If I had a time machine

By Cindy Wang, Founder of Mamapod

When our daughter was 18-months-old, my husband and I were thrilled to finally be able to take her with us on fun family outings. Disneyland was our first big destination. Much to my dismay, once we got there I found that many places in the park banned strollers, so I ended up carrying her most of the day in her soft baby carrier. Waiting in line was absolutely exhausting and painful, and I found myself searching in vain for support. There were poles between column dividers that I resorted to prop her up on (and I wasn’t the only one!). Our dream first outing, though still fun, was a nightmare for my back.

Once my daughter was a toddler, we upped our outings and got season passes to some local favorites – and topping the list was the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  We loved watching the open sea, penguin and otter feedings in particular – the only drawback being the packed auditoriums. If we arrived even a minute too late, it was standing room only. In order to see, I’d have to hoist her up – and by now she was taller and heavier, so holding her for even 5 minutes was a real challenge for me.  And the rest of the aquarium necessitated me carrying my daughter around, as almost all of the exhibits were too high for her… yet who could resist standing and staring at the beautiful jellies, waving sea anemones, cruising seahorses and colorful tropical fish? The touch pool full of gorgeous sea stars, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, crabs and kelp, was another place where my daughter liked to linger – forever it felt like, especially when I was carrying her.

On outings like this, I’d try to write off the pain, pressure and suffering of carrying around my now 30-some pound child as exercise, but let’s be honest – that’s not the kind of workout I would opt for it given the choice. The stress on my body from lifting her was so much that it made enjoying our time together feel impossible.

If I had the time machine to go back to that first Disneyland visit with a Mamapod, I could have sat her in the Mamapod baby carrier with the support pole and comfortably stood along with the packed spectators at the Disneyland parades, waving to Mickey, Minnie and all our favorite characters. I’d have the energy to dance with my daughter or stomp along with the rhythm at the Disney shows – and maybe even stay up until the fireworks lit up Cinderella’s castle. I could do a full day at the park and still have the neck and back strength to gaze up and take in all the magic and wonder of Disney with my daughter – if only I had had the Mamapod carrier.

If I had the time machine to go back to when my daughter was a toddler and I had a Mamapod with me at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, I would have used the seat-only mode, removed the front wrapper, and sat her on the seat with the support pole. We’d snuggle in the crowded audience in front of the otter tank window, effortlessly watching them play with buckets and floats or lazily dining on gourmet shrimp. Like those lolling otters, we’d take our time, delighting together in the wonders the sea.

If I had the time machine and I had a Mamapod... that was my story

And it’s my greatest hope that you decide to try the Mamapod baby carrier, which I meticulously created for parents on the go like you – and me.  Get yours today on our website or on Amazon.