Forward facing carrier

[sweetchili]

On the weekend my mum bought a carrier called a snazzy baby carrier to us for CJ and my sister's bub(when he'she arrives), for her to use when she babysits.

this is about the only link i can find with pictures.

http://www.bubhub.com.au/directory/listing.php?id=5503

I had CJ in it for the rest of the afternoon and for me it seemed very comfortable. And CJ LOVES facing forward this way, and seemed comfortable.

But i am wondering what people think and know about the safety of baby's being held in this way??

[Jayde]

I have one of those!!! So I think they are safe but I just had to make sure that I held his head!! To stop it flopping forward!!

[sweetchili]

thanks for your reply, it does seem fairly good, and it has passed safety standards.

My mum bought it because she likes the gel in the shoulder strap. she wants to wear slings but she has bad shoulders, and thinks this might help.
I am just woried about CJ hanging from his groin area?!?!?! I don't think i would want to be hanging in a climbing harness all day. But then mum will probably only wear it for short amounts of time anyway!!

[emd]

It's not the best for babies to hang in a harness like that. The appeal of these type of carriers is that they look easy to use because they just clip on, and parents think they'll be more comfortable because they are so highly engineered - padded straps, hi-tech materials, complex construction methods etc.

The reality is that you can do it more comfortably and just as easily with a bed sheet - you just need to be shown how. Here's instructions via YouTube.
The problem with clip-on, hang-in-harness style carriers is that all the baby's weight is hanging off your shoulders. No amount of padding on the straps is going to change where the weight is being carried. You'll get more mileage out of a carrier that sits the baby on their bottom, and holds them as close to your body as possible so gravity can't drag them down.

If your baby likes being able to check out what's going on, try a back carry. They love playing peek-a-boo over your shoulder, but if the world is all too much and they get overstimulated then they just bury their face into the back of your neck. Wraps and mei tais are great for this, but it can be done with a ring sling too (I just tend not to use my ring sling for back carry cos I have others I like better for that position).

You could also look at a hip carry - easy to pop in & out for kids who can't make up their mind if they want to be held or get down and explore. Ring slings are easy for this, but you can do it with a wrap carrier too.

[Marmee]

I have heard that carrying baby forward facing isn't great in *any* sling - for mum or baby. But that's all I've heard! Not really helpful, heh?

I *do* know that when I tried carrying our little one forward facing in the HAB that I ended up wrecking my neck and shoulders for a few days. Ouch.

[marchbean]

It kinda looks like his legs would be dangling, with little support in the groin area (it is hard to tell from the photo though)
see here for some info on spinal stress - http://www.continuum-concept.org/rea...nalStress.html

When a baby wants to be more upright to see the world around him (usually around age 4 to 5 months), the carrier should allow him to sit cross-legged, so his weight is dissipated through his legs and hips, as opposed to the style that has the legs hanging down, where the young spine has to bear the entire weight.

I think for short periods it would be ok Its very sweet of your mum We have an ergo, and at 15 months, 10+kgs, there is never a niggle on our backs.

[skn]

Originally Posted by Marmee

I have heard that carrying baby forward facing isn't great in *any* sling - for mum or baby. But that's all I've heard! Not really helpful, heh?

I've heard this, too- for the reason emd mentioned about if they get over-stimulated or frightened they can't look away.

[MindfulMama]

yeah, for all the reasons mentioned i'd vote for a hip carrier instead. you can get some that are super easy to use (eg scotterbaby, magic sling ring tai, ergo) & much better for baby physically & emotionally. if you wanna ask more questions, come join in the fun at http://babycarriersdownunder.googlepages.com/

[sweetchili]

Thanks.
I thought i had heard that these front facing ones are not the best too, just wanted to know what other people knew about it.

Hopefully for short periods of time with mum it wont be too harmfull, as she has bought it now.
I will mention it to mum, and as i said i don't think she will have him in it for too long.

I have had a fair bit of trouble with CJ in my MANY sings!!
He HATES the ergo for some reason(even though i love it) and any carrier where he faces into me. And has never liked lying down in pouches, even when he was really tiny the only time i could have him in the hug-a-bub slings facing me was when he was alseep.

He also doesn't seem to like being on my back. And because he is SOoooooo small for his age and still needs some trunk support..i don't like having him on my back where i can't see that he is supported properly.

So i have always had him facing forward in a pouch or the ring sling skn made for us!

[emd]

Sounds like you've got your own babywearing well and truly sorted
I think it will be fine for short trips with your mum, and a bit more close contact with your mum will probably be good for his cognitive and balance development anyway. Nice that she was thinking of him when she got it.