Babywearing is "lazy"?

[Mandynee22]

I was going on a trail walk with DD, DS and my friend and her DD. I put Andrew in my peanut shell (goo-ga.com) and she (my friend) says to me "my uncle says those {slings in general I assume} are lazy". Her uncle and aunt are due next month. (FTR she doesn't BW but she didn't agree that they're lazy)
Has anyone ever hear baby wearing is lazy??? I thought I'd heard it all!
I bet he doesn't think strollers and baby buckets are lazy though
On a realated note, DP and the kids and I were at an ice cream place having some might yummy ice cream when I saw a couple and their baby get out of their car. I rolled my eyes and grunted. DP (very new to anything AP related- I'm the only one who's ever exposed him) says "what? do you know him? do you know her? ooooo! I get it! It's because they're carrying the baby in his carseat!!!" I was proud. I think I'm finally getting through... then he says "yup, they aren't carrying him. That's it. If she doesn't at least pull out a boob and feed that baby right here, we would NEVER be friends with them!"
LAZY! SHEESH
Seriously, is that a COMMON view???????

[attachedmamaof3]

I dunno. But that IS the reason I babywear and definately one of the top 5 for why I breastfeed!! (Or half the other things I do....)

[glendora]

Originally Posted by Mandynee22

It's because they're carrying the baby in his carseat!!!" I was proud. I think I'm finally getting through... then he says "yup, they aren't carrying him. That's it. If she doesn't at least pull out a boob and feed that baby right here, we would NEVER be friends with them!"

He's funny.

[woodchick]

I think people make comments like that maybe because they had to work so hard with their own babies...and now they're jealous because you seem to have it so easy.

Like, "I had to lug that baby bucket all the way into the store and back, what a workout!" and so seeing you easily slinging a babe makes them a little defensive and the lazy word creeps up...

[e.naomisandoval]

Turn it around; ask them what they mean. Look stunned at the appropriate points!

I bet it is something along the lines of spoiling them; you are too lazy to put them across the room and train them to be compliant; you give in to whatever they want because you're afraid to do the "work" that is "required" or some such. Whatever, dude.

[Layna]

Originally Posted by attachedmamaof3

I dunno. But that IS the reason I babywear and definately one of the top 5 for why I breastfeed!! (Or half the other things I do....)

Same Here! It's just so much easier!

[TirzhaZ]

In one respect it is lazy. Like PP's said, that's part of the reason I do it. Besides the fact that babywearing and breastfeeding are what's best for baby, it's what is best for my sanity sometimes too! I mean, why do I want to spend time mixing bottles or soothing a baby that is strapped to a carseat when I could just wear her and pop out the boob for her whenever she needs it?

Then again, tell those people that think it is lazy to hike around every day with an extra 15 - 20 pounds strapped to their front or back and see how lazy they think it is then. Strollers have wheels. They pretty much walk themselves!

Babywearing + Breastfeeding = The World's Greatest Workout!

[kdabbler]

Oh yes, babywearing is very lazy. I don't need to dance, make faces, twirl toys and fly through the grocery store at the speed of light because my dd is quite content just hanging out.

Sounds like your DP is alright

[Hobie]

Lazy...

[AlbertaJes]

I can see it. I can't be bothered to figure out how to fold/unfold a big stroller and pack it into my small car. So much easier to just pop her in a sling or something.

And yeah, laziness is definitely in my top 5 reasons why I breastfeed. #2, I believe, right after "best for the baby".

[staceychev]

Definitely lazy in the "go with the flow" sort of way. (For breastfeeding and babywearing)

I feel like mamas who make all the these AP things out to be such hard work just discourage those new parents who are on the fence about the way to go! I think we need to promote the idea that it's what's best for the baby, what's best for the family, and what's best for us. What a joy breastfeeding and babywearing is--I feel kinda sad for mamas (and papas, for bw-ing) who don't get to experience it.

[hypatia]

I think she's confusing "lazy" with "efficient."

[ChrisR]

I don't see it as necessarily lazy, it's just not making extra work on myself.

[jaclyn7]

Originally Posted by hypatia

I think she's confusing "lazy" with "efficient."

My thoughts exactly.

[calidarling]

Originally Posted by hypatia

I think she's confusing "lazy" with "efficient."

:

[Arwyn]

Ooo, good point hypatia.

It's not lazy. It's not more work, either. It's different work, and much, much better. Right now I can't sit down because Naked Baby is asleep on my back (he can tell the difference between standing/swaying and sitting on the ball, and he has a definite preference ). So I could easily go all martyr-y, and moan about how hard babywearing is. Of course, because I was wearing him on my back, he was happy and content to be looking around for half an hour, chewing on his fist, insteading of crying and yelling at me, and me having to run around trying to distract him and figure out what he wanted (which was, actually, to be on my back!). Plus I got a bunch of laundry folded, another load started, the dishes done, and made myself a snack.

People who think babywearing, or any other attachment practice (aka parenting), is either "lazy" or "too hard" just doesn't understand. It's way too outside their worldview, and they're trying to dismiss it. It's not lazy, it's not difficult, it's just life.

[dfunk98]

Originally Posted by TirzhaZ

In one respect it is lazy. Like PP's said, that's part of the reason I do it. Besides the fact that babywearing and breastfeeding are what's best for baby, it's what is best for my sanity sometimes too! I mean, why do I want to spend time mixing bottles or soothing a baby that is strapped to a carseat when I could just wear her and pop out the boob for her whenever she needs it?

Then again, tell those people that think it is lazy to hike around every day with an extra 15 - 20 pounds strapped to their front or back and see how lazy they think it is then. Strollers have wheels. They pretty much walk themselves!

Babywearing + Breastfeeding = The World's Greatest Workout!

Really!!
If anyone that called babywearers "lazy" had a baby strapped to them for <insert length of time here>, I think they'd be singing a very different tune!! I don't know about everyone else here, but my 2 1/2 yo dd is very squirmy!! Forget wearing her, it's workout enough trying to keep her from wiggling!!

[MilkTrance]

I don't babywear (not opposed to it, just haven't tried) but I do carry my baby "by himself" (i.e., not in his carseat) when we walk, etc., and boy do I get a lot of stares. I guess it is lazy, though, compared to having to carry an extra 10lbs worth of carseat, lol.

[bdavis337]

I use my baby carseat for things like going out to eat, shopping for clothes (so I can try things on!!), etc. They're not ALL bad.

That said................LOVE my carrier.

[curly_mommy]

I would have asked what exactly she meant, particularly since she was quoting her 'uncle'. It sounds like she didn't really kjnow what to think of babywearing, and he was the only person who had given her any sort of opinion on it.

I don't think it's lazy at all. I think it's very effecient, and hard work, too, carrying a baby around on your body! Nothing lazy about it, with the exception of maybe being lazy and not wanting to carry around the extra 10 lbs. that the baby carseat carrier would add!