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Kanga
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Work and carry baby? Try a 'kanga'.
Google "baby sling," and up come thousands of links for ergonomically correct, all-natural, sure-to-get-your-kid-into-Yale carriers. There's the Baby Bjorn and the New Native Baby, the Rockin' Baby and the MamaRoo, the Freedom Sling and the SlingEZee. There are celebrity endorsements (Cindy Crawford used this one) and promises galore (reduce crying by 51 percent). There are even debates: Pouch versus Ring Sling? Wrap versus Pack? What about the Papoose? It's a daunting world, really, for baby carriers-to-be.
The solution? Move to Africa. Here, there's one way to hold babies: On your back.
Everybody holds babies in Africa. Basically, you ride until you're about 3. Then you have to carry. Go to any village and you'll see young girls with babies on their backs. Aunts carry baby nieces and nephews, neighbors carry young neighbors, grandmas carry grandchildren.
The kanga keeps the baby in touch with the mother. Snugly tied by 'kangas' to women's backs, African babies rarely fuss and can sleep soundly while Mom works.
How to use? Easy, you lift the baby onto your back, piggy back style, letting the little feet fall to either side of your mid section. Then you bend over, so your back is almost parallel to the ground, and balance him there on his tummy. Meanwhile, you use your hands to sling a cloth over your back, almost like a jump rope backwards, tucking the bottom edge under the baby's bottom. You then pull the edges of the cloth to the front of your torso, under your arms. The ends are knotted around your chest or secured with a big safety pin or tucked one edge over the other, like a bath towel. The tension of the cloth creates a slinglike seat for the baby, pressed close to your back. Of course, it helps if you have curves - to eliminate slippage.
Then you go about your business.
This shot was taken in Cape Verde in 1994, and shows a white kanga (coloured models are more common) and a happy baby sitting on his mum's back. |
SylFondacci, cecilia, sarahc, xuaxo has marked this note useful
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Olà Joao,
So you went to Cape Verde too after Senegal, in the same travel ?!
Lovely shot of this smiling baby :)
And interesting note.
I was to Cape Verde too ...
Obrigada.
Sylvie
Excellent compo, POVand framing. Very good portrait. Impressive photo.
TFS,
Andreea
Great eye contact very strong - Absolutely amazing photography.
Well done.
Cecilia
- sarahc
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 56 W: 2 N: 37]](http://i1.treklens.com/misc/g-n-s.gif)
(219) - [2006-12-02 21:46]
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I love this photo and your note is perfect!! The expression on the baby's face is very sweet. I would prefer the picture without the watermark thing with your name, but that is just personal taste. This is very nice!
Sarah
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- xuaxo
![Gold Star Critiquer [C: 53 W: 0 N: 16]](http://i1.treklens.com/misc/g-n-n.gif)
(101) - [2007-01-01 14:43]
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Olá João
Excelente nota. Devias escrever isso também noutras línguas e distribuir um folheto a todas as grávidas e recentes mães, principalmente na Europa.
Para ilustrar: esta bela fotografia.
Isto podia ser acrescentado àqueles folhetos que já há sobre as vantagens da amamentação materna.
F
Hi Joao,
The baby feels secured, well anticipated moment. Cheers always.
Thanks/Salamat,
Jeffrey
Hola Joao
Hermos foto la composiciòn me encanto bun trabajo
Nat
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2000 W: 307 N: 1512]](http://i1.treklens.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(14127)![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 68 W: 1 N: 106]](http://i1.treklens.com/misc/g-n-g.gif){kind=small}