How do you survive when your sling is in the wash?!

[eilonwy]

I'm losing my mind here! My daughter's been spitting and vomiting a lot lately, so she gets the sling covered over the course of a day or two. I wear it until I can't stand the smell anymore or until it gets too stiff to adjust : and then I put it in the washer. That leaves me with at least two hours with no sling and thus, no hands! BooBah is not the kind of baby you can put down for long, and even if she was she's got a very enthusiastic older brother who would, given the opportunity, literally love her to pieces.

What do you do without a sling or a swing? I've seriously considered setting up a crib for this, even though I know she'd scream bloody murder while she was in it. I'm totally at a loss.

[mum2sarah]

I make dh wash mine after baby and I have gone to sleep for the night. As long as he can stay up at least long enough to toss it in the dryer and set the time dry for an hour, it's clean for me first thing in the morning. I also have a "back-up" sling that I don't like as much as my maya wrap but will use in an emergency....

[USAmma]

THanks for reminding me! Mine's been sitting in the wash since yesterday night! I can totally relate to it smelling like vomit.

Darshani

[annethcz]

I have more than one sling

[eilonwy]

Originally Posted by annethcz

I have more than one sling

Yes, but what if you didn't? And you couldn't get another any time soon?

[Nemmer]

I too bought a second sling off ebay just for this purpose. But if you couldn't get even a not-as-nice backup sling, I think the idea of washing it at night is a good one. If your DH can stay up long enough to put it in the dryer for you, that'd help a lot. If not... well, maybe try to have it drying at times when you can sit on the floor and play with both kids?

[mamagranola]

I say 2 slings is almost a necessity. After accidently leaving my sling at home one too many times I bought one to keep in the car. I also have a backpack carrier. So many ways to carry and still have hands free.

When my back gets tired of toting dd around, she will sometimes sit in the highchair and either play with toys or food. As long as she can see me, she's ok. You could give that a try.

[shelbean91]

I would try to time the wash when baby is sleeping, either for the nap or for the night. Or just plan to have a couple of hours to sit and play on the floor or veg on the couch.

[ShadowMom]

Sweetie, you definitely need more than one sling. You can sew one pretty cheaply, have you considered that?

I don't know what I would do if I only had one - you know how it is, the moment it gets put in the washer, you need it really badly!

[Mere]

Yep, gotta have more than one sling. I bought a second one after occasionally misplacing the first and realizing that I could not survive without it! Granted, my sling only costs $20 new and I can buy it locally, but still, you need a backup, however you can get it.

[annethcz]

Sorry, I wasn't trying to be snarky about the more than one sling comment.

I wash it in the evening, line dry overnight. Although with a padded sling, it takes FOREVER to line dry. In that case, I'd probably take an old sheet and use it a a wrap.

And honestly, I don't really wash the sling that often. Gross, I know... but it gets used as a spit-up rag, hanky, etc. And it gets washed once in a blue moon. As long as I air it out at night, it really doesn't smell that bad.

[eilonwy]

We don't have a dryer right now-- it has to hang out on the line.

I've got another sling when it gets cold, but it's way too heavy and warm to use right now, and of course it will be too warm for next spring, too.

If I wasn't terrified of my sewing machine I could definately make one, but I am. I'm also uncoordinated.

SO...I guess the question is, where do I get a super-cheap backup sling?

[shelbean91]

Keep an eye on the trading post or ebay. 2nd hand shopps in my area have some, too.

Depending on how cheap- maya wrap sells discounted gently used slings and pouches.