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Listen to the one-hour Mothering Radio and Parenting Unplugged show on babywearing safety, featuring interviews with babywearing experts, including yours truly. :)
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a recall on Infantino SlingRider baby carriers as well as a warning about the safety of using baby slings in babies younger than four months, after the tragic suffocation deaths of several babies in bag-style slings. Consumer Reports
has gone even further, putting baby slings on their list of five baby
products not to buy. Many concerned parents are understandably asking:
Is It Safe To Use a Baby Sling or Carrier With a Newborn or Baby Younger Than Four Months?
Absolutely, under two conditions:
- You must use an appropriate carrier that is designed to allow proper positioning for newborns and small babies.
- You must use that carrier safely and follow correct positioning guidelines.
What is a Bag Carrier and Why is it So Dangerous? Click here to learn more.
Are the Baby Slings and Baby Carriers at QuirkyBaby.com Safe for Newborns and Young Babies?
Yes,
they are safe. In fact, baby slings and baby carriers are some of the
safest baby products you can buy! Plus, babywearing has many physical
and emotional benefits for your baby.
But as with any baby gear, you must use your baby sling
or baby carrier correctly, following safe positioning guidelines, and be
attentive to your baby to ensure her airway is always protected.
Here
are the rules you should follow for a newborn or young baby under four
months of age, or until she achieves good head and neck control:
- For
a front carry, baby should be in the same position you'd hold her in in
your arms. She should be in the "babywearing zone" between your
collarbone and your waistline, either upright in a tummy to tummy
position or in a slightly reclined seated position. In the correct
carrying position, you can kiss the top of her head.
- Never
allow baby to be curled into a C-position with her chin forced to her
chest. Think T2T (tummy to tummy) not C2C (chin to chest).
- Her
airway must always be clear. Her chin must be up off her chest with her
neck straight and her head in a neutral position. You should be able to
get one to two fingers between her chin and her chest.
- Her face must always be visible. Do not allow fabric to cover her nose, mouth, or face.
- Do
not allow her face to be pressed into your body. Check her when she's
actively nursing to ensure her nose is not blocked, and when she's
finished nursing, re-position her so that her nose and mouth are not
obstructed by your body or by the sling fabric.
- Her
body should be fully supported by the baby sling or baby carrier, from
her bottom to her back to her neck, to avoid any slumping or slouching.
If
your baby exhibits any signs of respiratory distress -- rapid or
labored breathing, grunting or sighing with every breath, and/or
restlessness, or if she screams or cries or turns sweaty or red in the
face in the carrier, she should be taken out and repositioned
immediately.
Remember -- you are responsible at all times for your
baby's safety!
What Is the Safest Baby Sling or Baby Carrier for a Newborn or Small Baby?
Newborns
and small babies can be safely positioned and carried in ring slings,
pouches, mei tais, wraps, and most buckle carriers. The best baby sling
or carrier for you is the one that you will feel comfortable using, that
fits your body and your lifestyle, and that you will use correctly each
and every time.
The baby slings and baby carriers I stock at
QuirkyBaby have been designed and tested by expert babywearers and I
have used them with my own babies and helped other parents learn to use
them with their babies. If you're having a hard time deciding which
carrier will suit your needs and whether it works well for newborns and
small babies, please contact me for a free babywearing consultation via email.
Where Can I Learn More About Babywearing Safety and Correct Positioning?
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