I wear my daughter for so many reasons – it calms her, (for that matter it calms me) it helps me get more accomplished, it allows me to move through crowded or tight spaces more easily, and if done correctly it’s LESS painful than holding a baby on your hip. While the fabrics of carriers might be trendy, babywearing is not – it has been done worldwide for centuries and with documented benefits.

There are many legitimate reasons moms get headaches, but this isn’t one of them! I had an issue with the Children’s Motrin ad as well, did you see it?

Thanks, Jon, for this great summary!

While I realize you see things differently, put yourselves in their shoes for a moment, and imagine that was your worldview. In that case, would you view the ad as condescending and disrespectful?

To respond to what little I have seen, no, it doesn’t resonate with me in the least. I though it was an ad that took a humorous, conversational look at what is–for better or worse–considered to be a trendy new thing in child-rearing. It made me think, “Hey, that baby-sling thing has its pros and its cons, so if I try it, maybe I’ll stock up on Motrin first because it looks like it could be uncomfortable or difficult to get used to.”

Among the pros in my mind? It’s trendy. If I’ve got to move a baby from point A to point B and I can choose a stroller, a baby sling, or a baby backpack thingie, all else being equal, I’m gonna go the trendy route, as would lots of other women. I don’t see what’s wrong with pointing that out, and I don’t think it trivializes the decision making process. If women didn’t “make decisions on childrearing because of ‘fashion’,” all the baby gear in the world would be the same color/pattern/etc.

And as for looking like an official mom, I can’t tell you how many women I know who are around my age (29) who have kids who find it utterly surreal that they’re now parents. I don’t know a lot of first time moms who are super-duper confident in their momminess right off the bat; again, all things being equal, if there’s a product that makes me feel more confident–or makes me look more confident, which in turn makes a lot of women feel more confident–hells yeah, I’m gonna use that product.

I have absolutely nothing against baby wearing. I have friends who swear by it, and I’ll probably do it myself when the time comes. The ONLY negative thing I’ve heard about them is that they take time to adjust to and that adjustment can be uncomfortable. So yeah, maybe I’ll need some over-the-counter pain reliever; I’m glad Motrin has made it okay to complain every once in awhile about the pain and seek some relief, even though I, like most mothers, plan to wear the inconveniences of motherhood like badges of honor.

I still have no concept of why anyone thinks that the highlighted statements are condescending, and no idea why anyone would interpret that ad as looking down on women. I think it looks up at them and says “Hey, motherhood isn’t always easy, but you’re doing your best in an uncertain time. At the end of the day, take a load off an have a Motrin. You deserve it.” I see absolutely nothing wrong with that message. I think it’s great.

And at this point, thousands of mothers and others have posted (on Twitter, blogs, and comments) the various reasons they find this offensive and disrespectful. Personally I thought Katja’s video and the highlighted script (originally due to Barb on Perfectly Natural Photography) made the case particularly effectively. The discussion in Andy’s thread also had several gems, for example BigDaddy’s observation that “I’m going out on a limb here, but the under tone is of disdain/contempt for motherhood” and Michelle MacPhearson’s comment

It’s unfortunate that this campaign has trivialized the choices mothers make in raising their children. I think that’s the kicker and what has caused such backlash. The tone was patronizing, the content was factually wrong and, whats more, it belittled how/why women make the decisions they make regarding their kids. We make decisions on childrearing because of “fashion” or to look like “an official mom?”

I don’t know how a company can overcome looking down their nose at customers….

If none of those resonate with you, I’m not sure what else I could say to get you to look at things differently.

Some of them use them ’cause they look cool, some of them use them ’cause of the good baby bonding, some of them use them ’cause they’re more convenient than a stroller, and most of them use them for more than one of those reasons. That makes them no less painful. I don’t see why it’s patronizing.

I love the power of social networks and I love the rapid response it enables. But I really just don’t get what the fuss is about, and I haven’t seen anyone explain it other in accusatory, non-substantive ways. By all means, illuminate me as to why it’s offensive.