Selendang Baby Carrier
Tuesday, August 21, 2012 at 4:18PM I've long been a fan of babywearing, and now I've got a new one in my collection. Hello, selendang. I like you.
At first I wore my kid because I was a dogmatic, holier than thou Attachment Parenting mass-hole. And then because it was the only way I could do basic housework and keep us from drowning under an avalanche of cat hair (PS sling + vacuum = colicky baby opium).
Now we continue with babywearing because we both like it. I like to have my girl on my hip where I can chat with her and pat her bottom. She likes to ride up with me, out of the fray, and see what I see.
When we first moved to Jakarta, Stella insisted on taking the carrier everywhere. And that was cool with me, because this is no stroller city. I figured that Stella felt safe riding up with me in this new, unfamiliar environment.
I then noticed all these women with beautiful carriers. Amazing fabric wrapped simply, like a ring sling, without a ring. Later I learned that they're called selendang which, (correct me if I'm wrong, I'm really talking out of my ace here) is also the word to describe the shawl for head covering that Muslim women use in Indonesia.)
It was on Indonesian Independence day, and I figured we needed some batik to celebrate, so we popped into a textile shop and Stella picked out this lovely.
We take it everywhere. And we love it. It's small, light, cool and easy. I want a million more.
Indonesia is breading in me an unhealthy obsession with textiles. Just FYI.
Indonesia, cross-cultures, parenting
Reader Comments (10)
Oh I am so jealous! But actually that reminds me...I have some Malaysian batik packed away somewhere...must find it! How did you tie it?
I'd also like to know how it was tied! Dupattas/chunnis here in India are usually a lot lighter (crepe, chiffon, georgette) but I can easily adjust a scrap/secondhand saree to suit.
Yes! Beautiful and practical! I bought a bunch of those in Bali! Only thing was I have no idea how much I should've paid for them. I'm not a very practiced bargainer, so I'd typically take whatever price the merchant quoted and say "okay, I'll take three (or four) at that number you just said" Does this get easier with practice?
Just lovely.
I still use the Ergo often with my 12 kg (nearly) 2 year old. But he can't see forward when I have him on the front and on the back it is hard when he falls asleep as he usually does.
It would be good to have something like this so he can look forward. I have a ring sling but it digs into my shoulder.
But he has added a new word to his vocabulary due to sling use - "Heavy" or as he says " 'evy" when we are going up stairs.
Gorgeous! And i think an obsession with textiles this lovely is extremely healthy.
Ohhhhh, great idea! I'll do a photo tutorial maybe next week!!!
I was raised in Jakarta and live in Australia, I was given a selendang when my baby was born and have no idea how to use it. I can't wait to see your selendang tutorial. How did you learn to use it, did a local teach you?
Beautiful! Sounds like a Mecca for wonderful babywearing fabrics :D
Look for a carrier that lets you wear your baby close and high, keeping his centre of gravity above yours and as close in as possible.
LOVE!!!! omg, also. i am terribleeeeeee at playing! because shhhh! i too am so not a fan! you're not alone Erica! (and yes i am combining comments from various posts as i play catch up!)