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News & ArtsThursday, March 11, 2010
Life The Only Exercise I Got...
Posted by Dan Savage on Thu, Mar 11, 2010 at 8:23 AM
...when my son was an infant was walking around with him strapped to my back. I could never understand why more parents didn't opt for backpacks and slings over strollers. Everything we needed for a trip to a store or a long walk to a park fit in the pockets of my jacket: a couple of diapers, a few wipes in a sandwich bag, a bottle. I was mystified by parents who wouldn't leave the house without packing a stroller with dozens of diapers, a whole box of wipes, multiple bottles, a selection of toys and stuffed animals, the favorite blanket and the second-favorite blanket, etc., etc.
Babies need so much less than we're lead to believe. I don't think baby backpacks are more virtuous or loving. But it's good to see them catching on. Because what they are is easier. They're easier to use than those awkward, hard-to-manueuver strollers/rolling nurseries. And since baby backpacks make leaving the house with your baby seem less like an ordeal—less like a long trip that you have to pack for—you find yourself leaving the house more often if all you have to do is grab a diaper and some wipes and strap the kid on.
I'm not saying everyone has to do it just like we did it, blah blah blah, or that folks who use strollers are DOING IT ALL WRONG. It's about each parent's comfort levels, blah blah blah, and we kept a stroller for when my mother came to visit and some people can't carry a 10-12-15-20-25 pound infant around on their backs. But most people don't need strollers—and lots of parents don't realize it until after they've purchased an expensive one.
1
where i work (in the forest) i see a lot of hikers with baby backpacks on the trail. it's nice to see the little fuckers get acquainted with nature at such a young age.
2
Also for the average American strapping a baby on one's back probably helps reposition their center of gravity back over their hips rather than 3" in front of their feet.
3
Who can figure out why parents do what they do when it comes to their kids? For many years when a child would tell a parent that a trusted priest had touched them sexually, the child would be punished for lying. And this morning I hear of a school bus rollover when people don't want to pay the cost of putting seat belts on school buses. Go figure.
4
I had both a a small stroller for long expiditions involving public transit buying groceries etc and a front pack for easier trips. For short trips the pack was the best. For buying groceries on mass transit we had a two kid stroller with the kids in to get to the store and comming back we would put the kids in packs and fill the stroller with groceries. Whats seems best is pretty situational
5
Wow Dan, did you have to restrain yourself with this? I'm surprised you didn't carry it out further.
Such as, if you don't need that giant stroller, then you also don't need that giant SUV to haul it around.
Such as, if you don't need that giant stroller, then you also don't need that giant SUV to haul it around.
6
Hell, I don't know. I'm still trying to figure out why women can't leave the house without 20 pounds of shit in their bag.
9
Those maya wraps or the front carrying bjorn pack worked for us. Jogging strollers are cool too though. Also, cloth diapers w/ snaps are great – though disposable are easier when traveling, I hate to admit.
10
Just registered for baby stuff, myself. I had no idea there was so much crap needed to take care of the little ones. How did our grand parents manage?
12
PEOPLE need so much less than we're led to believe.
Americans are consumption monsters and need their STUFF though, wherever they go, hence the strollers and all the annoying ass shit parents stuff them with on their way to Starbucks.
Americans are consumption monsters and need their STUFF though, wherever they go, hence the strollers and all the annoying ass shit parents stuff them with on their way to Starbucks.
13
Last year, while in New Zealand, I pretty much spent the entire holiday with my 11 month old nephew on my back.
14
Your grandparents managed quite well, TAJ. Shit, Fred Fucking Flintstone managed. You don't need all that crap.
Oh, and congratulations.
Oh, and congratulations.
15
With a stroller, the kid can look up and see Dada's face all the time, which I would suggest is a better view than the back of his head. On the other hand, more of the kid's body is in contact with the parent when he's in the back pack, so maybe that's important, too. Front pack to solve both problems? Plus, weren't you just a little anxious about what was going on back there, Dan, where you couldn't see? Best wishes.
16
I agree Dan, except when there are multiple kids. Two kids, one backpack doesn't work the same. Good thing you and I opted for one kid and we can't accidentally pop out another. Yay for CHOOSING when to have a kid!
17
Dan,
Agree with you on slings (my big-assed stroller never got used and a friend wasted big bucks getting it for us!) but do remember that slings all come with a caveat - they must be used properly.
I used a bjorn front carrier because I just couldn't get the hang of the wrap kind and was always afraid I'd pitch the little guy out on his head. Sounds like it can really happen: There have been deaths from skull fracture and the like. 4 deaths in the last 5 years from dropping.
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/safety/…
In addition, there's a pretty serious concern about the kinds of slings that cause a baby to bunch up into a a "c" shape. When they are wee ones, their muscles aren't developed enough and they can suffocate from having their chin on their chest - compressing their windpipe and restricting air.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100309/ap_o…
Infantino had a big recall because of this and the deaths reported from suffocation are around seven, I think.
Granted, low numbers and therefore low risk, but I'd hate to be a parent roaming around a farmer's market, having a wonderful day, and discover a dead baby in my sling because I lacked a little bit of information.
PSA - FYI
-Christi
Agree with you on slings (my big-assed stroller never got used and a friend wasted big bucks getting it for us!) but do remember that slings all come with a caveat - they must be used properly.
I used a bjorn front carrier because I just couldn't get the hang of the wrap kind and was always afraid I'd pitch the little guy out on his head. Sounds like it can really happen: There have been deaths from skull fracture and the like. 4 deaths in the last 5 years from dropping.
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/safety/…
In addition, there's a pretty serious concern about the kinds of slings that cause a baby to bunch up into a a "c" shape. When they are wee ones, their muscles aren't developed enough and they can suffocate from having their chin on their chest - compressing their windpipe and restricting air.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100309/ap_o…
Infantino had a big recall because of this and the deaths reported from suffocation are around seven, I think.
Granted, low numbers and therefore low risk, but I'd hate to be a parent roaming around a farmer's market, having a wonderful day, and discover a dead baby in my sling because I lacked a little bit of information.
PSA - FYI
-Christi
18
I hated the stroller. You needed a fucking PhD in physics to figure out how to unfold and fold it so that it would fit in the car. Strapping the kids into a baby backpack was easier and quicker.
Having multiples teaches you to pack only what you need. Leave all that extra shit at home.
But, parents of singletons have it easy. There I am standing in line at the grocery store with twins strapped to me in the twin carrier, so tired from lack of sleep that I was trying to recall if I'd even brushed my teeth that day, making every effort to console my 15 year old who thought the world was coming to an end because the boy "of her dreams" hadn't asked her to prom, explaining to my 17 year old son that there was no way in hell that he was going to drive the car with us in it, and trying to explain to every nosy person who asked that "No, I wasn't giving my wife the day off and taking the kids shopping. My kids have two dads," when I overheard the chick in front of me whining because she had to take her ONE and only infant with her to the grocery store and how difficult of an experience it was because there was so much to do and remember to bring with her. If she hadn't been holding her innocent infant, I would have mowed that bitch down with my grocery cart. And to top it all off the twat sees formula in my grocery cart and tells me that breast milk is better. "Ok, bitch. When I can magically begin lactating I'll let you know." (Although as I type that sentence I'm thinking there's probably a SL Letter of the Day about men who love men that lactate.)
Having multiples teaches you to pack only what you need. Leave all that extra shit at home.
But, parents of singletons have it easy. There I am standing in line at the grocery store with twins strapped to me in the twin carrier, so tired from lack of sleep that I was trying to recall if I'd even brushed my teeth that day, making every effort to console my 15 year old who thought the world was coming to an end because the boy "of her dreams" hadn't asked her to prom, explaining to my 17 year old son that there was no way in hell that he was going to drive the car with us in it, and trying to explain to every nosy person who asked that "No, I wasn't giving my wife the day off and taking the kids shopping. My kids have two dads," when I overheard the chick in front of me whining because she had to take her ONE and only infant with her to the grocery store and how difficult of an experience it was because there was so much to do and remember to bring with her. If she hadn't been holding her innocent infant, I would have mowed that bitch down with my grocery cart. And to top it all off the twat sees formula in my grocery cart and tells me that breast milk is better. "Ok, bitch. When I can magically begin lactating I'll let you know." (Although as I type that sentence I'm thinking there's probably a SL Letter of the Day about men who love men that lactate.)
19
Pros and cons about infants in strollers aside, I'm curious why lately I see so many older kids in strollers. Kids who are 6-8 years old and don't even fit right. It's creepy.
21
What about taking the baby for a jog? I could imagine that a stroller would be slightly more safe because it seems like jogging with a baby on your back would be dangerous for the baby's neck.
Just a question. I have a few more years before I actually have to worry about this.
Just a question. I have a few more years before I actually have to worry about this.
22
Kid's point of view: I preferred riding on my dad's shoulders because a) better view, and b) I could drool into that little whorl of hair on the back of his head. My parents thought I was spastic; I was just trying to see how fast I could fill it up and make it spill over.
23
But a sling or a backpack doesn't allow you to take up your rightful three feet of every supermarket lane, or jogging path, and crash into the ankles of us stupid childless bipeds every five seconds. To say nothing of the thrill of air travel with you people.
@15, most of the strollers I see are built like jet fighters and have no room for anybody to be turning around or looking up. I also see a lot of older kids like @19, who have no business being pushed around. As for @17, couldn't you just clip a shoulder strap from a suitcase onto the brat's rear belt loop, and sling him around slung from the waist like a yo-yo?
@15, most of the strollers I see are built like jet fighters and have no room for anybody to be turning around or looking up. I also see a lot of older kids like @19, who have no business being pushed around. As for @17, couldn't you just clip a shoulder strap from a suitcase onto the brat's rear belt loop, and sling him around slung from the waist like a yo-yo?
24
There is one exception to the "you don't need bring all that shit with you" rule. When flying with a small child, please bring a ton of shit to keep your kid entertained. Your fellow passengers will be very thankful.
25
If I ever have another child (which I doubt unless I ever have enough money to adopt) I am buying a sling and diapers/wipes and that is IT. I never used the crib, stroller (until he got over 30 lbs), bassinet, changing table, chew toys, NOTHING. But I did make some money selling it on CL later....
26
Catching on? Our circle was using backpacks with our kids 20+ years ago. My daughter loved being up high where she could see everything going on.
The downside is that you don't know when they've decided to toss off their hat, mittens, socks, etc. We lost a lot of clothes that way.
The downside is that you don't know when they've decided to toss off their hat, mittens, socks, etc. We lost a lot of clothes that way.
29
i work at a hippie-tastic baby store and we only carry slings and backpacks -- no strollers. a lot of studies show that it's better for babies emotional development to be physically connected to parents for most of the day (as opposed to in a stroller/carseat/playpen whathaveyou). And, hey, they also cry less, so that's awesome. In most nonwestern cultures, babywearing is the norm.
@17 - those deaths and injuries are fucking tragic... but people really need to educate themselves on the correct way to wear a sling. An improperly fastened car-seat is dangerous to babies -- so is an improperly worn sling. Not the fault of the seat or the sling, but the fault of the parent.
@15 - there a lot of front-wearing carriers. And, like I said, physical contact is even more important than visual stimulation, especially for infants.
/rant
@17 - those deaths and injuries are fucking tragic... but people really need to educate themselves on the correct way to wear a sling. An improperly fastened car-seat is dangerous to babies -- so is an improperly worn sling. Not the fault of the seat or the sling, but the fault of the parent.
@15 - there a lot of front-wearing carriers. And, like I said, physical contact is even more important than visual stimulation, especially for infants.
/rant
30
I've got to concur on this one. Funny how something that has been the norm in places in Africa and Asia and even South America has suddenly been discovered in the west. Aside from it's practicality there's just something more natural about it then using a stroller, there's a more maternal aspect to keeping an infant in such closeness and in that sense it could also serve to unconsciously help a father bond even greater with his baby, at least that's what I think whenever I see a man with a baby backpack, it's very adorable.
31
@23 -- Fnarf, you pretty much said it all. My mom basically wheeled me around in a sling strung between two aluminum reeds and it worked just fine. Of course, we also used to ride in the back of the truck and never wore a bicycle helmet so those were more carefree days.
32
When my son was born (1992), my father took us to REI and dropped $200 on the best pack we could find. Lumbar support, sun shade, rain guard. My son lived on my back hiking many trails and exploring huge crowds of people safely until he turned 3 or so. We still have the pack and he will be getting it when his turn as a dad comes.
33
We got the stroller for when the kid gets a bit bigger. It also will be good to have when I want to go Jogging. Haven't tested the bjorn yet, maybe this weekend at the cascade bike club expo thingy. I think both types serve a specific purpose. But yeah, the main idea is to simplify and not leave the house lugging forty pounds of shit.
34
Ah, @8 with yet another interminable comment letting the SLOGosphere know how little they care about the subject at-hand..
NEWS FLASH: If something you read here moves you enough to expend even a minimal amount of time and effort to comment on it, then you kind of DO give a flying fuck, don't you?
NEWS FLASH: If something you read here moves you enough to expend even a minimal amount of time and effort to comment on it, then you kind of DO give a flying fuck, don't you?
36
@ 17 (Christi): You are right that the Infantino SlingRider and similar bag-style/duffel-bag type carriers are dangerous because of the C-position with chin tucked to chest that can cause asphyxiation. However, those have NOT been recalled despite Infantino being warned more than 3 years ago of the risks of its design. There was a recall on SlingRiders due to a faulty buckle several years ago but Infantino has not done a damn thing to get its bags of death off the market. Finally its hand is being forced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (oh, and lawsuits brought by the parents of dead babies). I will never buy or recommend an Infantino product of any kind again because the company is the worst kind of irresponsible.
Hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) is not just a concern in badly designed baby carriers though -- pediatricians are starting to raise the alarm because babies are getting O2 deprivation from being toted around in bucket carseats all day, and carseats are notorious for pushing babies' chins to their chests. Even if they don't suffocate outright, intermittent and/or chronic oxygen deprivation have been linked to learning delays and behavior disorders later in life. Infant carseats, upright strollers, etc. simply aren't appropriate baby carriers for newborns and very young babies. Oh, and the numbers of babies suffering from "container head" (flat head) has shot up, too, as babies are transferred from one gadget to another all day long, with pressure on their heads deforming their skulls. Don't assume that NOT carrying your baby in arms or in an appropriate carrier keeps them safe!
The good news is that there are plenty of safe, ergonomic, and functional baby slings and carriers on the market to enable parents to have their hands free and their babies safe and secure. Strollers are great and have their place, but babies are social critters just like the rest of us and do best both physically and emotionally when they're carried by a parent or other caregiver for a good part of the day.
The Babywearer.com and facebook.com/babywearingsafety are two good sites to learn about choosing and using safe baby carriers.
More...
Hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) is not just a concern in badly designed baby carriers though -- pediatricians are starting to raise the alarm because babies are getting O2 deprivation from being toted around in bucket carseats all day, and carseats are notorious for pushing babies' chins to their chests. Even if they don't suffocate outright, intermittent and/or chronic oxygen deprivation have been linked to learning delays and behavior disorders later in life. Infant carseats, upright strollers, etc. simply aren't appropriate baby carriers for newborns and very young babies. Oh, and the numbers of babies suffering from "container head" (flat head) has shot up, too, as babies are transferred from one gadget to another all day long, with pressure on their heads deforming their skulls. Don't assume that NOT carrying your baby in arms or in an appropriate carrier keeps them safe!
The good news is that there are plenty of safe, ergonomic, and functional baby slings and carriers on the market to enable parents to have their hands free and their babies safe and secure. Strollers are great and have their place, but babies are social critters just like the rest of us and do best both physically and emotionally when they're carried by a parent or other caregiver for a good part of the day.
The Babywearer.com and facebook.com/babywearingsafety are two good sites to learn about choosing and using safe baby carriers.
37
Totally agree. Strollers have a place but they're overused and I personally find them cumbersome and annoying (IMHO/YMMV/etc.).
I find it SO much easier to use the backpack -- you're so much more mobile. Mine has a fairly spacious pocket in the back that can hold an extra diaper, some wipes, an extra outfit and sippy cup no problem. It even has an optional rain/sun canopy.
Plus - both of my kids liked the backpack MUCH more than the stroller. They're up high - they feel the walking motion, which soothes them - they're snugly held.
I can count on two hands the times i put my now four-year-old in a stroller. He was always in a backpack.
Strollers are helpful for one parent dealing with twins - which now seem to be endemic to big cities with the popularity of fertility drugs.
I find it SO much easier to use the backpack -- you're so much more mobile. Mine has a fairly spacious pocket in the back that can hold an extra diaper, some wipes, an extra outfit and sippy cup no problem. It even has an optional rain/sun canopy.
Plus - both of my kids liked the backpack MUCH more than the stroller. They're up high - they feel the walking motion, which soothes them - they're snugly held.
I can count on two hands the times i put my now four-year-old in a stroller. He was always in a backpack.
Strollers are helpful for one parent dealing with twins - which now seem to be endemic to big cities with the popularity of fertility drugs.
38
No, Dan.
My daughter is two and a half now. Backpacks and snugglies are great, but there are some errands and trips where strollers are just much better. Among other things, it's a lot easier to protect your kid from the rain in a stroller than in a backpack.
Anyhow, even with a stroller most parents of babies and toddlers get a lot of exercise carrying them around.
My daughter is two and a half now. Backpacks and snugglies are great, but there are some errands and trips where strollers are just much better. Among other things, it's a lot easier to protect your kid from the rain in a stroller than in a backpack.
Anyhow, even with a stroller most parents of babies and toddlers get a lot of exercise carrying them around.
40
When my daughter was young enough for that shiz, we used a front pack for a long time, and never really used the big, gaudy stroller that was received.
As she got older, she moved into an umbrella stroller for longer trips, especially after she started walking. If memory serves, that was dumped fairly early on. Realistically, there were very few places we went where she couldn't walk the distance, and for trips that would keep her on her feet more than necessary, she would either a) ride in a cart, or b) i'd rent a stroller (ie: the zoo).
I get jogging strollers (even though they are frightening), but I totally agree with Dan's point here - those giant things are completely unnecessary.
And as for people who have their 5/6 year olds in strollers - they are creating the future fat-asses of America. I think mine hasn't been in any sort of stroller since she was 4 (maybe?). Kid gets tired - take a break, then get back up and get moving. Gotta burn off those McDonald's calories and shiz.
As she got older, she moved into an umbrella stroller for longer trips, especially after she started walking. If memory serves, that was dumped fairly early on. Realistically, there were very few places we went where she couldn't walk the distance, and for trips that would keep her on her feet more than necessary, she would either a) ride in a cart, or b) i'd rent a stroller (ie: the zoo).
I get jogging strollers (even though they are frightening), but I totally agree with Dan's point here - those giant things are completely unnecessary.
And as for people who have their 5/6 year olds in strollers - they are creating the future fat-asses of America. I think mine hasn't been in any sort of stroller since she was 4 (maybe?). Kid gets tired - take a break, then get back up and get moving. Gotta burn off those McDonald's calories and shiz.
41
I found a stroller to be useful when walking to the grocery store, because I discovered that as a smaller person carrying a 20 lb baby in a front pack while carrying even just a couple bags of groceries was a bit too much. Putting both baby and grocery bags in a stroller was more practical. However, that was the only practical use for that cumbersome thing, especially for someone who isn't really into inconveniencing others. I stopped using the stroller as soon as the boy was old enough to toddle along for a couple of blocks with me. I don't get people who insist on bringing strollers into the crowded halls at school to pick up older kids, or the ones who are using them for kids who are totally capable of walking.
42
@Ken if my kid is on my back (or front) in a carrier, I have my hands free to hold an umbrella over BOTH our heads. In a stroller, how do you steer and hold an umbrella? Then you're left with putting one of those clear plastic liners over the stroller. Personally I'd go for fresh air over a plastic tent.
45
My husband and I got a high-end jogging stroller for our infant son because we have chosen not to own a car. Our thinking was that we wanted our son to be comfortable in a mode of transportation that he would spend a lot of time in, and he loves being in the stroller. If we had a car, we would have opted for a cheaper stroller.
I am going to get a baby backpack because he is starting to outgrow the carrier I currently use to wear him for short distances. I can't wear my son and walk for long periods of time because of some back issues. I'd really love to wear him more than I do, though.
I agree with Dan that babies generally need a lot less than many parents seem to think. My baby's travelling needs are pretty basic: food, diapers, wipes, a spare change of clothes, and, if we're out for a long time, a toy.
I am going to get a baby backpack because he is starting to outgrow the carrier I currently use to wear him for short distances. I can't wear my son and walk for long periods of time because of some back issues. I'd really love to wear him more than I do, though.
I agree with Dan that babies generally need a lot less than many parents seem to think. My baby's travelling needs are pretty basic: food, diapers, wipes, a spare change of clothes, and, if we're out for a long time, a toy.
48
Yeah, the massive SUV stroller thing never made sense to me. But personally, I think dads look really fucking pathetic wearing baby backpacks and frontpacks. And backpacks are way more cumbersome to deal with than an umbrella stroller, which weighs about 5 pounds, folds up very nicely, and allows your brat to easily get in and out.
49
Dan, you should write a how-to book for all the straights out there having babies without benefit of your parenting expertise.
50
i hate giant diaper bags. we used this tiny one that held 2 diapers, some wipes and a bottle with formula mix in it. that was it. goin out? BOOM your ready. pull the baby pack on and zoom zoom zoom
51
"The Only Exercise..."?
Terri cut you off?
Not uncommon with a new baby in the house.
I'm sure I can help; tell me about it....
Terri cut you off?
Not uncommon with a new baby in the house.
I'm sure I can help; tell me about it....
52
The boy was a front packer till he could walk, but, as I have a GIANT for a kid, he got heavy quick and my back would be hurting after 15 minutes. I'd use a stroller if we were going on a long walk, say 2 miles, just to save my back, but again, my kid is GIANT (he's now nearly 2.5 yrs, 35lbs and counting, 38" tall, his hands are already as big as the palms of my hands). Now if he gets a ride, it's on my shoulders, which he loves and it's not so harsh on my back.
Strollers in ANY retail environment sucks. NO ONE pays attention to things below their field of vision so it was just so much extra shit/clutter in the aisle (like folks who bring their bikes inside the store!?)...I made sure to mind my boy, not run into peeps and offer many "excuse us." However, I'd leave the stroller in the truck 95% of the time and tote the boy, I'm not a big browser anyways so my shopping trips were short. I think strollers help if your older kids don't wanna walk or toddlers that are distracted by everything they see...it's easier to tuck em up and go than have that fight.
Strollers in ANY retail environment sucks. NO ONE pays attention to things below their field of vision so it was just so much extra shit/clutter in the aisle (like folks who bring their bikes inside the store!?)...I made sure to mind my boy, not run into peeps and offer many "excuse us." However, I'd leave the stroller in the truck 95% of the time and tote the boy, I'm not a big browser anyways so my shopping trips were short. I think strollers help if your older kids don't wanna walk or toddlers that are distracted by everything they see...it's easier to tuck em up and go than have that fight.
53
There's a special place in hell for parents who bring strollers to super crowded events like Bumbershoot.
And then there are the doublewides. I understand/accept that people have twins, but why people choose to have kids one year apart is beyond me.
My parents used one. I'm 30.
But a sling or a backpack doesn't allow you to take up your rightful three feet of every supermarket lane, or jogging path, and crash into the ankles of us stupid childless bipeds every five seconds. To say nothing of the thrill of air travel with you people.
And then there are the doublewides. I understand/accept that people have twins, but why people choose to have kids one year apart is beyond me.
Our circle was using backpacks with our kids 20+ years ago.
My parents used one. I'm 30.
54
When I met my husband, he was schlepping a stroller EVERYWHERE, and I pointed out it was stupid for him to call himself a body builder and then not have the strength to carry his daughter, or even to make her walk some of the way once she could toddle. I also pared down his diaper bag to a much smaller, much less embarrassing vessel. The only place I didn't win was his insistence on letting her carry sippy cups EVERYWHERE with her until she was about 4. Girly is almost 7 now, and is much more physically able than a lot of kids her age, between the masses of walking and the kickboxing lessons.
55
I agree, but on the flipside my boy was a VERY active baby and quickly got cranky in a bjorn when he got past the tiny infant stage...
I was really lucky, though, because I had a handmedown stroller that you could not only change the side the handle was on (child facing out or child facing you) but also the seat layed down completely flat- so it was like a little rolling baby play pen/crib! He could lie down and stretch out for a nap, or sit up and move around a bit and play. He loved it. I've never seen another one that could do all that.
I was really lucky, though, because I had a handmedown stroller that you could not only change the side the handle was on (child facing out or child facing you) but also the seat layed down completely flat- so it was like a little rolling baby play pen/crib! He could lie down and stretch out for a nap, or sit up and move around a bit and play. He loved it. I've never seen another one that could do all that.
56
Missed this til now. Oh well...
There is such a thing as a small, very maneuverable, easy to push stroller, which was my preference with my girls. It's way smaller than those SUV-type things you see at the mall. It was easy just to put the diaper bag on the handles on off we went. (I liked hiking up and down Queen Anne Hill. There's a very nice wading pool on Warren Ave N that we went to the last summer we were in town.)
There is such a thing as a small, very maneuverable, easy to push stroller, which was my preference with my girls. It's way smaller than those SUV-type things you see at the mall. It was easy just to put the diaper bag on the handles on off we went. (I liked hiking up and down Queen Anne Hill. There's a very nice wading pool on Warren Ave N that we went to the last summer we were in town.)
57
BTW, the Baby Bjorn is shit. All the kid's weight goes to the crotch, which I wouldn't even do to my girls. There are better packs around, unfortunately the brand name is slipping my mind.
59
seandr @48 said:
fortunately - those dads are not insecure like you.
I think dads look really fucking pathetic wearing baby backpacks and frontpacks
fortunately - those dads are not insecure like you.
60
... studied the way 2,700 families interact with their infants and toddlers while pushing them in strollers. She found that caregivers were less likely to speak to infants when the child was facing forward, compared with strollers where the baby faces the caregiver — what she calls a toward-facing journey. In a small controlled experiment, the researchers gave 20 mothers and infants ages 9 to 24 months a chance to use both types of strollers, and recorded their conversations.
Via NYT
61
I can't wait for the Slog to meet its destiny as a parenting blog. You can't stop it.
I'm pro-baby backpack, but then I have a good back.
I'm pro-baby backpack, but then I have a good back.
62
I have a relative who insisted that he "needed" a massive SUV ... in order to haul around an oversized multi-function battle stroller.
When we're getting our infants into pissing contests-by-proxy, there's something fundamentally warped in the very fabric of our society.
When we're getting our infants into pissing contests-by-proxy, there's something fundamentally warped in the very fabric of our society.
63
@59:
Wanting to look sexy does not make one insecure. Once the baby is born, most dads put on 30 pounds, start wearing pleated dockers and nerdy "dad" shirts covered with baby spit-up stains. Then they top it off with a baby bjorn or some ridiculous back-mounted contraption from REI.
When I see them, I can't help but wince. It's sad, and it sets a terrible example for their kids.
Umbrella strollers - that's the answer.
fortunately - those dads are not insecure like you.
Wanting to look sexy does not make one insecure. Once the baby is born, most dads put on 30 pounds, start wearing pleated dockers and nerdy "dad" shirts covered with baby spit-up stains. Then they top it off with a baby bjorn or some ridiculous back-mounted contraption from REI.
When I see them, I can't help but wince. It's sad, and it sets a terrible example for their kids.
Umbrella strollers - that's the answer.
64
I liked front packs, specifically the Bjorn, much more than backpacks. Backpacks were hard to put on with a kid in them. When the kids got too big for the front pack, they were big enough to sit on our shoulders. Surprisingly little hairpulling went on, though we did have to relable spit-up as conditioner a few times. Best time for a stroller was in the toddler/preschool stage when you had to get in and out of someplace in a hurry and didn't want to be yanking the kid around by the arm or waiting while they investigated every little thing. Also, we had the cutest little monkey-shaped backpack for the toddler age, where the tail was a leash; worked great and the kid loved having a larger area to explore. We got some dirty looks from people who apparently think kids should either be taught to heel or denied the use of both hands; but ignored them.
I assume the parents of older kids in strollers may have a child with disabilities, perhaps visible, perhaps not.
Another great way to save on the stuff to carry around problem is to breastfeed, only if you have a lactating parent of course! But no bottles, no bottle washing, no worries about contamination (yech, melamine!), no worries about sterility. All good in my opinion.
Really, all you need is diapers, a change of clothes, and cleaning washcloths.
I assume the parents of older kids in strollers may have a child with disabilities, perhaps visible, perhaps not.
Another great way to save on the stuff to carry around problem is to breastfeed, only if you have a lactating parent of course! But no bottles, no bottle washing, no worries about contamination (yech, melamine!), no worries about sterility. All good in my opinion.
Really, all you need is diapers, a change of clothes, and cleaning washcloths.
65
@63: Really? All the young dads (as in having young children) on my morning commute are pretty hot and studly.
Your assertion is pretty applicable when it comes to dads in their late 40s and 50s ... but even then, I'd say that most men in general on this continent seem to suffer from the Docker/dad shirt syndrome by that time.
Your assertion is pretty applicable when it comes to dads in their late 40s and 50s ... but even then, I'd say that most men in general on this continent seem to suffer from the Docker/dad shirt syndrome by that time.
66
@63 Not in Seattle. And don't generalize.
Didn't realize so many Sloggers were parents. Perhaps someone should arrange Slog approved parent meet-ups/key parties.
Didn't realize so many Sloggers were parents. Perhaps someone should arrange Slog approved parent meet-ups/key parties.
67
Wait wait... Nipper has a kid?
Someone up there made a good point... strollers are good for toddlers who want to climb in and out. I prefer the stroller at places like the zoo. Gives the kiddo some independence to get up and see the animals herself, and also some refuge for when tired. (Yeah, I don't buckle her in...)
Someone up there made a good point... strollers are good for toddlers who want to climb in and out. I prefer the stroller at places like the zoo. Gives the kiddo some independence to get up and see the animals herself, and also some refuge for when tired. (Yeah, I don't buckle her in...)
68
@ 18
"And to top it all off the twat sees formula in my grocery cart and tells me that breast milk is better."
That was so fucking rude. You never know why people buy formula, and sharing common knowledge that breast is best is totally unnecessary. You should have said "My wife had a double mastectomy". Perhaps that would have stopped her forever from bothering other unfortunate parents.
"And to top it all off the twat sees formula in my grocery cart and tells me that breast milk is better."
That was so fucking rude. You never know why people buy formula, and sharing common knowledge that breast is best is totally unnecessary. You should have said "My wife had a double mastectomy". Perhaps that would have stopped her forever from bothering other unfortunate parents.
69
@63:
hot: http://www.fortwaynedoula.com/.a/6a00d83…
hot: http://mamabydesign.com/blog/wp-content/…
hot: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fgdUFc9sZ_E/Sm…
don't see anything "pathetic" about carrying one's child... and besides, the ab strength required should help prevent that gut you're so worried about. drinking those manly beers, on the other hand....
hot: http://www.fortwaynedoula.com/.a/6a00d83…
hot: http://mamabydesign.com/blog/wp-content/…
hot: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fgdUFc9sZ_E/Sm…
don't see anything "pathetic" about carrying one's child... and besides, the ab strength required should help prevent that gut you're so worried about. drinking those manly beers, on the other hand....
70
this from the guy who disses family beds and home schooling? dude, catch up to the past. the way our ancesters did it, while not required, is sufficient if it ever really comes down to it.
71
Ooh, finally a place to rant about this bit of weirdness I see. When I take my 3 year old to preschool, there are loads of other moms with younger babies who park, get out the travel system stroller, open it up, load the baby into it, then walk them in with the preschooler alongside, send kid into classroom, walk out and pack it all back up. It's so weird. Maybe people think a carrier would be more of a hassle (can't imagine how) but why would you not just carry the baby in your arms for the 3 minute walk-in-and-out where you barely need your hands? I HAVE one of those massive strollers, but it's a huge pain in the ass.
I am loving how well-rounded we slog perverts are!
I am loving how well-rounded we slog perverts are!
72
Loved my baby back pack when my kids were 3 and under. It worked great and was good exercise.
@ The Amazing Jim,
Don't buy into it. Having a kid is like getting married, marketing experts play you. You really don't need most of what they tell you.
@ Fifty-Two-Eighty,
I hate purses and you'll never find me with a 20 lb one. That is what pockets are for. Now a guitar and a portable amp ... Oh, yes!
@ The Amazing Jim,
Don't buy into it. Having a kid is like getting married, marketing experts play you. You really don't need most of what they tell you.
@ Fifty-Two-Eighty,
I hate purses and you'll never find me with a 20 lb one. That is what pockets are for. Now a guitar and a portable amp ... Oh, yes!
74
Strollers are good for action movies. These strollers are filled with something, anything other than babies.
75
Years ago I was working the front desk at a hotel when a parent came in with a baby in a backpack. The baby wasn't feeling well and started projectile vomiting. The parent was helpless, turning right and then left in an effort to get at the baby, which turned the baby into something of a vomit sprinkler. It was one of the funniest things I have ever seen, even though the front desk and I got hit pretty hard by it. But when you come from a ridiculously fecund family like mine, a little baby vomit doesn't faze you.
76
@75, these days it would've been on the security cam and then straight to YouTube. HAHAHAHA! I can see it anyway...
UGGA-UGGA-UGGA-UGGA-chunk-chunk-chunk-chunk...
*snerk*
UGGA-UGGA-UGGA-UGGA-chunk-chunk-chunk-chunk...
*snerk*
77
I own a stroller. I got it when Seamus arrived. Don't get excited though, it's a no-frills Umbrella Stroller; and it's folded up in the corner of the room, where it belongs. Now that Seamus is mastering the art of running amok in the park on his own two legs, I have even less need for it. He is far too independent; that is a trait i may or may not encourage in him. I've never been one to overindulge him with oodles of toys and trinkets and bottles and whatever the latest "Good/Bad Parenting" dialogue dictates. I blame my hippie mum: her efforts worked for me.
78
I liked a front carrier with tiny tots, and a side carrier thing for toddlers, but I never liked the backpack - I found it hard to put on and take off. A svelte umbrella stroller is just perfect for the child who is too heavy to carry on the chest, but not strong enough to hang on in the side carrier.
And besides, when you have two, you really can't carry them both. The little one got the stroller, and the big one got the side carrier.
The each her own. But I think it's mostly guys who like to put babies in backpacks. Something about upper body strength and how helpful that is in putting on the pack.
And besides, when you have two, you really can't carry them both. The little one got the stroller, and the big one got the side carrier.
The each her own. But I think it's mostly guys who like to put babies in backpacks. Something about upper body strength and how helpful that is in putting on the pack.
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