Do I look fat in this sling?

I have been using a sling as a baby carrier for Dahlia, and I love it. The ring sling I have can be adjusted to hold a baby in so many different positions, you can use it for newborns all the way up until they are about 20 lbs (depending on your resiliency as a pack animal). Not only can I soothe her to sleep in it most of the time, I have my hands free, I can nurse her in it, and we have even used it to take her into a movie with us! Strollers are just too bulky!

Anyway, when I walk around the neighborhood with her in it, I usually get funny looks. Sometimes someone asks with amazement, “Is that a baby in there?”. I have to smile as I restrain from replying, “No, I usually sling a bag of potatoes across my chest like this to burn extra calories while I walk.” Most people in my area, if they have seen a baby carrier at all, are used to the Bjorn or Snuggli types.

I was taking the dog on a walk a few days ago, and I put Dahlia in the sling. One of my Portuguese neighbors stopped me and asked me whether I had had a boy or girl. I said that I had a girl, and then I offered her a look at Dahlia, who was sleeping in the sling. Surprised, she said, “Oh, that’s the baby?”. Then, after taking a look, she smiled and said, “She’s fat!”. I was laughing and telling her that Dahlia is a good eater when she followed up by saying, “She looks like you!”. I said, “Um…thanks! Have a good day!”, and continued on my walk.

Must be the language barrier.