I didn't think you'd be a "crunchy mummy"

[Sparrowlegs248]

Said to me. The reasons they think I'm a "crunchy" mum (whatever the fuck that means). I breastfed both children, with a few days gap in between, for a total of 4.5 yrs. I used a sling. I co slept with both, often still do with the younger (almost 3 yr old). I bake with them sometimes

Reasons I wasn't expected to be "crunchy" I wear "normal" clothes, wear make up, have tidy hair (sometimes) and go to work!!!

I'm a bit perplexed by this, from someone who I thought knew me quite well!

Wow, from reading your description, it looks like I might be a crunchy mummy too! Except I did not use a sling because dd protested really loudly every time I tried!

I am vegetarian though...

Hmm i seem to be a bit of a 7 . I had an ergo, although preferred the pram. I was obsessed with cloth nappies, bum genius being the favourite, had washable wipes, co-slept, home-birthed in a pool, made my own hummus...

BUT my kids have screens, attend quite normal schools and i probably watch more netflix than i work atm.

I remember a mum on here self describing as "crunchy

I remember that thread Going back a bit but it was...memorable.

I'm pretty crunchy on the inside, but it's probably not too obvious in terms of personal style and so on - if there really is a template some people have in mind.

To worry I've turned into the attachment mum horror http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/amiibeingunreasonable/2627336-To-worry-Ive-turned-into-the-attachment-mum-horror

It was this.

And there was a later update thread

In NZ we say “she’s a bit of an earth mother type”. Into extended breastfeeding, organically, baby wearing, baby sensory classes, wooden toys, always doing the perfect thing for a babies development blah blah. Same thing I imagine.

is 'crunchy' from the Crunchy add from the 1970s? if I remember righty she was bit hippyish,

google 'crunchie advert 1976?' a woman on a bike with her hair up and eating a crunchie

It's a very American phrase, mostly in reference to natural medicine mums who don't vaccinate and use essential oils liberally amongst other things

Apparently they mean crunchie as in 'eats granola for breakfast' at least according to another forum I am on.

Technically also meet some of the criteria. Don't bother with loads of make-up (though I get my nails done and my eyelashes/ brows sorted fairly regularly). Breastfeed my 16mo. Use a carrier (not a sling, he hates the sling). Don't co-sleep (at least not most of the time) use cloth nappies at night, but disposables in the day. Vaccinate (apparently lots of crunchie mums in the US are anti-vaxx). And so on

TBH, it's a IS trope that doesn't really fit mums in the US. It doesn't work in the UK as a description from my experience.

This is my thread people

My username was indeed inspired by the poster who declared herself "a little bit crunchy".... it led me down a real rabbithole when I googled it.

My username is also slightly ironic as I'm not very crunchy (did extend BF and co sleep but only with one of my 3 kids!)

Her arse was handed to her, for the church chaos and the use of the term "crunchy"
I remember this too. It’s a word. The OP was smashed by a bunch of MN bullies who hadn’t come across the word. I thought it was terrible.

I do make my own granola
That makes you crunchy, regardless of whatever hippy dippy regulations you violate.

Never heard of this turn of phrase so can't see the label really taking off.

Then I was a Crunchy mum starting over 45 years ago. I'm a vegetarian (was back then as well) breastfed, used a sling and backpack to carry him around, used cloth diapers, sewed a lot of stuff, made my own baby food etc but I certainly didn't co-sleep because it's dangerous af and not recommended here in the U.S. I even bought organic veg/fruit. I wasn't a hippy though.

Never heard of this term before but reading that article it looks like I am a bit of a crunchy mum - about level 5. Seems I chose the right username by pure accident!

This has really made me laugh. I live in a very wanky part of east London this pretty much sums up every parent I know locally. I’m surrounded by the crunchiest of crunchy mums!

I got this! Everyone expresse dismay I was such a hands on, touchy feely mother as before, I was a glamour puss. Well, yes. I excelled at glamour and then I added to my repertoire. I can multitask.

I must live in a "crunchy" area - the vast majority of mums I know breastfed and used baby carriers (although not all the time, I dont know if there's a line between practical and crunchy!)

A smaller number used disposable nappies, organic clothing, wooden toys, organic home made food. I'm in this category.

I dont know anyone who is antivax or uses essential oils though, although one of my friends does have an amber teething bracelet for her baby.

The term originally comes from “granola crunchers/crunching” aka hippies. It’s a term that’s been used in the states for decades to refer to people of both genders.

I've only ever heard of crusties.

Crunchy? Dies that mean like an earth mother, a bit hippy?

Sling. 4.5 years is a very long time to be breastfeeding.

People have strong views on extended breastfeeding. Certainly isn't my choice. I breast feed both ds's but nowhere near that long.

I think the person who made the comment has a point. You obviously are that type of mother. Why does that offend you? If you are that type, why would someone commenting on it bother you?

East London here too, breast feeding/slings/co-sleeping/vegetarian kids pretty mainstream among the middle classes here. (Not me though really). I learnt the term crunchy from mumsnet though, no one refers to themselves as such.

Never heard the term before. Apart from co sleeping it's as far from me as you can get I never had a sling but did have one of those front carrier thingies with my third so I could keep hold of the others. Other than that I didn't breast feed (sensory issues), never used cloth nappies and how the hell do you weave a lentil those things are tiny???

I didn't even know this was a thing, and I definately register on the crunchy scale . Although we're not vegan and I can't be bothered with making granola. And not anti vax.

Hardly a degoratory thing though. It's my parenting choice and I'm really not that bothered whether someone approves or not.

It's a very America term with specific American cultural reference points. Crunchy correlates generally with people who make their own lovingly-crafted granola.

When I first arrived in the US I wondered if might be related to squirrels too