This may be a silly question :(

Bakana · #1 (**permalink**) 11-09-2008, 07:37 AM

Can someone please shed some light for hubby and I. We have been discussing how we are going to sling our new bub when he arrives but we are both unsure on when we are suppose to put him to bed....

Do we keep him slinged all day? Do we keep him in his sling until we go to bed or can we put him to bed once he is asleep at night? We will be co-sleeping with him. Also i guess when i get up in the morning if he is still sleeping do i place him in his sling and start the day or do i leave him in bed until he wakes.
It sounds strange to ask but if i dont ask i wont know!
Thanks

hanabi · #2 (**permalink**) 11-09-2008, 08:10 AM

You can do whatever you want! But generally you use the opportunity at transition times to transfer baby in and out of the sling.

That's not to say you must always wear your baby if he is happy to sleep lying on a mattress. For me, baby wearing was most useful when:

*out and about without the hassle of a pram
*baby was unsettled/tired and needed to be close to me
*I was busy with stuff that a waking baby might interrupt - such as domestics like cooking
*breastfeeding on the go

Other times bub was in arms, awake in a rocker/bassinet beside me, or sleeping on the couch/bed nearby. Once bub was asleep, I rarely disturbed or moved them.

Hope this helps. Once you've got a good handle on the breastfeeding, you'll intuitively know when to wear bub and when to let him be.

**Marguerite** · #3 (**permalink**) 11-09-2008, 08:40 AM

I agree with Jodie.

As you get to know your little one you will know what he prefers.

Marmee · #4 (**permalink**) 11-09-2008, 09:08 AM

Another agreeing here

I certainly didn't wear our babies for all their daytime naps - just whenever it was most convenient. Like Jodie, I didn't wake a sleeping baby to pop into the sling unless I had to (eg: about to head out for a walk with toddler etc).

Ask away - no question is to silly here. The more armed and informed you are, the better for your babe and family

**sweetchili** · #5 (**permalink**) 11-09-2008, 01:08 PM

yep agree with what everyone else had said...you will get a feel for what bub wants and needs once you have them there with you.

eg. my auty had a bub almost six months after me, and didnt think she would sling much at all...just bought the sling for when she went out(after seeing mine)...but she ended up slinging A LOT!! most of her dd's day sleeps were in her arms.

whereas i was prepared to sling a lot, but cj was really happy to sleep in bed. so i only really sling when out and about.

Jasper · #6 (**permalink**) 11-09-2008, 02:39 PM

I used my sling when I had to get stuff done and Josie needed a cuddle or sleep. I also use it ALOT when out so I dont have to lug a stupid pram around...I am such a bad pram driver!
Just basicly when she needed me, but I needed to do other stuff

Dorasmum · #7 (**permalink**) 11-09-2008, 03:58 PM

Yep here too, mostly when I had stuff to do and bub wanted to be held, and when walking and in shops. Especially in shops, for ease of pushing trolley and not putting bub into icky trolley bassinet.
You'll figure it out as you go along, many ideas you have before you have kids never work out like you think they're going to. Even with my second I had to reconfigure lots of plans, when I found something wasn't going to work out a certain way, due to bub or another member of the family.

I mostly put bub onto our bed for naps, it just gets tricky when they start rolling then crawling, but we never had any mishaps and they learned pretty fast that they couldn't crawl off the bed. I always put the bed with one side against the wall and with a large blanket chest half the height of the bed on the other side so it was easy for them to climb up and down.

Em

Moonflower · #8 (**permalink**) 11-09-2008, 04:20 PM

I used the sling when out and about, if she was unsettled or I had things to do at home. Just go with the flow and see what works for you & your baby. Its such a beautiful time!

**sweetchili** · #9 (**permalink**) 11-09-2008, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasper

...I am such a bad pram driver!

I think i am the worse pram driver in the universe!!
I hardly ever use the pram but have been using it at the markets lately to use like a trolley..and i have run into so many people!!! opps!

thought i would add....that you may also find that just one type of sling isnt enough

and you might like different slings/carriers for different times of the day and different needs...plus bub might prefer one type of sling to another.
just something to keep in mind.

Dorasmum · #10 (**permalink**) 11-09-2008, 06:38 PM

Yes, although I know the b bjorn isn't the most popular sling on here...

I actually love it when bub is very small to 4 or 5 months. I liked it because it's quick and easy to get on and I liked having bub's face up close to mine, it carries high, so easy to have room for a shopping trolley handle underneath. And it helped that it was a gift from SIL so it didn't cost me anything...But yes once bub got a bit of weight on, my shoulders couldn't take it. Ergo all the way after around 6 months. I didnt' really try any others, wish I had, would if there was another bub to try with..

Em