Safely wearing your newborn in a sling

As if you don't already have enough stuff to worry about as a new parent, there has been a recall of several slings and warnings about carrying your newborn in a sling.  When my daughter was a newborn, being able to carry her in a sling was crucial.  There were days when she did not want to be put down, but I really needed to go to the bathroom or do the laundry.  I also really believe that being able to wear my baby helped her feel more secure in those early days out in the big wide world.  

While there are some slings and positions that do pose a hazard to your baby, there are a many options available for safe, comfortable babywearing.  The recent warnings are in regard to a specific style of sling, called a "bag sling", basically a baby duffel bag.  These slings include the Infantino Slingrider, Munchkin Jelly Bean Cargo Sling , Eddie Bauer Infant Sling , Balboa Baby Adjustable Sling and the Boppy Carry in Comfort (examples are shown about half way down this page: www.sleepingbaby.net/safety.php).  These slings are dangerous because they cause babies to be positioned in such a way that their airway is compromised and they are unable to breath.  This occurs in several ways - the baby is curled up into a c-position, which causes their chin to be too close to their chest and closes off their airway (which is only the size of a drinking straw), the baby rolls to one side and their nose and mouth are pressed against the fabric of the sling and their caregiver's body or the baby is completely covered by the sling fabric, decreasing the amount of oxygen available to the baby.  In addition to the dangers to your baby, bag slings are also quite uncomfortable for the wearer because the baby is held at hip level, instead of at chest level at/near the wearer's center of gravity.

So, now that you know what to avoid, which baby carriers are safe?  There are many, many options for newborns - ring slings, pouches (both fixed and adjustable), stretchy wraps, woven wraps , mei tais and soft structured carriers , which can all be used with older babies as well.  Since ring slings and pouches are the most similar to bag slings, in that the baby can be in a reclined position and they are worn on one shoulder, I will focus on those.  The preferred position for a baby in a ring sling is upright, although a reclined/cradle position can also be used.  In the upright position, the baby's head should be close enough so that you can kiss the top, their face should not be smooshed into your body and their body and back should be well supported by the ring sling.  Stretchy pouches, such as a Kangaroo Korner  adjustable pouch, can also be used to carry your baby upright, but provide less support for your baby's body.  Instructions for the cradle carry in both a pouch and a ring sling can be found here  (warning - it's a pdf, but the best information I've found).  Here are the important items to remember when wearing your newborn baby:

• you should always be able to see your baby's face and no fabric should cover their face
• you should be able to fit 2 fingers between their chin and chest (ie. their neck should be straight and not bent or curled in any way)
• your baby should be well supported so that their head can not roll into your body or the fabric of the sling

There are numerous additional resources available to help you figure out if your baby is safe in your sling.  The best way to make sure that your carrier is safe and that you are using it correctly is to get in-person assistance.  Blossom Birth has a 2 hour Slings & Things Workshop  on April 18th and June 27th and also holds a more informal monthly Babywearing meeting on the 2nd Monday of every month (next meeting, Monday, April 12 between 2:30 and 4pm).  In addition to the resources already mentioned, here are a few more:

• babyslingsafety.blogspot.com/
• www.thebabywearer.com/
• parentsvillage.blogspot.com/2009/10/safe-positioning-in-slings.html
• www.nurturebabynaturally.com/2010/03/what-is-bag-sling.html
• sakurabloombabyslings.wordpress.com/2010/03/10/educate-yourself-proper-infant-positioning-in-a-baby-sling/
• www.facebook.com/BabywearingSafety?ref=ts

Here's to many months and years of safe babywearing!

--Serena Weingrod, Blossom Volunteer and runs our monthly free Babywearing meeting.

Neither Blossom nor Serena were paid to endorse any baby wearing manufacturer for this blog. We have no affiliation with any particular babywearing company or website mentioned above.