Forward facing - Do’s & Don’ts and why we don’t do this in classes
Hi All,
So before you read on, I thought a little bit of background might help.
When my Daughter was born nearly 8 years ago (where does the time go!) I had no idea about babywearing. No one had discussed it with me and looking back I feel sad about that. It was only via a private Midwife I met, did I find out about this magical thing called babywearing and find out there was a Sling Library right at the end of my street!
I did my Peer support training with the amazing Dr Rosie Knowles when Ellie was 5 months old and it blew my mind! During the training we touched on outward facing, however most of the carriers were not designed to outward face and If they were they were designed to keep babies legs in an ‘M Shape Position’. This is where babies knees are slightly higher than their bum, the carrier supporting knee to knee and the spine well supported.
So when I started teaching babywearing dance in March 2016 I had quite a few parents attend with outward facing carriers. At that point I had seen lots of Parents do this and felt it was '“the norm” so allowed it in class, as long as babies were old enough to sit unaided. Until…babies started to fall asleep! Who knew that some movement and a bit of Beyoncé would have such a calming and dozy affect on babies!? Every time, they would need to be turned around for inward facing, sleepy cuddles.
I started doing more research and contacted Dr Rosie (as we call her!) about the idea of outward facing in our classes and this is what I learnt.
Age
Babies are unable to hold the support of their massive swedes until they are around 4-5 months old and to sit unaided is around 6 - 9 months old. I've been told I have a massive head and I can tell you, day to day my neck gets quite sore. So imagine being a little baby, with a big head and no neck strength. Not only is is tiring, it can be dangerous too. When babies heads aren’t supported they can end up resting their chins on their chests. If they aren’t old enough to lift their head, this can lead to suffocation.
Facing inward gives the babies head and neck support, as well as being comforting being close to your chest, heartbeat and being able to see your face. Therefore babies can only outward face when they are sitting well unaided. The hip dysplasia association also recommends inward facing only for the first 6 months of life, to ensure good spine and hip support and development.
The hard thing about this, is that most carrier company’s have images advertising their products with young babes outward facing. This is quite a bug bare for us, as this promotes unsafe babywearing.
Time
Even when they are able to control their heads and sit well, it can still be quite strenuous to hold their own body weight for long periods of time, so it’s advised to only outward face for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. If you are planning on outward facing, then consider for how long and If your baby might be tired. In our classes, babies will be in the carriers for anywhere between 45 minutes and 1 hour (or longer If you have a sleeping baby after class!) so it’s just not suitable to outward face. If you are attending any sort of class whilst babywearing and you there are babies facing out for the whole class or before 6 months, I would look into If they have had any sort of offical training in babywearing.
Connection
Okay so I’m going to state here that I hate the idea of different “types” of parenting. Babywearing has become synonymous with the term “attachment parenting” and this can be off putting for some Parents. We all choose our own journey in parenthood and for me putting us in “boxes” only perpetuates a divide between us as human beings. What I will say is that secure attachment is needed for babies with their caregivers and visa versa. Babies that are held lots and responded to when they cry are more likely to grow into confident and calm adults. They create a secure attachment, knowing that their basic needs will be met and so in turn feel calmer and more able to feel confident moving away from us when they start to gain some autonomy. We hear the term “nosy baby” a lot and I’m not here to say that some babies aren’t more curious than others; especially around 4 to 5 months when they become more aware of the world around them. However the one thing all babies have in common is their need to be held, to see your face and hear your voice. Kangaroo care is used for premature babies as a way for them to thrive and literally stay alive. Any good midwife will encourage skin to skin straight after birth and this is no different as the baby grows. Even at nearly 8, If my Daughter is nervous or upset her reaction is to want to be held. We slow our breathing down and wonderful oxytocin (the love hormone) is released between us. There has also been studies done with Mothers with Postnatal Depression and babywearing and the positive impact this has. Lets just say it’s bloody amazing. So what has this got to do with outward facing?
Our babies rely on us to respond to their needs and cues. Whilst outward facing might be interesting for a while, it can also be over simulating and sometimes quite scary. I once went to a “baby rave” and saw a mother outward facing. The room was dark, the music was loud and there was LOTS of people and LOTS going on. She was happy chatting to her friend. Her baby on the other hand was bawling his eyes out. She couldn’t see his cues that he was unhappy and also couldn’t hear his cry’s. Stu (My Husband) had to literally drag me away from going to tell her. I still wish I had. I’m not judging this Mum at all and I’m all up for having a good time with your baby; there is just a good time and a place and a not so good.
I think we have also become a society of Mums who believe that we; our faces, our voices are not enough for our child. That the outside world is far more interesting than us. Do you want to know something…YOU are all your baby needs.
Type of Carrier
A lot of high street carriers (Baby Bjorn Mini, Mamas & Papas, Chicco etc) are what we call narrow based carriers and these are the ones we see most parents using for outward facing. Ideally the carrier should be high, tight and holding babies legs and hips in the M shape position I mentioned earlier. I usually describe being in a narrow based carrier as being “dangled from a parachute harness” (not that I’ve ever tried it!) and being in an ergonomic carrier like being in an armchair or hammock. This allows baby to sit on their bottom and their hips to be supported. I also personally think from a comfort point of view for you too; that when babies legs dangle down, all the weight is being pulled down. This means that without good lumbar support there is pressure being put on our shoulders and necks. And lets face it after carrying a baby internally and externally for a long time our bodies need some good support and alignment.
You should find that good carriers will also allow for back carry’s. This is a great alternative to outward facing and is helpful as your baby grows and you might find you are getting lower back pain while carrying on the front. Again ideally this needs to be when baby is sitting well unaided. As with most things it takes time to learn how to do this, but once you get it you feel like bloody superwoman! I run Back Carry workshops to teach you how to do this safely (don’t worry we have weighted dolls to practice!) Just drop me an email via the ‘Contact Us’ link and I’ll let you know when we have them next planned.
But my baby only likes to outward face
We also hear this quite a bit. What I would say is to think about the situation that lead to you feeling this way. As adults we have off days, as babies do. You may have caught your baby on an off day, they may have been ill, tired, or quite likely the carrier wasn’t fitted well inward or maybe you were feeling anxious that day and they were picking up on your vibes. Its easy to get into a cycle of this where baby kicks off when you put them inward facing, so you think they don’t like it and then every time you try you feel anxious (understandably!) and the cycle continues. ts totally normal for babies to fuss when first going in the carrier. What we suggest is:
Try at a time when your baby has been fed, they are getting close to nap time or showing early signs of being sleepy.
Fit the carrier in a safe and familiar place (e.g. your home)
Stay calm yourself. Slow your breathing, lower your shoulders and take your time
Move! Movement works wonders! So sway slowly side to side as you pop them in and as soon as they are in go for a walk and sway around the kitchen. This is what DLAM is pure magic! Cuddles + Movement = Happy, Calm and often sleepy baby
Last words
So If you are planning to outward face here are the main points:
Ensure baby is sitting well unaided
Keep to around 15 to 20 minutes max
Try and use an ergonomic carrier that supports babies hips and spine…and your back!
If using an ergonomic carrier for outward facing it will have the option to adjust. Outward facing, it needs to be on the narrowest setting and inward on the widest setting.
Ensure your babies pelvis is tucked, so their spine is straight and knees are slightly higher than their bum.
Always use a carrier that’s designed to outward face. Stretchy wraps, woven wraps and the brands we use in class cannot be used for outward facing. This could cause blood flow issues to your babies legs, or at the very least be uncomfortable for your baby so please check with the brand first.
The carriers we recommend for outward facing as an option are: Explore Baby Carrier – Baby Tula UK 360 Baby Carrier | Front & Back Facing Carriers | Ergobaby . Also you can buy second hand If your wallet doesn’t stretch that far. Vinted are great for second hand carriers. Always ensure its
If you would like any further help or information please feel free to ask your Instructor or drop me a message…we are hear to help.
Nikki xx
Director of Dance Like a Mother & SlingaBaby Consultant