Do you find yourself a spectacle when babywearing?

[babygirlsmama]

Our precious 9 week old is our first, so I don't know if all babies get this sort of reception out in public or what...but I am finding that we are quite a spectacle whenever we go anywhere and she is in the Moby. Countless people stop and ask me about the Moby, where I got it, is it comfortable, etc. I usually enjoy it, but yesterday I was buzzing around trying to get last minute shopping done and baby was thankfully asleep in the Moby, so I was trying to be as productive as possible. Yet, everywhere I went, the store clerks were SUPER interested in chatting me up about the Moby. It was sweet, but inside, I was like "Can we hurry this up lady? I've got shopping to do and there's no telling how long she's gonna sleep, and I've got at least 3 more stops to make after this!! Just ring me up already!!!!"

All in all, I like it, but sometimes I find myself being sort of a spokeswoman for babywearing, and I find myself wondering whether others get this sort of reception. Is it where we live? We are near Richmond, Va, and babywearing I guess isn't that common here.

[FrugalGranolaMom]

I use a Moby too and I don't get a lot of questions but I do get quite a few stares which I find interesting considering there are a lot of babywearers in our area.

[AlishaB]

Take it as a compliment! Babywearing has become super trendy in the last couple years, ie) the only sling I could get for my son was a horrible Jolly Jumper, or a Baby Bjorn. Now slings come in so many styles and colours etc.
Use it as a way to educate people, I know it can be annoying, but also the fact that you have a new baby makes people want to talk to you. People LOVE a new baby, and when the baby is close to eye level they notice more.
Just tell them how great it is, and how it feels amazing, and how the baby sleeps all the time etc. Maybe print out some babywearing cards, or a local store that sells them and just hand them out. "I wish I could tell you more, but I have to run home for a nap/feed/change etc."
And kudos to you for getting out of your house!!!

[MsVyky]

walking around with DD in her ring sling elicits points and stares, for sure.

lots of questions, too.

[Everrgreen]

Oh yes! Everywhere we go. Actually DS attracts attention everywhere whether I'm wearing him or not, which is really annoying because I am *not* a social person! When I am wearing him I always get people saying "Oh aren't those Snugli's great?" Ummm... I don't think Snugli makes a wrap, but sure

[Bokonon]

I just get a lot of "Awww"s, because she's usually sleeping or "talking" in the Mei Tai and just looks comfy. I don't see many other babywearers when I'm grocery shopping, but I live in San Diego and it's probably not as uncommon here as some places. People actually frequently comment on how happy she is, probably because she's so comfortable on Mommy's front!

[junipervt]

nope it is normal here

but when I nannied in the Baltimore area & in Philly I got comments about my wrap all the time.

[listipton]

I am asked about my maya wrap every time I'm out with ds. Baby wearing is VERY uncommon here, so I expect it. I really should have some cards printed up, but I'm chatty, so it doesn't bother me.
I do notice we get more questions when ds is sleeping. I also notice the longing looks from mama's carting around their babes in strollers when I'm zipping through crowds . Hopefully, I'm planting a seed!

[mamabearsoblessed]

now that she's not in the sling anymore I get lots of 'awwwww to big for your pocket now?' in the usual places and then they tell me which pocket/sling/wrap was their favorite LOL.
With my first, 9 years ago I thik people saw fewer slings and wraps, but maybe more now?

[lifeguard]

Everyone seems to want to comment. And it is mostly positive. I kind of like it!

[Carhootel]

I get comments on ds wether I'm wearing him or not - I think clerks and stuff just LOVE to look at the babies - who wouldn't though?

[cinderella08]

Same here - I live in a VERY non crunchy area and most of the time I get looked at like I have 5 heads.... So sad.... But there are some that LOVE my carriers and ask TONS of questions.

[_betsy_]

I have a simple pouch sling in a very, very pretty hot pink and white floral pattern. It garners a lot of attention, in part just because of the fabric. Lots of women remark about how pretty it is, sometimes before realizing there's a baby in there. Or at least, when either of my girls were little teeny tiny.

Usually, I get a lot of questions - is baby OK in there? Is it good for her/me/comfortable? I always joke that if she didn't like it, everyone in a 2-mile radius would know about it! I've gotten a couple sort of creepy older men telling me they'd love to be snuggled so close to my chest, or to be carried around all day.

For the most part, I've gotten sincerely interested questions and positive comments.

[Whistler]

I live in a crunchy town and I still got pointing and whispers last week while Christmas shopping. GRRRRR. Hey, baby was happy and asleep rather than fussing in his bucket. Give me a break, people!!!!

[GoGoGirl]

I live in NYC, and I'd say we're somewhat of a spectacle, but in a good way. People are interested in my wrap; especially immigrants who like telling me about their culture's babywearing customs.

I'm in Missouri right now, though, visiting family for the holidays. I went to the mall today, and everyone was looking at me like I was some kind of freak of nature!

[mntnmom]

Originally Posted by Whistler

I live in a crunchy town and I still got pointing and whispers last week while Christmas shopping. GRRRRR. Hey, baby was happy and asleep rather than fussing in his bucket. Give me a break, people!!!!

You never know what they're whispering "wow, that looks so easy... I wonder where she got it?" Tell yourself that, whether it's true of not!

[Sk8ermaiden]

Oh yes! I don't think we've ever been out and not had comments on the carriers. They have ALL been positive though, which is really interesting, considering I've never seen anything but Bjorns and Snugglis outside of my groups.

[funkymamajoy]

I don't get too many comments when using a front carry or a ring sling but apparently its a show when I put a baby on my back. I've had people run across a parking lot to make sure I don't drop him. Um, thanks for your concern, but I finished tying the wrap before you got 1/2 way here.

[Beauchamp]

I've had people tell me that DD looked like a "growth" in the Moby.

A few moms asked me about our Pikkolo and Ergo Sport (one thought the Ergo was a Bjorn!)

We had a TSA agent check our licenses against our plane tickets actually leave her podium and follow up through the security lines to keep talking about the Ergo.

And lastly...when I had DD in the Ergo and a big fleece zipped over both of us on a cold day, DH and I got a warm smile and a "congratulations!!!" because the woman thought I was PG, not babywearing.

[Alisse]

You'd think that by now babywearing was so common, but whenever i'm with my ds in the ergo, we get tons of stares and ooo's and ahh's. The only place i don't we don't get any attention is when we are in koreatown because it's a cultural thing -- to wear their babies.