having trouble with a ring sling for a newborn

I've been trying to use my ring sling (borrowed from my sister) with DD who is now nearly 3 weeks old, and 4.5kg. I'm having trouble with it.

I've tried the position where she's lying down across me a couple of times, but I really don't like that her head ends up kind of wedged in under the corner of the sling, and it looks like her neck is forced into an uncomfy angle. I'd hate to hurt her! I'm not sure, in this position, that she can breathe easily.

I just now tried to put her into the sling in a tummy-to-tummy position, but she fussed and fussed. Obviously not comfortable.

Another problem is that I get tired easily. Still recovering from my c/s, I guess :(

It makes me wonder whether I should forget the sling idea altogether and stick with the pram and with putting her to sleep in the pram bassinet, which is working nicely. She seems to love going in the pram - falls straight to sleep. But then some times I think that she needs more time being cuddled, or being physically close to me or her dad, than she is getting, laying in the bassinet so much of the day. I don't know whether this is right, but I am inclined to trust my instinct. Problem is I get tired after holding her in my arms for more than a few minutes, and then she gets uncomfortable, or she seems to.

I'm not sure what to do.

When did you start using a sling with your new baby?

What positions did you use?

How long did you carry them in the sling for at a time, at first? Did it take long to build up the strength to carry them for a long time?

What other ways did you use to be close and cuddly with your baby when you were really tired? I can't lie on my back and have her on my tummy, as it hurts my scar, and I'm scared I'll fall asleep in bed with her anyway and she'll get covered by the doona or something.

This is getting me down a bit <sigh>.

Congratulations on your beautiful baby girl! I love holding them as much as I can too, but yes its nice to have them close but know they are comfy too, as well as us not being in discomfort. I have had 4 csections and used the ring slings with the last two of them. With my ring sling, I used it from about week one. I had Rubys head across my body with head up closer leaning into my left side and her body laying over me. I used my left arm to support her, resting it underneath and around her. I alternated this position, with putting her into the right side with her head coccooned into the crook of my right arm in the sling. I wasnt happy to let her be unsupported without one hand.

I also have the hugabub which is great for free use of both hands.

Have fun enjoying your precious little girl.

Jo

Congratulations on your new baby!

Definitely trust your instincts, babies love to be held and it's good for both of you. I had a caesar with my last child and started using the sling pretty early on. Does yours come with an instruction video? If not, you can go on youtube and look up instructions on how to put the sling on and different positions you can put the baby in the sling. My son never liked the cradle position (lying across me) so I only ever carried him upright from the start. You do need to build up your strength to carry your baby and if you're still recovering from your operation then maybe the best thing to do is just to sit and relax while holding the baby and slowly build up to wearing them little by little. You should be taking it easy for the first few weeks anyway.

I also used a Hug-a-Bub a lot with him when he was a newborn and just recently started using woven wraps which are a little bit harder to learn to use but wonderful at supporting children from newborns to toddlers and so good at distributing the weight so it doesn't hurt your back.

One other thing I just thought of, my friend got a second hand sling from a relative and she never managed to use it properly because it was a home made one that wasn't made properly. If you keep having trouble with it maybe ask your sister where she got it from as the problem might lie with the sling itself.

Anyway, good luck, and don't give up on carrying your baby.

Hi hun,

I had a fair bit of trouble with my ring sling at first too, and I think it was a combination of c/s recovery (meaning I was a bit wary of positioning it anywhere that might pull or strain me), and at first Jazz seemed to hate it. I mean HATE it! To the point where I actually regretted buying it, I thought "Oh geez I've just wasted money on something I'll never use!".

I also had a hard time positioning her.

Rest assured it IS one of those things that takes practise, and you don't just instinctually know how to do it. Well I didn't!

The way I eased myself into sling use. At first I'd just use it sitting down and feeding her. I'd feed her (I bf, but I'm sure you can ff if you aren't bfing) and let her fall asleep, and then just look at the way she positioned herself. What looked uncomfy to me was actually the positions she preferred to be in; sometimes I still look at her when I have her reclined in it, all squished up in there, and think "how on EARTH are you comfy" but she loves the squish tight feeling I think :dunno: So thats my first piece of advice, let her choose her own position. If she isn't fussing, then she's comfy. If you think she looks like she's twisting or hurting herself or too squished up then obviously move her, trust your instincts on that, but if she seems ok then most times she is.

From sitting then i just moved to standing and walking, its a bit trickier but just practice around the house before you try it outside the house. Google some different positions and see how they go. Some will work and some wont.

Oh yeah, and sometimes Jazz just fussed, and it wasn't the sling or her position it was just that she was fussy, so if she seems like shes in a comfy position and she's still fussy, give it some time in the sling, rock her a little or go for a walk up and down the hall and see if it soothes her. Most of the time it will ;)

We got to the point, at 3ish months, where if Jazz saw the sling she'd get so excited, it was gorgeous and definately made me feel so special hehe

We are still using it now, its a bit awkward to feed her in it and walk since she's so long, but 95% of the time if I am out I have her on my hip or tummy in the sling rather than in the pram. I vacuum with her in the sling (great when she is fighting sleep, she just nods right off to the movement and noise, go figure! LOL!). I love my ring sling! I would have paid 4 times as much for it, considering the times it has saved my sanity!!!!!!!!!! Dunno what I would have done without it!

I agree with what Leasha said. I found it awkward at first too with DS1 but by the time DS2 was born I was using it with ease.

There are two things to remember - firstly, that babies are comfortable in the oddest positions. And secondly - bottom first and bum on seam. Also put the baby/infant in bottom first, and make sure they go on the seam. So in the lying position, make sure the baby is positioned along the seam. In the kangaroo carry (or sitting) position (down the track), the bottom still goes in first and they kind of sit bottom down on the seam with legs higher than bum. It looks squishy and uncomfortable but they love it - I suspect it's very womb-like for them.

Keep at it - it will get easier and it's well worth it. A sling is so much easier when you go out, it's a life-saver for settling babies, and it's really good for them (and you). Babies who are worn cry less which is a huge bonus.

Oh, one other thing - if you have a teddy or doll which is about baby-sized, it's a good idea to practice with that a few times so you can get the hang of it without upsetting your little one.

hey there!

i too had similar issues when i tried the ring sling at first. we started using it in the second week. DD was a tiny tiny baby and like you i felt that she was too bunched up in the lying position...not to mention that she also HATED it with a particular zeal! like Leasha said, i began to question whether i had just wasted a squidload of cash LOL!

the best position we used was the tummy to tummy. i started doing it around the time DD had been fed and was ready for a nap (she was then a little more forgiving of her mummy's 'steep learning curve' LOL!). i would hang the sling over my shoulders ready to put her in it, while i was sitting down (usually on the bed) then i would curl DD onto my belly so that she was sitting in a squatting position (ie with her knees drawn up onto her belly) then i would slip the sling over and under her bum with the seam tucked up firmly under her feet and slightly drawn up onto my belly. and then, while still supporting her i would slowly tighten the sling. one thing i found was that if i tightened it fast, DD would kinda freak as she noticed that i stopped 'holding' her. so by going a bit slower and gradually tying it up as i was getting up and moving about i found the transition easy enough. after that DD was all good in it (and 20 months down the track we still use it!).

good luck! it is worth trying to master it as they are so handy to pack in a handbag and rip out when needed. (also good for airports!)

I've got a few slings and I wish I had have had the close carrier when my DD was a newborn.
It's like a Hug-a_bub but you dont have to tie it
I had a peanut shell so sort of like a ring sling and I could never get Elise in a comfy position, she hated it.
The close is just as easy to use but they are upright on your chest so it's just like you are cuddling them without the hands.

I carried her for hours when she was first born and still do, she has a need to be carried all the time, hates the pram, won't be put on the floor.
You get used to it slowly and the more you wear bubs the easier it gets as you get used to them as they get bigger. I notice it on my thighs now that she is getting to the 7kg mark, if you have a good carrier you shouldn't feel fatigue in your back/shoulders, I don't my legs get sore before anything cause I am not in the best shape right now!

Thanks everyone for the sensible sounding advice.

I think I need to persist at this a little longer, then. I'll keep trying with the sling - will try to get the tummy-to-tummy position right, maybe with DH's help we can sort it out. If that still doesn't work for me the next thing I'll try is a wrap I've borrowed from my sister - I think it's a didymos, not certain.

It certainly is true that this stuff doesn't seem to come "automatically", or at least it certainly doesn't to me. Steep learning curve!