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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.

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SelfconfessedSpoonyFucker · 04/05/2013 20:40

The child's feet basically could almost touch the ground.

I don't see how that can be, I've very very occasionally piggy backed (for like 10 secs when we are joking around) my now 17 year old who is 4 inches taller than me and his feet don't touch the ground when he does.

IfNotNowThenWhen · 04/05/2013 20:41

I give my 7 yr old a piggyback sometimes when he is tired. He can walk miles, and does, but if sometimes I have to have him jump on my back and run. I am strong as an ox. Who cares?

Original poster
GirlWiththeLionHeart · 04/05/2013 20:41

I agree with the others up thread who said why no carry the small child and put the big kid in the pushchair. It was a mclarens so perfect really.

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Original poster
GirlWiththeLionHeart · 04/05/2013 20:42

He was facing away from her btw.

His feet did nearly touch the ground because the carrier was quite low iyswim

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KentuckyFriedChildren · 04/05/2013 20:43

IfNotNowThenWhen that is one of my favourite songs and I am now going to dig out my cd Grin

DontstepontheMomeRaths · 04/05/2013 20:43

I used to use an ergo which you can use to age 5, I think. With 2 kids close together it was a life saver once they were bigger and had outgrown the bjorn. My son is now 4 but still gets really tired and needs carrying, so I wouldn't judge.

Cloverer · 04/05/2013 20:45

Sorry, are you saying he was on her front facing forward? And he was five?

What kind of carrier was this, a Baby Bjorn? My mind is actually boggled Confused

Piemother · 04/05/2013 20:47

Facing out???? A sling using hippie type would know that's heresy Wink

IfNotNowThenWhen · 04/05/2013 20:48

You should totally do that kentucky Grin

TheYamiOfYawn · 04/05/2013 20:50

Why not carry the baby? Possibly because the baby was asleep or likely to fall asleep in an inconvenient way in the sling, or because the bigger child wanted to be carried.

KentuckyFriedChildren · 04/05/2013 20:51

Gawd facing out? His poor danglies Grin I can't think of a sling suitable for a child that age that would be vaguely comfy like that.

HullMum · 04/05/2013 20:52

it was in a shop? that's what's carts are for surely?

Cloverer · 04/05/2013 20:53

I can't think of a forward facing carrier that could fit a 5 year old in? Bjorn/Tomy style carriers are small and really unsupportive for the adult, they're designed for babies under 1.

VinegarDrinker · 04/05/2013 20:55

I can't think of a way of forward facing a 5 year old either, I am really intrigued now!

KentuckyFriedChildren · 04/05/2013 20:57

Well exactly Cloverer and tbh I don't know any slingers who would use a bloody BabyBjorn either. Awful contraptions Hmm

VinegarDrinker · 04/05/2013 20:59

Surely you couldn't possibly fit a 5 year old in a Baby Bjorn?!

The Beco Gemini does forward facing but I can't imagine a 5 year old fitting in it by any stretch of the imagination.

This story gets odder and odder.

Piemother · 04/05/2013 21:01

There is a carrier called a Kozy (iirc) you can out face with toddlers but I've only seen one, ever.

VisualiseAHorse · 04/05/2013 21:05

MrsTerry - get a ring sling.

KentuckyFriedChildren · 04/05/2013 21:07

Piemother I have a Kozy and it's an asian carrier. linky and there is no way you could do a front facing out carry with a child over 1

sushidave · 04/05/2013 21:19

Some lovely thoughts on the subject of carrying older children here: wyslinglibrary.com/2013/04/30/carrying-older-children/

Bunbaker · 04/05/2013 21:22

"And can I just add that I loathe the phrase "baby wearing"? Shudder."

So do I. Babies aren't clothes or accessories. They are little people in their own right.

If I saw what looked like 5 year old being carried like that I would assume that the child had special needs.

IdaClair · 04/05/2013 22:05

I don't like the term either, but it's just a generic word, it doesn't mean everyone using it thinks their child is actually their favourite jumper. Really.

A 5 year out facing out on the front would look pretty bizarre, yes, and likely be uncomfortable, yes. There's nothing wrong with putting an older kid in a sling or carrier though. You do what works. I did laugh at the idea that an older child should walk and if they are that tired you stop and find somewhere to sit down - well, of course they can walk, barring other issues, but being in a carrier isn't usually about transportation - and surely putting them in a carrier is exactly the same as finding them a seat, in terms of the amount of walking they do! It only means you don't have to stop - which you easily may not have time to do.

I'll carry mine as long as needed and we're all happy. Don't give a crap if their legs look long to some random in a shop.

Piemother · 04/05/2013 22:17

Slinging is mostly about transporting dd2 for me. I know she loves it and loves being close to mummy all the time but its firstly because I couldn't push a pram post section and secondly because dd1 does so much stuff that's totally inaccessible to a pram.
I can't get too evangelical about slings though they are just a parenting choice along with most things

Original poster
GirlWiththeLionHeart · 04/05/2013 22:45

Sorry, just assumed you would all think he was facing out, should've said in op. I guess that's why he looked so dangly as he didnt have his legs wrapped around her or anything.
He was just kind of hanging there Confused

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Original poster
GirlWiththeLionHeart · 04/05/2013 22:46

It looked a bit like a bjorn type soft structure one, not a wrap. He was probably oldest 4.

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