back carry in public

[mrstice]

Ok, maybe I'm just paranoid. But I'm scared to wear DS on my back in public, unless I have someone else there with me.

We have been using the back carry quite a bit around the house lately, and I'd love to carry him that way at the farmer's market, mall, etc. But I'm just afraid that since I can't see him very well, something will happen. What, I don't know. If it's crowded, and people are behind me, I don't want them touching him, etc.

Ok, I can't even explain why I'm nervous to do this. So give me all your back-carrying-in-public stories so I will feel better.

[mrstice]

I'll add that I usually wear him on my front, or hip-carry. He's getting too heavy (and I'm pregnant) to wear like that for long periods of time. So I'm used to babywearing in public, just not on my back where I can't see him.

[CanBoo]

Not too sure how old is your little one.
I have never had issues with people touching DD1 when she was on my back. I don't know why but it only happened on my front.
The only advice I have for you is to practice getting him there on your own as much as possible. Beacuse once you are out in pulic, there always seem to be someone totally ignorant about bay wearing trying to "help" you. And this is dangerous. Beacuse they have no idea what they are doing and no idea of what you are doing.

[briome]

I would look at the reflection in a car or store window to check and make sure things are all right. Occasionally I have asked a nice looking person to help pull and arm out or something... but that is rare. I never let a stranger offer to help anymore after once a well meaning but clueless woman made it super unsafe for the baby...of course some that offer help might know what is going on and I guess if that happens I'll take it!
I have NEVER had anyone touch the baby on my back!

[KristyDi]

I find people are much more likely to touch dd when she's in a hip carry than in a back carry.

We've been back carrying in public since 4 or 5 months and dd is 16 months now. In all that time nothing bad has happened. Maybe 2 people have briefly touche dd's hand or foot, but that's it.

[maizy]

I have the same fear. I'm more concerned he'll pick something weird up and eat it and I can't see it happen. I find that in general when carried in a sling people don't touch my kids. Another benefit

[alegna]

How old is he?

On my back is my typical public-carry. Ds is always back there.

-Angela

[MittensKittens]

I usually carry my son on my back at the mall, farmers market etc. When we ride on the bus, I switch him around to the front. I have seen no difference in the amount of touching whether he is on my front or back, and I also check what he is doing in a mirror or the reflection of a window, and I can see his head looking over my shoulder, unless he is asleep.

[russsk]

I often carry DS on my back in public, but don't have any stories. Its pretty uneventful.

[russsk]

Originally Posted by russsk

I often carry DS on my back in public, but don't have any stories. Its pretty uneventful.

Scratch that. One time some crazy guy yelled at me that I needed to put DS in a stroller so he could see where he was going.

[countrygirl28]

You could carry a small mirror with you so you can periodically check on your DS when you feel the need. It won't stop people from touching him (even though I don't think that will happen often), but it might give you some peace of mind.

[Down2Earth]

I just wore DD in a back carry at an outdoor event so I could eat without dripping anything onto her head. It was awesome! Though I did end up switching her back to my front after someone bumped into DD really hard. I guess the crowd was getting too thick or something, but I still think I should have been able to walk around without rude people bumping into me! I mean, honestly, how can you not see the woman wearing a baby on her back in a brightly colored carrier?

Anyway, I've done a lot of checking of reflections in cars and building windows. I even bought a little mirror to keep in my bag. I guess it just depends upon the situation.

[MamaKickyPants]

I wear DS on my back all the time. It is uneventful. I've never had someone try to touch him - never. also, I can see him! I wear him high up, he looks over my shoulder, so I can see him out of the corner of my eye. We use a meitai with the waist strap tied under my ribcage, or, even better, a woven wrap tied an a 'ruck' - that is the one that gets him the highest. I also check my reflection whenever I can in car windows, etc.