When sunshine breaks out, something strange seems to happen on our streets. Sunhats, sun cream and parasols protect babies and toddlers, but there is a growing trend to drape blankets off buggy hoods to shield children from the sun, cutting off any other stimulus. There are also products made from blackout material, to encourage sleep.

When I first saw a buggy enclosed in this way, it stopped me in my tracks. What was it like in there for the baby? It's good they are being protected from the sun, but what else are they not getting? A fractious child having a sleep on the go also seems a good idea, but what happens when she wakes?

The development of early communication skills is the basis of social and emotional wellbeing, as well as future learning. To that end, we commissioned research into the effects of the way that buggies faced, which showed clearly the benefits for children if they face the pusher.

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