A Midwife's Recommendations for Outward Facing in your Ergobaby Carrier

Parents are often told that wearing baby outwards isn't safe or good for them but this is often based on generalisations and as a blanket statement, and should be viewed in a more nuanced way. As a midwife I encourage parents to trust their instincts and to respond intuitively and adequately to their child's needs.

What you need to know about baby facing outwards:

• This carrying method is what we call an active position: This means that the baby should be awake, satisfied, attentive and active when being carried in this position. Baby's eyes need to be wide open and they need to be showing interest in the world around them and making sounds and smiling.
• Outward facing is only suitable once baby has reached 6.4 kg and is around 5-6 months old with full head and neck control (can sit up unaided and tall enough to see over the carrier panel). Before these milestones this position is not suitable. By around 5-6 months old your child should be mastering hand-eye coordination, and their hand grip reflex will have disappeared. At this stage of development babies want to participate actively in what's happening around them.
• This position is natural and intuitive, just like holding baby in your arms except a carrier relieves strain on parents' arms and back and creates two free hands for looking after siblings, reading, a quick whiz round with the hoover or adventures in the garden.
• When used correctly Ergobaby carriers ensure your child is supported in the ergonomic M position when carried in the front carry method: This means knees are bent and the thighs are completely supported.
• This correct positioning also leads to a relaxed back and head posture, as if baby was relaxing on a deckchair: the child's back leans against the parent's upper body and the head can be laid down and relaxed as needed, but also able to keep alert and active. Exactly the right position to gradually explore the world while staying protected.
• Children develop quickly in the first year of life, outward facings allows the child to grab out and over the middle of their body with a lateral weight shift. Their spatial perception becomes increasingly differentiated and their field of vision widens. Facing outwards allows baby to train its motor skills, coordination (hand / hand, hand / eyes, hand / foot) and stimulates its muscles.
• The four different, varied wearing positions (front outward facing, front inward facing, hip and back) available with the All Position 360 and the Omni 360 enable a 360-degree panoramic view depending on your child's needs and level of development. They provide the child with different impulses and stimuli and promote depth perception.

When we recommend using the front facing carry position:

• ONLY for 15-20 min at a time - keep an eye out for signs of fatigue and over-stimulation (crying, rubbing of the eyes, restlessness, turning of the head, staring into space etc.) in your child.
• NOT for sleeping - don't let your child sleep facing outwards, it's only to be used when your child is awake, attentive and active.
• ONLY in a quiet, sheltered and stimulus-free environment - e.g., at home, in the garden, during joint activities, not for walking in crowds.
• ONLY with the correct positioning: squat your baby and let it slide deep into the chair seat: see more here.
• ONLY when baby is ready, if your baby has full head and neck control (around 5-6 months old and can sit unaided), fits comfortably in this position in the carrier (chin is clearly visible), and is showing signs of being ready to outward face.

And remember, only the Ergobaby Embrace, All Position 360 and Omni 360 carriers support outward facing. If you have an Original or Adapt carrier, or an Aura Baby Wrap, please note that these products don't support outward facing.