babywearing - Page 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[Veritas Vitae]

Originally Posted by Tizzy 

Any luck with a swing? I call it the neglect-o-matic but sometimes it's just.what they need - to be swaddled and rocked by someone other than myself..and the 5yr old doesn't haveva long enough attention span LOL

Oh my goodness, the swing is turning out to be so wonderful for us. For the first couple of weeks Q was fine with laying down on the couch next to me or in her little side lying sleeper, but lately she has been waking up if we lay her down somewhere, since she wants to be held.  However, she loves the swing and will even chill in there awake, just looking around.  I feel so guilty when I put her in there, especially if she is awake, but she seems to like it. I think this is  going to turn out to be a lifesaver next week with Brian back at work and out of town, because I don't know how I would get anything done. This will allow me a window of opportunity midday to do all the things I need to do, since in the morning and evenings I just have to hold her.  I guess I should try to start baby wearing around the house.

Originally Posted by Sol_y_Paz 

Congrats on your two successes!  That is wonderful! What type of sling?  I would LOVE for this to happen! 

I have been trying to for bottles (the pump) for our outings and it is a pain - and literally too.  He has yet to take one.  It would be far easier just to nurse him discreetly and go on with life.

NewMumJoy, same thing here but it is rare to have 10 mins - occasionally if DS is really into something, like the fan or a mirror.  He doesn't like being put down unless he is really sleepy, like at night. 

Sol, I've been able to nurse discreetly in the Moby wrap.  I just put Q in using the cradle hold, and shift her down a bit so she can access my nipple and no one can even tell I'm nursing.  We walked downtown and went out to eat and Q just hung out in the Moby nursing until she fell asleep.  (Lily, it was a total parenting win moment for me too!)

My sister is going to make me a pouch using some really beautiful fabric I bought.  I'm super excited to get it and start using it.  When I carried my nieces, the pouch was my favorite way to carry them.  However, twinny says that Q is too young yet to use it, and I guess technically she is supposed to be too young to use the Ergo too, but I see that you guys are having success with them.  Q is just under 9 lbs now, and 3 weeks old, but she is doing really well with head control and holding herself up during tummy time.  When do you think I could start using these?

[monkeyscience]

More from me later, but I want details about how people are nursing in various carriers - what clothes are you wearing, and how do you shift them to allow access? How are you positioning baby in the carrier to nurse? Do you have to use any hands for support? How do you get them latched?

[NewMumJoy]

* At 4 wks, William's doing great w/ head control (not 100% there yet), although I still have to lightly support his head w/the crook of my arm when he's in the Balboa pouch - since he's always passed out in it.  Still, I'm very happy to have the one other hand/arm free!!  He's big enough not to sink too low into the Ergo - his head peeks out enough from the top but still can sorta rest on either side w/o flopping around too much, I think my cleavage helps keep him centered....

Ya, what to wear while NIP???  We've still really been hunkered down at home, braless, shirtless half the time.....I'm now pulling out my pre-preg wardrobe going through fall clothes.  Kinda depressing to think that I won't be able to wear most of this stuff for the next year (except for my PJs!!), I'm on the fence about giving most of it to good will to trade in for a "Mommy Wardrobe"....  

[eleuthia]

i nursed yesterday at home in the beco butterfly, following this paxbaby youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC9RoR7xxNs

he's still in the infant insert, and i just left that attached as usual. i had to hold his head up with one hand. i was wearing a nursing tank so i just unhooked it like usual. it worked well and when he fell asleep after feeding i just clipped him back upright. i should be able to do this in public with a nursing cover or hopefully a blanket. 

[Veritas Vitae]

I did cradle hold in a Moby, but I shifted her down and to the side more. I wore a nursing tank with disposable breast pads, so I didn't need a bra in addition to the tank (might not work w/o a nursing bra if you're larger chested), and just unlatched one side. I latched Q at the house before I left, to get her lined up and situated correctly in the wrap, and then I needed to only lightly support her head. The front panels of the wrap, that came over my shoulders, adequately covered me NIP, but I could still look down and see her.

[1stTimeMama4-4-10]

Originally Posted by Ninetales 

I seem to have forgotten how to use the Moby.  I got super frustrated the other day trying to put Ozzy in it.  I like the way it holds them and supports them but I can't use it for in-and-out things.  I can't put it on easily when out, and I can't put it on before because I need to tie it at the back and then riding in a car is uncomfortable.

The ring sling works well for grocery shopping, but I can't use it around the house.  He hates cradle hold (Elsa did too) and needs to be tummy to tummy, and he really only tolerates it if I'm doing a consistent movement, like walking.  Around the house he gets ticked off.

I used the Beco Butterfly II at the zoo and it worked out really well, but I find a buckle carrier too bulky and heavy for stuff like housework.  So all in all I'm not really freed up yet.

I highly recommend that Maya Tie.  It's a mei tai and much much quicker to tie than the moby, you can use a vertical tummy to tummy hold, and it is really lightweight so not bulky.  I've tried lots of different mei tais, and this is my favorite.  There are a bunch of SUPER cheap ones on the Facebook Babywearing Swap because I guess the company just did a big blowout sale.  

[iixivboots]

1sttimemama, I looked on the FB group and can't find any, (there's so much stuff there!) can you try to post a link? or is there a way to search it?

[LilyTiger]

Sol, I have the Balboa Baby sling.  And I really found Dr. Sears stuff on positioning helpful in the Baby Book.  Usually I end up shifting her from her usual sling position (head on my left side) and just move her down into a football hold so she can nurse on the right breast.  You can sort of do the same thing (except with a cradle hold) on the other side, but it's a little harder to get her positioned correctly because of the strap.  In both cases, the sling does a nice job of screening what's going on, though I usually throw a small burp cloth or something over my actual boob.  I have an Aden and Anais swaddle that looks sufficiently like a scarf to make the whole thing really discreet.  It's very comfortable once you get the hang of it. 

[1stTimeMama4-4-10]

Originally Posted by bootsvalentine 

1sttimemama, I looked on the FB group and can't find any, (there's so much stuff there!) can you try to post a link? or is there a way to search it?

Here are a few.  The FB one is a closed group, so you may not be able access the links until you are an approved member. 

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151026164625703&set=oa.340708069292908&type=1&theater

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152101805400103&set=oa.340708069292908&type=1&theater

http://community.babycenter.com/post/a36377647/fs_girasol_marley_black_weft_large_tote_bag_maya_tie_medium

http://community.babycenter.com/post/a36269773/rs_mt_destash_reduced

http://www.diaperswappers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1444702&highlight=maya+tie

[Tizzy]

Thanks for sharing the babywearing swap sites, I joined the large FB group...wow some of the prices for wraps are crazy!

I thought I'd share a pic of my current most popular setup, G. tends to get frustrated lately if I'm wearing him at the barn without him having boob access. But the on and off and loitering annoys me so our happy medium is to wear him sideways in the MT. I actually like it better too because his head is more tucked in and not so vulnerable.

[Sol_y_Paz]

 I wish there was a soft sided carrier that fit newborns easily (without a huge hot NB insert).

Edited by Sol_y_Paz - 10/8/12 at 5:53pm

[iixivboots]

sol, I've heard good things about the kinderpack infant size, fits up to 18 months. And has an adjustable seat so LO can be legs out early. That said, we just don't have the 170+shipping right now, and used they are almost the same price!

So we've been using an ergo with a rolled blanket (sort of goes between the bum and knees to help them get into a deep squat). Actually we're using a king pillowcase secured into a roll with hairbands. It's working pretty well for us now except we still have some underarm rub, which I think is from being plus sized/giant boobed. :) But LO would have to have pretty good head control for it to work, there's not really fabric supporting their head with this plan. Lyle can hold his head up for a few minutes but gets a little wobbly after that, but he's fine in this.

I just got 7 yards of crinkle cotton gauze in orange (50") wide to try to DIY a woven wrap. I love our sleepy wrap but even inside it's just TOO HOT. I am not sure what I'm going to do about finishing the edges of this wrap as I don't have a serger and frankly don't really like to sew that much.

[Sol_y_Paz]

I like the blanket trick!  

[Veritas Vitae]

Can you explain again how this rolled blanket works? I am having trouble picturing it and it would be nice if I could fit Q better in the Ergo.  The Moby is such a pain to get into that I don't really use it, so I'd love to start using the Ergo more. 

I have a karma baby pouch that I like, but Quinn doesn't, I think the fabric might be scratchy to her, it is the SPF breathable fabric or something, so I'm excited to get the pouch my sister made for me.  Plus, I bought the most beautiful fabric for it, it is so pretty.

[iixivboots]

Sure, I got this info from this thread on thebabywearer (you must register to see, so I"ll copy the info but there are some pictures)

http://www.thebabywearer.com/forum/showthread.php?501798-Receiving-blanket-with-Ergo-or-other-SSC-does-anyone-have-a-picture-illustration

Originally Posted by lauramaynot

Ok added some pics to the post. I can take some better ones with Alice tomorrow if that would help too. Basically yes, they are sitting on the roll with knees up and feet out to the sides. When Ben was squishy tiny, I would tie/buckle the waistband and then pull the body up with one arm into a hammock of sorts and lay the blankets in and then baby on top, bum positioned above the rolled part, allowing baby to just stay rolled naturally then when I pull my arm and the body of the carrier up to my chest, the baby sort of settles in, in their natural position. I adjust the feet if they are squished, but that's about it. As they start to uncurl, then I start to shift the knees and legs into the m position. Just make sure your roll at the bottom is still small enough that it's not like they are sitting on a shelf, more like the roll ends up behind the knee and the bum ends up supported and off the feet. Is that clear as mud?

I think when you actually do it and get the baby in the carrier and you can feel where the bum is in relation to the knees and the blanket roll and it makes more sense. Your going to want to pull that rolled blanket toward the wearer and push up on the feet to get the bum to settle between the roll and the carrier. And a rolled blanket vs a folded blanket worked better for me. When I folded I couldn't get the knees higher than the bum. The roll should fit in the hollow of the knee much more like the rail of a ringsling does if that makes sense. A wedge shape would probably be better now that I think about it.

 

 

Hope that helps, I just sort of figured it out, it's basically a "squat helper" to get the baby in a deep squat in the ergo.

 

I tried on a babyhawk mei tai today and I'm in LOVE. It was SO comfortable. I'm currently stalking some on swaps and sale sites. I'm way over my babywearing budget, though. I really need XL straps although the mama that met me at the library to help me with babywearing (holy awesome, she's a member of our local BWI group) was also plus sized and made do with the regular straps.

 

I just have been through it finding a soft sided carrier that fits, the boba then the ergo, and I loved being able to tie on the mei tai and adjust it just for me.

 

VV, that is a gorgeous pouch!

[LilyTiger]

Ok, ladies, what's the deal with the front facing carry for the Moby?  I know it's not technically "allowed" anymore, but does anyone know the rationale behind it?   Is it just the crotch dangling concern?  I put Piper in it today when she was super fussy and it worked.  I would only be using it for short stuff around the house, not for long walks.  What's the deal?  Terrible mom?  Or somewhat acceptable compromise? 

[sallyrae17]

I totally do the front facing carry with the moby wrap. 

[NewMumJoy]

Hey ladies.... at what point do we have baby go from froggy legs inside the carrier, to having legs dangle out?  William is 2 months old and he now stiffens his legs and "stands" in both the Balboa sling and the Ergo.  When relaxed, he seems very "slouchy" in the Balboa sling now and doesn't seem to be getting enough back support (we still do upright, face-to-face).... I'm wondering if it's time to change his position....

[Tizzy]

Gilbert was getting frustrated with groggy legs, none of my babies have liked it actually, so now he prefers a regular sitting position but more on my hip.where it's narrower. I also have to watch how tight his bulky cloth diaper is so it's not squishing his tummy in.

[iixivboots]

Joy, we have been doing legs out in the sling and the mei tai, but the ergo seat is still too wide for Lyle to be legs out. I have heard that people cinch it in with a ribbon, scarf, hair tie or similar, but I thought that the bunched fabric might not be comfortable. Remember he needs to be supported knee pit to knee pit when he's legs out. Give it a try, let me know if you have other questions and I can try to help, although I'm not an expert.