Baby Slings / Carriers

I own four baby slings / carriers and I never used any of them. I bought them hoping one might work for me to carry and transport Kiana. I needed to figure out a way to get Kiana lifted out of the crib, move her to and from the changing table, and transport her from room to room.

Reasons they didn’t work for me:
1. I couldn’t even lift her to get her in it. Those first 3 months she seemed so fragile and I wasn’t coordinated enough to get 2 hands under her to support her head. I tried sliding it under her while she was on a soft surface.
2. If I did manage to get her in it she screamed because she hated it.
3. Ok, now she’s in... can I get it on me? no. If I can get it on, can I walk? no. I didn’t have the balance to walk with a 9lbs baby on my side or front. Maybe I can use a walker? But I don’t use a walker so why would I use one now?
4. Finally, even if all of the above worked out, the time it took to do all of this just to get her out of the crib and 2 feet to the changing table was just too much of a hassle.

So, those first 2 months, when Kiana was waking up 3-4 times during the night, my husband had to wake up to get her out of the crib, change her, hand her to me, and then lay her back down in the crib after she had fallen asleep. And then during the day my nanny was here to move her around.

I’ve heard of mothers doing chores, dishes, preparing meals, taking walks, etc. with their baby right on their side or front in the carrier. Kiana was just a baby who hated baby carriers. It didn’t matter what kind it was or who was carrying her. My husband wasn’t one to hold her much while he was busy doing something else either. She’s not a clingy baby that needs to be constantly held or picked up. And now, at 10 months, she’s very independent and good at entertaining herself while we are busy making dinner or doing chores. She didn’t get used to sleeping in a sling either. Whenever she would fall asleep on my lap she would be moved to her crib, otherwise I couldn’t get up, although I did love having her sleep on my lap and watching her while she slept.

It all worked out not using a sling. Kiana knows I’m not able to pick her up or carry her so she rarely asks me to.

Knee Pads

A pair of soft volley-ball knee pads were the best $12 purchase. They have become an essential part of my wardrobe on days I am home alone with Kiana. I bought them in May, which is when I started caring for Kiana on my own, she was 6 months old. I am not able to hold and carry Kiana while standing and walking because I do not have the balance, but I am able to pick her up and carry her while on my knees. They also are useful just for when I am on the floor playing toys with her, or for chasing after her across the room.