tie. Tie goes above your boobs and under baby's bum, then around your waist. Your shoulders are totally free! You can pretty easily make one as it is just a big rectangular fabric with two straps on it.

[LionessMom]

wonderful! i love the khanga idea. i can just take the rings off my sling or use the large scarfs i have. i even tried it last night with a shawl i have. excellent. i can even reach above my head and she stays secure!!

[pixiepunk]

chunei. by far the most support and comfortable for mama and baby. there are technically shoulder straps, but they don't bear weight, they just keep the carrier from digging into the top of your breasts and from slipping down over time (which has always been my problem with torso carries, of which i have tried every type and wrapping style imaginable).

[MoonStarFalling]

I always used the kanga torso carry while doing housework. I made mine with a bit of fabric. I just tie it above my breasts instead of doing the traditional closure above and below the breast.

[LionessMom]

i can make one of these! I am going to look around the house and see what i have that will work. i have 2 woven scarfs that are pretty long. i can make the panel part out of one and the straps out of the other. it would be pretty too.

Originally Posted by MamaPhD

I have a Korean Podaegi that my mom got for me and DD. It works like thishttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0K52H...B5C0F6&index=5. If your baby is younger, you can put down podaegi on a sofa, sit your baby in it, then sit in front of them to tie. Tie goes above your boobs and under baby's bum, then around your waist. Your shoulders are totally free! You can pretty easily make one as it is just a big rectangular fabric with two straps on it.

eta: i have been using the kanga torso carry for housework. i love it. i just took the rings off my sling. it is a little long but i like it. baby loves it and i can get an hour worth of work done. she falls asleep! i wanna podaegi for using on walks and stuff. it looks like it would feel more secure for the long period. the kanga falls down after about an hour and i have to redo it. it looks like the padaegi can be tied all kinds of ways withouth being too complicated or long. loving it ladies!

thanks everybody! i am loving babywearing again!

[junipervt]

Originally Posted by MamaPhD

I have a Korean Podaegi that my mom got for me and DD. It works like thishttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0K52H...B5C0F6&index=5. If your baby is younger, you can put down podaegi on a sofa, sit your baby in it, then sit in front of them to tie. Tie goes above your boobs and under baby's bum, then around your waist. Your shoulders are totally free! You can pretty easily make one as it is just a big rectangular fabric with two straps on it.

I have 2 of these a wide & narrow. They saved my sanity over the summer when I got a really bad sunburn on my shoulders. I did torso carries for a little over a week while they healed.