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Those and other frequently asked questions concerning the outward facing carry position are answer for you by your babywearing consultants.
The facing out position, also called facing outward is a front carry position where a baby is held with their backs to the person who is carrying them, facing the world, rather than facing the wearer.
Front facing out carry position is one of the most common controversies in the babywearing world. Opinions are very divided among manufacturers, babywearing consultants and parents.
We have a long experience in babywearing world (over 10 years) and two babywearing consultants in our team. When we started in 2010, we were totally opposed to front outward facing babywearing. Why? Because most of the baby carriers at that time ware not ergonomic in this particular position. Let's take a look at an example. Please take a close look at the photo below.
The baby is not seating in an ergonomic hip-healthy position:
The baby carriers evolved in the last decade, as so our opinion about front facing the world carry. The new generation carriers emerged, offering an ergonomic front facing out position. This is why we’ve changed our mind over the time. Today, in 2020, we consider the front facing out position is a designed for this purpose ergonomic carrier is completely fine as long as you follow certain rules.
It is worth to take a closer look at who is still against the front facing out babywearing. From our experience these are :
- the manufacturers and sellers who do not offer this particulate carry position. For example Boba with it’s famous: Nine Reasons Not to Carry Your Baby Facing Out. This article was published, republished and rewritten many times all over the web. But how reliable can they be?
- The bloggers that have taken up old arguments often based on photos of old baby carriers like the one above.
- Extremists of babywearing world that are consider baby wraps as the best, one and only ergonomic carrier to practice ergonomic babywearing. These have often hard time to accept the alternatives: SSC for newborns and those baby carriers with facing out option.
- The International Hip Dysplasia Institute (IHDI) acknowledges baby carrier in order to recognise products that encourage healthy hip development. Here is the list of baby carrier that may approved hip healthy. As you can see, you can find on this list all baby carriers mentioned in this article.
- Many babywearing experts among them us.
It is slightly more difficult to seat a baby in an ergonomic way in facing the world position, but with a right carrier it is completely doable.
Let’s take a look at the picture which presents an ergonomic baby carrier with facing out position.
Check that the carrier supports your baby’s bottom and thighs fully across their seated width, from the back of one knee to the back of the other. Then make sure that your baby is seating with the pelvis tilted and the knees tucked up higher than the hips. If it is not the case perform the pelvic tuck or scoop.
If you want to learn more about ergonomic carriers we invite you to read the following article: What Is An Ergonomic Baby Carrier ?
To our knowledge, there are no researches available that confirm that carrying your baby facing outwards in a dedicated for it baby carrier can cause any harm. There are simply couple of safety rules that need to be followed.
Expert tip: Follow your baby’s lead. Respond to baby cues. Watch for signs of over-stimulation.
The world-facing position is not safe sleeping positions as there is no head support. A heavy head that is unsupported by a parent’s chest may droop forwards, putting baby’s chest under slight compression and pressing the chin downwards, potentially compromising the airway. If your baby is getting sleepy switch to a front facing inward position.
You can read more about Babywearing Safety Ruls here.
Many babies aged approximately 4-6 months start to get curious and enjoy looking around them. Their eyesight is improving and their neck and upper back muscles are strengthening so that they can finally turn their head. One way of helping them to look around is to carry them in facing the world position. However, before you offer outward facing carry to you baby you need to make your little one is ready for it.
Some manufacturers say facing out from 3 months up, some say from 5-6 months up, but it really depends on the child’s personal developmental stage. We recommend you to start considering the face outward carry when:
The facing the world babywearing should only be a phase that is directly contacted to the stage of your baby’s development. It is the time when your baby is already curious and want to see around but his/her physical capabilities are still limited. For most babies this phase starts around 4-6 months and lasts until approximately 9-10 months. the American brand Ergobaby recommend this position till max. 12 months. After this time, a baby is able to turn around themselves to look at things so facing inward position is not a problem for them. Also, most babies around 10 moths are ready for a back carry which is more comfortable for a wearer when child is getting heavier.
Yes, outwards facing babywearing can be comfortable, provided you have a suitable for this particular position ergonomic carrier. It is however a bit less comfortable than facing in potion (especially with a heavier babies). There is more weight pulling forwards, as a result you are more likely to feel the weight on your back or shoulders.
Below we listed the top 3 outward facing baby carriers that offer the greatest level of ergonomic support that we recommend if you wish to carry your baby facing the world.
Top 3 Facing Out Baby Carriers:
These carrier have a deep bucket-shaped seat, that support your baby in an ergonomic co celled M-position with the knees higher than the bottom and the pelvis tilted upwards.
Apart for those carriers mention above the following carriers offer an outwards facing position:
You can find all baby carriers woffering front face out option here.
If you are not convinced if the front facing out position is for you, but you little one is starting to be curious and wants to look around, we recommend you the following solutions:
You can let your baby have the arms out over the top of their carrier. It is easier then to look around in the facing in position. You can do this however only when your baby’s back is strong enough (your baby must be able to roll over). If you do this make sure that the carrier is snugly supporting your little one at least up to the armpits for safety reasons.
Small babies love hip carry. Many soft structure carrier offer the hip position. If yours don’t, we recommend you to get a ring sling for this purpose.
If you baby is ready, you could also try a back carrying. This position is toddlers favourite as they can see the world for all new perspective.
Front facing out position can be safe and comfortable with a right ergonomic carrier designed for this purpose. If your baby is physically ready and like to be carry in these position you can go ahead and practice the world facing babywearing following the above mentions safety rules.
If you have any questions about outwards facing babywearing please do not hesitate to write it in a comment, send us an e-mail all simply call us. Our experienced consultants are at your disposal.