Frontwards in Baby Carrier

The baby carrier has to be rear facing at all times. A child can not be forward facing until they are a year AND 20 pounds in a forward facing 5 point harness.

Are you talking in the car seat? If so... THE LAW says 1 year AND 20 lbs. The assoc of Peds. Are trying to get the law changed to have the kids stay backwards in their carseats until 2 years old.

I have a 4 month old and I have been facing since he was 2 or 3 months because he holds his head good. I also did the same thing with my daughter aswell. I hope I have helped you.

Hi K.,
I have 4 kids and know this well. California law states they need to be 1 year old before they can face front. They also recommend they be 20 lbs as well, but there are many petite 1 year olds that wouldn't make that weight recommendation for quite a while! Anyway, the law is 1 year old. Happy Mothering!

I had my son facing forward at about 2 and a half months because he kept craning his neck to see what was going on so this seemed better. I wouldn't say that he had complete neck control but he held up his head enough and loves seeing everything. If you don't feel comfortable, I wouldn't turn him around, but my son just loves to interact with people this way. When he's over stimulated, he just pulls up his arm and rests his head on it and falls asleep. Good luck! Trust your gut!

I think we started carrying our girls forward at about 6 months. They still liked facing in toward us better. Usually if they were very fussy they would have fun facing out to look at everything. Since your post didn't state that you were talking about a carseat, I'm assuming you are asking about a carrier pack. I would say 2 1/2 months is still too young to face out. The instruction pamphlet should have some advice about this.

It's all about their preferences, and abilities. try it...

If youre talking about in the car, 1 year is the legal stipulation.

We were informed by our pediatrician that they can be turned forward when they turn one year of age. Even at that point though, she told us that she would still recommend keeping our daughter facing backwards since it is much safer for them.

If you don't feel like your son's neck is quite strong enough yet, then keep him facing you. As another poster said, the manufacturer of the carrier you have will have size recommendations, which might help you decide. The most important thing to keep in mind, though, is to trust your instincts. You're his mom, and you know him best. If you're not comfortable having him face forward in his carrier now then don't have him face forward. If others feel the need to judge, that is their problem, not yours.

i would wait until he can hold his up for a long period of time and he is interested in seeing the world. My guess is he sleeps a lot. I think my son was about 5 months before i faced him out.

My little guy was very young as well but he's always had great neck and head control. I think you'd be able to tell whether or not your little one seems supported.

The law says children can face forward at 1 year AND 20 lbs.

My personal opinion based solely on my gut and a few books is that I have never felt comfortable facing my baby out(he is just turning 1). It feels unnatural to have him hanging there all vulnerable and facing away from me. I think it would be incredibly uncomfortable for me to hang that way. I started with the Bjorn and switched to an Ergo once my back started to really hurt. My baby and I go for long walks up the hill we live on every morning so comfort for him and for me is the most important thing. He got big enough at 9 months to put on my back in the Ergo and he absolutely loves it because he does finally get to look forward. When he was facing me in the Ergo he still got to see everything and still be close to me in a safe and comforting way. I think he gets plenty of time facing out in the stroller ( I mean once he was old enough, 4 months? I can't remember). I hope this is helpful. I don't judge others for facing their babies out but I just never felt comfortable doing it.

At 3 months my baby was ready. As long as he can hold his head up well you could try. Maybe try him for a short period of time. Sit him crossed legged facing out and get him in there nice and secure. If he seems to be working hard at holding his head up then try again in another week or so.

Hi K., first of all people need to RELAX - I am obviously assuming you mean a carrier like a Baby Bjorn and NOT a car seat!!

You didn't say why you want to try your child forward facing - my pediatrician actually told us to try carrying our almost 3 month old face forward in her carrier because she HATES having her face pressed against us - she is very curious and wants to be able to look around and see things. Our little one, however, has very good neck control. We tried her once forward facing and she did great but we are very careful to hold her chest against us and not bump her around too much.

In other words, it is very dependent on your child and what stage he is at - maybe try giving him more tummy time over the next few weeks to build up that neck control!

Personally, I think your baby isn't ready for forward facing yet! My daughter was about 14 months before she went forward facing! Talk about hard! My best advice is to ask his doctor. My daughter's doctor said something about if her feet was touching the back of the seat when rear-facing then it was time to go forward facing. My daughter is long, but small in weigh. I don't think they go by age, more like height, I think.
I hope this helps!

In reading some other responses you received, it sounds like some people aren't sure if you mean a babyseat used in a car or a soft baby carrier one wears while walking around. I think there are weight guidelines either way. Check the manufacturer's recommendations. As far as a soft carrier, I used a Bjorn carrier and it was written on the inside lower strap. Go with your gut and if you don't think he is ready, then leave him facing you. I loved that stage; my son would fall asleep while we were grocery shopping. He could see what was going on from side to side or he could just take a nap. Don't let anyone make you doubt yourself. I wish I would have trusted myself more, but eventually we all get there.

Our son started riding facing forward at 10 weeks, but he was able to hold his head up for long periods of time by that age. I would say hold off until your little one has better control - trust your intuition on this; every child is different.

I believe you are talking about a Snuggli or similar type of baby carrier. Your baby's neck muscles have to be strong enough to hold up his head for long periods of time before you face him forward (his back to your front). Sounds like your son is not ready yet. If you do tummy time, 5 minutes at a time a few times a day, his neck will get stronger. Generally, by 4 months old you can turn them forward. Until then, keep him facing you.

Pretty sure the baby needs to be atleast a year before turning around to face front. Also I think there is a weight restriction too. Might want to ask your dr. about the laws on this.

It is not about holding the head up like a few mom's are saying. It is about being able to withstand and impact from any direction. If you are hit from the rear, a forward facing infant would not be able to handle the trauma of their neck and head being forced forward and back. Til the baby is 1 years old and 20lbs, not either or keep the carseat rear facing. Why the rush to make him forward facing? Do what is safest for the baby. The mom's who put them forward earlier should not have done so for the child's safety. In europe, the standards are higher, meaning the baby needs to be heavier. Google some car seat requirements or call your local fire department for info. They can refer you, also Goore's here in Sac. does car seat installation and is well versed on laws concerning carseats. My friend works in the Kaiser E.R. and sees a lot of preventable child injuries if only the carseat was rear facing. She also works with kaiser's car seat checks. Do some research and make your decision based on what you feel is right for your child. Congratulations on your little 2 1/2 month old.

I re-read your post and now believe you are talking about a carrier you wear. It is when the child has good head control. If he still has limited head control, wait. Sorry about the mis-post. Take care

I would wait until he can hold his head up really well for long period sof time at least 4-5 months. Keeping him turned inward will give you an opportunity for him to sleep and rest against your chest, enjoy that time, b/c one day you he will not wnat to be faced that way at all

I think most of the responses think you're asking about a carseat, so I wouldn't worry about the whole 1 year thing.

For a carrier, I just went with my gut. My daughter only wanted to be facing out, so I let her do that in a Moby Wrap (great - much, much better than a Bjorn) from around 8 weeks. I was VERY careful with her head and would hold her forehead if I was moving around much or if she needed support. It really is about your own comfort. I think they generally say 3 months.

Your child should be 1 year old before changing to a front-facing carseat. Good luck!

Hi, K.!
I think the conventional wisdom is about six months. We started at 3 months, because our son had really strong neck muscles. So, I would recommend 5-6 months before putting him in the forward position of the baby carrier. Seems like many people didn't read your post carefully and misunderstood what you were asking! Congrats on your little bundle of joy!

I'm assuing you mean in a Bjorn or a similar carrier? Read the directions on your carrier to see what they recommend but generally, you should wait til he's about 5-6 months. Some kids can be faced forward at about 4 months if their necks are strong enough. Both our boys were foward facing at about 4-5 months.

Please be cautious with facing your child forward. Even 9 years ago, I waited until my son was over a year old. There are mirrors that you cn put on the seat to see your child if need be.

Assuming you mean a carrier like the Bjorn I thought I would throw out another consideration that no-one has mentioned. When a baby is turned faced out in a front carrier they are unable to "get away" from their environment which can become very over stimulating for them. There are some carrier manufacturers out there who believe that babies should never be turned face out and that facing you they are able to turn their heads to the side when they wish to be engaged with the world and into your chest when they don't. I would tihnk that this would be more of an issue for younger babies than older babies so if you turn your child face out keeo this in mind.

Another thing that has nothing to do with direction with the regards to some of the Bjorn type carriers is that the baby is sat with all its weight on its crotch which can be bad for spine development. Babies are born with very little curvature of the spine and over time develop the curve at the neck and low back. The spine is not built to carry weight at its end which is why when we sit we sit on our seat bones not our tail bone. I think Bjorn has somewhat altered its carriers so that the baby is supported along its thigh through its seat and certainly carriers like the Ergo which allows children to be carried up to about 40lbs! does that. If you plan to carry your child in a carrier like this for some time you may want to keep this in mind.

It sounds to me like most of the folks responding are confused about what you mean by "baby carrier." I don't think there is a California law governing when you can turn a kid forward in a Baby Bjorn or similar carrier. I suspect they are thinking of car seats. Given all the confusion, I would go with what the manufacturer says, or ask your pediatrician.

Congrats on your little one! My daughter is 11 months (and still loves to be in her carrier) for me it depended on the carrier I used. I have a Moby Wrap and a Bjorn, with both I waited until she had good control of her neck muscles and showed interest in facing forward by looking around and almost turning around to see what was going on. I was able to let her face forward in the Moby sooner because it didn't cut across her neck or face. With the Bjorn I waited until her chin was above the carrier so that it didn't cut across her face, so that one took a little longer. I wouldn't focus too much on his age because every baby is ready at different times. Doing a test run at home first is always an easy way to find out when he's ready. Good Luck!

I think our daughter stay facing back for a year. It's a law, I believe. I just googled it and it came up as a law.

Stephanie

so they can forward face @ a year but they aslo have to be 20lbs aswell. So if they turn a year and under 20lbs they have to stay rear facing. Hope this helps.

hi K.,
each carrier is a little different so i would go with what the manufactor recommends. we used a bjorn and the directions had weight and length info to follow. you want to be sure Andrew's neck is supported. if he has some control of his neck then i think it is ok to make the switch. :)

2 1/2 months is WAY TOO YOUNG!! State law says the child must be at least 20 lbs AND 1yr old. For example, my son is still not facing forward and he is 28 lbs.... BUT he is not a year old yet. He will get to turn around when he turns one. Good for you for double checking on this on not just going with what someone told you. Good job protecting your little bundle of joy!!

After reading some of the other responses I see that you may have meant the carrier you strap to your body. I don't think I faced my son forward until he was about 4 months, and even then he prefered to face me until he was about 6 months if I remember right.

Law states one years old

First off, cogratulations on your new bundle of joy!! My older daughter faced out at about 4 months but my youngest hated to face out and still prefers to face me at 13 months when I carry her. Go with your instincts on this one!
Mama knows best!
Good luck!