6 week old in Baby K'tan (repost from AP)

cole179

So my LO hates the "kangaroo" position, she stretches her legs out in it and continually cries.  The instructions say not introduce the "hug" position until 3-4 months, but I'm wondering if it would be safe since she fully stretches her legs out already?  Has anyone tried the "hug" younger than 3 months?

I have put her in the Baby Bjorn and she is comfortable and falls asleep every time, but I am not a fan of that carrier.

TIA!

NerdyMama2

I wouldn't try the hug that early. If you're open to ideas, the Ergo is a great carrier for newborns.

kincaid44

We do the hug.  I didn't know you weren't supposed to do it until then.  It's the only position that he likes.  He's a big baby, so the kangaroo just doesn't work for him.  

 

I just went and checked the website.  It says: "Introduce when baby fully stretching legs (about 2-3 months)" 

Danaz1

we do the hug position he is 23 inches and about 12 lbs kangaroo stopped working about a month ago.  I put the fabric over his head when he is sleeping and he lays in there.

Mamaofthesea

I don't see any reason why you shouldn't be able to use the hug position if she's extending her legs, just as long as you're exercising the usual caution, making sure her face isn't buried in your chest or the fabric and she can breath. 

DS is 10 weeks and we also do a modified version of the "Explore" position. I keep him a bit more reclined than in the pictures they show online and in the manual since he doesn't have complete head control yet. His head is supported by the fabric, so he sort of lays back as if he is in a hammock, and he seems to really like that too. 

pixieprincss

Legs out positions are fine from birth as long as baby is happy and you maintain the babywearing safety rules: baby's head is high enough to kiss, the wearer can see baby's face at all times, you can fit two fingers between baby's chin and chest, and baby's knees are higher than bum. I am an experienced wrapper and the principles of wrapping apply to this, since a K'tan is a "shortcut" wrap.

In babywearing dork land--There actually is no research that says legs in vs. legs out for newborns--it just is an old assumption--and one that actually makes no sense when you compare people wearing babies to primates who are "mother-clingers" and obviously have no "legs in" options given to them by nature. I attended a great session at the Internation Babywearing Conference this summer on babywearing research and this was one of the points that stuck out to me.

mkflower3000

DD sounds just like your LO - she HATES having her legs constrained in any way. In fact, that's exactly why we got the k'tan. She absolutely freaked out in the moby, her slings, or the mei tai (because she still has to do frog legs in it).

She was about 7 weeks old when we got it (and somewhere in the ball park of 10lbs), and I only ever put her in the hug position. She does SO much better in this carrier than in anything else! I can finally take her out with me without her completely freaking out about being in a carrier. I especially like the additional piece of fabric that allows me to add support wherever I want - I tie it at the level of her neck to add some support to hear head.

We've never had a problem, honestly. I just keep an eye on her and make sure that she's OK. She does smush her face into my chest, but it never seems to interfere with her breathing at all. 

cole179

kincaid44:

I just went and checked the website.  It says: "Introduce when baby fully stretching legs (about 2-3 months)" 

 Thanks!  I was reading the manual that came with the product and it says 3-4 months.

tammyz25

you can do the hug. it's just based on your lo's comfort and development. their age ranges are just general, but can vary by the individual. we started the hug at about 2 months and loved it!