Could slinging at home be a form of lazy parenting?:

[aywilkes]

Okay...I've been thinking about this lately.
My DD (8.5 months) is very mobile and loves crawling around, pulling up on furniture, and searching for tiny articles of trash on the carpet, eating cords, eating shoes, and eating paper. When I need to cook, work on the computer, want to read, or a host of other things, I really can't leave her alone for too long b/c she's so quick. I've started putting her in the sling during these times on the advice of my friend and sis, but I feel like I'm restricting her movement and putting her in "prison" - albeit a cozy one close to me.

I remember when I had my DS (no sling or babywearing), I would let him come to the kitchen with me and play with pots, he also didn't crawl (he rolled) so he wasn't getting around as fast as her. I distinctly remember telling his grandma that I didn't want a swing nor would I turn on the t.v. b/c it wasn't right to let those things babysit him. Now, I feel like I might be letting the sling babysit my dd.

How much time a day should I let her just be. She's so busy and although I love seeing her explore and move around - it is tons of work and I want to put her in the sling sometimes. That's bad I know.:

[mammy bear]

I don't think theres anything wrong with slinging your DD when you need to. As long as she's happy and not wriggling around tying to get out. I sling my DD (6 months) for most of the day but she definately lets me know when she's had enough. I couldn't keep her there even if I tried. I think if your DD is happy and relaxed in the sling then go for it.

[Phantaja]

I sort of just stumbled across this thread, so you'll have to take this with a grain of salt, but so what if using the sling is "lazy parenting"? Its a thing that's good for you and good for your baby. You're right there with her and she is involved in your every move in the sling. I don't understand why things have to be difficult for people to feel as if they're doing the right thing.

I remember when my step boys were very young, both in diapers and bottles, and people telling me that if I'm not having a hard time then I must not be doing it right. Why can't a system that works be both easy and beneficial?

[attachedmamaof3]

Sling when you need to!!

I do suggest that you kind of "let go" of some of the non-issues. In reality, it really doesn't matter if your kid eats paper, or shoes. It's a whole new game when you make a decision to stop freaking over the little things!! (Obviously the cords/trash is a safety issue so you definately want to watch that...) My 9 month old walks around with a shoe in her mouth at all times!! She literally bites chunks out of my flip-flops.

If it won't hurt 'em, don't sweat it!!

[Leilalu]

Well when you have more than one child, it becomes a need. I have decided that number 3 will have to be slung for most of the day solely on the basis of safety reasons.

My kids were very active, and we slung a lot, but mostly when out. But with 2 it was easy to keep tabs on everyone all the time. Sometimes I fear for this third child

[aywilkes]

Originally Posted by attachedmamaof3

Sling when you need to!!

I do suggest that you kind of "let go" of some of the non-issues. In reality, it really doesn't matter if your kid eats paper, or shoes. It's a whole new game when you make a decision to stop freaking over the little things!! (Obviously the cords/trash is a safety issue so you definately want to watch that...) My 9 month old walks around with a shoe in her mouth at all times!! She literally bites chunks out of my flip-flops.

If it won't hurt 'em, don't sweat it!!

I'm so trying to be like you in so many areas of my life!

[MamaRainebeau]

I'm such a dork I thought this thread was entitled "Could SINGing...be a form of lazy parenting?" huh???

[attachedmamaof3]

It's GREAT when it finally clicks.

For me, it's a necessity when you've got kids...running around after them telling them no all day or "rescuing" them from inanimate objects just wasn't working for us!! You've gotta prioritize... will it cause injury/death/dismemberment? No? Then it's OKAY WITH ME!! :

It's either that or self-medication...and since I'm not into self-medication in front of the kids then HAVE YOUR FUN BABIES!!!

[Leilalu]

Originally Posted by attachedmamaof3

It's GREAT when it finally clicks.

For me, it's a necessity when you've got kids...running around after them telling them no all day or "rescuing" them from inanimate objects just wasn't working for us!! You've gotta prioritize... will it cause injury/death/dismemberment? No? Then it's OKAY WITH ME!! :

It's either that or self-medication...and since I'm not into self-medication in front of the kids then HAVE YOUR FUN BABIES!!!

Well I am concerned about suffocation because my kids have a new fun game called "hiding under blankets"...

So lazy or not, I do actually have stuff to do while raising children and will happily sling for as long as baby will let me.

[attachedmamaof3]

Absolutely! Mine generally decided they were semi-done with slinging when they began walking (8-9 months for us) so we kinda had to go another route....I WISH mine would still let me pop 'em in a hotsling!!

[mamameg]

Could be lazy parenting... and I'm all for it!

Co-sleeping - easier for me!
Breastfeeding - easier for me!
Babywearing - easier for me!

I'm allllllll about the lazy parenting! I'm just lucky enough that my lazy parenting is also better for my kids than the not-so-lazy alternatives.

Keep up the good work!

[Subliime]

Originally Posted by mamameg

Could be lazy parenting... and I'm all for it!

Co-sleeping - easier for me!
Breastfeeding - easier for me!
Babywearing - easier for me!

I'm allllllll about the lazy parenting! I'm just lucky enough that my lazy parenting is also better for my kids than the not-so-lazy alternatives.

Keep up the good work!

:

I don't sling my dd as much as I would like to, I lent my MT out and haven't gotten back yet But... my house is just naturally babyproof right now so I just let dd crawl around all over the house on her own!! It's a small apartment so it's not like I don't know what she's doing, but... that's what works for us. You have to do what works for you.

I also wanted to add that I really think slinging is a good thing! Even at that age. My dd enjoys watching my every move while I am holding her. It is a learning experience for them!

[lyttlewon]

Did I miss the requirement that parenting was supposed to be hard work 24/7 until you learn to hate it? That is the point of a sling...so you can live.

[jeca]

Slinging at home actually helped me get more done.

[Arwyn]

I'm a firm believer that babywearing is GOOD for babies, of all ages (as long as they're not fighting it, obviously). They either sleep (good!) or are in a quiet alert state, watching and learning (good!). And they're close to you, can feel and smell and see and hear (and often taste ) you. And they get to watch what you're doing. And you're stimulating their vestibular system in all kinds of good ways. And you know that they're safe, and can tell immediately if they need anything (by the way they squirm or move or make noise). PLUS you get to get work done. This is bad how??

I wear my baby at home at least several hours every day. He's mobile now, so he does like being down on the ground when he's awake sometimes, but sometimes he just wants UP. It's good for him, it's good for me, it's easy, and it's sooooo snuggly comfy. I don't see the problem!

[AileenM]

Sure, I think it could be, if you do it *too* much...so could TV, and the swing, etc. etc. etc....

I put my daughter in front of the TV to take showers. I even put it on brainless Yo Gabba Gabba. She's in front of it for about 15-20 minutes total. The way I see it, there's nothing wrong with that. Now, if I were to put her in front of the TV and leave her there for hours, then yes, I think that's a problem. I also use the dreaded swing for short periods of time (folding laundry, or cooking dinner with very hot stuff on the stove like oil) and I don't see the problem, as long as I don't leave her in a swinging wasteland for hours. I think it's the same with the sling...if she wants out to go and play, I let her out. I love wearing her...it's very snuggly and I think that it promotes independence and good emotional stability. It's great for doing things sometimes, and awesome for getting her to sleep on those rough days, but I think that kids need to interact with the world in order to learn, and I don't think they get *as much* of that interaction by being worn all the time.

[anonymamadaddy]

Originally Posted by Phantaja

I sort of just stumbled across this thread, so you'll have to take this with a grain of salt, but so what if using the sling is "lazy parenting"? Its a thing that's good for you and good for your baby. You're right there with her and she is involved in your every move in the sling. I don't understand why things have to be difficult for people to feel as if they're doing the right thing.

I remember when my step boys were very young, both in diapers and bottles, and people telling me that if I'm not having a hard time then I must not be doing it right. Why can't a system that works be both easy and beneficial?

:

[Tiffany_PartyOf5]

totally different.. in a sling, a baby sees whats going on and can learn... they see everything!! hear everything! in a swing or bouncy seat, all they see or hear is the swing or whats right around them... not much learning or activity going on there..

[eastmillcreekmama]

I don't think so at all...you are a person and you have things you NEED to get done, and if the only way to do it is to sling the babe, then DO it! We don't need to do everything the baby wants all the time. I am coming into this understanding, it's part of life they need to begin to understand. They don't ALWAYS get to do what they want. Sometimes it's what you want/need. Sling her up, and when you're done with your task, or ready to police her need to put things in her mouth, give her the free time on the floor and play with her. But don't feel bad for taking care of your sanity! As DD got older, we had many smaller and shorter periods of sling wearing, but we did it, and as others have said, it can be interesting and a learning experience for your DC.

Oh, and the putting things in mouth thing does decrease eventually.

[Leilalu]

Originally Posted by lyttlewon

Did I miss the requirement that parenting was supposed to be hard work 24/7 until you learn to hate it? That is the point of a sling...so you can live.

and to this I add: "and not live in filth, you can clean with a sling on!"