Forward-facing babywearing used to be a controversial choice. We're going to shed some light on the topic and dispel some old myths. Concerns over comfort and safety date back to a time when there were no ergonomic baby carriers available, and the baby carriers used to allow baby‘s legs to dangle when carried.
With the invention of our Omni carriers, the ergonomic forward-facing carry really shows what it can do. It makes parents' and caregivers’ everyday lives so much easier, promotes joint activity with your child in all environments, and is very practical.
All of our baby carriers have been tested and certified by both the AGR (Aktion gesunder Rücken e.V.) campaign for healthier backs and the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, offering you total peace of mind when it comes to ergonomic positioning in all carry positions.
Forward-facing is no exception, and as with any carrying position, there are a few things to consider—so here is an overview of the most important facts about carrying a baby in the forward-facing position.
Forward-facing babywearing – The Checklist – When and how can I carry my child in the forward-facing position in a baby carrier?
The size must fit: your baby should be at least 5 to 6 months old, weigh at least 14 pounds (6.4 kilograms), and fit into a carrier with their chin clearing the top edge of the panel when their bottom is deep in the seat of the carrier.
Baby is awake: this means your baby should be calm, awake, and alert. If they start to get sleepy, switch them back around to inward-facing to protect their airways.
Baby can control their head: all babies are different, but generally by around 5–6 months of age, your baby will likely have good head control and can actively look and turn their head back and forth with interest. They need to be able to do this to forward face safely.
Baby is curious: your baby should be showing an interest in their environment and want to discover the world together with you. This must be combined with all the other steps for baby to be ready to forward face.
Ideally be in a quiet, low-stimulus environment: Little ones can easily get overstimulated. We recommend using this position in less-crowded areas like in the yard, on a nature walk, or when exploring familiar areas together.
Check baby’s position: every time you put baby in their carrier, we recommend doing a "pelvic tuck," where you scoop baby’s bottom deep into the carrier with their knees higher than the seat in a spread squat position. Their legs should never dangle down.
Your baby carrier is designed for forward-facing and is set up correctly: in our Omni carrier, the sliders on the panel should be pushed down/inward. If you are using our Embrace carrier, you should bunch the fabric between their thighs. For our Aerloom carrier, you should pull the tabs on the front of the panel tight to narrow the carrier panel. If you have an Aura wrap, then your carrier isn’t designed to allow forward-facing.
Start with short increments of 10–20 minutes forward-facing and slowly build up the time.
Watch for signs of fatigue or overstimulation in your child (crying, rubbing eyes, restlessness, head turning away, etc.), and then switch to inward-facing or take your baby out of the carrier.
If your carrier, baby, and situation all meet the requirements above, then give it a try and let us know what you think!
Find out how to adjust your Omni baby carrier correctly and how to put your baby in it properly here.