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
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I would choose parent facing about 90% of the time if i could, i love taken the kids in my sling so i can talk and interact with them. Its not the same walking along talking to the back of your childs head
I believe there was a study done by Dundee University looking at the level of stress in little ones for forward vs parent facing prams. They found them significantly less stressed in a parent facing position. It also stops random strangers prodding your little one and dogs etc.
I think as they get older it is less clear. We bought a bebe comfort pram set that allowed both on the advice of the peeps in the shop. As it happened, the pram was too much of a hassle to “build” and out down so we rarely used it and now my 20 month just travels everywhere on her trike!
My old Britax used to have the option of both and I used to have it facing me until he started getting grizzly and just wanting to get out all the time. I changed it to face forward and then he stopped fighting wanting to be in his pram, I think he enjoyed being able to finally look at the world instead of his Mummy’s face constantly!!
We put Noelie in a forward facing position only to find ourselves switching it around most of the time as she’s a lot less agitated when she looks at us. And I like being able to interact with her too.
We’ve just moved Moo from parent facing to forward facing at 16 months. We have a Bugaboo Bee which can do both, although it can be a bit tricky to change frequently.
I loved parent facing, it definitely made walks more interesting for me, but over the last month or so, Moo was constantly twisted round in her seat, trying desparately to see what was behind her! In forward facing she seems OK, but I wouldn’t say that she *loved* it.
I have to confess I haven’t used the buggy a lot recently. She’s just finding her feet, so I’ve been trying to encourage her to walk as much as possible, so have taken her and a sling or my baby-and-all bag (love it so much) when out and about.
My LM (21m) has been in forward facing ever since we upgraded to the Phil & Ted…I hadnt even considered whether she would prefer parent facing or forward facing as there was no option! Thinking about it though she would probably like parent facing as we would be able to chat easier and talk about our surroundings more…
I love my iCandy Cherry mainly because it can do both forward and parent facing. I use it parent facing most of the time and agree it makes things more interesting for me as well as him. When I want him to go to sleep I have in forward facing and reclined as I find when he can’t see me he drops off quicker. Am so glad that it’s so light as haven’t felt the need to switch to a lightweight buggy which tend to be forward facing. I would miss being able to chat to Mini Mck.
I always have DD in parent-facing position. We have a Bugaboo Bee and it was the main reason I bought it. We always have a chat when we’re out and about which I so much enjoy as she’s just starting to talk. I have never thought of changing the position to forward facing and she seems quite happy in that position too.
Thanks to everyone for your comments about Parent vs Forward Facing in the pushchair. It’s too bad that more pushchairs don’t have both options as I really regret missing the last year and a bit with Little Miss NOT facing me. Of course, she wants to see out and where we’re going but I can give her the choice now which is quite nice really.
I have had prams with forward and parent facing for both of mine.
I love parent facing, it’s so much fun as they get older.. and start to babble.
Little Man was parent facing until he was 2.5 when he started walking.
Our Xplory has been in parent facing mode since we got it- I keep thinking I should turn the little dude round, let him see the world, but I’d miss him!
I love the interaction, and one of the joys of the Xplory is that even when parent facing, he has a pretty great view – especially with the hood pushed all the way back.
For now, I’m just going to keep enjoying our little ‘chats’ while we’re strolling
Piran is low down in our Britax and kept trying to look round me so I changed him to forward facing. However I really miss him, and one thing I am looking forward to with my Xplory is that I can have him facing me and he will be able to see more. So we will both be happy!
I bought our first buggy specifically because it had a parent facing mode and we loved it, with smaller ones it means you can interact with them, talk to them and check how they are easily
Which reminds me, I need to get it changed over from pram to buggy so Babygirl can start enjoying it that way around too!