Why Can't my Baby Face out in the ErgoBaby Carrier?

February 2015 - updated to include information on the new Ergo 360 Baby Carrier Sling.


For many years, ErgoBaby made only carriers that would allow babies to be worn facing their parents when being carried on the front.

The are very many reasons why parent-facing should be the default for front carrying infants and these are detailed in the original version of this article set out below.

So why have Ergo brought out a carrier that enables children to be carried world facing, ie away from the parent?

Ergo appreciate that the most important thing is that parents carry their children and the Ergo 360 is designed to allow parents to have the flexibility to carry their babies in the most ergonomic positions possible, whether facing in or out, on the front, back or hip.

Due to its innovative design, the Ergo 360 holds your baby:

• In the correct ergonomic position with knees up high at or above the hips, in the m position
• Has a unique bucket design to support developing spines in the correct c shape
• Is comfortable for both parent and child 
• Gives excellent support for both parent and child and prevents undue stress on the baby's crotch area

It is recommended that the world facing position be used for only short periods from around 6 months and up and only when the child is awake.

Parents should continue to closely monitor their children and respond to any signs of tiredness or over stimulation by returing the child to the parent facing position.



The original article follows below:

Why Can't my Baby Face out in the ErgoBaby Carrier?

The ErgoBaby Carrier has been very specifically designed so that the baby faces inwards, towards the parent, when they are in the front carry position.

ErgoBaby took this decision following the recomendation of Dr. Evelin Kirkilionis.


Why should a baby face inwards when being carried:

• You can communicate better with your baby
• You can make eye contact with your baby, evaluate and respond to their facial cues
• You can better determine and respond to your baby's needs
• Babies in outward facing baby carriers cannot turn away form stimuli when they need to and may become overwhelmed
• Inward facing baby slings tend to allow the baby to have more and better sleep

When you are carrying your baby in the Ergo Carrier, you will find that they are kept stimulated and interested by watching YOUR reactions and listening to you talk to them.

If you want to allow them to join in a conversation or to see something in particular, you will find that you angle your body so that you are both looking in the same direction, sideways on. 

This is better than using a front facing carrier, as you and your baby can respond to each others' visual cues, which you cannot do if your baby is facing away from you.

You can find more tips on using the Ergo 360 as a front facing baby carrier on our website.