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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:
MaryZed · 15/10/2012 17:28

They are for choking small children, INeed [helpful]

theodorakis · 15/10/2012 17:28

Tell me about the amber necklaces!

theodorakis · 15/10/2012 17:29

Doesn't amber sometimes have fossilised scorpions and bugs in it? On a par with the snail!

HoneyDragon · 15/10/2012 17:30

So to be an actual good parent you have to stop waxing and embrace the fuzz? So the lazy little bugger have something to cling onto and the the actual work. Now that's my kind of parenting, I could get fervent about bodyhairing instead of babywearing.

NowThenNowThen · 15/10/2012 17:31

But why did you "look sideways" HipHop? I honestly don't get it!
Is it the keeping them on a lead thing? Cos they are kind of like puppies, arn't they?
And is the playpen thing because of "cage" connatations?

I walked my toddler on a lead and kept him in a cage

GrimAndHumourless · 15/10/2012 17:43

urgh amber

right

the woo explanation is that amber has properties, analgesic ones, that leach through the skin into the bloodstream to soothe teething blah de blah

the science agrees that yes, amber does have analgesic properties but the amber needs to be heated to a ridiculous heat to release the analgesia (I forget but let's say for argument's sake 200 degrees C)

Here's the rub though: if amber does have easily usae-able analgesic properties then you are using an untested medicine on your dearest most beloved possession you crazy person you (paraphrasing here of course)

And of course there is the choke hazard; and no kitemark, natch, so you may well be giving baby glass to chew unknowingly

DoesItComeInBlack · 15/10/2012 17:56

I bought a sling and a buggy, dd loved the sling, it was handy I could get jobs done while she snoozed in it. Then the sling was recalled on safety grounds (apparently a baby had suffocated in it in the States) and I got my money back, dd wouldn't take to any other style. I stuck to the buggy and had a great excuse for not getting the house work done. She's now 2 1/2 and mostly walks. I have no amber, but I do like lentils.

misdee · 15/10/2012 17:59

lol @ some of this thread

i run WGC slingmeet. its a chance to try different types of slings out to find what suits you. unlike with pushchairs, where there are hardstanding shops, most sling shops and net based and no shop to try this out in person. sling meets and sling librarys give you a chance to find out what suits you with little or no cost.

I do use pushchairs, as i have 3 chikldren aged 3 and under, if we're on a public transport day, i tend to carry two (one of the fron and one on the back) and have one in the pushchair.

and i do love a bit of woo Grin

misdee · 15/10/2012 18:01

for teething, they arent meant to chew the necklaces. it should be short enough so they dont get it into their mouths and strung on silk, each bead individually knotted.

misdee · 15/10/2012 18:03

ah shoes. i have a shoe refuser who wants to walk. if its safe enough (ie not broken grass and not woods) then i let him walk barefoot. when we went camping over the summer, he was barefoot the whole weekend.

CruCru · 15/10/2012 18:13

I have a bit of a random question. I have an Ergo sling and a 13 month DS. How do you get a child into the sling on your back? A friends daughter used to climb onto her back so she could pull the straps up but DS isn't really a cooperator.

No way can I carry the boy on my front. He is massive.

PurplePidjin · 15/10/2012 18:15

I love my local sling meet, despite my initial deep scepticism of all things tie dyed and dreadlocked.

Nice mix of ff, bf, buggies, cloth and disposable nappies... The only thing anyone is militant on is "Your child, your way"

The leader likes mn on facebook, i think that helps

Indith · 15/10/2012 18:34

Whatever you do, wherever you go there will always be some people who are slightly dotty/militant about something. Most sling meets are fine and friendly and lovely. Most home edders are fine and friendly and lovely. Most bfers are fine and friendly and lovely...get the drift?

But in everything there will be one dotty person who thinks that slings are the only way and prams are evil. There will be one bfer who thinks formula is the work of the devil. There will be one ffer who thinks bf is enslaving women. There will be one knitter who thinks people who only crochet are stupid. There will be one cat owner who thinks all dogs whould be shot on sight.

Mostly sling meets are a mix of people like me who use slings because they are comfy, you can get housework done and thye are convenient when out. These people may only have one or 2 slings but a great many pairs of shoes, but you won't see that because you are on a sling meet. You will also find people who like slings for the same reasons but who indulge their love of pretty fabrics and have several slings because they are the only thing they spend money on.

Indith · 15/10/2012 18:37

CruCru to get the baby on your back you can either sit him on your hip and then scooch him round (the less scary option but they you have to sort your clothes out after as they will be all twisted) or you pick the baby up under his arm and pop him over your shoulder then lean forwards so your back is flat and bring the carrier over him. Then stand straight while holding the carrier straps and bounce the baby down so he has a nice deep seat. If you look on youtube you can find videos for pretty mcuh every carrier and way of carrying there is.

HoneyDragon · 15/10/2012 18:43

One of life's enduring mysteries is that it is much easier to fling babies round any old how to strap them upon yourself, than it is to get the buggers strapped into their carseats.

Indith · 15/10/2012 19:10

so very true.

Original poster
crackcrackcrak · 15/10/2012 19:23

Amber necklaces hide me the rage now I know they don't work
.

But I toddler on reigns you say.....now that would be something Grin

OP posts:
Pascha · 15/10/2012 19:53

I never did get the hang of getting the wriggly little sod on my back. I am so cack-handed I had to resort to a sling with internal harness and do them up first.

Peka · 15/10/2012 20:17

This thread is my actual favourite thing all day. I have been laughing so loud I think I may have woken DS up (nooo!). Best bit was the snails.

YoullLaughAboutItOneDay · 15/10/2012 20:18

I was the best bit

Peka · 15/10/2012 20:19

You so were Smile

theodorakis · 15/10/2012 20:22

You may be able to do something with the snails in competitive parenting stories. Some babies learn a language but not many have such a sophisticated and continental palate at such a young age. She is clearly very very advanced for her age.

theodorakis · 15/10/2012 20:24

Beats Hugo's passion for sun dried squid aged 2days hands down

YoullLaughAboutItOneDay · 15/10/2012 20:35

Sadly I think I have told the story too often as one of the lax parenting of a second child to spin it now!

misdee · 15/10/2012 21:09

[checks purplepidjins profile to see if i know her] nope too far away!