In the news, throughout the last few days, there has been a lot of discussion about the safety of infant carrier slings. Since many breastfeeding mothers choose to wear their babies, I thought this might be a good topic of discussion.
Baby wearing is customary in many cultures around the world. Wraps, ties, slings and front packs are just a few examples of baby-wearing attire. These allow for comfortable, hands-free infant or baby carrying. Carriers are often worn therapeutically as well. I wore my colicky (refluxing) baby upright for the first three months of her life. It was the only way I could keep her comfortable and get anything done around the house!
So, wraps and slings may be helpful, but are they safe? The key to safety is proper positioning. Very young infants and those born days or weeks earlier than their due date, are at a significantly greater risk of suffocation when their bodies are slumped over excessively, with their chins pressed against their chests. The issue here is airway constriction. This can occur in car seats as well as infant carriers. That’s why our pre-term babies receive car seat checks before they are discharged.
Regardless of carrier type, an infant should have freedom to extend his neck and head. Bag-like slings do not allow for easy head extension. Upright carriers can be both easy and safe, but often need to be removed for breastfeeding. Oblong fabric wraps are designed for multiple positions, allowing most babies to ride safely (when positioned properly) and are great for discrete breastfeeding in public. Babies have been worn for thousands of years. It would be unfortunate if parents altogether stopped wearing their babies. So let’s learn to do it safely! I am thankful that the government and media have called attention to this problem. In fact, KMOV-TV did an interview with one of our pediatricians, Dr. Kelly Ross, who happens to be a good friend. In the interview, she explains more about the issue. Here’s the link if you are interested.
