I don't know what I'm doing HELP!!!!!

[twobears]

I feel so incompetent! I want to wear my lo so badly and just can't seem to get the hang of it. This is my third and it would be great to have him close and also to have my hands free for my other two (4yo and 2.5yo). I used the baby bjorn with the first, but now know thats not the way to go. With my second I had an ellaroo mei hip which I used quite a lot from about the time he was about 6 months on. My lo is 3 months and about 13 pounds. I bought a ring sling and an ergo. I think he is still too small for the ergo i do not have the infant insert. I just don't know what I am doing wrong with the ring sling. I feel uncomfortable, my clothes keep riding up. It does not want to lay flat. Should i iorn it? What am I doing wrong? Can anyone help me?

[blessedwithboys]

well mine always rode up but thats bc i was really fat! LOL now i know they make larger size slings...didnt know it then. not trying to say thats your issue, of course.

can you go to an AP group or LLL meeting to get some IRL help? or can you post pics of what youre experiencing? (no need to show faces if you dont wanna, i wouldnt)

[twobears]

It could be my weight... i'm not the smallest person, but I called the company before ordering size. I am trying to get help from a local babywearing group but have not been able to meet with anyone yet due to conflicts in my schedule.

[MamaKickyPants]

What brand of ring sling is it? Does it have an 'open tail'?

[chase_mommy]

I had a rough time with my RS at first but I love it now. Be patient. First of all it will cooperate SO much better once its broken in. Second of all, how are you putting it on? Here is how I learned to do it will minimal fuss. Make sure the fabric isn't tangled in your rings and loosen your sling (make a poof with your fabric between the rings). Put your sling on, make sure you are not twisted in the back. Smooth out material for the rings, around your shoulder, as far as you can reach on your upper back and then straighten out the Pouch part of the sling... follow it to your lower back. You want the fabric as smooth against you back at this point. For me, I would always put the rings high on my shoulder (almost on top) because when I would tighten the fabric it would pull it down to the correct spot. Place baby in whatever position you are going for and tighten. Don't be afraid to adjust fabric around baby and tighten in different spots to make baby secure. Once baby is in, do a quick check of the fabric spread around your shoulder and back and untwist if needed. I hope that helps some and once you get a hang on it all those steps take no time. Oh- after I tighten RS with baby in thats when I do a mini hop and yank down my shirt and unbunch it.

[MamaPhD]

I would try Ergo with baby legs froggied (not sticking out to straddle you like an older baby). You can do it without any insert. Or you can use a rolled up receiving blanket under baby's butt. Give it a try.

[almadianna]

where do you live? is there a babywearing group near you?

[twobears]

I have a maya wrap lightly padded sling. I don't know what it means to have an open tail?

I'm in Long Island NY. There is a local baby wearing group, but they happen to meet on a day i'm not available

[twobears]

Chase_mommy and Mama phD Thanks for your help!!
I'm going to try both things tomorrow.

[lalemma]

I had a hard time adjusting to my ring sling, too! (And there were no babywearers nearby, alas.)

What I did was:

a) watch a million Youtube videos of people putting their babies on.
b) watch myself in the mirror while putting my baby on.

Eventually I could see that what I was doing was (or wasn't) what they were doing. For me it was just practice, practice, practice - a much longer learning curve than with my mei tai or wrap!

[twobears]

hmmmmm maybe I should try a wrap or mei tei. Still trying to get this sling working properly...still getting frustrated

[mlh]

I would try a Moby Wrap...so comfortable for all sizes!!