New to Baby-Wearing and I ain't no damn hippy!

Stefie - posted on 01/13/2012

I suppose I am pretty hippy. I guess I have been most of my life. But, I am not perfect.

I try to make most of the things we own, or up cycle things. We eat almost only home cooked meals (unless some one else is picking up the check, haha). The only paper allowed in my house is toliet paper. We home school using the Montessori method. We use gentle discipline and natural consequences with yoga. Cloth all the way. My 20 month old has no intention of weaning. And on and on.

But, I have been to meetings where people made me feel bad because I ate fish, we owned a televison, and I like wine after my kids are asleep once in a while.

I think it is so silly to try to fit into some kind of category. I like being gentle and natural with my kids because it feels natural, is supported by research, and leaves us all feeling happy and communicating.

Any person or group that judges you one way or another is really not worth your time. Parenting is a journey. It is wonderful to talk to others in a similar journey and get ideas. Anything else is just not worth your time.

PS if you like wearing a sling, you might love the moby wrap. I had a sling with my first and loved it, except the literal pain in the neck/ shoulder. I got a moby wrap for my second. It was much more comfortable.

Tameka - posted on 11/23/2011

My family think I'm a little weird too, lol!! Just because I chose to breastfeed my girls past 3 months of age (give up breastfeeding at 3 months?!?!?!?!?!?!), parent my children to sleep rather than let them CIO, wear my children during the baby and toddler years, do baby led weaning etc etc. Having said that I do vaccinate, I do use disposable nappies on occasions, and my eldest (5 years) LOVES Disney movies and I let her watch them!

I'm still considered an 'alternative' mum in my family... Oh well! :D

Dianne - posted on 09/25/2011

lol i also found myself being stuck 'inbetween' hippy and so called normal, love using the sling to carry my son, am 50/50 on vaccinations (have only refused one the chickpox) and am considering homebirth but also happily give my son a bottle, love my pram, only cosleep when he is sick and happily send him off to his beloved daycare while i work
nice to hear some others out here are in the same position, yay for people supporting different choices

Jan - posted on 07/17/2010

I'm a bit of a crunchy mom, we use cloth diapers and I wear my babies, we co-sleep and what not, but we still eat at macdonalds, I drive an SUV and I eat non fair trade chocolate because the fair trade stuff is gross and I can't live without reese cups :) We all do what is right for our families and I hope no one is judging. Some AP forums are very extreme, this one isn't so welcome.

Marcy - posted on 07/15/2010

Sara glad you like the sling. For me, I am an AP mommy. The biggest reason I turn to the AP circle of moms on this site is because it is the one circle that truly gives you good advise. We are a circle of working moms, stay at home moms, of all different incomes and walks of life. However, I can tell you that if I had a problem or question the one and only place I would turn to for advise (outside of talking to my husband) would be in the AP circle....Honestly, my family thinks I'm nuts...we still comfort nurse and my son is turning 4. We also co-sleep whenever he wants. its about what works for your family and if you can give advise to others on the AP site that may help other new mommies who are in the same shoes as you then it will be greatly appreciated. Now that I have said my peace...thanks for getting the whole McDonalds thing in my head...I would kill for a chocolate shake right now.

Aura - posted on 07/14/2010

OMG, I LOVE DISNEY, lol. Don't worry about it. There are fanatics in every aspect of life, AP is no different. I breastfed and I practice many methods of AP but I don't judge you for having to formula feed. I don't even judge one of my girlfriends for choosing not to breastfeed. To each his own, but I feel that AP rocks! LOL.

Victoria - posted on 07/14/2010

LOL don't stress hun, you are who you are, and are doing a great job. There will always be people out there ready to critisize you. you just gotta rise above it ! not that I take my own advise LOL - i worry what everyone thinks of me.

Elizabeth - posted on 07/09/2010

OMG I am right there with you. I went through the same problem at work. I very much loved to walk to work (with a stroller), wear my baby, breastfeed, take naps with my baby in bed with me. I even tried making my own baby food. For some reason this made me a hippy to the people at work. To me that is just good parenting. What is better than showing your baby that they are loved and reducing your stress level at the same time. Be assured that you are not the only mom out there who absolutely adores wearing their child.
My only word of caution is to make sure that your sling is not a pouch sling (i.e. there is not way to make it tighter or looser by rings or adjustment) This is the type of sling that causes baby deaths because of positioning. If you want to find a good ring sling message me back. You are doing a great job, keep it up.