Criticised for carrying my baby

[mrsmacguffin]

Hi all

I was wondering whether I am alone in this...but I keep getting comments, criticisms or disapproving looks for carrying my baby. I usually have him in a sling, and have done since he was born (he's 3 months old now) but as he is getting bigger I occasionally carry him in my arms as he wants to move/look around more.

He has always been a cuddly baby and hates his buggy/car seat, whereas he is perfectly safe and happy in the sling or my arms.

Am I mad, or is everyone else?

My son loves to be carried so he can look around, and tends to get upset in his buggy if overtired.

I've never had any comments and can't imagine why people would judge?? It's THE most natural way of carrying a baby!!!

13 week old DS has never been in a buggy once. We exclusively use a sling. And I have had nothing but positive comments about it. Same with DD.

Even from strangers on the bus etc.

Are you sure you're not maybe overthinking it?

Everyone else is. My 2.4yo DS still wants lots of "mummy pick up".
What do the critics say actually? You're spoiling him?

Are you sure people care? Really? He's your baby, do what you like.

No, you're definitely not the mad one. My one year old loves being carried, either in the sling or my arms. I'd do it all the time if she didn't weigh a ton!

Ignore them, it's absolutely none of their business anyway.

I'd never comment but it does make me feel all squirly inside when you see folks out and about with babes in arms...I just think one trip or stumble and baby meets floor...that's never going to end well

But that's my thing...and in a sling, babies always look so cosy.

I hadn't same in a shopping centre when dd was tiny. some woman tutted and told me I was irresponsibile and her friend said something about teenagers being mothers and not expecting them to be responsible. I was 33 when dd was born so whilst being rather flattered that she thought I was a teenager I did feel the need to point out that they were both incredibly rude and perhaps if ignorant strangers learnt to mind their own business and keep their opinions to themselves then the world would be a much nicer place

My daughter hates her car seat bouncy chair she's happy in 2 places in her pram sat up or attached to me I swear she has built in Velcro she is also 3 months old and very inquisitive I carry her everywhere she's big for her age and can hold her head up from birth I've always done it I get weird looks as she is pushing a empty pram and I'm carrying a wiggly 3 month old who. Would rather try and get down on the floor to try crawling

One of the more ridiculous things for people to judge you on! Carrying your baby is entirely natural - bonding, comfortable for them, easy for you. How on earth it's irresponsible, I've no idea! Take no notice.

How do they think babies were transported before the (very, very recent) invention of the pram?

I had a little old lady accuse me of suffocating my baby a few weeks ago when she saw him in the sling. I also had a frantic little girl (she looked about four) rush up to me and ask frantically, 'Why is he in there?! WHAT IS HE DOING IN THERE?!'

what better use for a mothers arms??

I never used a pushchair. Both DC were in slings or carried. I had so many positive comments. Never a negative one.

I love to see babies in slings. They look so cosy and must feel so secure. I wish I could have done it with my own children but I had a dodgy back so I couldnt.
I often carry my 3 year old grandson. He loves it and in many ways so do I but after 2 minutes it's so very tiring. Perhaps people are trying to save you from this fate but to be honest it's really nothing to do with them.
I would advise getting him to walk once he is a bit older though as carrying a toddler for any length of time is exhausting.

I heard a great response to this once. "Babies aren't born with wheels attached".

I loved my sling. DD hated the pram & screamed continually, slept beautifully in the sling. Plus it meant I could do physio on her ankles as we walked around, as she had positional talipes (club foot) on both feet.

OMG seriously? From 3m to 9m DD was carted to London and back (we live in Sussex) twice a day; 2 x 3 hour round trips in a sling! I only gave it up when I didn't have to do the trip anymore. Brilliant exercise for me and she loved it.

They're bonkers. Ignore them. Carry your ds happily.

My 13mo is still carried about in a sling, and he's perfectly happy. He can see out of windows on the bus/train, and gets to nap cuddled up whenever he likes. I don't look forward to trips when I have to take the pushchair out.

I never had comments with DC1 or DC2 but with DC3 parents of DC2's friends at nursery made comments (I think they thought I never put DC3 down...) and I had a very odd conversation with a security guard in Boots who was convinced that I was going to suffocate her.

My friend fell whilst carrying her DS so for that reason, I always feel a bit nervous and concerned when I see someone carrying their baby. I wouldn't look disapprovingly if I saw you but you might spot me looking slightly panicked!

Do you mean 3 years old?? WTH could be wrong with carrying a 3 month old?! Or a 3 year old for that matter, if you are able to! They are only little once - get as much time with them in your arms as possible, parent in the way that makes your family happy and ignore the vast amount of advice you will get as much as you want.

I've had lots of negative comments. One old lady referred to my Connecta carrier as 'a baby trap'. The other day an old man did a double take, tutted and said 'get him walking. That's wrong that is' SHE is 9 months old and not even crawling!