The optimal position for a baby in a carrier is facing the parent. Baby carriers (Bjorn-style) with narrow seats cause babies to dangle from their crotch due to complete lack of hip/ leg support. Well-designed baby carriers, such as the Pikkolo seen above, should support the baby in a natural seated position as you would carry them in arms.

For the sake of argument, we’ll name some carriers that provide proper leg/ hip support: wraps, ring slings, pouch slings, mei-tai’s, SSC’s (soft structured carriers like Beco, Ergo, Pikkolo, etc). To ensure proper support of a baby’s spine, the seat of a carrier should reach to back of a baby’s knees with the baby’s hips in a natural frog-like position. Carriers that hold the baby by the groin, with baby’s legs hanging straight down, offer no leg support and improper spine/ hip support.

When your baby faces inwards in a proper carrier their legs wrap around your body and their weight is well distributed. Before 3 mos babies cannot be forward facing as they lack the strength in their neck to hold their head upright for the length of time they would be in the carrier.

Forward-facing is less comfortable for the parent as the baby is hanging out in front of your body with their weight further from your center of gravity. You’ll notice that if you turn the baby inwards, the baby feels considerably lighter. Another reason to limit the amount of time your baby faces outwards is because it can be overstimulating for a young baby. A baby facing inwards or on your hip, can rest their head against your body and shut-off the stimulation.

As parents, we can see the need for occasional forward-facing. We recommend having your baby facing out only when necessary & limiting it to short periods of time.

Over the years many parents have commented on their need for a front facing carrier. We chose to offer the Pikkolo Baby carrier as it has an uniquely adjustable seat that allows you the option of a forward-facing carry. You can adjust the seat of the Pikkolo to narrow for facing-out and then widen it to provide proper support for facing-in. You’ll notice that the Pikkolo even at it’s narrowest, is wider than a Bjorn-style crotch-dangler. The baby’s legs don’t hang straight down, they should have knees up & bent.

We highly anticipate the launch of the Beco Gemini, similar to the Pikkolo in that it will adjust to allow forward-facing and then widen to offer proper support for facing inwards.

Research regarding infant spinal stress in poorly designed baby carriers.