Baby Carriers / Slings

[Flashman]

Hi - Just wondering where other chaps stand on the issue of the babycarriers (slings and things like that) We are due our first in 55 days (not that I am counting!!), and I was chatting to some mates on the subject of slings and carriers and the general view is that men that do wear them look "Pussy whipped" is how it was explained. For my sins I tend to see that point of view more so than any others. I mentioned it today at work and most of the females tend to think grow up - but the men tended to agree, but none of them have children either.

Funny that he can manage to tie a sling, but not do up his belt [I am turning into my Dad]

lol.

i have never gotten the idea behind the 'sag'.

My fella found the sling helped comfort Alice when she was going through the early evening heeby jeebies without putting too much strain on his back. This is him carrying her in a borrowed wrap sling.

my word the "continuum concept " - i think I would be more likely to buy the carrier than a book like that - I are determinded to avoid at all costs books that contain you should do this or do that. Muggle through and see what happens will be my watch word.

Its great at the moment I know all baby problems - reality has not yet crushed me!!!

hmmm I really am setting up to crash and burn I think.

And on the baby carrier front I have realised something that I had not really considered - carrying a baby must really work your "guns" will not need to go to gym!!

My MIL described having a baby as very slow weight lifting - she's right and I have the muscles to show for it.

Slings a right faff? How about folding a fecking pram with a screaming child in one arm, to try to get onto a bus with a bloody rude driver and a load of gawping passengers who won't help, and eventually drives off leaving you standing in the rain.

Yeah, I know baby origami isn't for everyone but it's horses for courses innit, I found wrapping (after a couple of practice sessions) far less faff than a buggy.

Oh, and DaDaDa - DD was slung so much because she was an extremely high maintenance baby. If she'd been good natured she would have sat in her buggy and stared at leaves like (some) other babies. Just trying to put her down led to so much screaming I'm sure the neighbours considered phoning social services

If you need some more male opinions my DH went to the pub last night with the other NCT dads (whilst we learnt about breastfeeding - oh what fun). Apparently he bought up this thread and not one of them thought that wearing a sling would make them look under the thumb, as that was under no prompting from me (to ask or to recount after) I think that would give you a clearer view of what men really thing. My DH then went on to say we should get a proper sling as well as the bushbaby cocoon we already have (he did request we buy one in a neutral colour however )

kiskidee, that is one cute norwegian sling wearing dadda.

swoon!

i have pics of my H wearing dd at 14m in my storch in a front cross wrap. he is 6'5" and about 115kg with a beard. definately doesn't look pussy whipped, he just looks happy and content as dd snoozes on his chest.

awwww!

Libra - Well I really do think it is me and the group of friends that I have - we are all truely twats then.

However I have decided that they are truely not for me - I did try one that a mate had with his son in - and I really could not get over feeling like a cock - yes sad I know - but there it is.

do you think Bruce Parry and Bear Grylls would carrty their children around? or do you think they would worry that their mates might think they are 'pussy whipped' . Are you so unsure of your masculinity/ Women are always the boss btw, and anyway when the baby comes along you won't care what your mates say, and you'll get soppier and soppier

err no idea who they are - sure of masculinity - yes woman always the boss. And as I have said serveral times - I might change when the baby comes along!

My husband wore apinny on his front and our baby on the back while I slept today. He has NEVER looked so sexy

Flashman - you will, as you say, find this out for yourself, but it is utterly different to hold you own baby. And your embarrassment level changes dramatically... It might be a good idea to see if you can borrow one for a while when the baby's born - if you like it, buy one, if not, give it back. Wish we'd used one, actually - thought we are also World Of Pram here... (and dh looks foxy no matter what he does).

habibu just made me remember.

dh once said that he thought those men who blithely walk around shopping centres with a baby's dummy in their mouths looked totally sad.

now he sees it totally differently when dd sticks her dummy in his mouth to make him better.

Mookie - Great pic. And clearly demonstrates how great men look with slings.

My opinion is that actually men look very fit wearing slings! I haven't read all the posts on this thread, but would agree with the 'pussy magnet' statement.

I would suggest that the sling is as plain as possible though, so prints, but I'd say the same for women too. It's a practical thing, not decoration...

And seriously, they are so much more masculine than pushing a pram or buggy...opps, may have started a new debate there.

If men who wear slings look "pussywhipped", does that mean men who won't wear slings because they are scared of what their mates might say are...cockwhipped?

my hubby has used my slings with but my girls, and thinks its fab. He is a bug man at 6ft and well built so might be why no one said anything. The girls look so cute all cuddled up with daddy, and it really does bring a closeness.
The only one he wouldnt wear would be a pink one

"If men who wear slings look "pussywhipped", does that mean men who won't wear slings because they are scared of what their mates might say are...cockwhipped?"

I was tempted to reply to the OP; don't worry what your mates say, you won't be seeing them for the next 2 years.

I was prompted to join mumsnet by the view expressed in this thread that Flashman wasn't getting men's views. Rather, he was getting DH and DP views filtered through women, which might be dodgy.

Just wanted to say that I don't feel at all pussywhipped wearing the daughter in our black and silver baby bjorn.

It allows me to stop her crying, it allows me to go to the pub, and yes, it has proved a pussy magnet.

My best man and I went halves on it, as his baby will be born just as my baby becomes too heavy to continue being carried in it.

Just wish I'd bought it earlier than 4months.

Why do people say Baby Bjorns are evil?

Babybjorns make a baby carry their upper body weight by hanging by their pelvic floors crotches. in addition, their spine is shaped differently from that of a grown-up, it has a larger natural curvature down low so it is putting undue stress on their lower back as their legs go fairly straight down. A more natural position for a non walking child is more like a frogged position.

plus when a child is tired, or has the sun in its face, it is harder for hte parent to observe that they need to be turned away from external stimulation.

there. that is why babybjorns are crap. but they are also expensive and do many grownups back in. Plus they have a shorter shelf life than a fabric wrap or soft structured carrier.

We have got three different slings and my baby doesn't like any of them, he just likes hanging out in his pram, (mountain buggy which is very cool and macho). So I would wait to try out the slings, and agree, try and borrow one first.