Is my MIL talking rubbish?

[Sakura]

Hi,
Im about 5 months pregnant in Japan (husband is Japanese). MIL is usually alright, but Ive found her to be a little controlling with her own kids. Anyway, shes started saying that I shouldnt go out much the first 3 months after the baby has born. She said Japanese women dont really go out. The reason is because the babys neck is weak and taking it out a lot could damage it.
They tend to carry their babies here when they go out, and I have seen a few with their heads hanging back over the sling, which shocked me because Ive never seen that in the UK. What annoys me is my husband tends to listen to her. I told him that at home, we usually take the baby out in a pram rather than carrying it, and I cant see how the baby lying down in a pram is going to affect the neck. Or you can get a sling that supports the neck. Anyway then I told him, Ill be having a nervous breakdown if Im stuck in the house any more than I have to be.
So is there any truth in what she says? Obviously we have to be careful with the neck but have any of you ever let it stop you going out?

( Then again, sheS very backward- has told me I dont need a car seat)

Well, whatever she thinks, you're not going to be going out for a full day of shopping or whatever anyway with a small new baby! You'll be lucky to get out to the letter box those first few weeks!

Just out of curiosity, where in Japan do you live? I lived in Hyogo for two years, smallish town about an hour from Kobe. Maybe in big cities women use slings because they're more convenient than strollers on public transport. Japan doesn't have many lifts in train stations!

Sakura, from personal experience, I would say, Your MIL will talk rubbish. All the time. Not because she's Japanese but because she's your MIL. Nod. Smile. Agree.
Then Do Your Own Thing.
Bit like HV's.

I agree with chipmonkey!

Skerriesmum, I hope for your sake, you are still on a different continent. Otherwise you are up Way Too Late! I am up way too late but I was at Fairyhouse toda. And we won 20 Euro!

I was out of the house with dd in a sling after a couple of days. I'm not the sort of person who can sit at home and ds had to be taken to and from school!

your mil is talking rubbish, its obviously what they do and beleive in their country, i have seen the way they carry their babies on their back with the babys tiny head flopping about, i would stick to a pram it fully supports your baby in all ways, if you want a sling by all means find a good supporting one, and i must say you will go mad if you stay indoors for the first few months.

Cheers for all the replies.
I will just nod whenever MIL makes suggestions in future. Just thought that maybe this was a vital piece of info that I was missing. But obviously not. So the pram is the best bet.
Thanks,
Sakura

I`m in southern Japan in Kyushu.

As long as your baby's head is supported, you can do whatever you feel up to! I can see, though, that if the custom there is to let the poor little babies' heads flop about, then perhaps staying in might seem safer!

I use a pram and I will go out for the day breast feeding and all before she is three months old my other two would go mad if the where stuck in all day with me!!

moms are like that mine keeps giving me advice and I agree with chipmonkey you should hear the stuff my MIL comes out with sometimes