There is an old saying "Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater!" Well, for Mamatoto maybe it should be "Don't throw the demo baby out with the bathwater!"
If anything you ever do for Mamatoto is causing you to neglect your own baby or other children or husband or self, STOP. Mamatoto can wait. You don't have to save the world right now. I know you want to. I want to, too. But, remember what Gandhi said "You have to BE the change you wish to see in the world." How can we inspire others to be emotionally responsive to their children unless we pay attention to the needs of our own chidlren?
It is important to be aware of our potential to be so passionate about babywearing that we throw our baby out with the bathwater.
Having said all that, here's my take home point -- don't use your baby as a demo baby unless your baby is perfectly happy to help. Don't ask your toddler to be worn more than she wants (except for urgent situations where you have to wear her because you don't have 2 free hands).
Mamatoto is first and foremost about Mamas (and dadas) and Totos (babies). The cloth is only a tool to help them all get their needs met without conflict. The cloth should never be more important than the baby or the family.
Preaching to myself, mostly,
Tracy Dower
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