Trying to Sell Strollers in Kenya?
Don’t bother…this was an article that Patti W. sent me 2 years ago and has been in the pile of things to do for a LONG LONG TIME. And then voila! Rev. Aradia P. sent it to me again just the other day.
An Idea Still Looking for Traction in Kenya
And even though stroller comics are some of the most controversial ones that I do, I’m gearing up for a whole bunch!
Love,
Heather
Julinda said,
January 22, 2007 @ 12:54 pm
Dang, I wish my stroller had a telescoping handle.
I don’t use a sling but I kind of wish I did. I carry Alex a LOT and for some reason can’t carry him (or my purse) well w/my left arm, so my right arm is kind of overworked! Luckily Alex is pretty light - 19.5 pounds at the moment.) Also a sling would make a lot of things a lot easier. I tried one sling but it didn’t work for us and I didn’t have the time or money to try a bunch of different ones. I wish I knew people (IRL) who had some that I could test out.
I do use a stroller when we’re going to be walking a lot (a mall, a festival) BUT even then mostly my husband or I carry Alex, and use the stroller to carry everything else (purse, diaper bag, packages). I put him in it when my arm needs a break, and sometimes he seems to enjoy a ride. I never leave him in it crying or wanting out. When he’s old enough to walk, I anticipate using the little harness/leash thingy I used for my older son - it might seem odd but it was really perfect for us - he absolutely loved the freedom to walk around and I didn’t break my back leaning over to hold his hand or worry about him getting lost in a crowd! He almost never rode in a stroller after he could walk. (Hope you don’t hate those!) So hopefully my carrying arm will get a break soon - Alex just turned one and he’s cruising like crazy.
But to end my rambling
and address the point of the article - I wish our “modern” country could learn from the less-modern countries in certain areas (like parenting) rather than trying to push all our ideas on them. Or at least just let them be! I hope the stroller sellers cut their losses and get out.
Julinda
mamaof5 said,
January 22, 2007 @ 5:29 pm
Funny. With my first I had never even heard of a sling. We had a pretty giant stroller and I usually ended up pushing the stroller while carrying the baby. I discovered slings with dc#2 but they did seems complicated so we still had the stroller and still carried the kid. Then I found the perfect for us sling and I have never used a stroller at all with dc#3 and 4 and won’t with #5 when it makes it’s apperance.
It would be nice if there we sling stores so you could go and try out a lot of slings. Just like there are stroller stores. That way you are not wasting your money trying to find a sling that works for you. I went thru only 3 before I found the right one, but I can imagine needing to test out a bunch more. : P
Heather in Tucson
tgperg said,
January 22, 2007 @ 8:35 pm
Check out NINO, Nine In Nine Out, a babywearing organization. They have local groups, and you can join their email list. Our group here has occasional meetings and you can go to one and try out everybody’s different carriers. At the last meeting I attended, there were a bunch of different wrap carriers (Didymos, Storchenweige, etc.), several mei teis, and a couple of Ergo carriers. There were ring slings and my own homemade wrap too. The web address is http://www.nineinnineout.org/localgroups.htm
outsidermom said,
January 23, 2007 @ 8:21 pm
We bought a carseat stroller set when my daughter was born. She hated both so much that going anywhere was a huge ordeal. DD was such a tiny baby and the whole contraption seemed so HUGE I think she felt lost inside the stroller. Also the first few times I tired to haul the stroller into the trunk of my car I thought my back would break. My friend, who worked as a Peace Corp volunteer introduced me to the concept of a baby sling and even bought me one as a baby gift. It was a real turning point for our family. Some kids have a security blanket they can;t be without. My daughter has her sling. It’s so funny the number one comment that I get about my sling from my stroller schlepping sisters is “doesn;t that thing make your back hurt?” and all I can think is how do you get that hulking stroller in and out of your car???