Front carriers with baby facing forwards - safe or not?
I saw a mother today with one on - her baby (maybe 5-7 months) was on her front - facing forwards - I think it was a Baby Bjorn type carrier.
It seemed odd to me, I only use slings and back/front carriers that have my daughter facing in towards my body.
Is it safe for the baby’s hips/body to be carried in that position?
Well, technically they are ’safe’. But are they ideal, or posturally healthy?
Hell no.
They are unhealthy not only for baby’s pelvis and hips but for mami’s spine and shoulders.
Stick with the slings, wraps of any kind and mai teis- they’ve been around and worked since women carried babies-forever- for a reason.-
It’s funny, I’ve put them on- both the ’snuggli’ and ‘baby bjorn’, and my mexican rebozos- which are esentially long shawls (really- it’s a multi-purpose shawl/blanket/baby carrier) are far more comfortable for myself and my kids.
I always feel a little sorry for those kids dangling face-out from those structured, unnatural devices, especially when my own are cuddled up in a soft wrap, half asleep, sitting buddha style in front of me facing out, or on my back watching the world with one cheek to my shoulder, and the ‘bjorn/snugli even the ergo babies’ are just…dangling. They’re just so…inorganic. unnatural. not to mention, ugly.
July 24th, 2009 at 8:17 am
It’s okay as long as the baby has strong head control.
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July 24th, 2009 at 8:23 am
That is the way I put my son in his carrier.He likes it better and I make sure that it isn’t putting any pressure or anything where it shouldn’t be.
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July 24th, 2009 at 8:56 am
Many carriers are designed to hold babies both front and back facing.
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July 24th, 2009 at 9:03 am
Yeah I have my bubs facing out she loves it because she can see whats going on. They do need to have a bit more head control in this position though. And if you bend forward its a good idea to support them so they dont topple out.
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July 24th, 2009 at 9:30 am
I have my son facing out in his snuggli all the time. He gets mad when he can’t see what’s going on. I just got to be extra careful of where I’m walking so I don’t trip and fall. Also, I don’t bend at the waist to pick something up or tie my shoes, I bend at the knees. I don’t see how carrying him in a outward position is any different than an inward with those types of carriers.
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July 24th, 2009 at 9:49 am
Well, technically they are ’safe’. But are they ideal, or posturally healthy?
Hell no.
They are unhealthy not only for baby’s pelvis and hips but for mami’s spine and shoulders.
Stick with the slings, wraps of any kind and mai teis- they’ve been around and worked since women carried babies-forever- for a reason.-
It’s funny, I’ve put them on- both the ’snuggli’ and ‘baby bjorn’, and my mexican rebozos- which are esentially long shawls (really- it’s a multi-purpose shawl/blanket/baby carrier) are far more comfortable for myself and my kids.
I always feel a little sorry for those kids dangling face-out from those structured, unnatural devices, especially when my own are cuddled up in a soft wrap, half asleep, sitting buddha style in front of me facing out, or on my back watching the world with one cheek to my shoulder, and the ‘bjorn/snugli even the ergo babies’ are just…dangling. They’re just so…inorganic. unnatural. not to mention, ugly.
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BSN/MS, and certified in various complementary/alternative therapies.
July 24th, 2009 at 10:15 am
When my son was born, the doctor advised against it. I always carried him in a baby sling I made out of an old sheet, in a kangaroo-type way, when he wanted to see the world, and on my back when he was a little older. My wife wanted to buy one of those backpack contraptions, but my son didn’t like them. (And neither did I.)
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