How important to face out?

[blushingmare]

Hi
Can anyone tell me how important or useful it is to have a sling that can have baby facing outwards in front carry?
I'm going for a soft structured buckle sling - have only seen the Beco Gemini that does a forward face - are there any others?

I didn't find it important at all. It's better for their hips not to. I used a connecta and mei tais (baby hawks).

If you look at any babywearing websites they tend to say that baby should not face outwards.

I can't think of any other soft buckle carriers that allow for facing out apart from the Gemini. It's very difficult to support their hips properly facing out, and it tends to pull on your back because their centre of gravity sits further away from you than when they face in.

It's actually not good for babies to face out. It places unnatural stress on their hips which can cause problems in later life, and it can be overstimulating for them too. Better if baby wants to see out to have a high back carry or a hip carry/sideways facing front carry (either of these will put more strain on one side of your body than another, and require either a wrap, pouch or ring sling - some SSCs advertise that they are suitable for hip carries but in reality it's very impractical.)

As pootle says as well it will be uncomfortable to do a forward facing front carry as baby gets bigger as it pulls on your back more.

Cool that sorts that one out then thanks!