At what age could your child carry a baby in a sling, hold it independently?

[Softheart]

Just wondering for when my new one is born--I've seen pics in magazine of kids who look pretty small (6-8?) carrying little siblings in a sling or their arms--can that really happen, realistically? If so, is it a special sling?

Thanks!

[angie3096]

I'm kinda wondering too...not about the sling thing, but I am pg and dd will be almost five and a half when the babe is born and she wants to know if she can carry it. I said no and she's really disappointed. I don't know if I should let her try...I guess we'll play it by ear!

[Softheart]

Yeah, i guess we will too...I mean I know holding on a Boppy is safe, but what about slings? Maybe I'll try to find out from a sling-maker...

[Jessy1019]

Once my son was able to hold his head up well on his own (maybe 3-4 months), my daughter would lug him short distances. She was just about four then. It didn't look terribly safe, but he got a huge kick out of it and really, how far could she drop him? Now that he's 18 months, she can barely get him off the ground.

I wouldn't do it with a newborn, though, they're too floppy.

[Softheart]

Hhhmmm-okay I'll be sure to wait a few months, and do over a soft surface lol!

[Mere]

I think you really have to play it by ear, and evaluate your dc in that particular situation. My dd was 5.5 when ds2 was born. At first I started off letting her hold him on the couch, but he usually fussed right away which bothered her because she really loved him and wanted to hold him. Gradually, as she's gotten a feel for holding him I've let her stand up with him, and now, walk around. She's not allowed to go up stairs with him or walk around with him outside, but I have to say she's doing really well and is a big help!

Re: the sling thing, I think a child would need to be much older than 5.5 to hold a baby in a sling for any amount of time. Dd loves holding ds2, but she can only do it for a few minutes (standing up) before he gets too heavy.

[MSmomma3]

could you get a sling small enough for them??? I would imagine it to be about 10 to hold a child in a sling..jmho

[AngieB]

My dd is 8 and she carries her sister in the wrap all the time. I also have a 6 year old ds and I have never trusted him to carry the baby around without me being right there watching, but that might just be because of his personality.

[BAU3]

My 6 yo ds holds and carries around our newborn dd.. now 4 weeks old.. he actually even carried her up and down the stairs once. (I caught him on his way back down)
I have to admit its a bit scary.. but he does a great job and i've yet to see him fumble her or anything...

[Ruthla]

It really depends on the kids- both the "non floppiness" of the baby and the strength/balance of the older sibling.

I probably wouldn't let a child under 9 or 10 hold a newborn (except sitting down well supported) but toddlers are sturdy and can be held by siblings only a little bit bigger than they are. Then there's this huge gray area- what about a 2mo who holds his head up really well?

[funkygranolamama]

I probably wouldn't allow much slinging until the teenage years. My dd is almost 10 and she holds and walks with baby all the time (and does a GREAT job!). DD begs to put baby in a sling, but not being able to FEEL if it's being worn properly I worry about back damage.

[momto l&a]

Depends on the kid.

My oldest has been carrying her siblings since she was 2.5 and she fine to do so.
My 5yo is an klutzy and we don't care for her to carry her sisters.

My getting close to 3 yo wants to carry her sister but : So we just have her sit and hold though she is adamant she can carry.

About slinging I have no clue.

[allgirls]

My 9 year old wore baby in a sling a lot. She was super careful and I kept a close watch. She wore her in my sling from an infant...she loved it and so did baby..they are super close.

She was 11 when the next baby came. She wore her too. And now at 13 will carry her on her back in the ERGO.

It's sweet..she's going to be an awesome mommy some day!

[UUMom]

My oldest used to carry his baby sister all the time, but in the Baby Bjorn (which I know some folks don't like) but I felt comfortable with that. My son , 10 at the time, spent many hours helping be another pair of arms. He carried her in a maya wrap at home as well, but I was always a little more concerned about that...I mean, even I've dropped an older babyfrom a sling once. So, when we were out and about, the park, market etc and he wanted to carry her, it was in the BB. He also like the packpack when she got older.

As for not using items to carry...I let the children carry babies. My oldest were 5 and 6 when the last baby was born, and they carried her to me all the time. My oldest was 10 and changed diapers until the baby got too wiggly (and too smelly for him) lol. When my oldest was not quite 5, my 3rd was born and he used to carry his brother to me if he heard him wake before I did. I remember a cousin of mine absolutely freaking out at a family gathering when my 5 yr old carried the baby to me for changing. But he was very careful-- he was born old.

It would depend on the child, you know? Just teach them how to do it safely.

I have some great pics of my kids babywearing. Front backs, wraps, backpacks. Sweeeeet. I also think having older kids around to hold babies is an absolutel godsend. You don't much need carriers or boppys etc., as there are always arms to hold the baby. I remember when my 3rd was 5. He was great at holding so I could pee or take a quick shower.