Wearing toddler after labor

Barefoot84

I just gave birth last week, and I was wondering how long I should wait to wear my toddler? I was thinking of getting a Tula Toddler instead of a double stroller, since DD likes to walk most of the time. I would push DS in the stroller, and whenever she would get tired, I would put her in the Tula. I'm worried though that I should wait six weeks before wearing her on long enough distances. I had a natural birth and have been healing well.

TIA!

jenn43

I would ask your doctor.  It's going to depend on how much she weighs, and how you feel.

TiffanyBerry

I'm basing my answer on my experience pregnant and my experience teaching yoga to pre and post-natal women and my experience carrying my daughter until she hit 40lbs.

It's going to be a little while - like a minimum of 8 weeks - before you can rebuild the abdominal muscles you need to safely carry your heavier toddler.  If you do it too soon, you will risk damage (temporary pain or more permanent injury) to your spine and pelvic floor.  Some women, who have done strength work their entire pregnancy might be able to do it sooner, but it would be highly dependent on the woman and her experience.  

And, you have to spend some time working to safely rebuild that muscle in that time. (With a newborn!  pshaw!  Well... I know it took me longer than 8 weeks with my daughter!)  But doing some shorter walks with the kiddo in the carrier is a way to start that strengthening process.

But, if you make some effort at it, and don't have a pre-existing injury, I don't see why you could be babywearing the toddler with the infant in the stroller, after that time.

(I use eight weeks as a rough estimate.  I also had a natural birth, but I lots a lot of blood; it took me longer than six weeks to recover my pre-birth strength.  Many of the moms I see in my classes don't come back until at least six weeks, and their bodies are still adjusting to the change in biomechanics and hormones that happens after a birth.  And I am fairly conservative when it comes to this stuff because I work with bodies that have been injured through over use.)

Barefoot84

Thanks for your answers. I hadn't realized it would take so long, but it makes sense. I'd forgotten how hard recovery can be. I'll wait a couple of months and get my doctor's approval.

evahankins

I also recently gave birth- and have a 27 lb tot. I strongly encourage you to dramatically increase the one to one snuggles if you decide to follow the 8 week no picking up rule. I have a friend who followed the rule- and instead wore her newborn constantly. Her relationship w her tot really suffered. Use good judgement, don't lift if you aren't ready. That said, I was carrying my tot within a week and suffered no injuries.

Barefoot84

evahankins said:

I also recently gave birth- and have a 27 lb tot. I strongly encourage you to dramatically increase the one to one snuggles if you decide to follow the 8 week no picking up rule. I have a friend who followed the rule- and instead wore her newborn constantly. Her relationship w her tot really suffered. Use good judgement, don't lift if you aren't ready. That said, I was carrying my tot within a week and suffered no injuries.

I've been picking DD up since she visited me in the hospital after delivery. I'm careful not to pick her up often, or for long distances, but we cuddle a lot. I'll wait a while before wearing her on long distances though, to give my body a chance to recover.

spinsoffresonance

Why not do it the other way around, when the toddler doesn't want to walk anymore put her in the stroller and wear the baby? That's how we get around with 2U2

pixieprincss

I wore DS1 until a few days before delivery, so my wearing muscles were strong, and I felt comfortable to toddler and/or tandem wear at two weeks post-partum for quick ups and downs in the house like quelling a toddler tantrum or filling the "attachment tank" and eight weeks for getting across a parking lot. My kids are 19 months apart, so it they were both babies! Listen to your body and plan for quick toddler wears versus marathon wears.

Barefoot84

lica001 said:

Why not do it the other way around, when the toddler doesn't want to walk anymore put her in the stroller and wear the baby? That's how we get around with 2U2

The stroller we use for the baby can't be used for our toddler, and vice versa. However, that will be an option once the baby can go in our larger stroller.