Question Time: Forward Facing or Parent Facing?

Stokke Xplory

As many of you know (and perhaps hate me for!), we now own a gorgeous and sublime Stokke Xplory (thanks to a competition on Stokke Lovers).  One of the brilliant features of the Xplory is that you can put it either in Forward Facing or Parent Facing mode.  Since Little Miss has been only in Forward Facing pushchairs since she graduated from her Graco Travel System to our Baby Jogger City Mini, I assumed that she would HATE Parent Facing mode.  She’d want to see the world and see what’s coming right?  Well, not so much!

On Monday, Hubby and I took Little Miss out for the afternoon in the Xplory.  Little Miss had fallen asleep in the car on the way to our starting point so when I set up the Xplory, I put it in Parent Facing mode as I thought I could install her and keep her asleep.  In Parent Facing mode you can recline the Xplory to a lovely, horizontal sleeping position.  Little Miss had other plans though and woke up immediately.  I kept her in Parent Facing mode, however and found that we had a really lovely walk.  She wasn’t bothered by not seeing what was in front of her and in fact, seemed far happier facing us as we travelled.  Little Miss and I went out and about yesterday and again I put her in Parent Facing mode.  As it was just the two of us I found that MY walk was that much more enjoyable because I could interact with Little Miss constantly.  She was talking to me a lot more and I could HEAR her because she was facing me.  I could hand her snacks and her drink easily and clean her up when she needed it.  I could also see when she was getting weary and could instantly recline her to make sleep a bit easier.

Now, obviously most pushchairs are Forward Facing and don’t have the luxury of switching to Parent Facing BUT what is your preference?  If you have a pushchair which is both Parent and Forward Facing, which way do you use it?  I was surprised that Parent Facing could be so useful for a 22 month old…it’s usually the newborns that you see in Parent Facing mode isn’t it?  Would you choose a pushchair that has both options OVER a forward facing only pushchair (if budget was not a factor)?  There have been articles out there in the past promoting the benefits of Parent Facing pushchairs and almost guilting parents into parent facing mode.  Your child will never get their GCSE’s if they’re forward facing you know??  Stuff like that!  Share your thoughts…I would love to hear your experiences!

Wee Little Miss in her Graco- Forward Facing