Baby Sling Warning

Babywearing is like any activity that a parent does with an infant. It must be done safely and the parent must understand the potential dangers and protect their child from them. Babywearing is also largely an enriching and bonding experience that both baby and parent benefits from. I wear my daughter often. It keeps her very happy, lets her know that her mom is close and present, and frees my arms and hands up for other activities. It also very calming for her during fussy times.

As a mom of 6, I used a sling I made from a pattern. I liked it much better than structured slings and never had a problem with their breathing. Of course, most of the time, I had a hand on the child's bottom for support, and as they got older, for assistance with 'wiggles'. With 3 under the age of 2, a sling was very helpful. Grocery carts were a good case: I put my toddler in the cart seat, one of the twins in a carrier across the top of the back and held the other in a sling.

As a mom of 5 I have and do use a sling but every time my baby is placed in a sling I am overly cautious of their breathing etc. The sling is a tool to ASSIST the mother/father not a babysitter. Every parent with a child should always be aware of that child. even when placed in a carseat, crib, swing, bouncy seat, anywhere!! Thats the parents responsibility.

This news is going to upset the Dr. Sears crowd. I never was on board with the slings. I have practiced attachment parenting before it had a name and I breastfed. I am surprised that more infants don't fall out. Just because it is the newest trend doesn't make it right or you a better parent.

Lisa.zucaro, I think the hip carry is good for a 10 month old in a pouch sling, or using a soft-structured carrier is also good (like an Ergo or a Beco). My son is 18 mos old and I still wear him. When he was a newborn I wore him in a sling ALL.THE.TIME and never had any issues with the fabric covering his face. delaney661, I also love the Dr. sears slings, the Balboa Baby.

It seems there are new dangers every day! I carried both my babies in slings and never even considered there could be a suffocation issue. I hope this warning will prevent anymore infant deaths from improper use of the baby slings from occuring.

what's the best way to carry a 10 month old in a sling?

I've never heard of anyone dying from suffication from a sling. But, looking at the certain slings they recalled I can see how a child would. A sling should never be worn that low. An infant should be carried at your chest. Therefore, baby wraps are much better for carrying your children in. They support 0- 35 pounds and the infant/child is always kept at your chest where they can breathe and aren't smothered. Check out this website for an example: http://www.homemadebabyshoppe.etsy.com

I carried my baby in a sling for over 2 years. I started out with her facing forward. My friend showed me how to hold her with her back to me, my arm under her legs and to place her, bottom first, into the sling, facing out. She loved it and could see the world around her. I love it because she was up close to my head so I talked to her all the time! I used the sling that Dr. Sears recommends, with the padded edges.