I've been lying to myself about this for years, but it's time to fess up and ask for help. No matter what I do, I just can NOT get the hang of babywearing.
I have used four different carriers. When my third child was born (eight years ago) I got a Baby Bjorn style front carrier that I didn't mind, but my son hated. I also got a hiking backpack style carrier that I honestly have used more as a travel high chair than a carrier.
Then, when my fourth was born (six years ago), I got a ring sling. *I* loved it, but he did not. I have only ever been able to use it to carry newborns in the front carry (what's it called -- kangaroo carry?), but even then they do not feel secure. If I have my baby in front and I bend over at all, I feel like the baby is going to fall out -- the whole thing shifts away from my body. No matter how tight I pull it, or how I adjust it. As a result I use it mostly only when I have to nurse in public. I have *never* been able to use it to hold a baby on my back (regardless of the baby's age), as I cannot get it adjusted properly. I have used it to hold a toddler on my hip, but then I have to also hold her with my arm, and that makes it seem pointless to use the sling.
I got a Mei Tai when my sixth was born (three years ago), and I like it better than the ring sling. But I still can't seem to get it adjusted so that the baby is snug against my back. No matter what I do, it feels like he is hanging off, and I feel like I have to stand bent forward, which hurts my back. I can't stand straight, or it feels like the baby is hanging off of me. (You know, tight at the hips, but up by my shoulders there's a couple of inches of space between me and baby.) I try to pull it tighter, until the (padded) straps dig into my shoulders and neck and hurt, but it doesn't help.
In all my carriers, no matter what position or how old the baby (and this is true for all five babies who I have worn), they get sick of it after about ten or fifteen minutes and cry to get down. They want to be held, not worn. Even my three year old, who gets excited when she sees me trying to wear her brother and begs me to "put her on," gets tired and wants down after a few minutes.
I wish I knew someone IRL who had experience in babywearing who could show me what I am doing wrong!
I have used four different carriers. When my third child was born (eight years ago) I got a Baby Bjorn style front carrier that I didn't mind, but my son hated. I also got a hiking backpack style carrier that I honestly have used more as a travel high chair than a carrier.
Then, when my fourth was born (six years ago), I got a ring sling. *I* loved it, but he did not. I have only ever been able to use it to carry newborns in the front carry (what's it called -- kangaroo carry?), but even then they do not feel secure. If I have my baby in front and I bend over at all, I feel like the baby is going to fall out -- the whole thing shifts away from my body. No matter how tight I pull it, or how I adjust it. As a result I use it mostly only when I have to nurse in public. I have *never* been able to use it to hold a baby on my back (regardless of the baby's age), as I cannot get it adjusted properly. I have used it to hold a toddler on my hip, but then I have to also hold her with my arm, and that makes it seem pointless to use the sling.
I got a Mei Tai when my sixth was born (three years ago), and I like it better than the ring sling. But I still can't seem to get it adjusted so that the baby is snug against my back. No matter what I do, it feels like he is hanging off, and I feel like I have to stand bent forward, which hurts my back. I can't stand straight, or it feels like the baby is hanging off of me. (You know, tight at the hips, but up by my shoulders there's a couple of inches of space between me and baby.) I try to pull it tighter, until the (padded) straps dig into my shoulders and neck and hurt, but it doesn't help.
In all my carriers, no matter what position or how old the baby (and this is true for all five babies who I have worn), they get sick of it after about ten or fifteen minutes and cry to get down. They want to be held, not worn. Even my three year old, who gets excited when she sees me trying to wear her brother and begs me to "put her on," gets tired and wants down after a few minutes.
I wish I knew someone IRL who had experience in babywearing who could show me what I am doing wrong!
Been there! I have had to switch up my babywearing stuff a lot too - sometimes because of me, sometimes because of the baby. But I always found something that worked - I think you can too! 
