Parents that are interested in a forward facing carrier should consider why they want one. Is it because the parents assume a baby will want to see what is going on around them just as an adult does, or will a baby truly enjoy facing outward? Babies benefit from being able to make eye contact with their parent, watch their facial expressions, and social interactions. Babies that are forward facing cannot do these things.

Babies that are forward facing can also easily become overstimulated. A babies senses are raised and very aware. So much is new to them, and they still have a whole world to discover. What would seem to be a normal situation for us can actually become too much stimuli for them. Babies in forward facing carriers are unable to turn away from a busy environment and find the calming comfort of their parents face.

A baby can also sleep much easier by resting their head on your chest. A baby facing forward cannot find a stable position for their head, and their head will bob around limiting the quality of their sleep. So we cannot in good conscious recommend forward facing baby carriers. High quality baby carriers such as the Ergo Baby Carrier, Beco Baby Carrier, and BabyHawk do not support the forward facing position.

An alternative to wearing your baby facing out is using the hip carry which can be done with both the Ergo Baby Carrier, BabyHawk, and all baby slings. This is not as supportive as a two shouldered carry, but allows your baby a wider range of movement to observe the environment while still providing them the ability to turn away and find comfort from you.

Since pouch sizing is very important we don’t recommend washing a baby sling to shrink it to the correct sizing. It my not shrink enough or even worse too much. If you already have a sling and want to find out if it is a good fit check out the figure below. Your sling should hang to just below your navel area. If it drapes all the way to your hips and swings as you walk, it is definitely too big and swing as you walk. A pouch will be the most comfortable when it rides high and snug on your body.

If you are still trying to determine your sizing see the chart below.

If you feel that you are in between Hotslings sizes, the new Hotslings Adjustable Pouch is great option. It adjusts with two buckles that are placed near the top of the shoulder. Simply pull on the straps to tighten the sling. The versatility of the adjustable sling allows it to be used for multiple care givers, allows nursing on the go, and accommodates postpartum body changes. It can even be adjusted while wearing your baby. Pretty cool.

Visit La Stella Blu to learn more and see all of our Hotslings.

We can’t wait to post a review.  The  will be available for shipment from La Stella Blu on 9-23-09.

What does this mean?  Is this a total redesign of the Ergo Baby Carrier where the infant insert is not needed?   Only a couple of weeks left until we have our answer.  Check back with La Stella Blu to see the Heart 2 Heart baby carrier.

Congratulations to Erin of Ocala, Florida who has won our August baby sling give away.  She has chosen a Dark Chocolate with Kona Ergo Baby Carrier.  Erin has a two year old that has long outgrown her baby sling, but still loves to be carried.

The Ergo Baby Carrier is the perfect choice for older babies and toddlers.  It fits much like a traditional backpack while evenly distributes the weight of your baby to your hips and shoulders.  This is truly one of the easiest baby carriers to use with adjustable waist and shoulder straps.  The sleeping hood is perfect for securing your little ones head while you are on the go.  Check out all of our great babywearing products at La Stella Blu today.

This months winner is Chelsea from San Diego, CA.  She has chosen the fabulous Moby Wrap.  The Moby Wrap is my favorite baby carrier for newborns and young babies.  Wraps are one of the best ways to wear little ones because you can truly secure their heads.  This makes a wrap a good choice for parents with an older toddler too, since you will be busy trying to keep up with your toddler while caring for your newborn.

Visit La Stella Blu to check out our fabulous assortment of BabyHawk Mei Tais.

Mei tais such as the BabyHawk Mei Tai can be used from birth through approximately 40 lbs.  We especially like them for babies older than 4 months or with head control.  They are a great baby carrier that can be used for different sized parents and worn most comfortably on the front or back.  Visit us at La Stella Blu to view all of our mei tai carriers.