Facing out?

[mckittre]

My baby is only 4 months old, so I'm pretty new to this whole babywearing thing. I see people who seem to be very experienced saying that babies don't really need to be facing out - that they're just as happy facing in. But for me (and most people I know in real life), that doesn't seem to be true? I recently went on some backpacking trips with my baby, so someone was wearing him pretty much all day (on the chest, in a wrap). He was fine facing in when he was sleepy, but then he would just scream when he woke up, and the only way we could keep him happy was to turn him out facing when he was awake. He's perfectly capable of turning his head back and forth to look around from facing in, but that wasn't good enough for him.
What am I missing? Have I created too much of an association with facing in and naps (he naps that way most of the time at home)? Where are all these babies who don't mind facing in when awake?

[notjustmamie]

DD hated facing in--even when we were just holding her in our arms, she had to be checking out the world. Today (at 4½) she is an extreme extrovert, talking to everyone she meets. I think it totally depends on the babe's temperament and the situation (if they're tired, need to eat, etc.).

[MamaKickyPants]

3-4 mos is a notoriously difficult babywearing timeframe. NOTHING I did for DS then was good - he was either screaming, or asleep, when in the carrier. I just kept persevering, and I really didn't want to let him face out, as it was SO uncomfortable for me and he would inevitably fall asleep and I'd end up walking around holding his head in my arms.

You say you are using a wrap. Have you tried different ways of tying the wrap? What about a different carrier? I had lots of success with my mei tai at that age. Most of them you can roll the waist strap over as many times as you need in order to give him a good view over the shoulder straps. If you are feeling ambitious you could try a high back carry in a woven wrap or in a mei tai. DS likes that b/c he can see forward over my shoulder. There are lots of videos on youtube - search 'infant back carry w mei tai' (or wrap) or 'high back carry'

If you don't want to spend a fortune on another carrier, you can check etsy - there are a lot of great WAHM mamas on there who make MTs or check the FSOT (for sale or trade) forums on www.thebabywearer.com

Good luck!

[MoonStarFalling]

DD went through that phase at that age too. I think most babes do. We did the buddha carry (legs in folded up and crossed in front of them). The phase didn't last long for her.

[Down2Earth]

When DD was about 3-4 mo she always wanted to face out now that I think about it. But she got to a point where she would cry when facing out. It was as if she was scared of the people we would past. So one day during our walk the only way to stop her crying was to face her in. And we've never looked back. She is now 8 mo and loves to face in because I don't ever face her out anymore.

[almadianna]

I do not like having kids face out unless they are in froggie legs, my kids love seeing things so we just do back carries. It works great and is not uncomfortable.

[D'sMama]

There's always a hip carry - best of both worlds, IMO.

[JennTheMomma]

I think all kids are different and they can change their minds on what they perfer. Hunter likes both. Normally we do hip carry now that he's a toddler and that way he can see in the back and in the front and he really enjoys that.

[justKate]

Originally Posted by MamaKickyPants

3-4 mos is a notoriously difficult babywearing timeframe. NOTHING I did for DS then was good - he was either screaming, or asleep, when in the carrier. I just kept persevering, and I really didn't want to let him face out, as it was SO uncomfortable for me and he would inevitably fall asleep and I'd end up walking around holding his head in my arms.

Yep. DD will not face in (4.5 months). Must be ff at all times, unless sleepy, when she must be cradled. She mostly sits cross-legged FF in a ring sling. But of course when she falls asleep, you end up holding the head, like the PP said. But that's better than the screaming!