A British Study Reveals the Negative Effects of Outward-Facing Buggies

Until recently there hasn't been a study examining the effects of buggy orientation on the interaction between parents and children, and on children's stress levels. Research into this field has now been done thanks to a team of scientists from Dundee University in Scotland, who published their results last November. This research shows that children who are transported while facing outwards, can become emotionally isolated and may develop poorer language skills.

The study, lead by Developmental Psychologist Dr. M. Suzanne Zeedyk, in close collaboration with the National Literacy Trust*, concentrated on the impact of the buggy's orientation on the parent/child relationship. The project was comprised of two studies. The first was a national one, gathering more than 2000 observations of parent-child pairs, which systematically documented the social interactions of families occurring during buggy use. The second study focused on observing both mother-infant interaction and indicators of infant stress (such as increased heart rate) in the two different buggy orientations. The research proves that the most common style of buggies, with the baby facing outwards, may be undermining children's development. Children transported this way are significantly less likely to talk, laugh and interact with their parents, than those transported face-to-face.

'Neuroscience has helped us to learn how important social interaction during the early years is for children's brain development. If babies are spending significant amounts of time in a baby buggy that undermines their ability to communicate easily with their parent, at an age when the brain is developing more than it will ever again in life; then this has to impact negatively on their development', explains Dr. Zeedyk. 'Our experimental study showed that, simply by turning the buggy around, parents' rate of talking to their baby doubled. I had also not anticipated such a high percentage of babies in face-to-face buggies would be sleeping –52%, against only 27% in away facing buggies. It was a complete surprise. This is significant as you are more likely to sleep when you are feeling relaxed and safe.' 'Our data suggests that for many babies today, life in buggy is emotionally impoverished and possibly stressful. Stressed babies grow into anxious adults.'

When you consider that only one baby in the group of 20 studied laughed during an outward-facing experience, while half laughed during a face-to-face journey, you can easily acknowledge the significance of a baby's orientation to their physical development and psychological health. This research provides parents with objective information, so that they can make informed choices about how to transport their children.

You can read the full report at http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/talktoyourbaby/Buggy_research.pdf

Written by: Présence Bouvier (Managing Editor) Translated by: Laurane Dentin

* The independent charity, National Literacy Trust, published the results of this study as part of its early campaign Talk To Your Baby.