I am having so much trouble still trying to sling my 5 month old. Part of it is figuring out my slings, I have a rebozo, one of the shorter ones, and a maya wrap. My other problem seems to be my babes size-he is not quite 5 months and weighs in at close to 25lb. This means that if I don't have everything just right I really feel it.
He never liked a cradle carry, hated even being held that way. He might go for it now for naps but he's so long. Him sideways is much longer than I am wide, if that makes sense. So we move on to a newborn upright position.
That he liked and I liked the rebozo for it because once I got the knot in the right spot I just never untied it, lol. It would probably still work to help him sleep sometimes but where he's so heavy I don't really feel secure with it, plus his height means that even with his head quite high his feet are brushing the middle if my thighs making it awkward for me to move around much and sitting is totally out of the question.
We've tried forward facing and having him on my side with his feet still inside pointing to my front. Both of these positions feel so weird to me, having that bulk at my belly. Again, I don't feel comfortable moving around or anything.
Lately we've had some mild success with a hip carry but I worry that it might be bad for his development somehow, as it seems most people don't recomend it until 6mo or so? He seems fine with it and sits up well but I'm unsure.
So now on to my sling specific issues.
For the rebozo:
First, I have loads of trouble tying it tight enough. It always loosens up between the first knot and the second (making double knot) so I end up estimating the spot for it with baby in, take him out, make it a bit tighter than it seems I'll need, and then positioning ds.
My other problem is getting the rails tight enough. Is there a trick to pulling them tight enough while making the knot or does it just take more practice? I try but it seems they are always saggy.
And the maya:
Oh my.
And I do have the video and have watched it, and will make it a point to go through it again with both sling and baby close by.
Ok, I know I need to rethread it and practice doing that.
I can't seem to figure out this ring business. They need to be high up, above the breast. Just below the shoulder. I've heard 3 inches from top of shoulder. Ok, but they seem to take up a bit of space, y/k? If I position them so the top of the top ring is at the top of my shoulder the bottom of the ring area is still pressing into the top of my breast. Not uncomfortable so I don't worry about that but when it comes to rings all I've seen for advice is higher!higher!. Any higher and they'll be behind me.
I have trouble pulling the rails tight, particularly when he's already in. It seems to draw the rest of the fabric with it.
And I have trouble adjusting the fabric at all throught he rings. I absolutely cannot do it one-handed without the rings ending up at my belly and the baby totally out of position. Up and out my butt, the rings still slide. I don't really mind using both hands, one to steady the rings and one to pull the tail, but I know this is supposedly the wrong way.
So that's my book, thanks for reading. I'm sure there are more minor problems but this is everything I can think of right now and I seem to have written plenty.
I would so appreciate any help/ideas/insight you could give. Maybe I should get one of those long stretchy wraps? Would that be any easier for me you think?
And can I just say I am so grateful that when I decided to finally beg for help I knew exactly where to go?
-Sarah
He never liked a cradle carry, hated even being held that way. He might go for it now for naps but he's so long. Him sideways is much longer than I am wide, if that makes sense. So we move on to a newborn upright position.
That he liked and I liked the rebozo for it because once I got the knot in the right spot I just never untied it, lol. It would probably still work to help him sleep sometimes but where he's so heavy I don't really feel secure with it, plus his height means that even with his head quite high his feet are brushing the middle if my thighs making it awkward for me to move around much and sitting is totally out of the question.
We've tried forward facing and having him on my side with his feet still inside pointing to my front. Both of these positions feel so weird to me, having that bulk at my belly. Again, I don't feel comfortable moving around or anything.
Lately we've had some mild success with a hip carry but I worry that it might be bad for his development somehow, as it seems most people don't recomend it until 6mo or so? He seems fine with it and sits up well but I'm unsure.
So now on to my sling specific issues.
For the rebozo:
First, I have loads of trouble tying it tight enough. It always loosens up between the first knot and the second (making double knot) so I end up estimating the spot for it with baby in, take him out, make it a bit tighter than it seems I'll need, and then positioning ds.
My other problem is getting the rails tight enough. Is there a trick to pulling them tight enough while making the knot or does it just take more practice? I try but it seems they are always saggy.
And the maya:
Oh my.
And I do have the video and have watched it, and will make it a point to go through it again with both sling and baby close by.
Ok, I know I need to rethread it and practice doing that.
I can't seem to figure out this ring business. They need to be high up, above the breast. Just below the shoulder. I've heard 3 inches from top of shoulder. Ok, but they seem to take up a bit of space, y/k? If I position them so the top of the top ring is at the top of my shoulder the bottom of the ring area is still pressing into the top of my breast. Not uncomfortable so I don't worry about that but when it comes to rings all I've seen for advice is higher!higher!. Any higher and they'll be behind me.
I have trouble pulling the rails tight, particularly when he's already in. It seems to draw the rest of the fabric with it.
And I have trouble adjusting the fabric at all throught he rings. I absolutely cannot do it one-handed without the rings ending up at my belly and the baby totally out of position. Up and out my butt, the rings still slide. I don't really mind using both hands, one to steady the rings and one to pull the tail, but I know this is supposedly the wrong way.
So that's my book, thanks for reading. I'm sure there are more minor problems but this is everything I can think of right now and I seem to have written plenty.
I would so appreciate any help/ideas/insight you could give. Maybe I should get one of those long stretchy wraps? Would that be any easier for me you think?
And can I just say I am so grateful that when I decided to finally beg for help I knew exactly where to go?
-Sarah
I couldn't follow all of your descriptions (too tired really, lol!) but if you want to pm me your email I can send you a couple of pics of how I slung my dd at that age, in 2 kinds of slings.
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