Stollers vs. Baby wearing

spano41 · November 2013

So I have been reading about strollers and there are a bazillion different kinds fit for every kind of lifestyle. I am trying to figure out where/when we are going to want to use a stroller so I can decide what kind of stroller fits our needs the best. I know I can't count on my baby letting me wear him/her but I am hoping I will be able to because I really like the idea of it. In your experience, where is a stroller superior to baby wearing and vice versa for infants (like 6mo and under)?

Rrrrrachel · November 2013

I prefer baby wearing for newborns. My ring sling made it easy in and easy out (once I got the hang of it). My daughter was fine being worn as long as I was up and moving around.

To me a stroller is nice if we have a lot of stuff to carry or if it's super hot outside. If we're doing something like going to the zoo for the day I like to have the option of both so we can switch back and forth.

Up until six months we were probably primarily baby wearing, unless we were like out for a walk, and even sometimes then.

NicoleAnne416 · November 2013

I never wore baby with my first two but will try with this one. I can see shopping and going for walks big ones. Having a stroller for carseat, purse, diaper bag, etc. is nice when out and about like that.

nikki912 · November 2013

I only used the stroller during the first six months or so when we walked to the grocery store or maybe at the mall. I still brought the carrier though because he needed to be held a lot at the beginning.

By nine months we had stopped wearing him completely but that was only because we had gotten a cheap carrier and our backs couldn't handle his weight anymore. I recommend investing in a good carrier because there were times even around the time he turned one that I wished I had a carrier instead of the stroller.

Rrrrrachel · November 2013

Yeah we still use the ergo all the time!

strawberrytree · November 2013

To be honest I didn't really use a stroller until DS was a year old. Our Beco Gemini went everywhere with us. Places that I remember thinking "this would suck with a stroller" include public transit, any kind of path or hiking trail, farmers markets, any kind of fair or festival, and grocery shopping (before they are big enough for the cart- you can't fit anything in the stroller basket!). We're getting a stroller that converts to a double for this baby, but I'll still probably babywear for at least a few months.

RebeccaY1 · November 2013

I can see when baby wearing would be practical and when a stroller would be great. When using the subway/train/bus in the city I can see baby wearing being more practical. When going to the mall, using a stroller would be great. It all depends upon the situation.

babym6705 · November 2013

I wore my daughter for about 6 months before my back started hurting. I tried to switch her to stroller and she would scream violently every time we put her in and wouldn't stop till we picked her back up. My husband and I ended up holding her till she learned to walk. It was awful. I will NOT be wearing this child. This child will also be sleeping in his crib, not co sleeping, due to the same dependence issue. I have an almost 4 yr old who gets out of bed and climbs into ours every night. I love her but we can't have two kids in the bed with us.

It's sad bc I love the concept of attachment parenting but in reality it didn't work well for us.

(For the record, I'm not hating on attachment parent. I am jealous of families it works for.)

Rrrrrachel · November 2013

My sister never coslept and her four year old still came and got in their bed.

If your back hurts baby wearing there are solutions. Different carriers or ways of adjusting them to make them more comfortable.

steph1977 · November 2013

I loved baby wearing, but I'd recommend getting a carrier where baby can face in or out. My DD threw a fit every time I tried to face her in towards me -- she must have smelled the milk and assumed it was time to
eat;). We used it (facing out) until she was at least a year old. I heard Ergo is coming out with a new one that can be forward or rear-facing.

CurlieWhirlie · November 2013

Another vote for babywearing here! I wore DS everywhere, even when he was bigger. We had a stroller and never used it. Like, never. And then we moved and got rid of it entirely, and only when he was about 2.5 years old got a cheap umbrella stroller that he could get into and out of himself.

aml+japan · November 2013

nikki912 said:
I recommend investing in a good carrier because there were times even around the time he turned one that I wished I had a carrier instead of the stroller.

This. Wearing is also good in the winter but in summer you'll both be damn hot! For some babies who are more clingy, like my DD was, wearing is the only way you'll get any cooking or cleaning done. I really recommend Ergo carriers as there's much less strain on your back.

momofmanyinthemitten · November 2013

I use the carrier for running errands until they're big enough to fit in a shopping cart (I only bring my phone and keys in my pocket, so no purse/diaper bag to carry around-those stay in the car). I use the stroller for days out to the zoo, etc and for walks outside.

Bun in the oven 2011 · November 2013

I think you just solved my problem! I wanted to get one of those carseats that will fit LO from newborn to toddler but couldn't figure out how I would get around without an infant carrier! I never even thought about baby wearing. Thanks!!

babym6705 · November 2013

LalaMama81 said:

babym6705 said:

I wore my daughter for about 6 months before my back started hurting. I tried to switch her to stroller and she would scream violently every time we put her in and wouldn't stop till we picked her back up. My husband and I ended up holding her till she learned to walk. It was awful. I will NOT be wearing this child. This child will also be sleeping in his crib, not co sleeping, due to the same dependence issue. I have an almost 4 yr old who gets out of bed and climbs into ours every night. I love her but we can't have two kids in the bed with us. It's sad bc I love the concept of attachment parenting but in reality it didn't work well for us.

(For the record, I'm not hating on attachment parent. I am jealous of families it works for.)

Yea, I don't think this has anything to do w/ baby wearing.

The kids that are the most attached end up being the most independent.

It's totally normal for some kids to like a stroller and some to hate it. Same for everything else. I think it would have been a lot easier to have just found a carrier that didn't hurt your back.

As a kindergarten teacher, I don't necessarily agree that the most attached kids are the most independent.

Attachment parenting hasn't work well for my family and I'm not willing to retry it. I think if it works for your family, that is great, but I strongly believe "happy mom, happy baby". Attachment parenting works for some, but not for all, it is ok either way. I hope that makes sense and doesn't come off as snarky.

teachingmama11 · November 2013

I didn't really wear DS much, but I plan to more with this LO. I think the stroller is good for long outings where you'll have lots of stuff along (diaper bag,purse, etc.) and big events where it's not very crowded. I'm looking forward to using the carrier around the house, for shopping, outings to places like the Magic House so I can keep up with DS, crowded events, etc. I also like the idea of wearing the baby places like in to the school to see my students,etc. where I don't necessarily want easy access to people touching LO.

Sisimama10 · November 2013

When I was a FTM I was handed down a crappy baby carrier. It was uncomfortable and I always felt like DD was going to fall out. So, while I had her on I basically couldn't move because I was terrified. I had no idea the type/brand of carrier or wrap would make such a difference. I'm so excited to try again with my beco baby carrier.

patunia7321 · November 2013

FTM here. I can't wait to try BW and hope it works for the LO. I was surprised that DH is really on board and picked out his own carrier, too. I hope to be able to use slings/wraps & he'll have a soft structured carrier. We are definitely still getting all of the stroller stuff since all of this will depend on the baby and situation and we have ZERO idea what the heck we are doing anyway.

Edit: grammar

Megczapla · November 2013

I think I just fell in love with the beco Gemini. Before I became a teacher I was a nanny and only used a bjorn or sling because that's what the mom's had. Bjorn always hurt my back after a point when the babies were more than 3 mon old and I never mastered the sling to feel comfortable enough with it. Beco it is for this mama! (If you couldn't tell, I loved to wear the babies so long as they let me--I don't do well with strollers! Lets hope my babe lets me

)

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