Where did the name Catbird Baby come from?
The expression “sitting in the catbird seat” means to be in an advantageous position, a fitting description for a baby who is lucky enough to be carried in a sling and experience the world snuggled in close to Mom or Dad. In nature, the catbird (a real American bird that is known for its ability to mimic a cat’s meow) is said to find the highest spot in a tree from which to sing and keep an eye on things. James Thurber used the expression in his short story The Catbird Seat, which was published in The New Yorker in 1942.
