[russianadoption]

Thanks to everyone responding to my "Travel" post. Now one more thing. Our child is already a bit over 2 years old, and who knows how old he will be when we get to bring him home (hopefully not very), but did you use a hip sling of sorts to promote bonding? I have found a few that carry up to 45-60 pounds, and I figured that would be the way to go, but I wondered others' experiences and whether they were worth it.

[manon]

When I adopted my daughter, she was 24 mos. old & I thought I'd try the hip sling, but I also took a front-carrier too. She resisted the hip sling & I was unfamiliar enough with how to arrange it that I gave up on it pretty quickly & wound up ebaying it when I got home. Maybe you could borrow someone's child and get used to using the hip sling, so it's not awkward.

My daughter weighed 22 lbs. at 24 mos. & she STILL wants me to carry her sometimes (at age 5 1/2, over 43 pounds).

Even the Baby Bjorn type carrier didn't really last long for us, and I wound up mostly carrying her on my hip (without the aid of a sling). I did take an umbrella type stroller when we travelled & it was a lifesaver. You can gate-check it (use it to wheel your child out to the gate & then give it to the flight attendant & you get it back at the gate at the airport you're going to) on your way back with your child (and of course you can check it as baggage on the way there, although you might have to pay for excess baggage). But the stroller was a huge help, rocked her to sleep many times while she was in it.

The best things I found for bonding were bathing together, swimming, and lots of playing where you see each other's faces. Don't be afraid to be silly & goofy and to lift your child high in the air. And sing!

Best wishes.

[Katie63011]

I would also suggest an umbrella stroller. We took a baby born on our first adoption and an umbrella stroller the second. The umbrella stoller was very helpful to carry the baby, luggage, use as a high chair in the hotel, feed in the airports etc.

Katie

[LouLouBelle]

Our daughter was 21 months and 17 pounds. I took a sling but she didn't want anything to do with it. We just ended up carrying her. I gave it away once home.

She still loves to be held and carried around (when she's not bouncing off the walls or dancing). She gained one pound a month for the first five months home. She now been home 8 months and weighs almost thirty pounds. I can't imagine using the sling at her weight even though the one we had listed up to 45 pounds.

As for attachment...we just worked on it with different approaches and she seems to be attaching quite nicely.

Good luck!

[Canada Mama]

A friend loaned us her (otherwise expensive) Ergobaby carrier - it's supposedly good up to 40 lbs! She loved it, but we just never got the hang of it. The shoulder straps wouldn't stay up on me. Then my sister gave us a "Hippy Chick" for Christmas -basically a belt with a well-designed "ledge" off the side, for toddlers to sit on. It works like a charm - our 18-month 25-lb DS loves it!

[britfish]

My daughter is 2 1/2 and still loves the sling (she was adopted at 11 mos. and we used the sling TONS in Russia). The other day we were shopping and she fell asleep in it. We have the maya wrap style sling, its nice and basic and has worked great. She can sit up or lay down. We had an LL Bean front carrier we also used in Russia but we did not like it, too many bells and whistles and was uncomfortable.

[hollybrian]

In spite of using and loving the sling with the first 3 kids, I took the Ergo with me and found it invaluable. My daughter was 21 months at the time. I did practice with a bottle of Tide before I left a bit and my husband helped me with it when we were in Russia. But we used this carrier a lot when she got home and I think it was extremely useful in our bonding experience, and she needed to be heald for part of a day at first. She would also go to our male friends too readily when we returned so I harnessed )trapped) her in the carrier for a few weeks and she was unable to go into everyone's arms who put them put for her. She is appropriate now in who she goes to.

I believe the carrier is good for up to 65 lbs. (!). This carrier is also a backpack, which I like to use, but my DD isn't so crazy about. She only wants to be in the front. Luckily she is still petite. I have carried her for up to 5 hours at a time when out and did not get sore.

I was able to get a returned model (looked brand bew to me) for somewhat of a savings. PM me if you are interested and I will give you the name. This item was going for full value on Ebay last year at this time, so you probably will get most of your investment back. I would recommned the Ergo if you thought you would be the type of person to use it upon return and get you money worth's that way.

We are very glad not to have lugged around a stroller which would not have been functional on the snowy streets. My DD still does not care for the stroller, so I am sure she wouldn't have gone in it. The carrier was great for putting her to sleep on the plane when she got very fussy. I did bring a sling (I know of a website where you can make your own very easily and cheaply- make it without stuffing and you can put it in the pdiaper bag) and used it a bit while there; do practice the sling first if you can find a heavy large doll (or borrow a cooperative child...). I still love the sling for a quick carrying; just put it on yourself, sneak it over the baby's head while she is standing and pull it under their bottom.

Have a great time!

Holly

[KimOH]

I second (or third) the Ergo Baby Carrier. It was a lifesaver for me.

I had originally planned to use a Hip Hammock, but the strap on it, and every other hip carrier I tried hit my neck/shoulder in a funny place and hurt within minutes.

I took a Maya Wrap sling (borrowed) with me to Russia and that worked okay for carrying her around the hotel. She liked it anyway, but it still hurt my back/neck.

However, once we got home my DD wanted to be held nearly *all* the time for the first few weeks. The Maya Wrap isn't really hands free (I felt like I needed a hand on her for support), and the "shoulder cap flap" sort of restricts the movement of your free arm.

I ended up ordering the Ergo (rated up to 65 lbs, I think). It took a couple of tries to get used to getting my child in and out, but after we figured it out it was a life saver. DD loved it.

Last spring we went to Disney World for two days and I didn't even take a stroller. (Pic attached) We just took the Ergo and I carried her for two very full days and didn't feel sore at all. (She was about 28 lbs at the time.) She's 32 months now and prefers to walk most of the time, but if she gets tired she'll still ask for the "backpack."

The site I got mine from offers free shipping and a 3 month money back guarantee. If you're interested, PM me and I'll give you the name of the site.

[becky26]

Another vote for the Ergo baby carrier. We used it for both adoptions. It was very helpful for the bonding, and I carried my son in the front until he was about 27 pds. Last summer, I did LONG hikes with him (at about 32 pds.) on my back. I heard that the new model can even be worn on the hip. I definitely got great use out of this carrier!

[Aphi86]

Two words....Kangaroo Korner. You can find them on the web at their name.com. It is THE best invention ever and the best baby item I have ever owned. For starters it will hold a child up to 4 yrs of age. Secondly, it is totally hands free. It was huge in Russia and on the plane ride home, and here when I go to the mall. I pop her in it and she likes it better than the stroller. Some days when she is feeling needy, she pulls it out and brings it over and I just tote her around the house while I do stuff.

[maddensmom]

My son would not tolerate a sling after growing out of the infant bjorn. I carry him on my hip everywhere even though he is now almost 3. He kind of likes being juggled around in Mommy's arms... But I have heard wonderful things about the Ergo. Good luck.

[ddahl]

I had the Hip Hammock but opted to take the umbrella stroller to Russia. What was I thinking!!!! I regretted it after I had been home for a month as I had to use the HH to help promote bonding. It is my only regret from the entire trip.... worth mentioning that when we landed in France, the stroller apparently got off the plane and headed for the outer banks of Africa. Fortunately it made its way back to St.Petersburg in few short days. HH is available at Walmart for around 20.00. Use it trash it toss it. You can also clean an entire house and do laundry while carrying the baby. DS is over 30 lbs now and there is no way I can lug him around now.

[erickk]

I used (and still use) a Maya wrap and I love it. With our first son we had one of those carriers where they face toward you or away and both he and I found it not all that comfy. The Maya wrap can be used in so many different positions. Our son is 2 and I use it all the time--it also gives you both of your hands--which is nice. Our 2 year old has attachment disorder and if I hold him in my arms he squirms like an eel. If I put him in the wraps he is very content and I can position him in ways that assist attachment. Plus--they make most of the wraps and carriers with padded straps so they are very comfortable to wear.

[lakimnafite]

I am actually the happy recipient of LouLouBelle's maya wrap! We love it! In Russia, I used it to secure Allie to the chair in the room (we didn't have a high chair) during feedings and to secure her to high chairs that didn't have a belt. Of course, I also used it to carry her around. At home, we went for walks every day with the dog. Allie in the sling, dog on the leash. He's a big dog.. I couldn't have do it if I didn't have a free hand. No way would the stroller have worked for those walks.

Even just this morning, Allie grabbed the wrap and handed it to me. I put it on and she climbed up on my lap. I walked around the house with her for about 1/2 hour before she got bored and wanted to get down.

[jroc]

I just wanted to chime in here too. I have a hip carrier and I found it VERY useful. While we were in Russia and home for the first 2 weeks, Alek wanted to be held about 90% of the time. The carrier was a life saver for me. I could put him in it and he knew he wasn't going to be put down. I still use it when we go shopping, or I can tell he wants to be close to mommy. It definitly promotes bonding!