Investigating the safety of slings and baby carriers
The tragic death of baby James (Jimmy) Alderman in a sling has led to many questions about the advice given to families about using slings and baby carriers for young babies, particularly while breastfeeding.
At The Lullaby Trust, we have developed our guidance on slings and baby carriers, encouraging parents or carers to avoid hands-free feeding in a baby sling or carrier. We are considering whether our baby safety advice on slings and baby carriers needs to be altered further. In doing so, we are working with a number of government bodies, researchers and charities, alongside Jimmy’s parents and Jimmy’s cuddle. But before we can offer clear and detailed guidance for parents and carers on keeping their baby safer in a sling or baby carrier, we need more research and evidence.
Funding research that could save lives
The Lullaby Trust and Teddy’s Wish are jointly funding Sophie Lovell-Kennedy and Dr Rebecca Strong at Durham Infancy and Sleep Centre (DISC), who are investigating the safety of slings and baby carriers. We caught up with the team to ask them how their research project is developing.
What does the slings and baby carrier safety research involve?
Rebecca: “This research project is all about exploring and developing information that parents need surrounding baby slings, baby carriers and their safety. The first part of the project is undertaking a systematic review of all of the currently published literature, exploring potential risks associated with adult-worn slings and baby carriers.”
“The second section of the project is understanding how parents use slings and baby carriers, and assess their awareness of using them safely. Though the safest sleeping position for a baby is on their back, on a firm, flat surface, we know that during the day, babies do sleep in slings or carriers. Parents therefore need guidance about how to make sure they are using baby slings and baby carriers as safely as possible.”
Potential risks of baby slings and baby carriers
A potential risk of using baby slings or baby carriers could be suffocation. This would be when a baby gets into a position or posture where they can’t breathe normally. As babies don’t have strong neck control, they can’t move themselves back into a safer position.
Hip dysplasia is also a potential risk, where a baby’s hips grow abnormally. Though baby slings and carriers do not cause hip dysplasia, not all slings and carriers encourage healthy hip development as not all carriers position babies hips in a hip-healthy way.
What do you hope the outcome of this project will be?
Sophie: “The advice that currently exists for parents isn’t good enough. But charities like The Lullaby Trust need robust evidence to be able to create new guidance and information for parents and carers.
“The reason we’re doing this research is to make sure the guidance that exists for parents is as strong as it can be, so that The Lullaby Trust can raise awareness and save lives.”
Learn more about baby carrier safety
Read our expert advice on sling and carrier safety for you and your baby, which also includes information on swaddling.
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