To ask why people face their babies out in carriers

[jamoncrumpets]

When all the research points to inward facing being the optimum position from a physical and cognitive development POV.

And why do so many that do outward face try to justify it by saying that their babies are 'bored' and 'want to see the world' when their babies are a) incapable of communicating that b) unlikely to communicate that even if they could.

Babies are perfectly capable of communicating. When my daughter reached about 8 months old she would strain her neck trying to turn around and would cry and struggle. As soon as she faced out she was happy and giggling and chatting away. And as the parent you can point things out and interact with them.

Young babies should always face inwards because that’s the optimal position for their spine and hips and because they need the warmth and comfort of the parents chest. This is not the case for older babies, especially when they’re not in the carrier for long periods.

“I do get the impression that babies are kept "younger" for longer these days.”

Believe me, if my 12mo wants to do a 7-8 hour stretch he is very welcome to. I’m not stopping him.

Yes yes absolutely this @Sweetbabycheezits

“AIBU to ask why some parents don’t make the same choice as me as clearly I know everything”
The absolute ignorance and judgment of parenting is alive and well. Don’t pretend like you didn’t create this thread for any other reason then to have other mums say oh yes I agree OP. You basically asked are u being unreasoble to wonder why someone doesn’t do what you feel is best based on your circumstances and child, let that sink in

Perhaps @jamoncrumpets they “feel the need to justify it” because judgy arses like you come along when really their response should be “it’s absolutely none of your business”

When my DDs were facing out, I could talk to them , kiss their little heads, put my arms around them , hold their hands. All lovely stuff!

Tried outward facing once when DS was about 6 maybe 6 and a half months old. He loved it, I found it quite painful. We never did it again and completely gave up on the carrier not long after as it was causing a lot of knee pain.

@Yb23487643 only in the uk is weaning set at 6months (maybe some other countries)but Ireland was 4 months when mine were little (they're 7 now) and dd1 is 11 but paediatrician advised 4 months due to her colic and reflux. As I said, guidelines are just that and each baby is different.

Yes I read an interesting article recently about weaning at 4 months v 6 months. UK advice seems wedded to 6 months whereas other countries now advise weaning at 4 months.

Op, I do think it’s preferable (and more comfortable) to have them facing in. But does it really matter to you this much?

Oh and as others have asked do you have any evidence based research, perhaps a study of faced inwards babies and faced outwards...? Perhaps a long term study of infants with hip dysphasia and the difference in progress when carried inward and outward. I will point out I carried mine inward because they liked it. I don’t “cringe” about others because I have my own life and perhaps when your child(REN) are older you will see that it really is not something to be so mentally destabilised by..

When my DD was little of course she was always inward facing but as she got older and more interested in the wider world around her I put her outward facing. She seemed happy enough babbling away at people and things that took her fancy.

Oh my god I’m now terrified to do the school run with my baby facing out in his carrier...have I been judged this harshly and was none the wiser!?!

I don't baby wear due to a childbirth injury, but my 9 month old DD is so much happier facing outwards in the buggy. She is so nosy and loves seeing what's going on!

I have no opinion on slings/carriers as due to EMCS and a trapped sciatic nerve, I never carried DD far. I think, however that it's wrong to say that babies can't communicate. We know from tiny whether they are happy or not. I taught my DD to sign and started receiving signs back at 6 mths. Admittedly there were a few weeks of just the milk sign.

DD1, 18, was carried in a babybjorn, facing outward once she was strong enough, because she hated pushchairs and prams and was way happier up high, facing the world. I don't remember what age that was - it wasn't an issue back then.
She is now a ballerina. No hip or back problems. Her feet are a different matter, but that's ballet for you.......

HV advised me that outward facing is absolutely fine once baby has good head/neck control... DD used to love being outward facing when I carried her in a sling and inwards if Daddy was carrying her. DS hated the sling full stop. But health wise I was never advised it was detrimental either way so long as baby is strong enough with the above mentioned head/neck control...

Facing baby inward puts pressure on the hip joints. Facing outwards doesn't.

Do you have dc?

Babies communicate from the moment they are born.

I could tell if they were bored or interested pretty much from day of birth.

My ds hated sling and we didn't have that wonderful "sling library" that I read about here to try with dd. So no comment on that.

But please look at your db for clues to their moods. They need interaction; they aren't lumps who suddenly awaken at a magical preset age.

My mother and grandmother both said that dc communicated from the first days.

Another post that makes me appreciate that my DC are all grown up with no health or spine problems! And yes, that’s sarcasm.

I'm not in the UK and advice here is to wean between 4 and 6 months. I waited until 6 mainly out of laziness but my baby isn't that interested in food anyway and certainly not in the purées made to a specific recipe they give you here!

I did a carrying workshop when DD was tiny. Someone asked about outward-facing and was told it is "too stimulating" for babies at any age, nothing about ergonomics

I carry her facing inwards and on the few occasions I use the buggy she faces outwards and quite often gets stroppy. Think she just prefers the sling but maybe there's something in that theory....

You’re also talking to one! By all means trust your paediatrician but beware that many paediatricians & GPs are not up to date with infant feeding research. Many are but some advice is shocking.
For most children weaning at 6m is safest, but in rarer cases there’s benefit to 4m weaning such as high rush of severe allergies.
It would irresponsible to suggest weaning at 4m for all as per the evidence base.
www.gosh.nhs.uk/health-professionals/clinical-guidelines/infant-feeding-weaning

Facing baby inward puts pressure on the hip joints. Facing outwards doesn't.

OP’s taken her flaming with good grace. Please can we not now add blatant misinformation to the thread?

Some sources on hip-healthy carrying for those who asked for them upthread:

Advice from the Hip Dysplasia Institute

A summary including citation of a few interesting studies by a GP.

To not suffocate them?

As thanks said outward facing is fine as long as their hips are splayed, so front facing carriers need to have a wide seat base to reduce the risk.

It's pretty obvious if the baby wants to look outwards op. They cry when you turn them inwards. Not sure why you are worrying about what other people are doing anyway?