Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this woman took baby wearing to another level

192 replies

GirlWiththeLionHeart · 04/05/2013 14:41

In a shop with my ds looking at baby stuff and a mum comes in with her two dcs, one in a buggy, another in a sling.

The child in the sling looked about 5! Grin

He was that tall that when she knelt down to pick something out of the buggy his feet touched the floor and he jumped up which made him bang his head on her chin I had to turn away or I might've laughed
I may sound like a cow but I smiled at her when she first came in and she just sneered at me before launching into loud parenting.

OP posts:
Cloverer · 04/05/2013 15:37

DS is coming up 3 and I still carry him on my back sometimes, if I crouch down he can touch the floor.

The child jumping up when she knelt down makes it sound younger than 5 though - it's the kind of thing a 2-3 year old would do without thinking of the consequences.

pigletmania · 04/05/2013 15:38

My ds 15 months is a very good eater and hovers up everything, fruit, veg chips and he is heavy (not fat) I dread to think how much he will weigh at 4, carrying him on my back Noway. Why would anyone want to carry round a child of re school agewho is capable of walking Hmm

Original poster
GirlWiththeLionHeart · 04/05/2013 15:45

Exactly piglet

I struggle for long periods with my ds who is 5 months!

When he can walk, he will walk or go in buggy if its a distance.

By the by I never judge older children in buggies as I know they could be disabled or going for a long distance

OP posts:
5madthings · 04/05/2013 15:46

Well maybe she was carrying him on her front so he could have a bfeed if he wanted?

I agree front carry for a larger child can not be good for your back but it depends on lots of things.

My tall two yr old had a piggyback ride back from the garden center earlier as with four others yo watch by a busy road and her being tired after a morning at soft play that was the easiest option.

Original poster
GirlWiththeLionHeart · 04/05/2013 15:46

He must have looked older than he was. He definitely wasn't 2. Must've been 4ish from the way he was talking.

OP posts:
pigletmania · 04/05/2013 15:49

I just don't know, thugh some children do look older. My ds looks about 2 but cannot walk yet

likeitorlumpit · 04/05/2013 15:51

i would of laughed tbh :)

noblegiraffe · 04/05/2013 15:51

Why wouldn't you put the older child in the buggy and carry the younger one? Confused

5madthings · 04/05/2013 15:54

Speach again varies, my ds1 was tall and talking in sentences at 18mths, people regularly mistook him for a child age 3+

Seriously sometimes its easier to carry them, they can walk most of the time and you can have a sling handy of you need it, much easier than traipsing a pushchair round especially if they won't need it 90% of the time.

Tailtwister · 04/05/2013 15:58

Not all children like pushchairs. DS2 never did. So what anyway? I think you're right OP, you do sound like a cow.

TheChaoGoesMu · 04/05/2013 15:58

My dd had amazing speech at 2. You cant really judge by that. And anyway, maybe the child gets tired easily, my 5 yr old dd does.

KippersAndMackerel · 04/05/2013 16:00

Maybe he asked to be carried, and mum had the sling with her incase the baby wanted to go in it. It makes more sense to pop the 4/5 year old in the sling for a cuddle than carry him in one arm and push the pushchair in one arm.

HeffalumpTheFlump · 04/05/2013 16:09

I'm sorry I agree with the OP, as long as there aren't medical reasons for needing to do this I find it a bit weird. Especially the child being carried at the front... Personally I think it's babying a child who should be walking and gaining a little more independence. I also agree it can't be good for this woman's back!! Each to their own of course but this would be weird to me.

Isiolo · 04/05/2013 16:13

I just cannot imagine how it is possible to get a 5 year old in a sling!! Let alone carry on around Confused

You certainly don't carry your 4 year old 'African Style' gertrude, you'd have to go some, to find a 4 year old being carried in any style in Africa! Grin

pigletmania · 04/05/2013 16:14

I agree with heffalump a child of 4/5 is perfectly capable of walking, if tey are tried they can stop or sit down somewhere for a rest. Each to their wn and all that but why would you carry an older child

Cloverer · 04/05/2013 16:16

Some slings are designed for pre-school children Isolo, so you could easily carry a 5 year old in one. I have a toddler carrier that I think is about 18" square and will easily fit a 3 year old. Wraps or ring slings are also quite capable of taking older kids.

OutragedFromLeeds · 04/05/2013 16:35

I would have laughed at the chin bash as well OP.

It doesn't matter what the reasons were it's still unusual to see a 5 year old in a sling and you would do a double take.

I love how far the 'don't be judgy' goes now.....you can't comment on anything if you don't know that persons entire life story Grin

pickledginger · 04/05/2013 16:40

He was probably under 3 and she doesn't want the hell that is a double buggy for when he gets tired.

Floggingmolly · 04/05/2013 16:50

Would you not put the baby in the sling and the 5 year old in the buggy, if they didn't want to walk? Confused. Or have a double buggy???

redwallday · 04/05/2013 16:52

I had my 4 year old in a sling on my back on Thursday. He fell asleep in the car as well as my 22 month old on the way to a hospital appointment. It was either that or drag him the half mile to the reception! So what's the big problem?

Floggingmolly · 04/05/2013 16:52

God, someone posted "not all children like pushchairs"... Grin
So they fucking walk, especially when they're five!

Isiolo · 04/05/2013 16:53

I would have thought so molly Confused

redwallday · 04/05/2013 17:11

Oh and my 22 month old wears size 3-4 and my 4 year old wears 5-6 so I will keep my eye out for 'crazy woman wearing a 6 year old' thread Grin

NotYouNaanBread · 04/05/2013 17:15

YABU. If we're going for along walk with 4yo dd, we bring the ergo just in case. Better than dealing with a grumpy tired child on the way home if we go too far for her.

acceptableinthe80s · 04/05/2013 17:23

I really don't know how any woman manages to carry around an older child, it must be back breaking. DS 4 occasionally talks me in to carrying him upstairs to bed and i practically have to drop him when i get to the top but then i am Old.

Imo scooters are the best invention ever, when ds gets tired he just stands on it and i push him along with one hand. It also folds easily for the bus etc..