Intro & Question...Sling safe for preemie?

AndBabyWouldMake5

I'm just getting back on the bump today, it feels like the last 3 weeks have been a total whirlwind!  Our DD was born at 35 weeks and 4 days after I went into labor and my ob/gyn decided she was big enough and ready for the world.  We were lucky to only have her in the NICU for 24 hrs for phototherapy and then her billiruben #'s stayed low enough that we managed it from home with lots of sunlight and daily doctor/hospital visits during her first week "home".  She is doing well now except for some feeding issues.  She got EBM, formula and some BF time since birth although she really struggles to latch.  I began going to a BF support group and am really trying to keep my morale up and stick with it.  It is heartbreaking to watch her get so frustrated when she can't latch. She is struggling lately to get a good latch on the bottle even and it had really messed with her feeding schedule.

We are slowly getting out of the house more.  From discharge the pedi said if we were outside it was safe, and now I've been going for walks with her tucked in the stroller and covered with the sun shades to the coffee shop around 11am when no one else is there.  This weekend we are going to an engagement party.  It will be mainly family and close friends that are like family so the pedi gave us the go ahead, although I am still nervous. I was on bed rest for 4 months so just going to the grocery store without needing someone to stay in the car with her seems like a dream.

I'd prefer to wear her in the sling so that people aren't touching her before washing their hands, but my sling says not to use for babies less than 8 lbs.  I see lots of ladies recommending using the sling too.  Did you get a special sling for a lower weight or just use the regular one?

jcsntms06

Congratulations on the birth of your DD! Sounds like she's doing well other than the latching. Just keep at it and she will get it.

As for the sling, I never used them. I actually have the beco butterfly carrier and I used that starting at 6lbs even though it stated not use until 7lbs. Hopefully some of the other mom's will chime in with sling suggestions. 

Call me Mrs. F

my little guy came home weighing 5lbs, 7oz and i used him in a ring sling right away, no problems. I have a Boba 3g as well and it stated to wait til 7 pounds but i did it at 6 and it was fine

Andrewsgal

I wore DD in a sling at 4 pounds 3 ounces and it was great.

jteneback

Just make sure her chin doesn't get too tucked and her airway isn't restricted.

Cst2CstBride

    Our NICU PT didn't like slings for my dd (born 27 weeks, 1 lb, 11 oz, discharged after 11 weeks weighing 6 lbs, 7 oz). But, she did like the Moby.  My mom made one by buying 6 yards of jersey fabric and cutting it in half lengthwise. This is only cheaper if you find a good deal on fabric, although it does give you 2.                                                                             

haziedaze

I loved my ringsling!! We used it from about 6lbs on in the upright tummy to tummy position. I would not do cradle carry with a preemie. If you check out the preemie resource blog post on "Going out with your preemie" there's a picture of H and I. Make sure you know how to get it really tight and use the upper rail to support their head. Sakura Bloom has some good videos on Youtube. Google SB, nebowrn, ringsling.

IncogNeato

I used a ring sling but carried her in froggy pose with her chest against my chest, up high.

 

Like this. I would NOT feel comfortable putting a baby in a more traditional sling pose, where they are down in the sling and covered up. In fact, I don't think that kind of carry is recommended at all anymore.

urbanflowerpot

I'm a firm Mei Tai user - BabyHawk donates their MT's to a NICU so I felt really confident about that choice. Lots of moms do the RS and love it, but when I tried I didn't feel as confident. Just wanted to throw that out there in case you hadn't explored them