Monday, November 10, 2008

Slinging..

Nothing I have ever done.. and I mean nothing, has gotten more attention than when I wear my baby.. in a sling!  




It's obviously not a part of our culture here in the states, although it is catching on in a lot of places.  The sling I have is actually my older sister's, Mishka.  So its a new idea for me..but I love it.  But what cracks me up is the response that I get when I wear it out in public.  I do get  the typical, "oh how neat" or "where did you get that?"  Most people are openly inquisitive.  But some of the comments I just don't understand.  Like the people that walk past me and turn to the person they are with and say, "did you see that?" all secret like.  Is there something strange about a sling that I am not getting?  Or the other day a lady was trying not to stare at it and then as she got closer she peeked inside and said in surprise, "Oh, you have a baby in there."  What would I have in a pouch in front of my body?  Does it look like a purse?  

One day, at my little sisters gymnastics meet at UA, I was walking into the event and there was a mom outside with her baby trying to get him to sleep.  She too had a sling, although hers was different.  Even from across the building we were drawn to each other (ha!) and when I finally got to where she was I said, "hello fellow slinger." And her face was beaming.  It was like we understood each other.  We were not "odd" to each other.  But then I had to go and couldn't really get to talk to her much.  Anyway.. I thought I would share.  Tell me.. what do you think of slings?

If you are interested, there is a Birmingham group called Magic City Slingers that meets every month to help you learn your sling.  The also meet for other neat events.  For instance this Saturday is Slingfest at Vulcan Park from 1-5!  That would have to be fun!  

Adios!
(also check out this site about wearing your baby and this one to purchase a sling).

14 comments:

Rachel said...

Either this is super-odd coincidence or I just missed you on the list, but one of my favorite bloggers (and the editor over at 5 minutes for parenting), Stephanie at Adventures in Babywearing, is having a contest where you link up a post about babywearing, and it started TODAY! Did you already link up, or is this strange coincidence? Anyway, if you want to, here's the link: http://www.adventuresinbabywearing.com/2008/11/im-kanga-to-her-roo.html

Rachel Garcia, CD(DONA) said...

yes super odd.. that is so funny.. but i did enter..thanks for telling me.

Ole Miss Mom said...

I slung Lillian a ton...and you're right, you get a lot of attention. Of course every once in a while, I'd find someone that would say, "That's how we used to wear them" and they were probably 80 years old. :-)

I love the sling...wish I had discovered it with my first 2.

Andrea said...

I really wish we had a group here. I've been thinking about looking into starting one myself. Oh and the comments are so hilarious, I love how you put it so exactly how it is. WHen you see another mother wearing her child it is so like you are connected. That's how I feel when I see another mother nursing in public, I'm drawn like we have a special bond. Your sling is cute... oh and I Love to see a infant in it. I can't wait to do that! =)

Lindsay said...

I borrowed a sling from Natalie S. and loved it! Eli slept in it great when we were out in public and it was nice to be somewhat hands free. I did get some strange reactions to it though. Some of my closer friends told me that it was "hippy-ish". I never knew before that having your baby in a sling meant that people would think you were a attachment parenting tree hugger, but apparently that's the general perception. Oh well. I loved it and will definitely be using one with future kiddos!

Dollar General said...

I do think it looks like on of those banana purses...remember those? I had one with Mary and couldn't wait to use it but it was measured out for a friend of mine and I just couldn't get it to work and I KNOW I was wearing it wrong b/c it hurt my neck and shoulders!! I was all about having one (better than carring their GINORMOUS car seat around that weighs 1.2 MILLION POUNDS) but unfortuantely I was never trained correctly and didn't have "lessons" oh well!! Better luck next time *WINK*

Steph said...

We get lots of stares and some comments. The one that gets me is "wouldnt it be easier if he were in the stroller?".

Jennifer said...

i'm a huge fan of slings and wraps. e. is now in a beco babycarrier since he is big and older. it is awesome too! i love the folks who think it's a new invention...or who give advice on being safe while having my baby attached to my body. funny.

Anonymous said...

i want to 'sling' my next baby. i had a front carrier with Fritz, and didn't use it all that much. i can definitely see wearing your baby as much as possible with a toddler (or two) running around. people are just stupid, ignorant, and rude (re: the comments).

Natalie said...

I enjoy the sling but also a front carrier. I'm using a Mei Tei right now and Lily seems to like it just fine.
I'm not a hippy (but I am kinda hippy, as in had-5-kids-and-have-big-hips, lol...well I thought it was funny) but I do practice a lot of AP.
The one thing that gets me is when I'm wearing a kid and someone walks up and asks if the baby can breathe.
Uh. No?
I'm trying to smother the child that is why I wear them in this thing in PUBLIC.
Seriously?

Jaci Spain said...

Does it mean I'm not motherly if I'm not a slinger or a public nurser?:) I have used a baby bjorn and like it a lot. Not sure if I could do the whole sling thing. I'm a little too spastic.

Rachel Garcia, CD(DONA) said...

Jaci.. um yes.. of course it means you are not motherly.. WHAT? Where did that come from? Of course not!! I just started using it this time around.. and i don't think i was a bad mom with my other two..
you are a great mom.. you spaz! ;-P

care-in said...

I think they're great. I never could get the hang of the snuggly and didn't have a sling to practice on.

I'm surprised at the odd responses. I guess since we're young moms we don't think twice about it.

Sarah said...

That is hilarious that people respond that way. I got lots of looks and even points and giggles when I carried mine with Cole this summer - but that was because I was in Guat and I was the only gringa wearing one! I was wishing I had one of those when Cole was younger, he would have been in heaven!