4 mos & hates ALL four of my carriers - Advice?

[ZeezMom]

DS1 was amenable to each carrier I used, so I'm completely at a loss here. DS2 rode fairly contentedly in the sling in his early weeks, but now objects to it. The Moby he tolerates, but has to be in a REALLY good mood to last in it for very long. Ergo with & without infant insert is a no-go, as is my Over the Shoulder Baby Holder.

Anyone have babies that really & truly loathed being carried? I've given it a fair go with each one ('cept maybe the OTSBH, I don't care for that one myself.) Did your LO eventually grow to like it, or am I out of luck here?

Suggestions? Things that worked for you?

[Hey Mama!]

I am sorry to tell you but my youngest dd hated every carrier I had. I tried a pouch, an Ergo, a ring sling and a mai tei. I ended up carrying her in arms or using a stroller if we were out and about. It sucked because my middle dd loved being in the sling.

[ZeezMom]

Originally Posted by Hey Mama!

I am sorry to tell you but my youngest dd hated every carrier I had. I tried a pouch, an Ergo, a ring sling and a mai tei. I ended up carrying her in arms or using a stroller if we were out and about. It sucked because my middle dd loved being in the sling.

Ugh. That is bad news, indeed. And, of course, he doesn't like the car seat carrier, either.

With a 2-year-old to chase after, I need to be hands free as much as possible.

[RunnerDuck]

My girls liked (or at least tolerated) the mei tais early on... first 2 months maybe... then refused to get in them. They would stand and refuse to scrunch. They liked the bjorns, though. I know bjorns horrify some people... but we like them. Once they got a bit bigger - I would say 10 months? - they liked back carries with a beco/ergo. They still love to be carried on my back (22 months). For us there was just a big in between period where they didn't want to froggie up any more but were too tiny to straddle our bodies ... I think they also just didn't like having to always face in, because they wanted to look around. None of my kids have liked to face in unless they were very small, sick, or sleepy.

With my son all we had was a bjorn and a sling. Liked the sling for hip carries as a toddler. With my girls, I really wanted to make the "better" carriers (ergo, beco, etc) work but they just didn't, for us.

You might just be in an awkward spell right now and it will improve as the baby gets bigger. I LOVE back carries now but boy did I think I'd wasted my money on all these carriers for a while!

[mountainsunshine]

How old is he? What carries are you trying. My guess would be he has grown and is looking for a new way to ride

[claddaghmom]

This was DD. She hated all restrictions. No swaddling, no blankets on her feet, nothing.

I tried many carriers to no avail.

Around 6-7 months she began to tolerate a hotsling. Still does. Around 9 months she allowed a mobywrap. That's it.

[cchrissyy]

how does he let you carry him in your arms? can you replicate that with a carrier?

[SallyN]

ditto to mountainsunshine and cchrissyy

[tela44]

My 3 month old also is not a big fan of the carriers--so far i have the new native sling, ergo with infant insert, the tricot wrap, the dr sears balboa baby sling, and the baby k'tan! He just does not like to be confined and often struggles to get out! He does eventually relax into it a little bit and usually falls asleep as long as I am walking around constantly.
I am just hoping that he will eventually get used to it and actually like them...so I just keep trying. I only take him out if he seems really upset or starts crying.
So far the baby k'tan has worked best in the "adventure" style because this way he can see what is going on and has him arms and legs free. I have also had some success with the dr sears sling sitting him in it cross-legged, problem is when he falls asleep he has no support and is just in a little pile in there...
We are going ti try the baby bjorn next, i know people say bad things about them, but i have a feeling he will like it.
glad to hear he's not the only one...good luck to all!

[ZeezMom]

Originally Posted by cchrissyy

how does he let you carry him in your arms? can you replicate that with a carrier?

Right? This is the odd part I can't figure out. I carry him facing in toward me with my arm under his butt & I've replicated this with the Moby, with the lower panel pulled just to under his butt cheeks instead of over his back.

BUT, I carried him around the house today facing out in the Moby & he didn't complain. I just hate to do a facing out carry so early on when I'm in public. He's not sensitive, but I don't want to overwhelm him.

With the sling: I tried the kangaroo with the sling w/legs out. I tried a cradle carry with him sitting up so he could look out, and the hip carry but he's still a little small for this one to work comfortably.

Moby: Facing in & out. With legs poking out & contained with the tag panel. (Thought maybe he didn't like dangling there.)

DEFINITELY can't wait until I can carry him on my back. That makes life easier all around, and I suspect he will be happier that way, too.

Thanks!

[SallyN]

why can't you put him on your back?

[Alisse]

I have so many carriers that my ds wouldn't tolerate. In the end we found 2 he liked: ergo with heart-to-heart infant insert, and a chunei. He HAS to be upright and it CAN'T be to confining/tight.

[Xavismom]

DS will only tolerate his Sleepywrap when we are out of the house, and I have to be constantly moving. If I stop walking with him in it, then I have to bounce/sway until we start walking again. He only likes being upright in it, but doesnt really care if his legs are froggied, or out, or covered. It doesnt matter how he is in it, or how much I move around if we are home though, he screams to get out of it.

We have a ring sling (brand new that I was VERY excited about) that he hates. He screams and shrieks when I try to put him in it, before I even tighten it!! So I gave up on that one for now, and I'm planning on trying it when he is big enough to do the hip carry.

I'm going to order a Babyhawk MeiTai with some of our tax refund. I've really got my fingers crossed that, A) he likes it/will tolerate it and B) will let me wear him in the house.

Totally bummed out, I always pictured myself wearing him all.the.time.... hopefully he'll grow into it.

[Asiago]

My son seems to be the same way. He will tolerate the various carriers for a little while, enough for me to get a house chore or two done. That's it though.

Now that I think about it, he also dislikes restriction. Doesn't like to be swaddled, nor if I have my hand behind him while nursing, nor if blankets are covering his feet. He also dislikes the sleep sacks.