When I gave birth to Lydia, I knew I wanted to wear her, but I wasn’t sure what that entailed. I purchased your standard ‘first time mom’ baby carrier, and by 4 months, had her facing outward. I started to read more about proper babywearing and how it should simulate the manner in which you would naturally hold your child. From that point forward, I wore both my children facing toward me, whether it was a front-carry or back-carry.
So here’s where I started, with an outward-facing, baby-dangling carrier. Lydia was just 4 months old. You can clearly see there’s no support for her hips or legs, and she’s basically just hanging there, with her chubby little thighs squeezed.
A month later, I bought this sling. Better idea, but apparently I still thought Lydia should be facing outward. I don’t even know how I got her legs into this position.
A month after that, I finally figured things out and purchased a mei tai (which is like a soft-structured carrier that has to be tied to your body rather than strapped/buckled). I faced Lydia comfortably toward my body, simulating a natural position I’d use to carry her.
Boba has created an infographic entitled 9 Reasons Not to Carry Your Baby Facing Out that provides great information, especially for moms and dads who are interested in babywearing but not sure how.
That lets us know why we shouldn’t wear our children facing outward… but what are the benefits of having your baby facing inward?
- Proper babywearing makes it quite easy to breastfeed your child. I have done this while walking, while exploring a cave hundreds of feet underground, on Disney rides, etc.
- Babywearing is so much more comfortable for caregivers when the child is properly positioned. The child’s weight is distributed evenly, allowing you to wear your child for a longer period of time.
- Your child’s legs are properly-supported, which allows him/her to sit comfortably without putting too much pressure on the thighs/pelvis.
- For smaller babies, facing inward can provide the head/neck support they need while those muscles are learning to work more independently.
- Proper babywearing can provide a calm, soothing experience for your child. This is especially great for children who tend to get overstimulated by their environment.
- It allows you to be hands-free, so that you can go grocery shopping, prepare lunch, do the laundry, and any other chores.
- And perhaps the best reason of all…When your child is facing you, he/she can look up at you, touch your face, give you kisses, talk to you, and snuggle!
Boba is one of the only baby carrier companies that exclusively sells baby carriers that keep baby facing inward. Research shows that carrying baby facing inward helps baby attach in a healthy way to parents and prevents hip dysplasia, allowing baby to stay safe and healthy, both physically and psychologically.
To learn more, LIKE Boba on Facebook and FOLLOW Boba on twitter.
Check out this Pinterest board for more information regarding Safe Babywearing.
Follow Carrie Wells Safe Babywearing on Pinterest
*This is a compensated post I am writing as a Boba Ambassador. The opinions expressed are honest.
[…] Carrie from Huppie Mama – Sometimes my sister calls me a ‘hippie’ because of the earth-friendly, back-to-basics nature of these products, and sometimes she calls me a ‘yuppie’ because of the level of research I do and the extra few dollars I’m willing to spend to buy something special for my family. So what does that make me? A well-educated, earth-friendly mama – a huppie! […]