Mothers with enormous toddlers in slings...

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AIBU to wonder how the feck they manage?

My neighbour has just walked past my window with her son dangling in front of her like a bloody giant in a harness!

He's almost 4! No SEN and very sturdy/capable.

We live in a tiny town/village and she can drive etc....she's probably just going to the shop down the road.

Why??

In my generation kids got on with it, no such thing as slings

Which generation is that then, because there have been slings for all of them, back to the caves.

1920s

Holy fuck, baby slings are cultural appropriation? Which culture?
This thread is hilarious.

1970s

Which generation is that then, because there have been slings for all of them, back to the caves.

I'm knocking on for 50 and only heard of slings from the late 90's. I don't live near any caves though.

In my generation kids just shot out of the womb and started cooking dinner for everyone. Occasionally one would have to discipline with a withering glance.

Ha ha loving the pics. Anybody want to show me a sling from the 70's with a 4 year old gangly kid in it?

1950s

Nope, no slings in my day Not unless they were brown.

you are the one who looks silly

Staring outside your window looking for something to judge

Why are we being shown pictures of infants in slings when the thread is about pre-schoolers?

OMFG. I just found a make-your-own baby carrier Simplicity pattern from the 80s but I've reached my limit on how many photos I can post.

People who judge this generally drive EVERYWHERE and dont see the irony of them strapping their kids into car seats to go 5 mins up the road while they judge people who go places on foot more with the aid of slings!

Why are we being shown pictures of infants in slings when the thread is about pre-schoolers?

Exactly. I have said nothing about infants in a sling. I'm talking about kids 4yrs and up.

curry 'politely' I said.

'You racist fool'?

The only sling available in London in the late 60's was a small piece of concertinaed fabric, like a hammock, you slung round your neck. I bought one from Mothercare. Useless, even for a v. small baby. No car, and no room for prams/pushchairs on the buses. So, no, they weren't available for every generation.

Of course, if I'd been aware of what they were doing in Ireland, I could have culturally appropriated the idea.

HouseworkIsASin10 you're welcome. Possibly you just led a sheltered life.

this is around the size of my 4 year old. In 1970's. Yes you couldn't buy ready made slings like you can now - people wrapped, like they still do now, with lengths of fabric.

And this is what you said, Housework

In my generation kids got on with it, no such thing as slings.

I provided evidence that there most certainly were slings. You did not limit your definition of slings to an age group.

DrRanjsRightEyebrow Now that is a cute pic, but if he is a 4 year old he's very petite. I would of said 2.5 max.

to be fair my 4 year old is petite - dh and I are only 5'3" and slim so he's never going to be big. And he's slender as he gets so much exercise. Only weighs 16kg, so really easy to carry in a sling when the need arises.

Actually, I think it's Mumsnetters who live a sheltered life. I still live in London and, apart from the odd Dad down the park with a rucksack arrangement for a baby, slings are rare except in places like Blackheath and Brockley. The Afro-Caribbeans in Lewisham use buggies, like (nearly) everyone else. Certainly by the time their kids are pushing 4.

You did not limit your definition of slings to an age group.

Let me re-phrase my earlier post to clarify:

In my generation, as a nearly 50 yr old, in the town where I grew up, I did not see any slings with any size babies/kids in at all. In any of my posts I have never said I have had an issue with young infants in a sling. I agreed with the OP that in my opinion kids of 4yrs and up look ridiculous in a sling.

Now as far as I'm aware individual opinions on this forum are encouraged. Love a good debate though, so glad everybody is putting their point across.

to be fair my 4 year old is petite That's the thing though, it only looks 'out of the norm' when it's a gangly child who looks big in proportion to the person carrying them.

YANBU. Each of my children basically lived in their sling until they were about 8-9 months old, and I often used a sling up until about 18 months ish. After this age, surely a buggy is more practical?

I don't drive and typically walk several miles a day, but even so, my daughter had completely stopped using buggies/slings by age 3.5, and my currently 2.11 year old DS only needs a buggy for longer trips. I don't understand why anyone would want/need to carry a healthy 4 year old in a sling.

But when he is gangly and tall I will still carry him if he wants and I am comfortable to do so. I am small but strong and fit. I'll stop when either he doesn't want to or I don't. What I look like never factors in my decision making with my son and I remain unconcerned with what is the norm, what the neighbours will say, what is in fashion etc etc. That kind of thinking has no place in my parenting choices.