People staring, how can I look less mumsy?

[helloelo]

I felt very self conscious the other day on public transport. I don't like using the stroller with so many people around and stairs everywhere so I had my son in a baby carrier on my back and I was wearing a special black babywearing coat with a panel that gives room for him. I had dark jeans on, Chelsea boots, Breton top. Ponytail, very light makeup. I could definitely tell people were staring. Do you think it makes me look like a hippy earthmother (I might be one anyway...)? I don't know how to look less mumsy :( What do you think?

[LimitedSedition]

They were probably wondering where you got your coat from!

[helloelo]

Oh it's this one, I look a bit less dorky than the picture (but not much)

[HoneyDragon]

It's because your babies cute and you're gorgeous

[CamdenTownie]

Sounds pretty similar to the way I dress, I'm not really bothered about other people though , if you're comfortable then don't worry about it.

I love that coat though, what a fantastic idea.

[antimatter]

'cos the never saw babywearing coat?

[helloelo]

It's not me on the picture they are the brands' promo
(I wish I looked that gorgeous!)

[VimFuego101]

They were probably staring at your adorable baby! You look great.

[Diddlydokey]

They're totally looking at your coat thinking, so how does that work then? And, how does she get him on her back? Is he heavy?

I don't think you're stared at for being mumsy, you're generally ignored for looking mumsy! That's about the crux of it isn't it - blending into the background and no identity or style to talk about, that's why it's negative.

[helloelo]

Is that type of coat that unusual? I'm genuinely surprised, how are you supposed to deal with baby in baby carrier when it's cold :/
Maybe I'm a novelty then :)

[Solasum]

What a great idea, wish I had had one. Pretty sure it is significantly people thinking the same

[Havalina1]

What a clever coat!

You don't sound dorky but it's hard to avoid looking mumsy with a baby on board :)

I know what you mean through. I've avoided those Yummy Mummy brand change bags but with a double buggy it's just impossible!

[Solasum]

I always just wore a normal coat and left it open

[burnishedsilver]

They were admiring the coat, admiring the baby, or both. Seriously.

The coat is a brilliant idea.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

I have never seen a coat like that but if I was to stare, it'd be
"How the dickens does the baby stay in there"
"How do I sit down without crushing him"
"Would I be able to get more than 2 days wear before I had to chip off the delightful mosiac of dried baby spit,rusk,snot"

Nothing wrong with being a hippy earthmother IMO

[Xmasbaby11]

I've never seen a baby wearing coat. This would make people look just out of interest.

[VimFuego101]

Ahhhh it's not you in the pic - well I still think they were probably looking at your baby rather than you. I don't think that coat looks that outlandish or at all hippy-ish!

[helloelo]

My son is 1yo and 1,5st + I'm pg so I can't wear him on my front, it'll kill me!
You're right, people are probably trying to understand how, why, wtf...

[magpie17]

I carry my baby in a carrier a lot and find a lot of people stare for some reason, I assume it's because (where I live) you don't see a lot of babies in carriers and people find it interesting. I certainly don't think it's because of how I look. My carrier is front facing and has a rain cover, it's not very exciting to me but I always get comments about the raincover as not many slings have one.

I don't think it's you, it's the carrier and the coat!

[helloelo]

Baby carriers are clever, babies can't escape them :) and putting them on your back is actually quite easy after a few tries. If you sit down you just have to remember not to recline, not hard when your baby is playing with your ponytail :) Baby snort is an issue, my coat is waterproof so I can scrap it off but I find the weirdest things squashed on it

[helloelo]

Thanks a lot for reassuring me!

[CharmingChampignon]

Where is the coat from - looks fab!

I got stated at when baby wearing as for many people it's a 'different' concept and one that they're not used to. I sometimes had dd1 on my back and dd2 on my front and my goodness - you'd think I was carrying them by their ankles. People are curious, interested, judgemental sometimes, but I doubt any of them noticed your clothes.

[FoodPorn]

Yes, where is coat from I want one!

[madmomma]

Noone stares at Mumsy people. They're just looking at the baby

[BackforGood]

Agree with everyone else - they would have been looking at either your baby, or the coat. I've never seen anything like that. I suspect they were poing all the questions 70isalimit has typed

[chanie44]

They were looking at the coat. I can't stop looking at the picture to see how it works. I've never seen a coat like that.