He's SO cute!!! I will be reading your comments as I am trying to educate myself on all pertinent baby gear...such a learning curve!

What a cutie! My friend makes slings that are like the Maya wrap but less expensive. You can send her fabric or she can purchase fabric. I could get you her contact info if your intersted. My daughter loved it and so did my kitten. Don't ask.

Such a cute baby! yay HEB!

So sorry he's not loving the sling - I hear such great things about them. Be sure to let us know what you decide to go with. I got my sister the basic sling that Target had. She hasn't had her baby yet, so I have no data so share - yet.

Congratulations! I had a little preemie (3lb 13oz) too. We slung her in a Mom and Me hemp pouch (think sweatshirt) for months. I think a knit fabric and being adjustable really helps the little ones get more comfortable. I've heard good things about Kangaroo Korner pouches too. I also very much like my Moby wrap instead of the Baby Bjorn which I never found comfortable. Good luck!

Oh the cuteness!

a friend of mine has the ergo baby carrier which has an infant insert for carrying around the tinier ones.

http://www.ergobabycarriers.com/babycarriers/category/infant_insert/

she really likes it.. both she and her baby did not like the bjorn. this carrier puts much less stress on your back and stomach too. maybe someone you know has one that you can borrow and try out?

I have the basic one from target made by infantino. More on this in an email very soon. It is often the only thing that works for us and i will have it bronzed when we are done.

p.s. how you have brain cells to knit I'll never know. mine apparently still have not returned from preg. but we are sleeping 7-8 hours at a stretch now so soon perhaps. v. soon.

I can't wait to meet HEB!!! He's so cute!

Cute cute picture! Neither of my kids liked the sling when they were that small, but got used to them and liked them once they were a bit bigger. I have used both a Maya Wrap (which has a way you can use it with the baby in a Bjorn-like position (upright) which my infants liked), a padded sling, and a Storchenwiege. I found baby wearing very successful and rewarding - my 5yr old was heartbroken when he became to big to be 'worn'. I hope you find something that works for you!

I own two Mom and Me Creations Hemp Pouches.
Mom & Me Creations
Jen is a great lady and is very helpful. Wearing a NB in a hemp pouch can be weird at first..if you roll up a receiving blanket and lay them on it,in the sling, it works great. She also makes Hot mama wraps and Eclecticos(hemp Silk)

Here is the link...the other one didn't work...
http://www.mom-and-me-creations.com/Our_Products.html

Yay HEB! No help on the slings (childless), but good luck with all of it!

We had a Bjorn and it was a mixed review. When the boys were wee, but a bit bigger than HE Beast they LOVED the vibrating chairs. It is the same theory as putting your baby in his carseat on the dryer- they love the rhythm (sic). Skipping ahead a bit more- exersaucers ROCK. We saved #1's and broke it out when #2 was old enough & #1 had a FIT. We ended up having to buy another one.

Your son is so beautiful, you & HEH do good work. Many hugs- KT

Besides the Bjorn, which Thalia has done well with all along (no stroller yet!), the best thing I've used so far is just a length of 45-inch-wide muslin tied in a knot that rests right in front of the shoulder. However, T. was 8 mos. old before she'd sit still enough for it, and by that time I'd long given up on the idea of doing anything with my hands while holding/wearing a baby. Too much grabbing and pulling and leaning in awkward directions. I guess some kids/parents just don't take to it. Good luck finding something that works, but don't worry if you don't!

You're knitting??!?!? Woah! That's wonderful. :) I'm so glad to hear that HEB has gained so much weight already. What a little sweetheart. Remember that HEB is going to keep changing rapidly and what he likes/doesn't like today won't be the same thing he likes/doesn't like tomorrow... So much fun. :) xoxox

Maddy hates her sling too - we have a Maya Wrap, an Over The Shoulder Baby Holder borrowed from a friend, and an Infantino sling from Babies R Us. She much prefers the Bjorn or the least ergonomic sling - the Infantino - worn VERY low. Not at all the way it's supposed to be worn. She screams when she's in the sling. She cuddles right up and snuggles when she's in the Bjorn. Yeah, you know which one we're using! :)

Oh, HEB, you're a doll. I'm going to have to come over and pinch those cheeks soon. But aren't you scared of the glo worm? I always thought they were terrifying.

OH MY GOD! He is HIGH ENERGY ADORABLE! I'm so glad to see a post from you! I'm thinking about you often. LOVE LOVE LOVE!

HEB! you are a schmoo! you and your little gloworm friend.

I'm gonna come over and squeeze him!

He's such a beautiful baby.

so so so handsome!

so happy he's doing so well!

go go HEbaby!

I love my Maya Wrap, and would strongly recommend *against* a padded sling. It's harder to adjust a sling with padded rails, so for a small baby is harder to get secure.

My Maya Wrap, however, was infinitely flexible.

There are other slings I would love to try, if I were ever to have another baby, but I think my son, age 4, is probably my last.

beautiful little boy. congrats. i do not know if this is truly an informed recommendation as i have yet to use it, but my spouse and i are purchasing the ergo baby carrier. they nestle sling like initially with an insert, then later down the line it is useful for front, back, or side carrying, up to 40#. they have a website with a vid...i just google the name ergo baby carrier cause i have little skill with linking (sorry), oops, the link is up above already. congratulations again.

Congratualions, he's a little doll...

My 2 cents: he's still very young for a sling. Both my babies didn't really start enjoying it until they were about 2-3 months old. I say don't give up on the sling, just wait a little bit, and stick with the swaddling!

Jenny! The gloworm shot is adorable. We miss you at knitting!

I have been baking/cooking up a frenzy lately and would love to share some baked goods. Do you want some biscotti? Or brownies? Or cookies? I'd love to bake you and the HEB and HE John something. Email me or whatnot. Congrats again on little HEB and all the weight he's gained! :)

HEB must be a good baby! Such a cutey! And you are knitting too.

What a sweet, sweet little guy.

I raised my 4 kids in a sling made by Parenting Concepts - the one that Dr. Sears recommends. I'm 5'4 and shortwaisted and was most comfy in the petite size.

Here's another commenter for the Maya Wrap. They even have sewing instructions on their website if you have 30 minutes and order yourself some sling rings. I've made several. I would not have made it through those first mos w/o one. I'm not using it as much now with all the ice but I can't wait till the weather clears up. It's so flexible but a WARNING, you need to watch the videos online on how to use it or get someone to show you. It can be frustrating to wing it.

Congratulations Jenny! He is an adorable little glow-worm!!! I was coming to tell you were are playing Tasty World tonight but I see you have your hands full. Hope you are enjoying the CD (thanks!) and especially enjoying new mamahood.

Best,
Lindsay

Greetings from London! He's the cutest lil' guy I've seen in an age!

hi jenny

i hope that you're doing better and better each day with your biggest WiP to date! just stopping by to say hi!

There is a great Yahoo group: Babywearing and a great site www.thebabywearer.com. There are many positions you can use with a Hotsling, try them at different times when he's happy, but not just fed. Some babies don't like the cradle hold, some babies prefer the tummy to tummy.
However, if he likes to be swaddled, and the Hotsling isn't working, I'd suggest a Moby wrap. You can easily make your own version with some heavy jersey or midweight interlock fabric.
I really don't recommend a Bjorn style carrier. Check out: http://www.continuu m-concept. org/reading/ spinalStress. html
for reasons why chiropractors and physiotherapists don't like these types of carriers.
Sorry if any of this is redundant, I just came across your blog by following links from another blog, which I found from another blog....LOL. Knitting and babywearing are my PASSIONS!

I wonder if a mei tei would be better for you guys. I used mine all of the time with my youngest and it was really better for my back and he loved it so much he would sleep in it all day long.

here's a site i found with some pictures :

http://www.sweetnsimpledesigns.com/gpage1.html

I agree with Heather. HEB might enjoy the carriers when he's a few weeks older. My five children all had their very different favorites, though. Perhaps you might want to try and see if HEB enjoys SWINGS.

You probably have this all figured out now...anyway, my little dude loved his Hotsling. However, he also really loved his Fisher Price vibrating boucy seat - still does at 6 months. It's portable too, so I'd take him in it from room to room. He also loved the swing from about 1-4 months. He slept exclusively in those 2 until he was 4 months old.

They seem to change qweek anyway so I am sure HEB will love the sling, the Bjorn, or both soon. Maybe already does!

He is super cute and growing so beautifully! I am so happy for you! The whole NICU thing becomes a bad memory, huh?

Don't forget to get a woven wrap for when he gets heavier :) Those things have saved my sanity and my back through our first colds and teething etc...