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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think slings vs prams is a daft debate.....

200 replies

crackcrackcrak · 15/10/2012 12:38

I have both so what do I know.....
But I have friends now almost at war about it. AIBU to think its just a personal preference based in ease of use (both) that's just been hijacked as a superior parenting choice?

OP posts:
hiviolet · 15/10/2012 15:56

Agreed. Stupid debate. And if you feel the need to base your identity around the fact you like slings, I think you need to get out more. It's the whole "I'm a babywearer", "I'm a natural mama" schtick that really riles me. Especially as it comes hand in hand with a distinct "oh I'm so against the mainstream" smugness Grin

Original poster
crackcrackcrak · 15/10/2012 15:58

I have a problem with the word 'mama' attached to anything. That puts me off before they start wittering....

OP posts:
INeedThatForkOff · 15/10/2012 16:00

NowThenNowThen (was that a recent NN choice btw?!), based on your list I am a terrible parent.

BeauNeidel · 15/10/2012 16:05

I never realised using a sling was anything other than for convenience before I used MN.

HoneyDragon · 15/10/2012 16:12

When we are doing long muddy walk with crazed ginormo puppy I stick the hip seat on my arse and wear a scarf.

Then dd can hop up and down as she pleases and by chucking scarf around her and tying we can both go hands free.

This is not the proper way . I have earnestly been accosted helped by two ladies who wanted to tell me about mei tais and connectas.

When they finished I politely pointed out I had sold my Mei Tei and had a lovely ToddlerHawk at home. But 7 foot long straps in Mud with a small person who wants to alternate between walking and resting is a bit of a faff, even without demento-dog.

They then suggested a sling meet. They were not happy with my "making do". I thanked them profousely and hen ran away, it seemed the only sensible thing to do.

theodorakis · 15/10/2012 16:29

and of course Honey, you wouldn't have got away if you had been pushing a pram! If it speeds up the running away from the earnest mum advisers is a reason to get one, show me the website!

hiviolet · 15/10/2012 16:31

Come to think of it, when DD was small and I was depressed and lonely and hoping to find some reasons to leave the house, I considered going to the local Slingmeet to get some tips on using the wrap sling I had.

Visited the website, which pointed out that the women go do slingmeets also tend to EBF (and other crunchy things I can't remember - not that I'm saying EBF in itself is crunchy I hasten to add!) and I realised pretty quickly that turning up WITH A PRAM and proceeding to feed my baby formula would be like eating ham and cheese sandwiches at a Vegan convention.

I didn't go.

HoneyDragon · 15/10/2012 16:32

Pram would have been faster, no knots to tie Wink

elliejjtiny · 15/10/2012 16:34

HipHopOpotomus tried once and it was an improvement although can't wear a coat that way. Tried it a 2nd time and dropped ds3 while trying to put him in. Been too scared to try again.

Indith · 15/10/2012 16:37

Honey I think your improvising is fab!

I have always ended up with more buggy than sling when they wantto alternate lots as I can't be arsed getting them up and down all the time.

Different strokes I guess. I know some perfectly normal people who spend hundreds on slings and own collections worth more than my house (I'd say worth more than my car but my car is worth about 50p) just like some people spend a forutune on cloth nappies or prams. I just see my slings and pushchairs as a mode of transport and my nappies as things that soak up piss and contain shit. SO long as they all do they intended job then that's it.

theodorakis · 15/10/2012 16:38

Indith, I am not sure I know any perfectly normal people, slings or otherwise. Can I borrow some of yours?

Indith · 15/10/2012 16:42

Grin well ok normal ish. I don't think anyone who has had children qualifies as normal.

Some of the expensive slings are so beautiful, the workmanship that goes into the weaving is fabulous, I really do admire them and I understand the pricetags. I think if I had the money I would buy one or 2 pretty ones. But my cheapy ones do the job. I am going to save up for a custom toddler/preschool sized MT though for ds2. He spends so much time in a sling I think it is worth it

HoneyDragon · 15/10/2012 16:43

Theo Grin

panicnotanymore · 15/10/2012 16:45

I'm getting both, on the basis that I'll need a sling for when I'm out in the fields with the dogs, and a pram for shopping. I won't be attending meets of any sort, or joining militant gangs.

It sounds like some mums have too much time on their hands if they can even begin to care about such things Grin

HoneyDragon · 15/10/2012 16:46

I do like my ToddlerHawk, it was £48.00 direct from the states. But it has skulls on Grin

But I also like my Cameleon Pushchair too.

And the Micro Scooter.

What I don't like is a pissed off stationary toddler!

HoneyDragon · 15/10/2012 16:47

Now joining militant gangs does sound fun!

wasabipeanut · 15/10/2012 16:52

Before MN I thought people used slings for the same reason I did - to allow them to maybe actually run a Hoover round or go our for a coffee without their DC screaming their heads off.

Now I know differently.

Actually I use it now for the school run as pushing a Buggaboo across the tide of 100's of parents also with buggies to get to DS1's classroom is a bloody nightmare.

KirstyJC · 15/10/2012 16:57

Oooh this old debate again, I do like it when this comes up! Grin

Is this where I get judged for being a member of the natural mamas website, having about 12 slings and not using a pram at all for DS3? Oh no, hang on, I'm supposed to be judging you I think? Sorry, don't have time - too busy looking at slings. Wink

I have only been to 2 slingmeets though, and all we did was eat cake and helped out another mum who wanted to try a new carry they couldn't work out how to tie it. I can't remember what slings I saw but I do recall eating a rather good chocolate cake....

Jojoba1986 · 15/10/2012 17:01

I have a Moby wrap that DS adored when he was tiny but now he's bigger & too wriggly to be held that tightly so I tie a knot in a pashmina, throw it over my head & carry him on my hip! Cheap, easy, fast.
I do have a pram too incase we walk a distance!
Couldn't really care less what other people do though!

Original poster
crackcrackcrak · 15/10/2012 17:10

At the local sling meet you have to be all or nothing. There have been horrified faces when formula was used, disposable nappies and prams. They are also anti vax, pro amber necklaces etc and only believe in home schooling. And so on......

I love slings. I've just been given a gorgeous wrap ax part of my baby shower gift for dd2 but I have also ordered a double buggy because if you think I can go in to town with a nb I. A doing and dd on reins and actually purchase/carry anything you are mistaken! I know, reins - more heresy!

The other sling thing that annoys me is the assumption the doc should be in it forever. Once dd1 will walk happily for long periods she's out of a buggy full
Stop. I have seen sling meet woman carry her dc and not bring shoes so she can't walk. I have seen acquaintance person's dc pleading to walk and not being allowed. That child is even older than mine.

I think these folk I know are giving me a complex.....

OP posts:
YoullLaughAboutItOneDay · 15/10/2012 17:13

Ah, now you see amber necklaces give me the rage Grin. Not that I say anything.

HipHopOpotomus · 15/10/2012 17:22

I used to look sideways at parents with toddlers on reigns. Now I have DD2, who is completely different that DD1 was, and I'm seriously considering buying some Grin

MeerkatMerkin · 15/10/2012 17:24

I have both. Sling was always used for dog walking when DS was small (and now that he is older and has decided he will not for the love of all things holy walk anywhere, if we are doing a short journey (5-10 mins walk) it is handy as rather than carry him I can just pop him in and avoid an aching arm). I'm lucky never to have suffered with back problems. When I had a car I had a handy fold-up Maclaren and now that I have no car I have a big old P&T (the 4x4 of the buggy?) so that I can carry loads of stuff and it's easy to push for miles. A debate about it seems a bit frivolous - surely it is just a matter of function and effectiveness?

We are technically "carry mammals" unlike other mammals such as rabbits etc, so I guess the hardcore wearers have a point - the clue is in the name. When our offspring are small we are designed to carry them everywhere because our milk is not fatty enough to sustain them for long periods, unlike cache mammals, like rabbits, whose offspring will be left in a burrow or whatever, while they return every few hours to feed them. If we are carrying our young they can feed as they desire which means they are getting the right amount of milk and nutrients. It also suppresses engorgement - apparently engorgement is a western thing as in other cultures where babies are 'slung'(?!) from birth and always attached to the mother, engorgement doesn't occur as baby is constantly feeding.

Shame we don't have pouches like kangaroos though, would make the sling vs pram debate a bit of a non-starter. Wink

INeedThatForkOff · 15/10/2012 17:24

What are those amber necklaces supposed to do, anyway?

NowThenNowThen · 15/10/2012 17:27

Ineed thatforkoff

Noooo! My username is really old, but has become a source of shame! I need a new one but have gone a bit blank.
I used to be Northern something (but too many Northerns), and then I was something else, but don't know what to change to that sounds a bit the same!
Any suggestions welcome!