So. It’s International Babywearing Week. And some moms are upset by an ad that Motrin has made. Take a look-see at Motrin.com.
In case the commercial gets pulled, wander on over to Barb’s blog to see the full text of the ad, verbatim.
I’d like to know what you, dear readers, think. Is Motrin is attacking moms and their choice to wear their babies? Or just poking a little harmless fun?
Edited to add the ad from YouTube:
I’ll just say this: I’ve not taken any painkillers for wearing my baby. If I’m hurting, then I figure the sling/pouch/carrier isn’t adjusted properly or I’m carrying wrong. Or maybe that it’s just time for me to get a new carrier. 
[...] Wife & Mommy [...]
[...] Wife and Mommy [...]
Clearly, the ad was devised by people who are ignorant of babywearing. Glad to hear that Motrin is backing down (pun intended) and pulling it.
I think that’s just ridiculous. Like you said, the only time I’ve ever had pain from wearing my kiddos is when I have not done something right. And, honestly, since getting the Ergo, I have had NO pain. Score one for Ergo and none for Motrin!!
This ad was obviously written by someone(s) that has never worn a baby, nor did they research babywearing. Clueless.
I’m going to be the dissenter. I thought it was clever marketing. I don’t have pain from babywearing either, but if I did, I’d be like “yeah, what about me?!” They get that moms are going to wear their babies either way, so they are capitalizing on that. I didn’t take offense.
As much as I’m all like “screw Motrin! Babywearings rocks and doesn’t HURT!” I’ve run into way too many novice moms whose only experience babywearing was a freaking snugli or an ill-fitting pouch sling. And they “hurt”. So from that standpoint, good marketing. I mean, look at the babywearing devices BRU has for sale! a recipe for pain. “Mainstream” mom many times loose out on the wonders of babywearing because they don’t know ther eis anything out there beyond the snugli and trekkers that kill their backs and hang their poor kids form their still-to-be-developed crotches.
I tend to believe it was a good idea for an ad campaign that was poorly executed. Being a busy, baby wearing, house cleaning, 5 yr old chasing, full time working, soccer Mom does produce a fair amount of aches and pains. Moms who are “part time” wearers that aren’t as millitant or educated in wearing babes may feel pain or soreness to which Motrin could help them. Their ad doesn’t offend me. I’m more bummed out that the tone of it wasn’t well thought out. It could have been a great tool to encourage Moms to get babies out of the travel systems and into an Ergo, Becko, sling or what have you.
I didn’t find it offensive at all–but I didn’t wear my baby too much. By the time I found out about it, she was old enough not to want to be held all the time!
I agree with what others have said: they are capitalizing on something that is very trendy. But, there are those who don’t do it because it’s trendy, but because it actually is something they want to do and are really interested in doing. And some are militant about it and can’t tolerate a certain bit of joking about it or even using it to someone’s (Motrin’s) advantage.
I guess for me, babywearing is another aspect in the whole Mommy War arena: some people are really passionate about it; others aren’t. But why get all worked up over someone else’s ignorance? Will it affect how you will parent? No. Just move on.