Front-facing buggies may stunt babies' brains

Babies who face away from their parents in buggies might have their brain development compromised, research has found.

The author of the British research said the practice could leave children "emotionally isolated and language poor". The lack of stimulation talking, laughing and interacting with a parent could also undermine brain development.

The Dundee University study observed more than 2700 parent-child pairs throughout Britain. It found that:

25 per cent of parents using face-to-face buggies talked to their baby, compared with 11% of parents using an away-facing buggy.

Babies were more likely to laugh in a face-to-face buggy.

The heart rates of babies in face-to-face buggies were slightly lower, indicating less stress.

52% of babies in face-to-face buggies slept, compared with 27% in away-facing buggies.

Research author Dr Suzanne Zeedyk said a lowered heart rate or sleeping indicated reduced stress levels in babies.

"Our data suggests that for many babies today, life in a buggy is emotionally impoverished and possibly stressful. Stressed babies grow into anxious adults," she said.

"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."

Paediatric Society of New Zealand president Dr Rosemary Marks said the effect on development would depend on the amount of time babies spent in a buggy and whether parents took other opportunities to interact with them.

"Children learn to talk by being talked to, so the more children are talked to, the more language they will learn. Any opportunities parents have for talking to their children is good."

Mothers at Plunket's Papanui parenting course favoured having their babies facing them, but said it was difficult to find buggies that made it possible.

Micayela Hunter liked being able to talk or sing to five-week-old Zara, but said it would be hard to find a suitable buggy when her daughter grew.

"I read about the benefits of having them face you, but it's quite funny, because that's not what's on the market," she said.

"It's just the accepted thing that they all do face the other way."

Course facilitator Kate Husband said parents buying buggies should also consider ventilation and colour to ensure babies did not overheat.