About facing forward in a baby carrier

You, your baby and BABYBJÖRN – about facing forward in a baby carrier

BabyBjörn has a 50 year reputation for quality, safety and design. Our baby carriers have become widely accepted by millions of parents around the world, carrying more than 30 million babies. As you consider your carrying options, the following facts are important to consider:

  • The most important age to carry one’s child is from birth to 6 months.
  • We strongly recommend that infants should always be carried facing you to help facilitate the infant-parent bonding so critical during this period.
  • BABYBJÖRN Baby Carriers are designed specifically to be used from birth and to properly support your baby’s head, neck, spine and hips, without the need for an extra infant insert like many other brands.
  • Differentiating BABYBJÖRN from other products, our baby carriers give you the option once your baby is able to hold his/her head up, to either carry your baby facing you or to carry baby facing out toward the world.
  • BabyBjörn has collaborated with medical experts since the company was founded in 1961 and does not launch a product without approval from leading pediatricians and extensive testing by test institutes. You are guaranteed that BABYBJÖRN Baby Carriers are completely safe and properly designed to meet the unique physical needs of your baby.

With the amount of information more readily available through a variety of on- and off-line sources, it can sometimes be difficult to sort out what is medically fact-based versus solely someone’s opinion. The following statements reflect the positions of qualified medical experts: 

What do medical experts have to say about carrying the baby facing forward in a baby carrier?

Amanda Kelly: “Whether or not a child should face in or out while in a baby carrier depends on their age and developmental stage. Babies should face in as infants as this position stabilizes their head and neck and protects their airway. When baby’s back and spine muscles are sufficiently developed and they can hold their head up (around four months of age), they can face out. Most babies around this age are fascinated by their environment and thrilled to observe their surroundings while being carried close, with their back nestled comfortably against the wearer’s chest.”

Amanda Kelly

Dr Amanda Kelly

Dr. Amanda Weiss-Kelly,
M.D. Department of Pediatrics, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio

 

Jonathan M Fanaroff: "As an infant matures, facing outward allows them to safely explore the world and satisfy their growing curiosity while at the same time they can still feel the warmth and hear the voice of their parent. It is a wonderful way to maintain secure attachment while promoting discovery.” 

Jonathan M Fanaroff

Jonathan M Fanaroff

Jonathan M. Fanaroff,
M.D., J.D. Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, CWRU School of Medicine Director, Rainbow Center for Pediatric Ethics Associate Medical Director, NICU Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio

 

Mark Brandenburg: "In this modern era in which we celebrate and enjoy the benefits of disciplined medical and scientific research, the term "evidence-based" is used when attempting to discern whether a conclusion or statement is based on legitimate, medical research or simply an unsubstantiated opinion. Any statement made about outward facing baby carriers causing developmental problems, physical or psychological, are NOT "evidence-based" and should not be relied upon when choosing a baby carrier for your infant."

Dr Mark Brandenburg

Dr Mark Brandenburg

Mark Brandenburg, M.D, FACEP 
Emergency Physician 
Injury Prevention Expert 
Author of, CHILD SAFE: A Practical Guide for Preventing Childhood Injuries.