The madcap adventures of Cari Dogsstealyarn
All kinds of adventures lately. (And before I launch into them, let me say that I loved finding out what everyone’s reading this summer, will definitely be following in some of your reading footsteps, and plan to post an alphabatized list soon.)
First adventure: Learning that the contact lens solution I have been using for a rather long time has been recalled, and develop some of the symptoms of the related infection. Fun. Cassie very kindly agreed to Thumper-wrangle in the doctor’s waiting room while I got checked out, and the two of them had quite a good time together. Turns out, I’m fine. It’s allergies, most likely. (A bit of a hypochondriac, maybe, but otherwise fine.) So where does the adventure part come in? Well, the doctor dilated my pupils. I’d never had that done before. Man, was that fun. I didn’t have sunglasses with me and got to walk 20+ blocks to the train while carrying the baby, squinting even in the shade and tears running down my face.
Second adventure: Screwing up my back somehow (probably cumulative as Thumper’s getting quite heavy and I hadn’t been switching shoulders with the sling the way I should. Not to mention I haven’t been doing any yoga and walking is the only exercise I’ve been getting.). This meant trekking with the baby to Billy’s office to get treated. And because my back was hurt, this meant trekking with the baby in a stroller, not the sling. I hate wrestling with a stroller on the subway. And we have a superlight, easily folded with one hand and a foot stroller. Maybe it’s because I’m not used to using it, but I really don’t understand why anyone would ever use a stroller when they have slings and other baby carriers available to them. Then again, I was using the stroller to go to a physical therapy appointment because I’d screwed up my back. So maybe that answers that. I still don’t like using the stroller, though. My little guy seems so far away when he’s in it.
Clearly I need to take better care of myself, as it feels like I’m falling apart. How to take care of myself while taking care of the baby-soon-to-be-toddler? I haven’t figured that part out yet.
Okay. So only two adventures, and neither that exciting. I kind of overpromised with that post title, didn’t I? Amazing, what passes for adventure around here these days.
You use the stroller instead of the sling when your kid weighs in at 30+ pounds at his 9-month check up. (Plus, even though ours is huge, it has a steering wheel for The Bug, and he LURVES it.)
Posted by: Carrie
When mine were babies, I considered taking a shower an adventure. You’re doing fine. As for taking care of yourself, it’s not so easy. Try a little yoga while he’s napping. Vitamins are good. Most important is sleep, if you can manage it. Hang in there; they do grow, and all of a sudden they’re saying, “Bye, Mom! Going outside to play!”
Posted by: Suzanne V. (Yarnhog)
I hardly ever used the stroller when my kids were tiny. I know exactly what you mean about them feeling far away. Now I use it to take walks and at the library where I can strap her in and she is mostly unable to pull books off shelves. Of course, I don’t have any subway rides to worry about.
Posted by: Mandy
You use the stroller instead of the sling when your kid weighs in at 30+ pounds at his 9-month check up. (Plus, even though ours is huge, it has a steering wheel for The Bug, and he LURVES it.)
Posted by: Carrie
When mine were babies, I considered taking a shower an adventure. You’re doing fine. As for taking care of yourself, it’s not so easy. Try a little yoga while he’s napping. Vitamins are good. Most important is sleep, if you can manage it. Hang in there; they do grow, and all of a sudden they’re saying, “Bye, Mom! Going outside to play!”
Posted by: Suzanne V. (Yarnhog)
I hardly ever used the stroller when my kids were tiny. I know exactly what you mean about them feeling far away. Now I use it to take walks and at the library where I can strap her in and she is mostly unable to pull books off shelves. Of course, I don’t have any subway rides to worry about.
Posted by: Mandy
My back could never handle the slings, as I screwed it up while the kid was in utero.
We really should have procured you some shades before you went off into the blinding glare. Sorry if I abandoned you.
Posted by: Cassie
I know what you mean about the stroller. I swear A LOT when I have to use one.
But, I had huge babies, too, and thus know the back pain of not switching sides and carriers.
Do you have a backpack carrier? Maybe when you’re feeling better you can add that to the rotation!
Best of luck on healing.
Posted by: radmam
I never switch shoulders with my sling bc I really love the shoulder cap and it’s only on one side. I guess I could make a second sling to compensate but really, I’m way too lazy. 🙂
Strollers are so unmanageable. We just bought a bike trailer that converts to a stroller and while it makes transporting B all over town so much easier, it is a huge piece of equipment for folks without a garage. We’ve started calling it her chariot because she looks so funny being so small in this monster cart, towed by a sweaty parent. 😉
I hope your back heals quickly! There is nothing worse than running after a baby when you have a bad back!!!
Posted by: Elinor
I would NEVER think of folding the stroller up while en route. When going down escalators pull it on behind you, baby facing backward and he’ll be in a lying down position. When on the car, put it right in front of you and just take up a little bit of the aisle. A few people will give you nasty looks, most won’t, or will even do some cooing. And those that give nasty looks are destined to get very, very, difficult babies who scream and cry a whole bunch for no particular reason, so comfort yourself with that thought, while they give you dirty looks. 🙂
Posted by: Becky
I’m shocked they let you leave without those cheapo temp eye things, I always get one before i leave the docs office when I have that done (had it done once a year sense I was like 5 lol).
Your eye doc should give you throw away ones, its like made out of plastic paper.
Posted by: pixie
One word: Dumbbells.
Getting stronger cured my back problems. My son weighed 33 lbs by the time he was a year old (he’s almost 3 now, so I don’t have to carry him at all unless he’s really tired or cranky), and I was starting to have low back pain. I started lifting weights and it was gone in a couple of weeks, never to return.
Posted by: Savida
Maybe you need to get an Ergo or a similar structured carrier instead of a sling? All the moms I know love love love their Ergos.
Posted by: Amy
What Pixie said. Eye docs don’t think about their patients going outside after dilation. And they should have disposable ones to give you without your asking. sigh. At least everything’s okay.
Posted by: Luise
What Pixie said. Eye docs don’t think about their patients going outside after dilation. And they should have disposable ones to give you without your asking. sigh. At least everything’s okay.
Posted by: Luise
Those are definitely advetnures. Too bad some badness is involved.
Today’s adventure around here was that we went to a different playground. Woohoo!
Posted by: valentina
Be careful. Funny how mommys never get a sick day!
Posted by: natalie
Sounds like it’s time for an Ergo or a mei tai. I haven’t been able to carry Boogermonkey in a sling since he was 15 pounds (I’m a very small person with a very bad back), but I can use a wrap or the ergo for about 20 minutes now with no problems & he’s about 25 pounds.
Posted by: jen
My back could never handle the slings, as I screwed it up while the kid was in utero.
We really should have procured you some shades before you went off into the blinding glare. Sorry if I abandoned you.
Posted by: Cassie
I know what you mean about the stroller. I swear A LOT when I have to use one.
But, I had huge babies, too, and thus know the back pain of not switching sides and carriers.
Do you have a backpack carrier? Maybe when you’re feeling better you can add that to the rotation!
Best of luck on healing.
Posted by: radmam
I never switch shoulders with my sling bc I really love the shoulder cap and it’s only on one side. I guess I could make a second sling to compensate but really, I’m way too lazy. 🙂
Strollers are so unmanageable. We just bought a bike trailer that converts to a stroller and while it makes transporting B all over town so much easier, it is a huge piece of equipment for folks without a garage. We’ve started calling it her chariot because she looks so funny being so small in this monster cart, towed by a sweaty parent. 😉
I hope your back heals quickly! There is nothing worse than running after a baby when you have a bad back!!!
Posted by: Elinor
I would NEVER think of folding the stroller up while en route. When going down escalators pull it on behind you, baby facing backward and he’ll be in a lying down position. When on the car, put it right in front of you and just take up a little bit of the aisle. A few people will give you nasty looks, most won’t, or will even do some cooing. And those that give nasty looks are destined to get very, very, difficult babies who scream and cry a whole bunch for no particular reason, so comfort yourself with that thought, while they give you dirty looks. 🙂
Posted by: Becky
I’m shocked they let you leave without those cheapo temp eye things, I always get one before i leave the docs office when I have that done (had it done once a year sense I was like 5 lol).
Your eye doc should give you throw away ones, its like made out of plastic paper.
Posted by: pixie
One word: Dumbbells.
Getting stronger cured my back problems. My son weighed 33 lbs by the time he was a year old (he’s almost 3 now, so I don’t have to carry him at all unless he’s really tired or cranky), and I was starting to have low back pain. I started lifting weights and it was gone in a couple of weeks, never to return.
Posted by: Savida
Maybe you need to get an Ergo or a similar structured carrier instead of a sling? All the moms I know love love love their Ergos.
Posted by: Amy
What Pixie said. Eye docs don’t think about their patients going outside after dilation. And they should have disposable ones to give you without your asking. sigh. At least everything’s okay.
Posted by: Luise
What Pixie said. Eye docs don’t think about their patients going outside after dilation. And they should have disposable ones to give you without your asking. sigh. At least everything’s okay.
Posted by: Luise
Those are definitely advetnures. Too bad some badness is involved.
Today’s adventure around here was that we went to a different playground. Woohoo!
Posted by: valentina
Be careful. Funny how mommys never get a sick day!
Posted by: natalie
Sounds like it’s time for an Ergo or a mei tai. I haven’t been able to carry Boogermonkey in a sling since he was 15 pounds (I’m a very small person with a very bad back), but I can use a wrap or the ergo for about 20 minutes now with no problems & he’s about 25 pounds.
Posted by: jen
I hope your back is feeling better!
Posted by: knittripps
Yeah, strollers in subways scare the bejesus outta me, but then again, you have answered your own question as to why strollers rather than slings when the baby gets to be too heavy. Of course, there weren’t any subways around here to worry about, so….heh.
Posted by: Norma
If you figure out how to take care of yourself and a little one, please let me know!! I can’t figure it out myself. UGH!
Posted by: ashley
I don’t have kids so I can’t comment from a position of personal knowledge, but it seems like, from every mom I’ve ever talked to, that “taking care of self while taking care of child” thing is the golden elixir of motherhood. In fact, if you do figure it out and can bottle it, Thumper’s college will be paid for in two seconds…
Glad the eye thing was a nonstarter – I just looked up the recall on Webmd and got all paranoid about my store-brand lens solution (since they buy from whoever is cheapest).
Posted by: Lizbon
I have a 6 wk old girl and have used my peg perego stroller quite a bit and it’s great. I do have a sling (a “heart to heart”) and would LOVE to use it with her more but she doesn’t seem to like it (or I’m not using it right). Any suggestions? Thanks and take care of yourself!
Posted by: Heather
In these situations, I just imagine people who have twins. (For me, it was always my daughter falling asleep just as we got to the supermarket and me having to hold her while trying to push a cart and shop while her head lolled around on my shoulder. Ack.)
Stroller comment: When we were in China adopting our daughter, we never saw a single person pushing a stroller. All babies were carried in some way, and we did the same. The only strollers we saw were those of a parent or two in our adoption group, and watching them try to navigate the streets, gutters, and crowds of a Chinese city street was a sight to behold.
Posted by: jessie
Since I only have animals (and I do not own any of those pet strollers) I can’t comment on the use of one. However, I have a back! And I can comment on that… 🙂
There are some great places here in p-town to practice. Some even have child care!
oh, and clogs…they’d help too. i’m just sayin’. lol
Posted by: shannon in oregon
I would highly suggest an asian style aka mei tai baby carrier. You can do 2 shoulder carries and its less stress on your back. When my dc got too heavy for the sling thats what I did and its great!
Posted by: Ashley
Duh, I wrote I hadn’t read one of those books then listed two I have read – the one I meant to list (and haven’t read) is an up-and-coming feminist tome by feministing.com blogger Jessica Valenti, “Full Frontal Feminism.” She was on the Colbert Report recently blowing his mind. I would love to help this book turn the anti-feminist tide. (Oh and PS thanks so much for recommending Boys and Girls in America. Best album of last year.)
Posted by: Laura(keet)
Yeh, what everyone else has already said. One, center Thumper’s weight on your back if you want to keep carrying him. Two, there are strollers where the baby faces you – but then HE can’t see out. Three, when he no longer wants to be carried/ride, that’s when the fun REALLY starts! (I actually had to resort to one of those shoulder harness things and a tether with our youngest.)
Posted by: Mary K. in Rockport
Having had no experience with the stroller vs. sling question, its not really something I can comment on, however, I have wondered why schlep the stroller when you could schlep just the kid and diaper bag. From what I’ve observed, the stroller is for kid luggage mostly, and bigger kids. In the neighborhood where I live, strollers have mushroomed to the size of Winnebagos, there is even one that I see that seats an entire pre-school class of approximately 6-8 kids. Kind of a London bus, double-decker type of affair.
I’ve often considered getting one of those off-road models with the cup/cheerios holders, for when Marcel gets tired. Then maybe I could also take him in the grocery store.
As for pupil dilation, dude I so feel your pain. Do you know, once I rode my bike home from the eye doctors that way. It was rather surreal and hair-raising. No drivers on the road knew all I could see were blobs of brightness. Don’t ever try it!!!
You try to take good care of yourself, probably easier said than done but you know. Here is what I love for relaxation purposes- bubble baths with scrubby things and a good book. Lock the boys out of the bathroom!
Love, P.
Posted by: pippy
I never used a stroller when my son was small, and he was a HUGE baby! (He outgrew the “infant” car seat by 4 months old!) I used a sling until my back couldn’t handle it, then switched to a backpack intended for hiking. It can hold up to 70 pounds, and he loved it! It’s balanced on both shoulders, and held everything in it’s pouch behind him (wallet, keys, etc.) I never seemed to have any problem with people being bothered by it, and it kept little hands out of store displays! It was made by Kelty… I already bought one for my sister who’s due at the end of September with her first. ( I loaned mine out some time ago and never got it back…) My chiro. had no problem with it, and I carried him in it regularly until he could keep up walking (about 4yrs old or so…)
Posted by: HistoricStitcher
I hope your back is feeling better!
Posted by: knittripps
Yeah, strollers in subways scare the bejesus outta me, but then again, you have answered your own question as to why strollers rather than slings when the baby gets to be too heavy. Of course, there weren’t any subways around here to worry about, so….heh.
Posted by: Norma
If you figure out how to take care of yourself and a little one, please let me know!! I can’t figure it out myself. UGH!
Posted by: ashley
I don’t have kids so I can’t comment from a position of personal knowledge, but it seems like, from every mom I’ve ever talked to, that “taking care of self while taking care of child” thing is the golden elixir of motherhood. In fact, if you do figure it out and can bottle it, Thumper’s college will be paid for in two seconds…
Glad the eye thing was a nonstarter – I just looked up the recall on Webmd and got all paranoid about my store-brand lens solution (since they buy from whoever is cheapest).
Posted by: Lizbon
I have a 6 wk old girl and have used my peg perego stroller quite a bit and it’s great. I do have a sling (a “heart to heart”) and would LOVE to use it with her more but she doesn’t seem to like it (or I’m not using it right). Any suggestions? Thanks and take care of yourself!
Posted by: Heather
In these situations, I just imagine people who have twins. (For me, it was always my daughter falling asleep just as we got to the supermarket and me having to hold her while trying to push a cart and shop while her head lolled around on my shoulder. Ack.)
Stroller comment: When we were in China adopting our daughter, we never saw a single person pushing a stroller. All babies were carried in some way, and we did the same. The only strollers we saw were those of a parent or two in our adoption group, and watching them try to navigate the streets, gutters, and crowds of a Chinese city street was a sight to behold.
Posted by: jessie
Since I only have animals (and I do not own any of those pet strollers) I can’t comment on the use of one. However, I have a back! And I can comment on that… 🙂
There are some great places here in p-town to practice. Some even have child care!
oh, and clogs…they’d help too. i’m just sayin’. lol
Posted by: shannon in oregon
I would highly suggest an asian style aka mei tai baby carrier. You can do 2 shoulder carries and its less stress on your back. When my dc got too heavy for the sling thats what I did and its great!
Posted by: Ashley
Duh, I wrote I hadn’t read one of those books then listed two I have read – the one I meant to list (and haven’t read) is an up-and-coming feminist tome by feministing.com blogger Jessica Valenti, “Full Frontal Feminism.” She was on the Colbert Report recently blowing his mind. I would love to help this book turn the anti-feminist tide. (Oh and PS thanks so much for recommending Boys and Girls in America. Best album of last year.)
Posted by: Laura(keet)
Yeh, what everyone else has already said. One, center Thumper’s weight on your back if you want to keep carrying him. Two, there are strollers where the baby faces you – but then HE can’t see out. Three, when he no longer wants to be carried/ride, that’s when the fun REALLY starts! (I actually had to resort to one of those shoulder harness things and a tether with our youngest.)
Posted by: Mary K. in Rockport
Having had no experience with the stroller vs. sling question, its not really something I can comment on, however, I have wondered why schlep the stroller when you could schlep just the kid and diaper bag. From what I’ve observed, the stroller is for kid luggage mostly, and bigger kids. In the neighborhood where I live, strollers have mushroomed to the size of Winnebagos, there is even one that I see that seats an entire pre-school class of approximately 6-8 kids. Kind of a London bus, double-decker type of affair.
I’ve often considered getting one of those off-road models with the cup/cheerios holders, for when Marcel gets tired. Then maybe I could also take him in the grocery store.
As for pupil dilation, dude I so feel your pain. Do you know, once I rode my bike home from the eye doctors that way. It was rather surreal and hair-raising. No drivers on the road knew all I could see were blobs of brightness. Don’t ever try it!!!
You try to take good care of yourself, probably easier said than done but you know. Here is what I love for relaxation purposes- bubble baths with scrubby things and a good book. Lock the boys out of the bathroom!
Love, P.
Posted by: pippy
I never used a stroller when my son was small, and he was a HUGE baby! (He outgrew the “infant” car seat by 4 months old!) I used a sling until my back couldn’t handle it, then switched to a backpack intended for hiking. It can hold up to 70 pounds, and he loved it! It’s balanced on both shoulders, and held everything in it’s pouch behind him (wallet, keys, etc.) I never seemed to have any problem with people being bothered by it, and it kept little hands out of store displays! It was made by Kelty… I already bought one for my sister who’s due at the end of September with her first. ( I loaned mine out some time ago and never got it back…) My chiro. had no problem with it, and I carried him in it regularly until he could keep up walking (about 4yrs old or so…)
Posted by: HistoricStitcher
Good luck on the taking care of yourself part. I’ve never figured it out, darn it! They get more mobile and headstrong, yet not rational at all, and it gets harder for a while to find time for yourself. Then they start getting more rational and it gets easier. It’s a really interesting ebb-and-flow thing all along.
Posted by: Patti
Good luck on the taking care of yourself part. I’ve never figured it out, darn it! They get more mobile and headstrong, yet not rational at all, and it gets harder for a while to find time for yourself. Then they start getting more rational and it gets easier. It’s a really interesting ebb-and-flow thing all along.
Posted by: Patti