Birth & Parenting News: Babywearing Safety

Babywearing can be an essential element in a new mom or dad’s sanity safeguard plan and part of the solution to reclaiming one’s life upon becoming a parent. Pretty much all babies really want to be held and carried-it’s just their nature. When caring for twins or multiples, or for moms with a toddler and a newborn, or a particularly fussy baby, babywearing is a gift. But recently babywearing has received some bad press. How can we wear our babies safely so we can tend to necessary tasks and meet the baby’s needs at the same time?

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is educating new parents on the safe use of slings and wraps for “babywearing.” Over the past 20 years, 14 infant suffocation deaths have been identified due to the use of sling-style carriers. Following review of these cases, child safety experts at CPSC recommend that parents with infants younger than four months of age, premature babies, low-birthweight babies, and babies with colds and respiratory problems should take extra care in using a sling.

When babies are contained entirely within the pouch of a sling with their face pressed against the adult’s body, their breathing can be blocked and suffocation/asphyxiation can occur. Some slings also tend to keep an infant in a curled, chin-to-chest position, which can interfere with breathing.

Click here for detailed recommendations on babywearing, including photos with proper and improper use of a sling.

Each Wednesday, our Birth & Parenting News blog highlights the latest news items, research results, consumer alerts, and legislative action alerts of interest to expectant and new parents and the professionals who work them.

Posted by Patty Brennan on April 6, 2011 • Filed under Birth & Parenting News
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