how odd?or is it?

I thought it was bad enough seeing children who look about 7 years old in buggies. But using a sling to carry a 5 year old? I'd have put my back out if I'd tried that when my DD was 5!

It is a trend and goes along with extended breastfeeding, co sleep in their parents bed and very often non vaccination. I have three friends whose grandchildren are being brought up like this. The sling use is allowed until the child no longer wants to use it. Apparently this sort of mother refers to herself as a crunchie mother (not sure why).

It is like giving a child a piggyback. DD1 used a long length of cloth for "tying her second son onto her back" until he was well past his fourth birthday, when he was being a drag and a moan and she had to keep up with the older one.

Said second son is now five and an excellent walker both in towns and up hills etc.

I used a buggy for DD2 sometimes when she was four. She has walked miles all her life since then (including lugging her cello to and from school), and still does. She also plays in a women's American Football team.

Kids are allowed to be tired and mums are allowed to do whatever makes the end of the school day (or the start of it) more bearable than it might otherwise be with a whiny child in tow.

Of course they are.
Others are allowed to think its a bit daft.

I guess my daughter, the child piggybacking one, is stronger than average too if piggybacking a kid would be such a big deal for other people.

I object to stupid generalisations about non-vaccination in connection with anything people find novel and a little surprising in their narrow-minded worlds. Women don't come more practical or level-headed than my piggybacking daughter.

No, others are not allowed to think it's a bit daft when they know bugger all about the individuals involved.

You can't police peoples thoughts.

Good point. I have no wish to police people's thoughts though, only to scorn their stupid ideas when I hear them.

Which is what I've done.

Good for you!

I would worry about the Mums back. Also if a child can't walk a short distance to and from school, is that the right place for them to be?

Do poor people do this too?

Properly tied on, it's no different from carrying a rucksack. The child's weight is distributed very well with the bulk of it being on the carrier's hips, just as witg a well-designed rucksack. Any normally healthy young woman ought to be able to carry a full ruscksack for short distances every day without damaging her back.

If I had a rucksack with legs which worked, I would expect it to walk.

Blimey! I can carry a reasonably heavy rucksack for reasonable distances and I have a bad back! So someone half my age....

Well I certainly couldnt carry much post knackered epidural / section back.

The child is running about with friends and eager to learn. Why on earth would it wish to be strapped to Mum?

Do childminders carry their small people in slings? or dads? or grans?

That is also a good point, MissAd. But if the rucksack won't walk and sits down on the pavement and is generally a pain in the butt, picking it up and slinging it on one's back saves a lot of time and energy.

I think my grandson would quite enjoy me carrying him around.
Mind you, he's ten!

I've never had a rucksack play me up like that, baggs.
It sounds fun though.

I think the point, ob, is that the children who get carried aren't running about or at least are not cooperating with walking (possibly because they are just tired, but there are other possibilities). I also think that most small children enjoy being "strapped to mum". It's safe and secure and comfortable.

And if it keep them from frazzling mum, it's probably worth it from the mum's point of view.

it certainly sounds odd , on collecting my small DGC from school have never seen this done [or pushchairs] is this in London OP? Could it be a cultural thing?

No woman is going to carry on carrying her child when the child gets too heavy.

In DD's case, it's Derbyshire. She's not the only one who did it. It probably is cultural in the sense of earth mother culture

Also if a child can't walk a short distance to and from school, is that the right place for them to be?
Quite right oldbatty

4allweknow^Why do parents send their "just 4 "year old to school in the first place. Why do they not wait until their next birthday before sending them into the battle of school.^

Because if they do defer the start of school for a year the child has to start in Y1, not reception. Reception year is mainly play-based.
they would miss quite a lot of peer-bonding too.

Quite right oldbatty

I am not contradicting myself - I don't think that 4-5 year olds should be carried in a sling unless there is very good reason.

I think my grandson would quite enjoy me carrying him around. Mind you, he's ten!
so's mine and I think he could pick me up! well, certainly his mum, perhaps not me