If we thought we got inquiring looks for slinging our babies before, I'm sure we're in for a firestorm of more than just curious glances now that the Consumer Product Safety Commission is preparing to issue a warning about infants having suffocated in popular slings sold at our local Target.
And it might not be such a bad thing.
I want the conversations to begin flowing when I'm wearing my babes mostly because my heart weeps for the parents who lost their little ones while trying to wear their babies close to them. It's terribly heartbreaking that these moms and dads wanted to love and protect their babes by wearing them, and just the opposite happened when their precious little ones suffocated while being worn.
So this warning/recall is important. Yes, it's so very vital, not only because these slings are responsible for deaths but also because this warning will further thrust babywearing into the spotlight.
And though I'm praying that the warning/recall will clearly explain and define why the types of slings that have caused these terribly tragic deaths are dangerous, I, for one, am not willing to leave any of the babywearing education to a government safety commission.
Because the CPCS's job isn't to educate the public about safe babywearing.
And its job isn't to broadcast that the act of babywearing is or isn't dangerous; rather its job is to sound about which products are unsafe.
While it's important to know which products are unsafe, we need to ensure parents and caregivers understand why these recalled slings are unsafe so they can make informed decisions when purchasing a carrier.
So let me stand from my blogtop and scream it:
Any baby item can be dangerous!
BUT the art and practice of babywearing is safe. ***
Once parents understand best practices of baby wearing, they will not be tricked into thinking that all baby carriers are inherently safe or alternately not safe.
The slings, Infantino Slingriders, that have caused infant deaths are commonly referred to as bag slings, and they should not even be marketed as baby carriers.
These slings are worn around the parents' neck and body much like a messenger bag is worn. Babies who are placed into the deep pockets of these slings are at risk for suffocation because their bodies are positioned in a C shape where the child's neck often touches her chest and restricts airways. All the while, the poor mom or dad wearing baby could be oblivious to any danger because baby is all the way down by mom or dad's belly button.
(image courtesy of Walmart.com)
ALL bag slings -- like the Infantino Slingrider -- are so dangerous; they violate every babywearing best practice instruction we babywearing instructors teach:
Baby should be close enough to kiss.
Baby should never have his chin resting on his chest.
Baby's head should be above the rest of her body.
Baby's knees should be higher than his butt.
Baby's face shouldn't be covered by fabric.
Baby's head should be supported.
Not only do bag slings -- like the Slingrider -- defy EVERY SINGLE ONE of these safety musts, they also give reputable ring slings and pouches, like Hotslings and Sakura Bloom ring slings, a bad name.
Can reputable slings be worn less than ideally? Of course! {Remember, sometimes carseats are also used drastically wrong.} But reputable carriers are designed so that the wearer can, indeed, adhere to the best practice guidelines {remember, baby should be visible and kissable}.
And companies who sell sound babywearing products, like the aforementioned ones, send best practice guidelines with their slings that explicitely explain the tennents of babywearing safety.
We must advocate for babywearing. We know how beneficial it is to the health of families -- parents and babies alike.
We must also advocate safety by educating parents about the dangers of specific slings like bag slings but also by teaching overarching babywearing best practice guidlelines. The CPSC statement probably will scare parents away from these bag slings. But that is likely all the warning will accomplish alone.
Instead of fearing the CPSC warning will give babywearing a bad name, let's speak up for babies' safety and sound sirens of warning about unsafe baby slings and practices alongside the commission.
And then let's take it a step further by educating parents about babywearing best practices so that parents feel secure in holding their babies close. Because we want every parent to feel comfortable with wearing their babies. Shouldn't they all reap the benefits of being close enough to kiss?
Let's wholeheartedly pray that this warning thrusts us babywearers into the limelight so we might be able to educate the public, particularly caregivers and parents, about the many benefits of art of babywearing. And then lets teach parents how to best wear their little ones.
I don't want to see one more baby die from improper positioning in a poorly designed sling, so I, for one, welcome the gawking and comments because it will just open the flood gates for best practices to flow.
For more safety and carrier information, visit:
http://www.thebabywearer.com/ or http://www.babywearinginternational.com/
EDIT after inquiries: Baby EJ is being worn in the tummy to tummy position in a Kimz Kreations ring sling. He is one week old in the first picture and two weeks old in the second. Please be sure to note that the fabric is covering the back of his head in the second picture, but his little nose and mouth are clear of fabric and are tilted up away from his chest.
***EDIT: I have edited this part of my orginal post to state that I feel the art of babywearing is safe. There is no safer place for baby to be than snuggled up right againts mom or dad's chest. Babywearing allows babies to be under the constant care and attention of their caregivers.***
If you would like, please leave a link to your own babywearing safety blog post. :)
