Moot Thoughts & Musings

There are other structured carriers, like Ergos, that work better for shorter people. Beco & toddler Patapum jump to mind. A mei tai works well (Kozy is a good brand to google). A wrap works, but is harder in the up-down toddler times.

http://www.nineinnineout.org/localgroups.htm#PA are any of these near you? You can go and try things out!

I've got nothing for the toddler. I tried to use my Maya wrap with her--the instructions say it can be done...with a cooperative child--but that didn't turn out well.

I'm totally with you on the whole travel system thing. it always just seemed easier to carry the *baby* than the entire car seat. Or lug the stroller in and out of the car. And I still hate the stroller. We only have one little umbrella stroller and I rarely use it.

We had several different slings when I worked at BRU, one of which was very thick and could be adjusted to carry an infant or to carry a toddler, sort of on your hip with him/her sitting up. You might try taking Ellis to BRU (which I know you hate) or some other store, opening one up, and trying him out in it in the store just to see whether it works at all.

I'm with you about the infant carrier thing. We're still getting a travel system, since there are times when we'll want to have something to keep the baby in when we move in and out of the car, but I hate it when people let their babies practically live in their carriers for 7 or 8 months. I personally can't wait to use a Bjorn, not only for the baby's experiential learning, but also because it's really cool to have your kid ON you instead of in a little buggy thing at arm's length.

We saw a couple with a baby when we were in NYC at Christmas, and the dad was carrying the baby in a Bjorn. We were at the MOMA museum store, looking at cool crafts and decorative stuff, and all of a sudden, the dad called across the store to his wife that the kid had just spit up on him and he needed a cloth. They laughed about it, and Jack and I thought it was pretty funny too, especially since we knew we were about to get into the same thing. Having the kid in a carrier means you lose that experience of having your kid spit up on you-- where's the fun in that?? =)

Me, too. I never liked the infant carrier--just used it for convenience at restaurants until she was big enough to sit in a high chair. It's so heavy! I don't know how anyone carries them all over the place. I used a Snuggli until RB got too big and then I used a stroller--by then she could sit up and see out. I used the travel system occaisionally, but I could probably count the times on my hands. And I NEVER put the baby carrier in a shopping cart. That makes me so nervous! The stroller didn't last very long for us--she would not tolerate it past one year old, nor did she prefer to be carried, and demanded to walk. I didn't want to listen to her screaming, so we let her walk. I don't know if that was a good decision--I sometimes wish that a stroller was an option for us now, but it just is not. And it is really difficult to keep her close to me when we're out somewhere. I know it's good for her to be able to walk and not just ride everywhere, but I wish there were an easier way to manage a curious, and sometimes defiant, toddler without strapping her down. My strategy at this point is just to look wistfully at the older children walking obediently with their mothers and hope my days of chasing the child will come to an end eventually.

You know, you do have to take into consideration that as babies get older they like a little less attachment and a little more freedom. So while it may convenient sometime when you are trying to maneuver in a crowd, the kid might like to wiggle, wave and whoop it up a little...... in a stroller. of course. Sam can verify this. haha So can Jeannettte for all that! How many 't's are in your name , anyway?

When we were in the city, I used to do my shopping on foot, so the stroller was taken along even when AJ was in the Bjorn, if only for carrying home the groceries! But I agree with you about the car seats -- very unwieldy. And AJ was never one to fall asleep in transit anyhow. My sister-in-law used the Maya wrap with her kids into toddlerhood, but they were on the small side. We used a Kelty kids backpack instead. AJ loved it and if you like to hike, it's invaluable. But I used it for regular walking around too. It's very easy to carry. Like a pack for serious hiking, it has a padded belt at the waist, which really helps make it easy to carry -- I was even able to cross-country ski with it on when AJ was 2 or 3. It can be a little tricky to get in and out of with a heavier child. It takes some practice or some help. But we loved it. The only drawback was the occasional Cheerio in my hair. But I loved having AJ's head right next to my ear so I could hear everything he was saying. This was a particular boon when walking around noisy city streets.

I never had a travel system and never will have one. Although I had the infant carrier, I only used it for the first two months. That way Lochlan could continue to sleep in it when we took the carrier out of the car, even though it was a pain in the arse to carry. At two months old, he woke up when the car stopped so it was pointless to keep it. I used the Maya wrap for the longest time until he started walking, then it became more difficult to keep Lochlan in it so I got the Baby Hawk Mei Tai. I *love* it. Lochlan tends to squirm in it quite a bit but as long as I am moving, he's fine. We also use the Kelty backpack (they have smaller and lighter versions for just outings instead of hikes). Our neighbor gave us her jogging stroller which we RARELY use. The last time we used it was last summer. Nowadays, we use the sled when we go for walks or the wagon if there's no snow. In stores, restaurants, etc, we let Loch walk since that's what he wants to do anyway. Good luck finding something that works for you and Ellis! =)

I had a backpack for Chris - I used it on all our museum trips, and he just loved it.

Just be sure you don't cut corners too close when walking in a crowd. (Ouch - I can still remember the thud of Chris slamming into the wall at the Air & Space Museum. And the awful GLARES from the wittnesses!!!)

Like you, with my oldest I had my stroller unopened in the box until we went Christmas shopping and I needed it for a long outing! This was in my anti-sling, anti-marsupial mom days, but still instinctively I knew I wanted to hold him a lot and didn't want him in a car seat or stroller all the time.

I did find the stroller to be good for my toddlers, though. Umbrella, especially, since they are small and not bulky. I used my mayawrap pouch well into toddlerhood as well. Though, my sister prefers her backpack carrier for her toddler.

We got a sling for #2 and she hates it. Loves the Snugli because she can see out.