If you’re new to my Frugal Foreigner posts, read all about what we’re doing in India here! You can read all previous posts in the series here.
Look at these two photos and guess which of these Indians is more likely to be holding my baby.
The answer is the guy on the right (and not just because he happens to be our driver). The picture on the left is the only one I have of a woman with Dalton. College-age guys love babies here. I was warned about this beforehand, but is still funny sometimes. It’s the grandmas and little girls who pinch cheeks, but it’s the college guys that love the baby most! Check it out:
Not such a big deal to have some friends to entertain him at a cricket match, or during church, or to let him drive a boat! Dalton is very friendly, and doesn’t mind the attention (though as you can see, my daughter is usually hiding behind my legs rather than talking to strangers). I don’t mind people taking pictures of my kids when we’re strolling around a sight. But sometimes I do mind people taking off with the baby, or grabbing him out of my arms, or bothering him when he’s tired. This is why I nearly always look like this:
I made this baby sling myself in less than an hour, using 1 yard of fabric. I used a free baby sling pattern I found online to sew the baby sling. You only need minimal sewing skills, though I found the pattern a bit hard to figure out.
I have worn the baby in this pouch sling nearly every day for the past 6 months. It’s an easy way to say “Please don’t take my baby” when “Please don’t take my baby” and “No!” don’t work. It’s not easy to get Dalton out of the sling if I don’t want him out, and believe me, people have tried.
Before we even came to India, I was already wearing the baby in this sling daily. I used it hiking, at Disneyland, in Target when he started consistently diving into the back of the shopping cart, and anytime I needed some free hands. I’ve also used it with my 3 year old, and with my infant niece. It is more comfortable than a Baby Bjorn type carrier, especially when the child gets older. It’s just like carrying the baby on my hip, only hands-free.\
Do you wear your baby? What is your favorite type of sling or carrier?
Related discussions:
- Baby Slings
- Baby Slings vs. Baby Carriers
- What kind of sling or baby carrier did you like?
- Need baby carrier recommendation
*Disclaimer* There are many benefits to baby wearing, but also some risks, especially with very young infants. If you will be using a carrier or sling for a very young baby, please carefully study the positioning information that comes with your product, or safety information on wearing a young infant.
I always wore my baby, and loved it!! It kept other little kids and their germs away from them. Strollers are right at little kids germy hands level, and I have been known to be a bit of a germ freak.
I used a maya wrap, and although it was a bit pricey, I defnitely got my money’s worth. I used it from the time she was a week old, til she was 1 year old!!
you’re stronger than I am, I get anxious when people I don’t know touch my kids lol When my daughter was 1 (she’s now 4) we went to a Chinese Restaurant and there were two waitresses who were talking to her and playing (which I didn’t mind) but they then took her out of the highchair without asking and was carrying her around! I got really heated and nervous it was just a bad situation for me. I don’t know if it’s because we hear a lot of scary things in America regarding strangers and kids but I’m very overprotective. It’s ashame how hard it is to trust people now, I don’t blame you I’d be doing the same thing with the sling!!