Problems with Maya wrap (ring sling) with newborn- x-posted in Babywearing

[ATruck]

I was so excited to use my maya wrap with my new baby. However, she hates it. We have watched the video, tried it about 10 times (my husband and I) and she always ends up wadded up- it even changes her breathing. Her neck is bent and she sounds like she can barely breathe. She will tolerate it for a while, but eventually makes it clear that she wants out.

Have others had this problem? Is there another sling that I can use till she is a little bigger? She is small (born 6 weeks early). She is now around 6.5 pounds and is not yet 3 weeks old.

I was thinking of getting a New Native pouch, but I'm not sure if I will just run into the same problem. I would love any advice-- I REALLY want to wear my baby.

[Shenandoah]

My son was about that size when I started putting him in the Maya Wrap ring sling. He liked it a lot. Perhaps you don't have it tight/high enough? It took me a while to adjust.

I put the rings on my left shoulder. He was happiest laying almost flat with his head slightly elevated on the left near my breasts (of course!). He rode like that for 2-3 months. When he had a little more control over himself he'd ride not quite sitting up, which his head still supported by the sling but with his head on the right. That way his head was more or less in my armpit.

I don't know about any other slings. I only have a Maya Wrap.

[ATruck]

Shenandoah- thanks! Was his chin going into his chest? If I raise her up a little with my hand by putting my hand under her neck (beneath the sling), it straightens her neck out and she is comfortable. I just can't seem to make the sling do that by itself, no matter how much I adjust the rings.

I've got the rings on the right, head on the right. I will try it your way, and try making it go higher.

[Shenandoah]

His chin was tucked but it didn't appear uncomfortable.

When he was small like that he had to be *really* high in the sling. It almost seemed too high but that's what it took to keep him secure. Remember, they have just gotten out of the womb where they were squished all the time. He seemed to like being totally covered and snug. I'd have to pull the top pieces apart to get a little peek at him.

Do you know anyone with a Maya Wrap? She might be able to help you. If not, try going to a LLL meeting, or call a leader. Those moms know slings.

[earthgirl]

I'm using the Kangaroo Korner adjustable fleece pouch (www.kangarookorner.com) with little problems. Sometimes I have to take her out and reposition her, but so far it seems to be working well. I do worry that she may not be getting enough head support, though. She seems comfy and it's awfully cozy for both of us. I don't know about the maya wrap, but I think wearing them when they are this small is just a little tricky. At any rate, if you can't make things work with what you've got maybe try one of the Kangaroo Korner pouches. I really like it!

[kalisis]

Since your babe is so tiny, you can use a rolled up towel underneath her to give her a little more bulk. Sometimes a kitchen towel is enough, other times you need a bathroom hand towel. Fold it up so it's got some heft to it, not really rolled, but more folded about the same size as your babe. Use that as padding underneath her and treat it as part of her body when you're adjusting the rings.

Also, make sure that the fabric is tight around your back and the excess is up near the rings before you start pulling it through the rings. There should be a buckle of fabric right near the rings and your baby should *almost* be exactly where you want her when you start pulling on the rails. And then, only pull one rail at a time. Treat them as independent of each other, not as one big thing to pull on. Is that making any sense?

The towel should help tho - since she's still pretty tiny.

I second the KKAFP tho - if you're going to get a pouch. They're seriously one of the best on the market and I LOVED it last go round. The new natives are nice, there's nothing wrong with them, but they need to be sized exactly right and sometimes that's hard. Hotslings are also nice and offer a bigger range of sizes, you might want to look at them.

Good luck!

[prettypixels]

I don't know if it will help, but here is Maya Wrap's videos page... ie: video instructions for using the slings.

http://www.mayawrap.com/n_video.php

My Moby wrap came with an extensive book... but until I watched another mama do it I had a hard time with it. Maybe the videos will help?

(Or maybe you've already seen them, in which case... sorry!)

[anj119]

with the Maya wrap, it is important to remember not only what the pp said about adjusting each rail individually, but also to remember that the pouch or, that part of the fabric which is supporting the babes back, can also be adjusted from deeper to shallower. Maybe you have already tried this, but ...... can you make the sling almost flat when you put it on? without baby in it, that is.
can you pull on the center part of the fabric below the rings, thereby tightening the middle until it is almost taut, then pull up the sides? I mean, get that thing right up under your chin at first....
for me it is easier to loosen the sling than it is to tighten it....

i dunno.
just thinking here.

-anj119

[emdeecee_sierra]

I don't have much advice. I have a New Native and really like it, but I'm not sure if it would solve your problem. Thinking of you and your DD and sending s!

[carmel23]

tiny infants need more support. I used the little pillow made for the new native sling in my ring sling (ella roo) and it did the trick. Also, as some have suggested, a folded up receiving blanket or two might do the trick.

But the little pillow was really great because I could just lay pillow on a receiving blanket, place baby on the pillow, and then wrap him up and pop him into the sling and tighten.

Make sure baby is well fed!

It may take a few times--don't give up. Baby may sense your uncertainty about the ring sling, too and might need you to begin walking around to calm down. I'd put her in it and then (if it isn't too cold) try to go for a walk around the block or 1/2 way down the block.

[carmel23]

here is a link to the support pillow (I didn't get mine from this site, but this is it:

http://store.attachedtobaby.com/detail.aspx?ID=61

[proudhsmommy]

We found that with Ruby she didn't like to be lying down in the sling. So, we did the Froggie position (her legs looked like little froggie legs) with her facing me high up on my chest and pulled on parts of the fabric til I got it to where I wanted it. Some babies just don't like to be lying on their side but like to be upright.

HTH, Denise

[Fuamami]

When I first started using my other two with the Maya Wrap, I also gave them a paci, and then had to walk around and bounce for awhile until they got adjusted. I don't know if you use pacifiers, but it might help.

[ATruck]

Thanks for all of the advice .. I have got the maya wrap working a bit better (using upright position rather than cradle hold), and also a Zolo ring sling that I just got at my baby shower. It's pretty cool, and is "solarveil", so you can take it in the water.

However, before that, I stressed out and bought a Kangaroo Korner Adjustable Fleece Pouch, as suggested by earthgirl. Oh my gosh- it is the greatest thing ever. I just pulled it on, plopped her in, and she snuggled in and went right to sleep. It is sooooo comfortable and she seems so secure in it. It is exactly what I was looking for. I cannot recommend this thing enough.. and so good for winter, too. So much easier than a ring sling, which were just driving me nuts, really testing my patience. I will go back to them later, but this is working for me now.