At Mamatoto, we believe that carrying your baby should be as safe and nurturing as it is comfortable and convenient. That’s why we designed our baby carriers with careful thought, not only about how they feel — but how they support healthy development for both you and your little one.
One question we get asked a lot is why our carriers don’t offer a forward-facing position. The short answer? Because your baby’s safety and comfort always come first.
As tempting as it can be to let your little one face outward and explore the world, research shows that outward-facing positions can place strain on your baby’s spine, hips, and pelvis — especially when they are still developing. Forward-facing can also force their legs into a position that’s less than ideal, making it harder to support the natural “M” shape (knees higher than bum) that promotes healthy hip development.
While many parents assume that the Hip Dysplasia Institute’s "hip-healthy" certification covers all positions in a carrier, the reality is: this rating only applies to the inward-facing position. Outward-facing hasn’t been part of their testing process — something most people don’t realize.
When we were first designing our carriers, we actually created a forward-facing model and put it through testing. But the more we learned, the more we saw the potential risks to babies’ physical development and comfort — and we simply couldn’t bring ourselves to move forward with production. That decision wasn’t easy, but it was the right one.
Instead, we designed the Nomad — a carrier that allows your baby to ride high on your back, offering the same wide view of the world, while staying safely supported in an ergonomic position. This way, your little one gets all the curiosity and conversation of facing out, without any of the compromises to their physical development.
Because at the end of the day, it’s about more than just comfort — it’s about keeping your baby close, connected, and supported in all the right ways.
Hands free. Hearts full. Mamatoto.
