[Phoebe]

Hi all,

I'm a new mom who wants to carry my baby in a sling but I'm having trouble finding a position that works for both ds and me. He is a VERY LARGE 12 weeks. 18 pounds to be exact and he has good head control. I think he would like the kangarro carry but he wears cloth diapers and the bulk of the diaper doesn't seem to allow his chubby legs to fold up. Now, my son is also long at 26 or so inches.

What would you suggest? Oh, I have the Maya Wrap by the way.

Thanks!

amy

 

[tarahsolazy]

My DS is about the same size, although he's a month older! I think tummy to tummy with legs out, or legs out hip carry might work, depending on his head control. I find that I have to support DS a little in hip carry still, but I pull the sling up high over his back. He likes looking around, which is hard in tummy to tummy, which is more the sleeper hold for us. Some people use sort of a legs out cradle, too, but DS will not tolerate any cradle hold whatsoever, so I don't know about that one. For front facing, I use a wrap carrier, the Moby Wrap.

 

[Artisan]

My son was a similar size, and I used the kangaroo carry. Try just sort of bending him at the waist and putting his bottom down in the sling first, then letting his legs position themselves naturally.

 

[mom2kbeth]

ds is about the same size and he prefers either the hip carry or tummy to tummy front carry, both with legs out.

 

[Ackray]

Wow, that's a big baby! I'm new to this but I think that the kangaroo carry or tummy to tummy would be good.

My 8 1/2 month old is 14ish pounds!

 

[kris1225]

Amy - my baby was that big too and I had a Maya wrap. I had the worst time with it because no matter how I got her in there, the rings were in the way - bonking her head. Someone suggested I wear the sling backwards (essentially as a pouch) with the rings on my back and the tail hanging down my back. That was okay, but no picnic. I didn't know anything else existed at the time. I wish I knew about wraps and pouches then. That's what I would have used for sure. When he's big enough for the hip carry, the ring sling will be better IMHO.

 

[Phoebe]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone.
I wore him around the house yesterday in the tummy to tummy position and it worked quite well. We ventured out to the post office where I needed 2 hands today and it worked out great! I think I just needed some practice.

Thanks again,
Amy

 

[Tupelo Honey]

My suggestion would be a reclining position. Start with the rings very high on your shoulder, but not on top, and the pouch a little lower than you normally would. Hold the baby with his side against your body, with his head near the rings but facing away. Fold him at the waist so his legs are out in front of him, in a seated position. Lower him into the sling so that he stays in that same seated position with his back supported by the sling and his legs out in front of him. Tighten the sling around him. He may be slightly lower than you normally carry him if you are not long-waisted, but no more than an inch or two of him should be below your waist, and he should still feel tight and snug against you, not swinging around. If his head seems too close to the rings, once you are all tight and adjusted, just tuck the tail behind his head like a little pillow padding the rings. I sling my friend's very chunky 10 week old like this all the time (he's almost 15 lbs!) and it works great and is very comfy. Hth!