Yikes, do I feel old! It was only 10 years ago that I was pushing my babies around in their strollers…running errands around my Manhattan neighborhood, or just taking them for a walk in the park.  Sure, there were times when I needed to be hands-free, and then I turned to my Baby Bjorn brand snuggy-thing. I remember being a nervous wreck when, as newborns, they lay up against my chest. I was constantly worried that they would be smothered. Then, as they got a bit bigger and were to face out in the snuggy thing, I worried that I couldn’t see their face and what if they were spitting up something. I can admit now that I never felt too secure with those things. I can also admit that 10 years ago, that was what hip young moms were doing so I gave it a try. The truth is, I was an old fashioned stroller kind of gal and I think I still am. It would have been quite rare back then to see a mom with one of those wrap- around, sling type of things. In fact, I would certainly have written that mother off as ultra-bohemian. But the times, they are a changin’!

Believe it or not, the movement away from strollers and towards these newer sling style carriers even has strollers being referred to as “isolation pods”…ouch! It seems the thinking is that “babywearing” leads to a happier, healthier baby than does using the traditional stroller. Whenever I see moms carrying their babies in the slings I wonder, “what if that knot comes loose?’ In case you haven’t picked up on it by now, I’m a bit of a worry wort. I just know that if I were to carry a baby in one of those, I would still have my hands cradling the baby from below just in case. The hands free thing wouldn’t be happening for me. And what about 10 years from now? I guarantee I will be blogging about articles by orthopedists, warning of the possible back injuries caused by these sling carriers. Read on and let me know what you think….