My husband refused to wear our baby sling. Here's what changed his mind

“Years later, he learned how wrong he was.”

When I had my first child, adjusting to life in the slow lane took some time.

I wish I’d known how much easier this ONE item would make my life.

I’d always been a busy bee and I liked to have an action-packed agenda most days. Then, suddenly my days were consumed with feeds and burping, rocking and naps.

Sometimes I’d confide in my friends that I felt like I wasn’t actually achieving anything – when of course, I was doing a great deal. I was nurturing a newborn, after all. But that’s how I felt.

A little... trapped.

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"I gave up on the baby sling quickly"

One day, a friend suggested I try babywearing and leant me her old baby sling. It was one of those wrap-style contraptions.

I gave it a go, but my son really didn’t take to it. He would scream every time he was cocooned inside, so I gave up pretty fast.

My husband also didn't want to give it a go, so he didn't encourage me to persist.

"It feels uncomfortable for me, and it's not working, anyway. He hates it." I think another reason why he didn't want to try to make it work his because he preferred a non-screaming baby.

Fast forward to a few years later to when  my daughter was born, and another friend offered me her sling.

“It honestly saved my life,” she tried to convince me. “I used to put the younger one in there so that I could get things done.”

Given my son’s reaction to the baby sling, I was sceptical that baby #2 would be any different, but in desperation, I gave it a shot. 

Yes, despite knowing what my husband would say.

Image: Supplied

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"Anyone could take her"

It turned out my little girl loved being strapped to my chest. And not just my chest, but anyone who would have her.

Often my husband and I would take turns strapping our little girl on if we were out and about going for a walk or shopping, and I think it actually helped with bonding between the two of them.

Sometimes my sister would carry her for me, and my daughter was always content.

When my daughter was eight months old, we went to Canada and a friend whom my daughter had never met before offered to carry her in the BabyBjorn.

I was tired from all the walking, so I said, “sure,” grateful to give my back a break.

Within seconds, my daughter was strapped to our friend’s chest and was as happy as Larry cruising around town from that vantage point.

When baby number three was born, she had no hope of refusing the baby carrier.

I’d strap her on and make dinner for the older two, then give them a bath and read them a book, all with her on my chest. It was just so convenient having my hands freed up to do other tasks.

My advice to new mums is to try a baby carrier and persevere, even if your little one fusses initially (or your husband)

You may need to try a few different types before you discover that diamond in the rough. For me, the second one I tried helped keep my sanity levels in check when my newborns needed me around the clock. In that way, it's been invaluable and worth its weight in gold.

For more information on baby slings/carriers see the Raising Children Network.

Originally published as My husband refused to wear our baby sling. Here's what changed his mind