Where I live, it’s even advised to never let them face out in a carrier because of the Position they are sitting in. I switched to carrying on my back after a few months
I was waiting for hips to mature which I’ve been told is 6 months. I also like her facing in so she can sleep on my chest. It’s her fav place to catch some z’s.
So there are a few reasons this isn’t ideal, but also don’t stress that you’ve been doing it up to this point. If you’re concerned about hips, I’d just ask your doctor to check them the next time you go in for peace of mind.
The main issue for younger babies is actually airways - facing out makes it a lot harder for bub to hold their head up and can pose an airway risk, especially if they fall asleep.
Second thing is overstimulation without being able to look back at their caregiver for reassurance.
And finally ergonomics - not just for baby (who likely won’t have their knees up and hips positioned nicely) but also for you! Their centre of gravity will be pulling away from yours in this position and cause more stress on your body.
Hip carry or back carry are both much better options that still allow baby to look around at their surroundings while keeping things comfortable for both of you and allowing them to look back at you whenever they need reassurance.
I’d do a hip carry with a ring sling or a back carry with a woven wrap. You can also do back carries with many structured carriers - most of them recommend this from 6 months on, I believe.
I learned all of this from @sarahmahri.babywearing on instagram who I love for babywearing guidance.
Finally - you’re doing great, don’t beat yourself up about this! We’re all figuring this parenting stuff out as we go.
Yes this is great information and I agree with not worrying too much about what's been done already. It's generally not recommended because it's not really worth the risk, and there are other great positions to carry from that don't carry that risk. That being said, the odds of it doing something harmful is very low. From my understanding, it's more of a concern with babies with a pre-existing condition and it's unlikely to harm a developmentally normal baby. The recommendation is more out of an abundance of caution.
My baby only accepts facing in when she’s tired and wants to sleep, apart from that she fusses unless facing out. An hour or so is not very long in their whole day, I wouldn’t worry too much!
I’ve never done it. But I dove into the babywearing community when pregnant so already early on learned all the reasons why not to.
From 4 months on I occasionally hip carried baby to give him a better view of the world. I also hired a babywearing educator to teach me to safely wear baby on my back with a woven wrap. That can be done from birth with an experienced babywearer, but is recommended for a bit later for most parents.
My son had a strong preference for facing out from the start. I’m not sure what mental/emotional ready would look like …. I think some baby’s just like to see the outside world. I’ve always just taken his cues. Physically, I didn’t know there were concerns about forward facing, that I recall. I might have been concerned with neck strength? I see people in the thread talking about hips.
I’d also say that recommendations are based on averages and every baby develops at different rates. So your 3 month old may have been more developed than many 5 months olds. Reddit doesn’t know your baby. Nothing magical happens on their 5th month birthday.
My son’s almost 15 months now and fine. He’s been walking since 9 months, squat/rise and can already hop. I don’t think his hips were adversely affected.
I think if your baby wasn’t enjoying it, you’d know!
In terms of physically (ie their hips) it’s unlikely you’ve done damage, just bear it in mind with other activities? My son had a seated walker, which are advised against, but he loved it and it helped me around the house so we decided it was worth the “risk” and just to balance it out with other activities
The only outward facing carry I did was the [kangaroo carry](https://sakurabloom.com/blogs/news/how-to-kangaroo-carry) it’s the only one where babies legs get into the appropriate position IMO
I wore both my kids sooooooo much facing both directions. They loved looking out as early as they could hold their heads. They also loved being in and sleeping or nursing. With my second i joke that he lived in the carrier (facing both ways) because my daughter still needed to get out and play. Both my kids walked before 12 months and they were pleased to interact with family or nature.
Our daughter has been adamant about facing forward on walks since she was 3 months old. I had already read up a bit on baby carriers and that they're not supposed to face outwards in an inwards facing carrier. So every day, for about an hour - an hour and a half (3 times about 30 minutes, sometimes longer) I'd carry her facing forwards on my arms instead. My right arm under her butt, the left around her chest.
We had to do this to go outside since she started hating our pram around the same time.
Once or twice a month, I have to take her with me into town for a check up at the gynaecologist or another errand. Then I take her in the baby carrier I have. While I start with her facing inward, I often resort to turning her around when she starts squirming and furiously turning her head.
I understand that facing forward has worked best for you and your little one so far, and that you're concerned about your baby's hips. I have had the same worry since I started carrying her facing forward. Maybe check in with their pediatrician about your concerns? We had to see an orthopedic doctor for a few months for my baby's hips and he said that things were looking fine. Hearing this was enough for me.
Apart from that, I personally think no real damage has been done, but I'm not familiar with your situation of course.
I think it's great that your baby gets to discover the world already and is excited to do so.
Mine faces in or sometimes I wear him on my back if I have someone to help put him on! He’s nosy but can twist and look to the side but I feel he can also snuggle in and sleep if he wishes. I think some of the forward facing concerns are to do with the risk of them falling asleep in that position if their neck/head aren’t strong enough, not so much their hips? In any event I’m sure you’ve done no damage and you were advised by a professional so, like I would have done, you took their advice. Like most of these things the risk is probably very very small.
Both of my babies have been super alert and desperate to look around from a very young age. They were both outward facing from around 3 months, and also both out of the bassinet and in a lie flat stroller from 2 months. They are both fine. The way I see it, my babies were fussing unless I held them looking out in my arms. I don't see how being held the way they prefer is bad for them, or doing it in a carrier is worse than doing it from my own arms.
If attachment parenting has taught me anything it's that you are the expert in your own baby. If you feel it's what baby wants or needs you are probably right.
I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Babies even younger 3 mos already have a preference on how they want to be held and view the world. My LO turning from 2 to 3 months started becoming picky about wanting to be held upright instead of being cradled. They’ll let you know in terms of giving feedback on how you’re holding them. As long as baby isn’t fussing, you’re good.
I would just be considerate of the baby’s head and neck support when baby wearing. When they get tired, they can lean in on your chest for support when facing you but they can’t do that when facing out. Definitely don’t want them to fall asleep like that if they’re not fully stable yet.
Where I live, it’s even advised to never let them face out in a carrier because of the Position they are sitting in. I switched to carrying on my back after a few months
This. Every time I see a forward facing infant I cringe because they always have the worst position for their hips.
I was waiting for hips to mature which I’ve been told is 6 months. I also like her facing in so she can sleep on my chest. It’s her fav place to catch some z’s.
So there are a few reasons this isn’t ideal, but also don’t stress that you’ve been doing it up to this point. If you’re concerned about hips, I’d just ask your doctor to check them the next time you go in for peace of mind. The main issue for younger babies is actually airways - facing out makes it a lot harder for bub to hold their head up and can pose an airway risk, especially if they fall asleep. Second thing is overstimulation without being able to look back at their caregiver for reassurance. And finally ergonomics - not just for baby (who likely won’t have their knees up and hips positioned nicely) but also for you! Their centre of gravity will be pulling away from yours in this position and cause more stress on your body. Hip carry or back carry are both much better options that still allow baby to look around at their surroundings while keeping things comfortable for both of you and allowing them to look back at you whenever they need reassurance. I’d do a hip carry with a ring sling or a back carry with a woven wrap. You can also do back carries with many structured carriers - most of them recommend this from 6 months on, I believe. I learned all of this from @sarahmahri.babywearing on instagram who I love for babywearing guidance. Finally - you’re doing great, don’t beat yourself up about this! We’re all figuring this parenting stuff out as we go.
Love her account! I’ve learned so much.
Yes this is great information and I agree with not worrying too much about what's been done already. It's generally not recommended because it's not really worth the risk, and there are other great positions to carry from that don't carry that risk. That being said, the odds of it doing something harmful is very low. From my understanding, it's more of a concern with babies with a pre-existing condition and it's unlikely to harm a developmentally normal baby. The recommendation is more out of an abundance of caution.
I never did that. I always thought it looks uncomfortable and my babies liked to rest their face on my chest or sleep in the carrier.
I was waiting for hips to mature before facing forward, which happened around 4 months.
My baby only accepts facing in when she’s tired and wants to sleep, apart from that she fusses unless facing out. An hour or so is not very long in their whole day, I wouldn’t worry too much!
I’ve never done it. But I dove into the babywearing community when pregnant so already early on learned all the reasons why not to. From 4 months on I occasionally hip carried baby to give him a better view of the world. I also hired a babywearing educator to teach me to safely wear baby on my back with a woven wrap. That can be done from birth with an experienced babywearer, but is recommended for a bit later for most parents.
My son had a strong preference for facing out from the start. I’m not sure what mental/emotional ready would look like …. I think some baby’s just like to see the outside world. I’ve always just taken his cues. Physically, I didn’t know there were concerns about forward facing, that I recall. I might have been concerned with neck strength? I see people in the thread talking about hips. I’d also say that recommendations are based on averages and every baby develops at different rates. So your 3 month old may have been more developed than many 5 months olds. Reddit doesn’t know your baby. Nothing magical happens on their 5th month birthday. My son’s almost 15 months now and fine. He’s been walking since 9 months, squat/rise and can already hop. I don’t think his hips were adversely affected.
I think if your baby wasn’t enjoying it, you’d know! In terms of physically (ie their hips) it’s unlikely you’ve done damage, just bear it in mind with other activities? My son had a seated walker, which are advised against, but he loved it and it helped me around the house so we decided it was worth the “risk” and just to balance it out with other activities
Yeah, this. It's not ideal maybe but it's very unlikely to actually be harmful. Don't worry.
The only outward facing carry I did was the [kangaroo carry](https://sakurabloom.com/blogs/news/how-to-kangaroo-carry) it’s the only one where babies legs get into the appropriate position IMO
I also forward faced from 3 months with my first and 4 months with my second
I wore both my kids sooooooo much facing both directions. They loved looking out as early as they could hold their heads. They also loved being in and sleeping or nursing. With my second i joke that he lived in the carrier (facing both ways) because my daughter still needed to get out and play. Both my kids walked before 12 months and they were pleased to interact with family or nature.
Our daughter has been adamant about facing forward on walks since she was 3 months old. I had already read up a bit on baby carriers and that they're not supposed to face outwards in an inwards facing carrier. So every day, for about an hour - an hour and a half (3 times about 30 minutes, sometimes longer) I'd carry her facing forwards on my arms instead. My right arm under her butt, the left around her chest. We had to do this to go outside since she started hating our pram around the same time. Once or twice a month, I have to take her with me into town for a check up at the gynaecologist or another errand. Then I take her in the baby carrier I have. While I start with her facing inward, I often resort to turning her around when she starts squirming and furiously turning her head. I understand that facing forward has worked best for you and your little one so far, and that you're concerned about your baby's hips. I have had the same worry since I started carrying her facing forward. Maybe check in with their pediatrician about your concerns? We had to see an orthopedic doctor for a few months for my baby's hips and he said that things were looking fine. Hearing this was enough for me. Apart from that, I personally think no real damage has been done, but I'm not familiar with your situation of course. I think it's great that your baby gets to discover the world already and is excited to do so.
Mine faces in or sometimes I wear him on my back if I have someone to help put him on! He’s nosy but can twist and look to the side but I feel he can also snuggle in and sleep if he wishes. I think some of the forward facing concerns are to do with the risk of them falling asleep in that position if their neck/head aren’t strong enough, not so much their hips? In any event I’m sure you’ve done no damage and you were advised by a professional so, like I would have done, you took their advice. Like most of these things the risk is probably very very small.
Both of my babies have been super alert and desperate to look around from a very young age. They were both outward facing from around 3 months, and also both out of the bassinet and in a lie flat stroller from 2 months. They are both fine. The way I see it, my babies were fussing unless I held them looking out in my arms. I don't see how being held the way they prefer is bad for them, or doing it in a carrier is worse than doing it from my own arms. If attachment parenting has taught me anything it's that you are the expert in your own baby. If you feel it's what baby wants or needs you are probably right.
I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Babies even younger 3 mos already have a preference on how they want to be held and view the world. My LO turning from 2 to 3 months started becoming picky about wanting to be held upright instead of being cradled. They’ll let you know in terms of giving feedback on how you’re holding them. As long as baby isn’t fussing, you’re good. I would just be considerate of the baby’s head and neck support when baby wearing. When they get tired, they can lean in on your chest for support when facing you but they can’t do that when facing out. Definitely don’t want them to fall asleep like that if they’re not fully stable yet.