Quote:
Originally Posted by DCMama01
Which carriers allow baby to be facing out (with her back on my chest and facing the same direction as I am)? |
I am not an expert, but this is what I've gathered:
You can face a baby out (either with his legs out, so he's "sitting" in the crossbars, or Buddha-style, with his legs folded) in a stretchy wrap (I presume also in a woven, but I haven't graduated to a woven yet). It also seems technically possible in a mei tai, both legs out and legs in. And you can face a baby out in a pouch or ring sling, Buddha-style only. You can of course also face a baby out in a Baby Bjorn-type carrier, but I don't own one of those.
I HAVE TRIED ALL OF THESE (except for the Bjorn), because H. really likes to face out and I get desperate. Of these, facing out in a stretchy wrap with his legs out is most secure-feeling for me and seems to be most comfortable for him. The mei tai is just kind of awkward - it is POSSIBLE but seems like a stretch, you know? And the pouch and ring sling- it does work, but H. tends to object to legs-in carries these days, and even if your baby has good head control, you'll probably feel like you need to keep a hand on him, so it's not a good carry for getting anything done (for me.)
The other things I have gathered about this thorny topic:
*A lot of people who are really into babywearing think that Baby Bjorns are terrible, terrible, terrible. I frankly suspect that some of that is elitist dogma, but for frequent use I can see that they are not very ergonomic. The baby is essentially hanging on his crotch. But generations of parents have carried their babies like that in arms (facing out, supporting him with one hand between his legs) without an epidemic of hip or spine problems or whatever... so I just don't buy that for
occasional use you are effing up your baby forever.
*A lot of people think that wearing a baby facing out in any carrier is terrible because the baby is going to be overstimulated, can't turn away to shut out the stimuli, and isn't experiencing cuddle-time and bonding with mama, and can't see her face for reassurance, etc. People state this with absolute conviction, as though it's known to be factually true. I have poked around for actual scientific studies on this, but there don't seem to be any. Ultimately, this sounds to me like something that comes out of Waldorf-oriented German parenting philosophy.
My son, when carried facing out, looks around at what I'm doing with great interest and then falls asleep. I know what he looks like when overstimulated, and that's not it. Your baby's mileage may vary, of course, but I am seriously unconvinced by this objection.
*A lot of people think that wearing a baby facing out in any carrier, not just a Bjorn-type carrier, is un-ergonomic. Even if you fold the legs or make sure that, if he's legs-out, his butt is lower than his knees, the claim is that it forces his spine into an unnaturally straight position.
I don't know enough about baby physiology to be able to tell if this is true or not, so this is the one argument I'm taking more seriously. So for now, I'm trying to wear H. facing out only when nothing else works, and then not for long periods.
Parenting! So confusing.
PS: I caved and bought a ring sling in hopes it would be more acceptable than his pouch slings and easier to pop him in and out of than his wrap and mei tai.
I'm not sure yet. He likes to be in the tummy-to-tummy hold with his legs out, but I feel a little unsure that I've adjusted everything properly to make him really secure. I don't know if he's big enough to straddle my waist enough to make it feel safe?
How do you know if your baby is physically big enough for legs out? Is there a cut-off?
)
It's the only hold she likes. Is it bad for her?
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