So, my wonderful friend Val gave me her sling to use with my little guy. When she had purchased it for her last child, she did a lot of research first to make sure she got the most for her money and got exactly what she wanted. I'll admit it, slings are rather intimidating! We hadn't registered for one, but since she swore by this one and offered to let me borrow it, I told her I'd give it a try.
I've also been reading some nursing books (I'm finding that those late night feedings are a good time to read when I'm awake enough) and one of them, swore by slings. Oh, they're so great. Your child will feel like he's in the womb again. You will be together, but still free to move around. Your child will be so portable. You will have your hands free to keep doing what you want and need to do.
Well today I finally sucked it up and tried it out. First of all, I think Johnathon thought he was getting strangled. He kept trying to wrestle his way out of it. (I wasn't too shocked by that because they say that some babies need to adjust to being in the sling.) Plus, while he likes to keep his legs folded up like a frog's (thank goodness- a 23 inch baby doesn't exactly fit everywhere easily!), when he gets angry, grouchy or adament, those legs are the first things to stretch out, along with the arms- making him well over 23 inches!
But, no worries, eventually I got him snug in there. Then I tried to bake a cake with my new "freedom." What a load of crockery! Yeah, my two arms were free, but I had a 9 lb mass wrapped in 3 yards of fabric attached across my abdomen! Yes, I was pregnant for the last 9 months, I'm used to "sticking out" and I was even on limited movement, but I could still move more while pregnant than I could with him in that sling.
Bending over? out of the question.
Sitting down? rather difficult.
Standing up? doable.
Putting Toby on a leash? I almost had to pick him up by his collar!
Getting things out of a cupboard? Yeah, right!
So, yes, sling makers, I did have both hands free, but every other part of my body was rather strapped to my little one. Oh, and, by the way, it made my back hurt in places I haven't had pains before.
No worries, though, Val, I will try it again because I ain't no quitter!
20 Weeks Along
1 year ago
6 comments:
Thanks for the sling review. I've never used one (only tried the baby bjorn things) but I've never believed any of the hype with slings either. My arms just aren't long enough to do anything with that much baby sticking out in front! (You should see me try to reach into cabinets 9 months pregnant... pretty hilarious!) And you really can't bend over or pick things up cuz then the baby is practically dumped on their head. Plus my babies all HATED being confined in any way. They didn't even like swaddling. I can't imagine a sling being worth the fight. Now I know I'm not going to bother trying it with the next one.
I hear ya girl!
lol...love you. I used the bjorn with both nephews and I loved it. we have some really great pics of my nephews when they are facing out, it might have helped that they were both little but they loved it until they were crawling...we will try it out when I am there to help. I must request a batch of choco chip cookies be made.
Ok, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my Baby Ergo Carrier! Google it...I've had it with my last two and wouldn't use anything else. I wear it, Brady wears it. I can nurse while wearing it. The longest I've worn it is like 8 hours straight, when we were in DIsneyland and I have not problems or back pain at all. I still throw Carter in it when I'm shopping. Sophie rode on our backs in the Ergo until she was almost two. We need to get together and I'll let you try it. :)
Is it a Maya sling?
I've never used a baby sling. I think it's easier to just put the baby in a bouncy chair nearby. I think it's better to nurse sitting down and relax. I just read a book or something. I used a snuggle carrier for when I go somewhere there isn't a cart to put the car seat on. Good lcuk with your experiment.
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