For all you sling savvy---Ginger?

[gretchikin]

I have a sort of carrier that converts to a "cradle" type sling, and the little one buckles in there--but she doesn't seem to like it. I'd like to have just a normal looking 3rd-world-just-a-piece-of-cloth sling, and I know it should be easy to make, but I am confused.

Do any of you have experience with this, and is it easier to nurse on the go with a sling? I'm assuming the wee one needs adequate head support first, right? I don't know why I can't figure this out... [:p]

Greta
Cadence is 2 1/2 weeks old now! :D

Tappin in MO since June 2005 (purelyoverjoyed's twin sister :))

[gingerb]

I use an over the shoulder baby holder sling, and it's very easy to nurse in and use. Many positions possible, etc. I use my slings until the kiddos are 3 and 35 pounds. Connor still fits in it, quite frankly, and love it still. ;)

And no, babes don't need something specific with head support, because they're cradled in there. Nor do they need head control to nurse in a sling, as the sling holds them. My girls were both nursing in a sling at 2-3 days old.

If you sew, yes, it can be easy to make a sling or a wrap. There are also some reasonably priced ones out there. Do some googling, there are patterns out there, or I can find you some, too.



The PAUSE button is your friend.
You know you want to...P-L-A-Y. Come on, push it. You can do it.

[gingerb]

babywearing info (http://thebabywearer.com/)

this gal I know, SAHM, makes slings (http://www.freewebs.com/lilsealights/)

this gal also makes slings, and is going out of business soon, so there are some mighty good deals to be had! (http://www.sling-a-baby.info/index.html)

OTSBH slings, also good babywearing info and pictures, too (http://www.slingbaby.com/)



The PAUSE button is your friend.
You know you want to...P-L-A-Y. Come on, push it. You can do it.

[Kristy779]

This is the one I made and have found it very useful. I even used it to carry my daughter on a 4 mile hike in the Channel Islands this past summer! It was VERY comfortable and easy to use.
http://www.ida.net/users/stace/sling.html

I have also used a New Native baby carrier. It was a ring of fabric that I slipped over my head and put my arm through. Then, placed baby in. I liked it for when my baby was small, and didn't have any control, but I disliked it as she grew. I liked my homemade one since it allowed me to tweak the tie and size. And, with the homemade one, I was able to tie it many different ways for different carries: front, back, side. I had a snugli for my first and second, but much rather the slings, now.

I have also found it easier to nurse on the go with just a receiving blanket. I could never quite get the hang of nursing and moving. I actually need to stop and sit to nurse. :)

[Kiwi]

Melynda sent me stuff for my son on how to make a Mei-Tai carrier and that has worked well.

Instructions on how to wear at Mei-Tai carrier with pictures
http://www.kozycarrier.homestead.com/instructions.html

Joanne Bentley
Utah T-Tapp Trainer
IFPA Certified Personal Fitness Trainer

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Q: "What's the difference between a doctor and a trainer?"

A: "You go to the doctor when you're sick and tired and want to feel good.
You get a trainer when sick and tired of feeling 'good enough' and want to feel great!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
:D

[yitlan]

For instructions on how to tie and nurse in a wrap sling (the jsut a piece of cloth one!), visit mobywrap.com. I love wrap slings! They have a bigger learning curve and take more practice, but they are so versatile and comfortable. KEep trying. It's worth it!

[gingerb]

Love love love seeing slinging mommas!



The PAUSE button is your friend.
You know you want to...P-L-A-Y. Come on, push it. You can do it.

[gretchikin]

Okay, so I perused the MobyWrap site--and woo hoo! Hooray for them for actually having the instructions on how to tie it. I looked at the other sites and figured I'd need 6 yards-ish. I went to Wal-Mart and got some great fabric for $1/yd and cut it in 3rds length-wise (Wow, now THAT was hard to fold 6 yards--I had it all stretched across the kitchen..) It's washing now, and I'll send 1/3 of it to my seeestor so she can have one too. I can't wait to try it out! :D

Greta

Tappin in MO since June 2005 (purelyoverjoyed's twin sister :))

[gretchikin]

It works!! :D I had her in the "newborn hug hold" and then later the "hug hold" (she loves stretching out her legs). She fell asleep in the newborn hug hold and slept soundly for 45 mintues, then woke up screeaaaming. [?] I think she wanted to stretch her legs. I think she may have been confused as to where she was (she was awake when I put her in though.) Hopefully she'll get more used to it--it's nice having my hands free. :D

Greta

Tappin in MO since June 2005 (purelyoverjoyed's twin sister :))

[TaraP]

Love my sling! I have a ring sling that I got almost 7 years ago. Wish there was someone around me who could show me how to sling using a wrap sling, I learn so much better from a live person.

Tara

[gretchikin]

Cadence is 4 weeks old today! :D I had her in "hug hold" today so her legs can stretch and still be upright. Apparently when she's in light sleep, she likes to push up on her hands or elbows, and when she's against me in the wrap she can't, so it frustrates her.

(Didn't think they're really "supposed to" support their weight like that yet.. she doesn't follow the "supposed to"s)

I'll try nursing in it today and see how that goes. I hope I hope it'll work. :D

Tara--the MobyWrap site has great pictures--didn't make much sense until I actually had the fabric too and was following it (the steps are out of order--I think it's meant to be a brochure thing, but steps 5 and 6 come before 3 and 4, so follow the numbers).

:D
Greta

Tappin in MO since June 2005 (purelyoverjoyed's twin sister :))

[gingerb]

If nursing her in it the first time doesn't work, don't despair, try again at a different time. It's not a one-time deal. Heck, you could try again in a couple of months, and get a different response, KWIM? [:o)]

I honestly could not live without my slings. Absolutely could not.



The PAUSE button is your friend.
You know you want to...P-L-A-Y. Come on, push it. You can do it.

[gretchikin]

She's woken up screaming other times too--I guess it's just gas, but I'm thankful it's not the sling.

Nursing didn't work very well the first time. I'll try again later. :) It seems a little tight on her head and she doesn't seem to like that, and I can't seem to support my breast as well as normal either. I'll keep messing with it and see if I can get it working. :D

Greta

Tappin in MO since June 2005 (purelyoverjoyed's twin sister :))

[MoTappin]

Okay, that Moby site is cool! So Greta, tell me what kind of fabric you've got and how much. You need 6 yards in length? How wide? That's too cool. I'd love to use something like that for nursing, to keep my arms from getting so tired. With my first two kids I had a really hard time nursing unless I had my Boppy pillow with me, and I didn't want to lug that thing to church and everywhere else.

I'm also looking into a nursing privacy shawl kind of thing, but with one of these wraps maybe I could go without that.

Meredith--Down from a 14 to a 6!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sweat may be gross, Sweat may be stinky... But I'd better keep Tappin' or I'll look like a Twinkie!!

Just tuck it, okay?

[gretchikin]

6 yards and each sling is about 20" wide (I think mine ended up a bit over 20") so depending on the fabric, if it's 45" fabric, cut it in half and make 2, and if it's the 60" fabric, cut it in thirds.

I got a terry cloth-type fabric, solid turquoise-ish. I saw cool flannels, but I thought it'd be too hot in the summer. This is light weight enough, and actually looks a lot like the up-close shot of the Moss color on the Moby site.

I still haven't figured out nursing in it--I think my boob's too heavy still for her to hold on without me supporting it. ?!? I'll keep trying and see if we can get that figured out. She doesn't much like stuff over her head though.
Here's another site on hands-free nursing. Haven't tried it yet either. lol http://www.mamatoto.org/Default.aspx?tabid=178

Greta

Tappin in MO since June 2005 (purelyoverjoyed's twin sister :))

[MoTappin]

Thanks, Greta!

Meredith--Down from a 14 to a 6!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sweat may be gross, Sweat may be stinky... But I'd better keep Tappin' or I'll look like a Twinkie!!

Just tuck it, okay?