I have to jump into the baby carrying discussion!

I used the Bjorn and a Maya wrap sling with Ellie (Bjorn from about 2 weeks and the Maya wrap from about 3 months). I *love* the sling because I could do almost anything, include nurse, hands free, or maybe with one hand just because I liked to feel her.

For this baby I bought a Peanut Shell (a pouch not a sling) and two other ring slings. Ring slings are very adjustable and can be used in a zillion different ways (I used mine with Ellie until she was about 2 and we only quit because it's so hot here). I got the pouch because it looks like it might be quicker to put the baby into and maybe cooler.

(I should add that, as a toddler, I let her fuss if she's just being fussy. If she's actually upset, she gets picked up and comforted. It's pretty easy to tell the difference between whinging and sorrow.)

This is me too. I pretty much always pick her up if she's upset, unless it's a temper tantrum thing, but that doesn't happen with babies.

{{Ginger}}

the Bjorn, and those like the Bjorn, cause hip displacement or something

all I can really say to that is that Iris is fine. But I hated it - it's not for the wee parent. Liked our sling, but once I got our ergo, nothing else mattered.

VW, they may also want to look into one of these - [link] which was nothing short of a miracle a couple times.

but I'm seconding Plei - work was near impossible until we got a sitter.

Some kind of bouncy swing always seems to be the miracle solution. I wonder why?

I was able to work at home some when Dillo was 2-4 months old. Little stretches, often with him lying on the floor on his back with a balloon tied to one ankle. Or typing one-handed with him asleep in my arm. But he was a very easy baby, and I was only trying to work 2 hours a day, and actually working less than that.

I don't think most people can do work from home that requires any kind of concentration with a baby.

Ginger, I got your e-mail, and thank you thank you thank you, in advance.

Some kind of bouncy swing always seems to be the miracle solution.

We got them a swing at Thanksgiving, and he doesn't really like it. Only stays in it for about 3-5 minutes at a time before he starts crying again.

They were told in their breastfeeding class that the Bjorn, and those like the Bjorn, cause hip displacement or something, because they're not really designed for infants. Or something like that.

Sling propaganda! I think they claim spine compression or something. Of course, if your large chest gets in the way of the sling, and your kid doesn't like it, it doesn't matter what the sling people claim, a sling is not the best option. (I spent a lot of time reading Mothering.com's boards. But then I realized that my eyes were in a constant state of rolling out of my head, so I quit.)

OH! You know what REALLY helped?

The Neglect-O-Matic.

The Empress and Empire gifted me with a Graco swing, because Aimee is AWESOME. Lillian totally dug it. I could put her in it, and she'd be happy as a clam for long enough for me to turn back into a human.

We got them a swing at Thanksgiving, and he doesn't really like it. Only stays in it for about 3-5 minutes at a time before he starts crying again.

Aww, that's a shame. It's one you can keep trying with, though. Most babies I've known hit a point where they start to groove on it.

I can't imagine working from home with a baby. The *only* reason I was able to study for the bar exam 6+ hours a day after Ellie was born is because my mom did everything but nurse her. She changed Ellie, got her dressed, read to her, walked with her, and made us lunch/dinner every day.

This reminds me that my mom is pretty awesome!

eta: Ellie liked different swings at different ages. We had a vibrating bouncy seat, a travel swing, and a swing that went forward/back and side to side. It seemed like a lot but she liked different ones at different times.

I don't think most people can do work from home that requires any kind of concentration with a baby.

DH can come into my office with a question and if I'm working on something codeish, I will not notice him ... for (because he is a dork and timed it and is luckily amused by these things) up to 30 minutes. Nor will I hear the phone ring, or the smoke detector going off (long story, involving the soldering of a pan to the burner). Thus, he quickly agreed with me when I brought the topic up.

Iris wasn't down with the swing, but oh those kids that are love it.

I love the mental image of Dillo with a balloon tied to his ankle. That is brilliant.

ok, so this morning, Iris woke up at the usual crack of dawn. We're gronky from just getting back late last night. I called down the hallway:"can you find a book to read?" and got foghorn blasted back with "I. ... CAN'T. ... READ!!!"

but then, amazingly, she did pick up a book and we stopped laughing and went back to sleep.

eta: Stephanie's mom rocks.