Hi

I just got back from shopping (i dont drive a car) and all i could say is thank goodness for my buggy. It carried all my shopping and more without me having to lug it up the hill with baby strapped on me. I have bid for a hugababy sling to wear occasionally, but would definitely not be ditching my buggy! Katie seemed very happy in it gurgling away. i also make sure that i talk and have our little chats when we are out in the buggy so that she does not feel ignored as she is not facing me.

Hi Piglet,

I keep a sling in my pram, when baby gets tired and whingey I put her in the sling and the pram "carries" the shopping, saves me getting very tired arms!! It doesn't have to be one or the other, you can combine the two!!

Thanks CM had not thought of that one. hope that i win my bid for the sling.

Hi

just got a hugababy sling from e bay. My baby is 9 months old, when i put her in the sling she keeps wriggling and wanting to get out. is there a front facing position too so the baby can look out.

Apparently these slings are designed for up to 3 years old, i don't see how that can be especially if the child is able to walk and is more active so would not want to be restricted.

Hi Piglet,

Try putting her in a hip carry, so that she is sitting on your hip, and can see forwards and backwards, just as if you were carrying her on your hip and holding her with your arm, but using the sling to hold her, so you are spreading the weight and freeing up you arms. SHe will probably take a little while to get used to it, its still very new to her and something very different, so she may not take to it instantly.

When you carry older children you only carry them when they want to be carried, like when they are tired, and then it is not at all restrictive, as they want to be there. A toddler/pre-schooler who has been carried in a sling like this since infancy is used to being carried this way, and will ask to get in, and out of, the sling as and when they want to.

There are some really good instruction videos on the net, do a search for "baby wearing" and "sling" and you will get some useful tips.

Happy Baby Wearing!

hi CM

thank you will keep trying, i think that she was not used to it. also Katie wanted to look forwards not towards me so she kept trying to turn around. i will definitely use it with my next baby so they will be used to it. its really lovely sling, and feels quite comfortable.

Hi Piglet,

There are some nice bsic step-by-step shots here http://www.babaslings.co.uk/instructions.htm try her in the "side saddle" one (the yellow tab) she will probably like it as she can see forwards.

hi CM

thanks very much, I did try to follow the instructions in the Hugababy website, but I must have the sling the wrong way round. what is the right way up? how do you adjust the sling when the baby is in it. i tried to tighten it when Katie was in it but it came undone and i had to take her out, and thread the loops back again. gosh i must be a bit stupid, it looks so easy on the demonstrations. i would really love to be successful

Hi Piglet,

practice with a baby doll or rolled up towel to get the basic techniques sorted, then try again with Katie, dolls and towels don't wriggle!!

See if theres a baby wearing group near you, or contact your local Baby Cafe, there are often sling users at those, so whilst it's strictly speaking a bf support group, you might find someone who can give you a hand mastering the beast with the rings!!

(Sorry of this is patronising, but, the sling fabric should feed up through both rings then double over and go back through the "bottom" ring only, this should be quite a secure hold and shouldn't come undone at all. The rings should sit at the front, just below your shoulder and just above your boob, with the pad on your shoulder, not in your neck and the fabric spreading out accross your back.)

hi CM

Thanks so much, no you dont sound patronising at all, i need someone to go through step by step. yes i will practice with a doll as katie wriggles about a lot. hopefully with the next one i will go to a bf support group which should be useful

Hi Piglet,

There's nothing to stop you contacting your local baby cafe and askingif there is someone there who can help you get to grips with your sling, I'm sure they wouldn't kick you out just because you aren't asking for bf help!!

hi cm

thank you very much for the advice. when i put her in the sling she does try to wriggle out of it, or tries to turn around in it.