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Another 背帯 question.
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Author:  tekesta [ Wed May 14, 2014 9:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Another 背帯 question.
Hello again. Tonight I had a conversation with my stepmother regarding the use of mei-tai and baby slings. I mentioned, among other things, that mothers in many countries carry their babies on their backs since it is easier to attend to the baby's needs while working, and that, since the child can observe the world and mother's work from the safety and comfort of mother's back, he/she can learn sooner how to do house chores and other menial work. I even suggested that she wear her grandson on her back whenever she works around the house so that he can observe first hand the performance of menial tasks; this may be preferable to having him sit in front of the TV, watching cartoons for hours a day. Afterwards, she told me that, despite agreeing with all that I mentioned, she thinks it must be uncomfortable, for the child as well as for the parent, to have the child on one's back all day. Well, at least she is not as opposed to the idea of baby-wearing with mei-tai as before.

The bit about children carried about on baby-wearing devices having an easier time learning daily tasks feels a bit incredulous to me, despite my acceptance thereof. Of course the child would still have to spend lots of time practicing how to, for example, pick up objects left on the floor or clean the floor. However, in this case, the child that has spent many hours on mother's back, observing the execution of daily tasks will have some familiarity with the same once it is time for him/her to actually practice doing them. Anyone here with experience in this department is free to enlighten me :bow:
Author:  Inkwolf [ Wed May 14, 2014 9:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another 背帯 question.
I don't have any actual experience, but when a baby is strapped to your back, I don't believe it can actually see the tasks you are performing, unless it has x-ray vision...in which case, it probably has more exciting options in life than getting an early start in housework skills.
Author:  tekesta [ Thu May 15, 2014 12:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another 背帯 question.
Inkwolf wrote:
I don't have any actual experience, but when a baby is strapped to your back, I don't believe it can actually see the tasks you are performing, unless it has x-ray vision...in which case, it probably has more exciting options in life than getting an early start in housework skills.
Carrying the baby high on your back allows her to see over your shoulder. Also, just the body movements that the parent uses to do tasks around the house tend to hold the baby's attention. More than that, however, being physically close to the parent is perhaps the most important benefit of baby-wearing; many mothers practicing it report less crying and fussiness in their little ones. An important emotional need is satisfied and so, instead of spending energy signaling to the parent that the need has not been met (i.e., crying and fussiness), the baby can calmly observe the world around her and learn.

I often carry my 9-month old nephew on my back in a mei-tai (Chinese style baby carrier) and I hardly ever get a fuss from him, except maybe when he is hungry. I have suggested to the mother, my younger sister, that she wear her son on her back, but she is still unaccustomed to the idea :sad:

I imagine that, since in pre-industrial societies parents generally take their babies and toddlers with them almost everywhere, thus exposing them to the daily lives of adults, learning daily tasks comes as less of a shock to children in these societies than to those growing up in industrial and post-industrial societies.
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