Baby wearing in the parks

[J3nn78]

Get a SSC (Soft Structure Carrier) like an Ergo or Beco. I can still comfortable wear my 33lb 3 year old in it.

 

[caegan]

I bought a ring sling off ebay yesterday! I decided on a ring sling for a couple reasons:

1. I want something than fold up really small when I'm not using it. DD has some medical issues, so we'll have enough extra stuff to lug around as it is.

2. DD can be pretty particular about who she wants to be held by - sometimes it's me, but more often it's DH or my mom, and both of them will be with us on the trip. So a ring sling will allow anyone to carry her with a little extra support.

I'm really looking forward to getting it in a few days and trying it out!

 

[Reese]

I've used my Maya wrap with a couple of kids in the park. I haul in the double stroller, park it and than use the sling around the area. I would also use it instead of the stroller if we were just returning in the evening for fireworks, it save wrestling the stroller onto the bus at the end of the night.

 

[jjhardy]

I took a Patapum Toddler for my almost-3 year old last year. It's taller and more supportive for a taller/heavier child than a regular Patapum, Ergo, or other SSC. I really love it for long term carrying such as hiking. For us at Disney, there was too much picking-up, putting down, walking, strollering etc. and I got tired of using it. I just wanted an alternative to carrying her in lines or short term carrying to de-stress her. This year, she'll be almost 4 but I'm taking a sling because she won't be in it a lot. We'll be having the stroller at all times, too.

What sling do you use? I was thinking of ordering the Boba carrier that is like the Patapum but thought the same thing it's big and alot of up and down and not very good as a front carrier for a 4 yr old. I have a pouch sling but DD is so tall now it's a little tough getting her in it but I need something because she gets whiney and only wants mommy to hold her!

 

[kohlby]

I used a Maya Wrap to carry a 23lb 11 month baby for 8-10 hours a day with no problems. I'm barely 100 lbs myself, so that's a lot! I brought the stroller with the idea that our nearly 4 year old and baby could share the stroller as well but the nearly 4 year old wanted it all the time. It still worked out great. I found slings are easy to use even all day long unless a child is 30+ lbs.

 

[summerrluvv]

I haven't read this entire thread, but there is going to be a major recall of slings due to babies suffocating in them. This obviously doesn't apply to toddlers.

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

I haven't read this entire thread, but there is going to be a major recall of slings due to babies suffocating in them. This obviously doesn't apply to toddlers.

That's only for the "pouch" type slings, especially the Infantino brand. Those fully enclose the baby and are known to tip over and dump the baby. Real slings are fine, especially when worn correctly (babies head should never be completely inside a sling, no matter the brand). I hate that babywearing is getting a bad name because of one horrible kind of sling and people who don't know not to cover their child's airway .

As for the original question, we have used Pikkolo and Beco soft-structured carriers at the park, as well as the Baby K'Tan. Loved all of them. Our other wrap, a Moby, was too hot.

 

[Gabes_mommy]

I just got back from WDW and I saw lots of moms and dads wearing kids in Becos and Ergos - it was very cool to see so much babywearing.

I think I remember seeing a few Mei Tais too, but no wraps or slings.

 

[jennk1425]

I'm taking my Beco Butterfly for DS 2 at 27lb. He has not been worn in quite a while, so I think we will have to get him used to it again in the next couple of weeks.
I get such a kick out of seeing babywearers at WDW!

 

[designermv]

I'm taking my Beco Butterfly for DS 2 at 27lb. He has not been worn in quite a while, so I think we will have to get him used to it again in the next couple of weeks.
I get such a kick out of seeing babywearers at WDW!

We'll be there at the same time, I think. If you see a frazzled but happy mama wearing a nosey, squirmy baby in a BabyHawk, with a super chatty 5-year old in tow, wave!

 

[Eeyore's Wife]

My 14 month old is 24 pounds and I wear her every day in my Maya Wrap double ring sling. I used it during Christmas at Disney in addition to the stroller. The stroller held the diaper bag, snacks, changes of clothes and did the "long hauls."

I wore her in line, in restaurants, and on buses. I wore her during parades or other times she wanted to "see."

I love that it is adjustable so that my hubby or older kids can wear the baby. It has a pocket in the "tail" which is perfect for a diaper, baggie of wipes, and my ticket and fastpasses.

The Maya Wrap is so comfortable with a padded shoulder and it does a wonderful job of distributing the weight. It is easy to use, folds small, and washes easily when messy baby things happen.

It comes with a DVD to clearly show all the positions and safety considerations for the wrap.

If you aren't going to have a stroller to help with part of the day I would want a more structured soft carrier, but I adore my Maya Wrap.

 

[melisandes]

I carried one of my twins in a Sling around the park. Its good if there is one baby but trying to manage three it sucks.

 

[Jennifer in MI]

I used an Ergo with my dd who is also tiny. It was awesome!!! I used it last year as well as this year. (This year dd was a week away from 4 and weighed a whopping 24 pounds!!)

 

[jjhardy]

anyone have a suggestion for a sling or hip carrier for a 30ish pound mommy clingy 4 yr old? She wants mommy when she's tired so standing in lines and sometimes walking around. We've used her pouch sling the past two years but it's just too small for us now. I have a hard time getting her in it. I've thought about getting a bigger sling but thought I would ask for recommendations.

 

[caegan]

anyone have a suggestion for a sling or hip carrier for a 30ish pound mommy clingy 4 yr old? She wants mommy when she's tired so standing in lines and sometimes walking around. We've used her pouch sling the past two years but it's just too small for us now. I have a hard time getting her in it. I've thought about getting a bigger sling but thought I would ask for recommendations.

That's exactly why I just bought a ring sling! I was thinking it might not work as well as my DD gets bigger, so I bought a ring sling since it's completely adjustable.

 

[BiancaBernard&Penny]

anyone have a suggestion for a sling or hip carrier for a 30ish pound mommy clingy 4 yr old? She wants mommy when she's tired so standing in lines and sometimes walking around. We've used her pouch sling the past two years but it's just too small for us now. I have a hard time getting her in it. I've thought about getting a bigger sling but thought I would ask for recommendations.

You replied to me asking about my sling and I can't answer you. I bought my sling on ebay years ago. It's pretty much a basic sling, I think a copy of the original Hotslings. I actually use the same size as I did when she was an infant, I think they are meant to be sized to you, not the child. That said, my LO is a couple pounds lighter than yours.

 

[jjhardy]

Bianca, thanks for the info. Mine was 28 i think at her last dr visit so I figure she'll be over 30 when we go in Sept. She's tall though so that's what's making it hard to get her in. I'm still searching...

 

[tessa67]

I would try it at home first. I carried my DD in a Babyhawk carrier until she was about 9 months and then I had a shoulder injury.

When I was able to carry her again, about 6 months later, she wanted nothing to do with it! And she hadn't even started walking yet.

 

[Girlpower]

For those who used a Beco...did you wear baby in front or on your back? My son will be 11 months old by the time we go, and although I prefer him in the front so I can see what he's doing, I'm not sure he'll want to be facing me most of the time? Did you wear them on your back? If so, how do you make sure they're hat is still on properly, etc...If I could wear him facing out, that would be the best solution...but the Beco doesn't work that way.

 

[hsmamato2]

when mine was about 6 months,and again at 18 months, we brought our sling (standard) and a small stroller - it worked great, I'm a big sling fan for the ease of use,and it doubled as a nursing cover,blanket,etc. if one shoulder got tired,I could easily switch to the other.....plus with my little runaway,I learned to turn that sling into a 'leash' just slip it around my little bubbas' waist and tighten up,and hold the end when needed ( a long day in the parks meant he wanted some freedom)....he was such a runner....... anyway,lots of versatility....