Yeah, yeah.  I agree with what was said on the Classy Closet.  While Motrin is completely mental in that ad campaign and has listened to the words of the mommy bloggers and took the ad down, they got an absolute boatload of free press (albeit negative) from that brief ad.

With that, I’m taking a second to say why I think baby wearing is not fashionable.

Years back, I befriended a group of gals from birthing class.  We all mall walked almost daily after having the kids.  You can imagine what 3 women walking with kids would look like.  First off, navigating a store with a stroller is hard enough, try it with 3.  Plus they were the big ol’ suckers with the infant seats attached.

Inevitably, one of us would get stuck walking behind the rest, straining to hear the convo of the other 2 walking up ahead.  Because of this, I started wearing Jake.

I had HUGE knockers.  I had to have reduction surgery in between kids.  I was always ‘busty’, as my mom called it, but after nursing Jake for a year I blew up to a whopping 36-I cup.  I as in Icelandic, because that’s what they were.  I had my bra’s tailored at almost $100 a pop.  I had back pain and all the works, so wearing Jake did cause back problems.

I started wearing him when he was tiny, before it had any effect on my back (I took Tylenol, eat it Motrin).  As he got older, he was so used to riding attached to me, he flat out refused the stroller.  Instead of fighting him on it, I just kept wearing him.  Once, when he was about 6 months old, I was in line at the food court and I heard (and saw) the cashier and a co-worker pointing and making fun of me.

I actually heard a “Oh no, she didn’t” in regards to my wearing my son.  I even had a shirt on over the carrier, so all you saw was 6 months of adorable strapped to my chest.  After that humiliating experience, I went home and wrote to the company who employed those women.

That restaurant sent an apology, the manager called me and I got free stuff from them (my real goal, ha).  I held on to the free food coupons forever though, because they were only valid at that restaurant, and I was actually afraid to go back.

You guys have probably figured out my insecurities by now.  Especially since I voice them openly almost weekly.  It took a lot of encouragement to get my ass there to use those coupons.  Ultimately, the reason I did is because they were going to expire and there’s no way I’ll pass up free food.

I didn’t stop wearing Jake after that experience, I continued to wear him until I couldn’t anymore.  My back hurt, sure, but so would carrying him.  I didn’t feel attractive or ‘more like a mother’.  In fact, I felt more like an awkward nanny.  I wore my kid for convenience, because the stores at the mall don’t cater to their biggest shoppers-moms with kids.  I was sick of bashing into racks with my kids stroller, prying ripped down clothes from his biter biscuit fingers.

I dont’ wear Josh.  I have a few times, but Josh (at 7 months) is already 23 pounds.  Since I had such a hard time getting Jake into a stroller after wearing him, I just never bothered with Josh.  Especially since with 2 I use a double stroller anyway.  Why wear one if the other is hitching a ride on a stroller?  One other thing.  I’m not the only one who wore Jake.  Ryan did too.  It wasn’t even REMOTELY fashionable, but it was cute as hell!

Have a picture of yourself wearing a baby? Any baby-doesn’t even have to be your own Sign some Mr. Linky if you do!