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Newborns and baby carriers: help!
Filed under: Newborns, Babies, Toddlers Preschoolers, Health & Safety: Babies, Development/Milestones: Babies, Day Care & Education, Feeding & Sleeping, Baby-sitting, Research Reveals: Babies, Nutrition: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Expert Advice: Babies, Health & Safety: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Development: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Behavior: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Activities: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Gear Guides: Babies, Gear Guides: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Research Reveals: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Expert Advice: Toddlers & Preschoolers
I kept my Baby Bjorn from when Riley was little, and now I also have a Mei Tei carrier and a New Native sling my friend loaned me. So far I've tried them all with Dylan and either he is too little, I am too paranoid, or I am just too dumb to figure out how to work a baby carrier.My problem with all three is that his tiny 7.5 lb body slides way down inside the fabric and I'm afraid he's going to suffocate. He disappears inside the Bjorn altogether, and his tiny appendages seem too scrunched up to properly fit through the leg openings. The Mei Tei is far more comfortable (and easer to put on) but he's still so far down against my chest I can barely see the top of his head. The sling seems like it should allow me to position him where his face isn't covered (like the serene image on their website) but I must be doing something wrong: he ends up completely squashed in the bottom of the pouch, understandably pissed off and wailing.
Did you have trouble using a sling/carrier when your baby was brand new? So far the Mei Tei seems to work the best, but I can't help worrying about his face being all smashed against my body -- is this just paranoia on my part? I remember being much more comfortable using our Bjorn once Riley was big enough to position outwards, his little face peeping up over the top. But that's a few months from now, and in the meantime I'd love to be able to carry Dylan around the house and still keep my hands free.
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ReaderComments (Page 2 of 2)
2-11-2008 @ 2:23PM
Jenna said...With the mei tai, just tie it higher on your waist than you would with an older child. My newborn's head was at my chin level when we found our "comfort space" in tying.
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2-11-2008 @ 3:03PM
Heather said...I never did get comfortable with my mei tai, and my ring sling was just okay, but I loved loved loved my pouch-style Hotsling. My husband and I are close enough in size that we could both use it, and it was a real sanity-saver with our littlest guy who didn't want to be put down. Ever. I think it has less of a learning curve, because it's not really adjustable. You can also prop one of those receiving blankets you probably have 1,000 of (rolled up) to raise a tiny baby up a bit. Mine were larger so we were good to go from birth, but I've heard this works well.
Good luck!
Reply
2-11-2008 @ 4:58PM
Corrine Mahar-Sylvestre said...http://upmama.com/pages/safetyfirst.php
There are some great photos here and a link to a video showing how you can make your pouch a bit more shallow. Basically, pull more of the inner fabric up against your body so there is less of the outer fabric and he won't look so lost.
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2-11-2008 @ 6:43PM
Joanne said...I want to say exactly what Cheyenne said, down to the I have a Moby Wrap and I think it's great and I have a one month old that I put up on my shoulder and pull a little fabric up to keep her head in place. I love it and would totally recommend it.
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2-12-2008 @ 2:18PM
Joanne said...Oh and there is a great video on youtube of a woman putting her baby in a moby wrap.
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2-11-2008 @ 7:23PM
Jillian said...You can find tons of info on baby carriers and tips on wearing your baby at http://www.thebabywearer.com . I'd type more and try to help but my toddler is on my lap trying to help, eek!
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2-11-2008 @ 7:38PM
ikate said...I loved my Hotsling, but I think the MeiTei can work in a similar way. I was a bit paranoid at first but quickly got over it as I found that I COULD DO THINGS! Yea! By week 2 or 3 she was in it all the time. Now at nearly 18 months we still use it as a back carrier. Good luck!
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2-11-2008 @ 8:17PM
Gillian said...I sell ring slings (and would be happy to make you a custom one) for realllly cheap (compared to the Maya Wrap at about $100), if you're interested. It goes from newborn to 35lbs. I kept my baby in it right from the instant he was born.
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2-11-2008 @ 8:18PM
Gillian said...I forgot to link:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5173758
2-11-2008 @ 9:50PM
Kellie said...MOBY all the way. I love it. Here is a pic of her in it at 8 weeks...http://www.flickr.com/photos/dontwreckyourhead/1561614112/
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2-14-2008 @ 5:00PM
Laura Hamilton said...The new Beco Butterfly is awesome for newborns all the way up to toddlers. It has a special built-in insert for little babies that holds them higher up in the carrier. Plus, super stylish. I looove it!
This carrier also makes back carrying a breeze with babies 3 months and older. You can basically put baby + carrier on as easily as slipping on a backpack.
http://www.theportablebaby.com/becobabycarriers.html
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2-15-2008 @ 6:26PM
the SmockLady said...I have six children and have tried every single carrier out there over the past twelve and a half years. I love the Ergo Baby carrier and the newborn insert was worth the price, even though I did not get it until my last baby (last year). I wish I had a pic for you. Little babies should not be held in those Bjorn style carriers anyway - it puts the wrong kind of pressure on their very new spines and hips. The ergo allows for the swaddled type/sling style carry with the insert. My baby is 14 months old and about 30 pounds and I still use my Ergo and plan to keep using it. I love it. I even put my three year old in it when we ran errands when he hurt his knee and he couldn't walk well for a week.
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2-20-2008 @ 8:52PM
Maria said...Here is a photo of my 4 day old in a mei tai:
http://babywearingworks.blogspot.com/2008/02/newborn-first-outing.html
Tips: Roll the bottom before tying it on, put baby in upright, legs tucked up, face turned to the side.
If you use your sling, put baby in head AWAY from the rings and leave the head out (my newborns have all hated having their head tucked in). After baby falls asleep, you can tuck the head in. From this position, you can even slide the whole thing around to the back.
Try not to get overwhelmed. You only need to know ONE position with ONE carrier that you both like and you are set to go.
Shoot me an eimail through my website if you would like a copy of my Babywearing book.
http//:www.drmariablois.com
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3-13-2008 @ 8:28PM
Lyndsy said...I too have struggled with this dilema. My daughter is now 3 months and I have been inventing my own form of sling carrier. Check it out and tell me what you think! [IMG]http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w235/Lyndsy_Nicole/sling6.jpg[/IMG]
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3-13-2008 @ 8:36PM
Lyndsy said...http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w235/Lyndsy_Nicole/sling6.jpg http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w235/Lyndsy_Nicole/sling7.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w235/Lyndsy_Nicole/sling5.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w235/Lyndsy_Nicole/sling4.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w235/Lyndsy_Nicole/sling3.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w235/Lyndsy_Nicole/sling2.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w235/Lyndsy_Nicole/sling.jpg
Here are all the positions of the carrier I invented.. Let me know what you think! Lyndsy.Davis@yahoo.com
I have struggled with finding a comfortable sling and so I made my own. The ties open up wide, but in most of the pictures they are narrow because I didn't open them up on my husband. -Baby Boondocks- http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w235/Lyndsy_Nicole/HappyEaster.jpg
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