How do you get anything done while wearing baby?

[Jerlin]

I've been carrying my baby since day 1 and just recently bought a Boba organic carrier. I've been using the Boba a lot, as my DS is almost 8 months old and is about 21 pounds. I carry him in the front, as he is at the hair pulling stage, so putting him in the back will just entice more hair pulling. I'm wondering how you mamas get anything done while wearing your baby? I can't do dishes (load or unload dishwasher) because I'm afraid to bend while wearing him. I can't do laundry, as I'm afraid the detergent will splash on him. I can't fold laundry, as he's in the front and I can barely see in front. I can't cook for obviousy reasons. The only thing I can do is to walk around the house a bazillion times, doing nothing but talking with my baby. Am I the only one that gets nothing done while wearing baby?

[pixiepunk]

i'm the exact opposite, i don't think i would've done a thing in the last 7 years without babywearing. especially when the second, and then third child came around. my last baby basically lived on my back for about 18 months, it was the only way to keep up with the other two and keep everyone fed, clothed, bathed, etc.

i found with the hair pulling that they get over that pretty quickly. i sometimes would attach some kind of toy (soft) to the carrier so they'd have something to occupy them. but it really wasn't such a bit deal.

and bending and all that... i dunno, i just never worried too much about it. though i mostly did back carries so they weren't in the line of fire, so to speak. and i would never cook with a baby on my front, especially if it was splattery.

[Chamomile Girl]

Yeah, I was never able to get anything done when babe was on the front. I get very little done with him on the back though either, because he gets bored and fidigety SO fast. I'm seriously afraid he is going to figure out a way to fling his little self out. Not fun.

But, you can get more done with a back carry. You really can.

[Jaimee]

I have had this experience as well and found that it just takes some experimentation to figure out a way to wear your baby and get things done. I also found that it takes some experience and confidence. You mention a lot of fears of splashing, cooking, etc. and I do all of the things you mentioned daily without incident.

At 8 months, he should be quite stable on your back- just put your hair up and out of the way to avoid pulling or perhaps wear a scarf or hat to cover it up. You could also try providing him with something else to play with like a toy that can attach to the carrier. When he's on your back you can get things done like reaching into the washer/dryer, folding the laundry, and cooking. As for bending, you should be able to do that to a certain extent and then you can squat to accomplish even lower tasks. He should cling to you no problem if he starts to shift at all. When he's asleep that's a different issue if you don't have a head rest or hood, but you just need to use slower motions to get up and down.

I highly, highly recommend continuing to experiment- just confidently give things a try and your ds will feel that confidence and be at ease in the carrier. Being able to get stuff done while wearing your happy baby really makes your life better!

Good luck!

[Limabean1975]

Definitely try to get used to back carrying, hair pulling and all. It can still be difficult to do alot of bending, but much, much more possible. And you can cook! And wash dishes! And all sorts of things. I went through a phase of wrapping my hair in various scarves and hats in an attempt to reduce the hair pulling...it sort of worked, sometimes. I did find the pulling alot more tolerable when my hair was down as opposed to a bun or ponytail, when she'd get the little hairs at my neck...OUCH. Now I have short hair - notbecause of baby, but the lack of pullable strands at the back sure is a bonus!

[Ninetales]

I've never been able to do much while wearing the baby. Of course, it didn't help that she didn't really tolerate being worn around the house until recently. She did fine while out for a walk but around the house she'd lose patience very quickly.

Lately I've found if she's tired of her bouncy chair and rolling around she'll accept being worn in the Moby while I do basic tidying (picking up junk off the table and couch, sweeping the floor, loading/unloading the top rack of the dishwasher, and cooking non-spattery things like soup. I'm experimenting and trying new things but I know what you mean about not being able to do things. I can't really bend over to get things or reach into the washer and stuff. Maybe when she's big enough for back carries.

[AngelBee]

Honestly, I have trouble doing anything whether on front or back. You would think after wearing this many babies, I would have it down.

[staceychev]

Originally Posted by Ninetales

Maybe when she's big enough for back carries.

Mine is a month younger and can do back carry in a Babyhawk mei tai. Give it a try. At this age, I rely on a mirror to make sure I'm getting her in right. (Of course, I carried DD1 on my back from 6 months to about 3 years, so I'm pretty comfortable with that carry.)

[busymama77]

There is quite a bit that I can get done with front carries - vaccuming, dusting, a little dishing washing, UNloading the dishwasher, cooking (as long as I'm swaying while I'm doing it ).
But I'm looking forward to being able to wear DS on my back so that I can actually SEE walking up and down stairs and fold laundry!

[sammymama]

Hi there,

I have the same issue sometimes with my 10 mo old - she gets very fidgety very fast when I am trying to do stuff with her in her Ergo (I usually do the front carry which is harder for me, but buys me more time than the back carry). A few months ago I tried her in her Maya wrap in a hip carry and that seems to help sometimes. That is my go-to now for laundry - she likes to lean over to see what's going on, but I know she's secure. I also use that carry for the dishes; I just cop a squat to stack the stuff on the bottom rack onto the counter, then I can stand to get the top rack and the stuff on the counter into the cabinet. It's not perfect but it's a good alternative if she gets really antsy.

[2ID_Wife]

I have some issues with front carrys but I move to back carries pretty young and can get everything done then.

[Pepper44]

I get lots of stuff done with DD2 in the mei tai on my front! She's 2 months old. I wear her for hours some days.

I really don't worry about things like detergent splashing. The only thing I don't do is cook splattering foods. I can still fold laundry by standing to the side, but I can't reach into the washing machine. For dishes we wash them quickly by hand after each meal so they don't pile up in the sink and then I lay them in the top rack of the dishwasher to dry, so that's not a problem. I do all of my chicken and garden chores while wearing her, vacuum, mop, dust, clean everything in the bathroom except the tub, wash the windows, declutter...

[CliffsideMama]

I found that back carries are easiest too for getting housework done. When dd was on my front at that age I would hold her with one arm around the ergo when I was bending over (for the dishwasher, laundry) and she never fell out or even came close. But truthfully most of the housework got done at nap and bed time.