Curious - why don't more people use baby carriers?

[togarama]

I'm increasingly curious about this and just wondered if others on MN could shed some light on their choice of buggy Vs carrier (or both).

I don't know many other parents IRL and those I do come into contact with are often so obviously negative about baby carriers that I don't think I would gain anything other than a sore ear from asking them....

We've always used slings, wraps and other carriers with 20 month old DD because they're comfortable (for us and baby), convenient (especially since they leave your hands free) and fit our lifestyle. We walk a lot, like to be spontaneous and don't want to have to think about buggy access / stair problems every time we leave the house. I also travel a lot by train and tube and can't even begin to imagine the hassle of trying to cart a pram or buggy around the public transport system.

However, I'm always very conscious when with other parents (e.g. dropping DD at nursery and being stared at...) that we're very much in a minority and I don't really understand why. Carriers just seem to have so many advantages and appear much more logical for commuting and city living. But buggies are somehow still the choice of the majority.

Why is this?

I agree with Bumblingbovine when she says this:
"Even before children, I never understood how can you only have a phone and keys with you when you went out. What about money, tissues, reading glasses, umbrella, diary? Add to that nappies, change of clothes for ds, wipes, extra blanket if it got very cold, spare bottle and ready formula carton in the early months"

And what about basic stuff like hairbrush, perfume, sunglasses,makeup etc? (my bag often contains shoes, cardigan, newspaper...) And I really hate the look of backpacks. No wonder I miss prams!

I think basic means v. different things to different people.

And I may also just be a total scruff who carries no hairbrush, toiletries or makeup...

Actually, on reflection, I have all those things in the cupboard at work (and more besides) so that I can transform myself into a decent human being when I get to the office in the morning.

You guys probably look amazing all day long. I'm not fit for purpose (any) before 10ish.

I've just consulted a friend - yes, I'm a total scruff. Outside working hours, that is.

:)

Fit for purpose by 10ish sounds better than I manage, though.

It's fascinating to hear about different expectations / lifestyles - no wonder people end up talking at cross purposes.

FortunateHamster - lentilweavering seemed to creep up on me without me realising.

togarama

I do the same as angel - we always have a ton of library books etc too.

I wasnt having a go about the health problem thing either - I suppose I am a bit furstrated that it never worked out for me - i was in the itu after dd and so dh did most of the work meaning that by the time I was anywhere near ready to carry she was 6 weeks and already huge - I never had the time to get used to her weight added to that I was on a build-up diet to get me to an optimum weight and was banned from doing any further exercise.

Maybe I would have been ok with a proper back wrap sling if i had been able to try a few out - would still have nowhere to carry the blessed violin and judo kit though

coldcomfort - I love the fact that perfume is a basic item for you.

i feel the same about cloth nappies

i've been through several buggies and slings and am planning what new buggy and sling to get for dc3.

I did try with a sling! I did! (it was the dreaded Babybjorn though....and I have to admit to trying to get dh to wear it...and my first did cry in it...and it was for things like a walk in the woods...)

Baby Bjorn gave me back ache even with my tiny baby! Gave that one away and used a Wilkonet fornumber 2 which was great for my back but not good for breast feeding on the go. Planning to try a moby next with my third.

I loved Baby Bjorn when mine were young, i realise that's a terrible thing to admit toon here though . tried the wilkinet but it was just uncomfy, straps dug in so much.

As for past 6 months, well they are jsut too damm heavy for it to be 'simple'. Also what about when you stop, e.g for a coffee...nowhere to put them if they are asleep and you sit down (heaven forbid!).

thehairybabysmum: We've had a few discussions on here re "the coffee problem". I think that many of us who love carriers don't have a problem sticking to cold drinks and getting a few crumbs on baby's head.

Coffee addicts and tidy people probably wouldn't see it as so straightforward...

It's one of those things I wouldn't have stopped to think about because we're both so comfortable.

I had lovely lunches out with DD in the carrier when on mat leave and particularly remember her sleeping on my front through a selection of tapas, bread, olives and a nice glass of red wine on a warm summer's day...

my gorgeous new-second hand stretchy wrap arrived for my new baby

i am planning to tandem carry

I don't use a sling for the simple reason that I'm epileptic.

For me to wear one could mean a possible death sentence for my son if I were to have a seizure.

Haven't read whole thread but:

I used a Closer sling when DD was small and loved it. At about 5 months she got too heavy and I never really investigated carriers for older children for a variety of reasons:

• I like walking and pushing the buggy

• Buggies are great for carrying shopping and nappy bags. When I was on maternity leave, I did all the shopping on foot.

• You can give them drinks and snacks in the buggy. (I know this is frowned upon by many here!)

• Although I love DD to bits, breastfed and co-slept, I enjoyed the personal space of having her in the buggy sometimes.

• She used to sleep well in the buggy.

• I liked being able to sit down in a cafe when she was asleep and read a book or the paper without worrying about waking her.

• I had spent a long time finding the right buggy for me (easy to push, easy to fold, went on the bus etc.) and so it did the job I wanted it to.

I did have a hand-me-down old fashioned back carried which I used for walks a couple of times, but it was pretty horrendous. I know there are great ones out there, but it was never really a priority for me.

Horses for courses!

Please recommend baby sling/carrier that won't hurt my back.
DD is 5 months old, very long and weighs 16 pounds.
Last time I used my Baby front carrier my back hurt lots. I love being able to carry her in sling and would like to continue to without becomming crippled.

Any recomendations?
Thanks
x

misskaur, where abouts are you?

there are laods of cariers about and its finding what works for you and suits you.

do you preer to tie or buckles? would you be interested in learning how to wrap (more versatile IMO)

I've often wondered what you are supposed to do while clothes shopping- if you fancied popping into a shop and trying clothes on with a baby in a sling, it's not that easy, is it? I used a combination of pushchair/sling for this reason-but what do full time sling wearers do?

Buggy is useful for stashing shopping under. But I have to say that our sling has been brilliant - DS was born 7 weeks ago by EMCS at 10lb. I have been unable to carry our buggy down the communal stairs in our block of flats and would have been lost without the sling - it's allowed me to get out the house. Not able to walks miles and miles with it as it's a bit sore on the neck (very basic sling!) but has allowed me to pop out for a coffee. Plus it's brilliant on buses and tubes. Using the buggy more now but want to get a more comfortable sling so that I can use both.

I carry DS in a wrap (I have a Sleepy Wrap and a Sa-Be wrap) when we go out and a ring sling around the house and in "emergencies" (it lives im my change bag and is very handy for feeding in awkward places or popping out of the car quickly).

He's a 17lb 16 week old and I still find "wearing" him very easy and comfy. The ring sling can be a bit one sided if I wear it for a long time, but the wraps (I carry him tummy to chest, or hammock style) are awesome, I've got stronger as he has got bigger and I barely notice him there.

I carry my change bag over one shoulder, I try to keep it light, but it still has my wallet, keys, hairbrush, book, nappies wipes, blanket, change of clothes, toys etc in there. If I know I am going to be getting a lot of shopping I have one of those wheely trollies grannies have, except it's a slimline lightweight one and not tartan. I haven't used the buggy in weeks, although I did find it handy for restaurants and stuff, I realised that inevitably he will want a feed or a cuddle when we are there anyway, so he ends up in my lap regardless.

People are always asking if he is heavy or uncomfortable to carry, so I guess people must assume that to be the case, it's not. People also comment about how complicated the wrap looks, again, it's not, I did it once following the instructions then I had it, there's a bit of a knack to getting the position right and the wrap tight enough, but wear a baby in it every day for a week and you're a pro.

Carriers are good for short trips eg picking up older kids from school/nursery, but the basket on a pram is useful for shopping trips and carrying baby bag with essentials in, also the pram has a pull-over hood for sunny/rainy days.

Plus if baby is fidgeting there's really nowhere to go if they are strapped to you whereas at least they have a little bit more personal space in a buggy, with room to look at/play with a small toy.

I have tried most slings and didn't really love any of them. I think I feel trapped into having baby strapped onto me whether they like it or not. I know I wouldn't want to be strapped 100% of the time to someone when it wasn't my choice, I guess I am... transposing that onto the baby?!?! Why the assumption that a baby wants to be strapped to you all the time, when you have decided it, except maybe as a newborn? I did have a particularly active LO though who would not sit still in a sling and liked to kick around having a good old nosy from the pram

Also - what do you do with the baby if you need the loo? surely it can't be easy!

I did several very long plane journeys with baby in a carrier on my own (from UK to NZ and back)at between 3 months and 1 year of age and could've asked the hostesses to watch him, but they were really busy so I carried him to the toilet in the sling each time I needed to go to the loo!! Not easy, but had him on my front, kind of held him outwards a bit and obviously didn't sit down I managed...but I wouldn't recommend it

I went to the 1000's of times with dd in the sling, carried her till she was 2, I just...erm...went to the loo! no different to how I go to the loo without her!

I just go. Baby is above waist height, makes no odds really. I never know what to do if he is in a pushchair, unless there is a baby room with a loo so I can bring it in or put him on the table. I'm not usually comfortable with leaving him in the pushchair unattended in a public place, there are a couple of loos locally where it might be ok, but most are too small for the pushchair to be close enough to the cubicle and too busy.