Babys First Year Blog
Is Babywearing Dangerous?
Baby G snoozing happily in our Maya Wrap sling
A few months ago, I turned on my laptop one morning to find several urgent emails from my mother advising me that the use of baby slings had been found to be dangerous by the Consumer Products Safety Commission. According to a news release by the CPSC, babies who aren’t positioned appropriately in slings can smother to death or fall out and be injured.
Although I am a huge advocate of babywearing, and have loved carrying all 5 of my babies in a sling and a Baby Bjorn, and as toddlers, in our baby backpack, I was actually glad to see this safety issue finally being raised. Over the past few years, as babywearing has surged in popularity in the U.S., and as dozens of new brands of baby carriers have hit the market to meet the growing consumer demand, I’ve been concerned to see firsthand how a lot of parents – without any guidance – are carrying their infants in unsafe ways.
In the past couple of years, while out at the grocery, the mall, restaurants and outdoor festivals, I’ve seen tiny babies curled into dangerous, smothering balls inside slings, and I’ve seen babies much to0 young to sit up slumped into baby backpacks. I’ve seen infants stuffed into thick, padded frontpacks on dangerously hot days, and I’ve seen moms clearly unsure how to use the more complicated wrap style slings struggling to carry their babies without letting them fall out.
All of these scary sightings have worried me a lot. On the one hand, I’m really glad that so many American parents are now recognizing the closeness and convenience that babywearing offers, but on the other hand, I think that most women are trying to figure out how to carry their babies in slings and wraps and packs without any support or guidance. In other cultures, where babywearing has been common practice for generation after generation, women get this hands-on teaching in how to carry their babies from their own mothers, sisters and grandmothers, but here in the U.S., we are expected to learn how to do it from a printed manual or a how-to video online.
When mamas know what they need to know, babywearing is super safe and really wonderful for babies and toddlers. I know that couldn’t get by without my sling and frontpack (we don’t even have a stroller for Baby G at this point). But I do agree with the CPSC that it’s really important to learn how to manage your sling or carrier safely BEFORE you begin using it with your infant. It’s also important to choose a truly safe brand/design of carrier for your baby, because unfortunately, not all baby carriers on the market are safe.
One of the best ways to learn how to use a sling or carrier safely is to get to know other babywearing moms, and let them give you some hands-on guidance. Some great local resources to check out are Attachment Parenting International, La Leche League and the Holistic Moms Network. All of these organizations have local chapters full of experienced babywearers who are happy to help.
Do you use a sling or carrier for your baby? What brand or design do you prefer? Did you find it difficult to figure out how to carry your baby safely? Talk about babywearing safety in the comments below.
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22 Comments
radmama commented on Oct 15 10 at 12:53 pmFair point, but I think most of us also see dangerous use of strollers, too. Like kids unbuckled, stuff dangling from handles, babies too young to sit up in umbrella strollers, kids sitting on stroller canopy or in baskets.. not to mention the hot coffee factor.
Robin commented on Oct 15 10 at 12:54 pmhttp://www.thebabywearer.com/ is a fantastic babywearing resource – both for learning about what carriers are out there, how to use them as well as buying/selling them :)
kgranju commented on Oct 15 10 at 12:56 pmRadmama – Excellent point. Really, any baby product CAN be unsafe if people don’t use it safely. – Katie
Jeannie commented on Oct 15 10 at 1:18 pmI’m a devoted baby-wearer — for me, it’s just easier than taking a stroller along and wondering if the baby is warm enough, happy, etc … when she’s right next to me, I can easily tell all those things. But I have also seen people do it really unsafely — like the woman whose baby was in a sling hanging around her THIGHS getting bumped with every step! How the wee thing didn’t fall out is beyond me. Education is very important, I think classes teaching it hands-on would be a great idea.
But just as the other commenters point out — everything can be dangerous for a baby. We definitely need more education in general on how to keep kids safe.
Christine commented on Oct 15 10 at 2:27 pmKatie, you were the first to introduce me to the idea of babywearing. Almost 8 years ago, I read your AP book while pregnant with my first child. I immediately went online to find experienced babywearers. I learned the options, read the reviews and ordered my very first carrier. I chose an adjustable pouch because it seemed the most idiot-proof. And I was able to successfully wear my daughter just by following the printed directions!
As I met other local babywearers, I was able to try other types of carriers and receive hands-on assistance.
Today, I’ve worn all 3 of my children (plus several others); tried literally hundreds of carriers; helped organize the 2008 International Babywearing Conference; and taught dozens of parents/caregivers the benefits of babywearing, the choices available and how to do it SAFELY.
Obviously, babywearing has become a passion of mine. (Some would say obsession. LOL!)
Currently, the Baby Carrier Industry Alliance (http://babycarrierindustryalliance.memberlodge.org/) is working to create industry standards for carriers.
http://www.thebabywearer.com is an amazing online resource. There’s also http://www.babywearinginternational.org. Both sites have listings of local babywearing groups. Many natural parenting stores also offer babywearing classes and meetings.
I can’t imagine parenting WITHOUT wearing my babies. There are many parents like me eager and willing to share this skill with others! Thank you, Katie, for introducing me to babywearing!
Clisby commented on Oct 15 10 at 2:42 pmOf course babywearing is potentially dangerous. Baby-carrying is potentially dangerous – what if you twist your ankle and fall? Baby-strollering is potentially dangerous – what if it’s substandard and collapses? Co-sleeping is potentially dangerous – what if the parent is drunk and rolls over on the baby?. Crib-sleeping is potentially dangerous – what if the baby is having respiratory problems and the parents don’t realize it because they aren’t *right there*?. Life is potentially dangerous. Somehow, the species has survived.
hollyml commented on Oct 15 10 at 3:29 pmYep, life is risky. Newborn babies can be fragile. Oddly enough, they seem mostly to survive all sorts of ineptness on the part of parents.
A baby being worn in a sling or other carrier is, in many situations, safer than he would be if carried in arms or sitting/lying ANYWHERE else. Singling out baby carriers as unsafe is a completely wrongheaded approach to the problem.
I am a Volunteer Babywearing Educator who co-leads a Babywearing International chapter. I’ve helped countless parents, in person and online, to choose baby carriers that will work for them and to use those carriers safely and comfortably. It’s true that most modern parents don’t learn these things from their mothers or grandmothers now — but they do have sources of information and help that their mothers and grandmothers did not have. And those resources are really not so hard to find. Nor is babywearing sooooo complicated that it can’t effectively be learned, if necessary, from YouTube videos and online advice from more experienced parents, plus a little practice. Like breastfeeding, it’s mostly a matter of the parent making the effort to learn — though also like breastfeeding, it sure would be nice to remove some of the institutional obstables to the practice.
One of those obstacles is, currently, the CPSC’s overbearing condemnations of “slings” — a term of which they don’t even seem to know the definition — for reasons unsupported by any reasonable evidence, and the less-than-thoughtful way in which the CPSC’s warnings have been reported in the media. Fear is the enemy of learning.
Babywearing is safe. Especially in comparison to any alternative. And it’s important for anyone who cares for a baby to learn to do it in the best, safest and most comfortable way.
Chantal commented on Oct 15 10 at 4:53 pmPerhaps one of the problems and dangers with baby wearing is that more and more slings are marketed as fashion accessories, emphasizing style over safety.
Lee commented on Oct 15 10 at 5:10 pmI learned about babywearing with our 3rd child and used it for our 4th as well. Well I used a hiking back pack for child #1 as well but to me that isn’t the same as baby wearing. I did find it hard to find info from PEOPLE on baby wearing. I wanted to see first hand someone tie a rebozo, not try and read the sill pamphlet. I was lucky enough that a woman from Africa eventually showed me how she tied her cloth. However because I couldn’t do it with a live person helping me, I never felt comfortable trying a back carry with the rebozo and would only use my hiking back pack for that.
Lana commented on Oct 15 10 at 5:56 pmThis is a great post, Katie. It actually kind of angers me that companies like Infantino hastily jump on the babywearing bandwagon for what seems to be profit alone. There are so many other companies out there that make slings and carriers because they believe passionately in babywearing and want to inspire and provide for parents who feel the same. These brands follow the generally accepted standards for safety and encourage their customers to wear their children safely and responsibly. My favorites, the ones we have used in our family are Ergo and Moby Wrap. I also just ordered a Maya Wrap ring sling for baby #2 expected soon, which I am very excited about.
Christi Wampler commented on Oct 15 10 at 8:08 pmI really enjoy babywearing, but I do get so mad when I see it done improperly. I try not to be “that” mom that is like “Um, great sling, it shouldn’t be around your hips, though…” but it kills me to see people doing it wrong. I love my Babyhawk Mei Tai and my ring sling for quick outings. I may try for a Moby for my new baby, but I may not.
Jennifer H. commented on Oct 15 10 at 8:53 pmI love my Moby Wrap. When shopping for a carrier, I saw so many that just weren’t safe looking. With the Moby, my son is right on my chest, where I can feel his breathing and kiss his head… he’s safe, I know he’s safe, and I can still get things done. I think slings are safe, if the parent researches and is very careful with how they wear them. I see so many lazy parents that don’t though, and I agree too often slings/wraps are marketed as fashion instead of a useful tool.
Ashley commented on Oct 15 10 at 10:03 pmFirst I wanted to say how much I love you Katie:) Secondly, I am 7 weeks pregnant with our second child and I still wear my 22 month old in my Ergo (he likes the front for nursing on a hike and the back for city walking, etc.) I used the Moby when Bonham was very young and just like Lana, I love these well constructed carrier both very much. They come with incredible manuals and lots of online videos and information about usage. I see parents wearing Baby Bjorns and the babies look like robots or that little dude Quatto from Total Recall stuck on their fronts. OUCH! I always say “Doesn’t that thing hurt your back? Perhaps you’d be interested in an Ergo….” haha.
Chrissy commented on Oct 16 10 at 9:56 amI tried to sling my son when he was an infant – both in a Bjorn when he was old enough and in a classic ring sling when he hated the Bjorn. I was able to sling him for a month or so – until he was able to roll over on his own and preferred his own mode of transportation. I found the Bjorn difficult to shove him into but the ring sling was much easier – I wish he would have loved it as much as I did! Other moms stated all babies loved slinged all the time; mine, almost as soon as he was remotely mobile, wanted out and away….:( I WAS worried about the heat down here – the stroller seemed easier to regulate his temperature – not being tied to my own 98.6 in the hot summer, you know?
ali commented on Oct 16 10 at 11:23 ami am a first time mom, have a moby, a bjorn, and a 7 month old baby girl. i have been using the moby since she was about a week old and i LOVE it..and so does she. the only problem with the moby is now that she is older and likes to face outward when awake, neither of us are really comfortable with her facing outward in the moby. it just feels odd. so to face outward, i use the bjorn, which she likes, but hurts my back. (i never realized how ergonomic the moby really was until i started using the bjorn.) anyway, i was just wondering if anyone else who has outward-facing moby babies could help me…do you and your baby feel strange when they face outward? any tips to make it less awkward? or any tips to make the bjorn hurt less? thanks!
Blackgirlinmaine commented on Oct 16 10 at 12:34 pmI agree with you. I was not familiar with the concept of babywearing when my son was born in 1992. However I learned about it in 2004 when pregnant with my 2nd child, I really wanted to wear her but despite buying several wrap, never got the hang of it.
I went to several sites but without someone to walk me through it repeatedly it never felt safe and eventually I stopped trying. What you said is important, there needs to be hands on learning and since my girl was born in 05 slings do almost seem like fashion accessories so I wonder if safety is not being focused on.
Katie Lipshultz commented on Oct 16 10 at 4:59 pmHi Katie – I never thought I would love reading this “baby’s first year” blog as much as I do. Every time you write here, I find myself clicking all of the links and going back and forth between all the great and VERY useful information you post. Thank you so much for taking this on, I’m very thankful for you!
Alexicographer commented on Oct 16 10 at 9:53 pmI spent ~$150 on a single stroller/carseat combination; the seat got us through year 1 and the stroller we used (extensively for ~1.5 years, and later, intermittently) through year 3.
I have spent probably $500 on baby carriers, even though many were bought second-hand and/or inexpensively over ebay. I found a few that worked well for me (principally an inexpensive handmade Mei Tai, a tube sling, and an AngelPack) and many, many more that didn’t. I wish carriers were less expensive, more available (many I bought online and thus, couldn’t try on before I bought them), and, yes, more supported/understood. Also that we as mothers (and fathers) were more demanding of them. I realize there’s a lot of personal variation in “what works,” but my sense is that many of us embrace products that could be much better designed (Ergo is an example for me … I’d much prefer, and in the AngelPack found, something with a lot less padding, something small enough to stash in a purse when we weren’t using it. Now if only I could find something that wasn’t cotton but instead, a smooth, slick fabric that was easier to adjust and reposition.).
All of which may appear unrelated to the original point, but it’s hard to get good advice (and a good, safe fit) when there are so many products available and they’re so hard to buy (expensive and inaccessible).
madfoot commented on Oct 17 10 at 1:14 amI agree, it’s great that people wear their babies and/but they really need to find out how to do it safely, just like with their other baby gear! When I was pregnant with dd#1, I went to my local crunchy-granola baby gear emporium, and they were talking up the slings, which was great, but when the saleswombn said “this is how your baby was in the womb,” I said “yeah but she didn’t have to BREATHE in there,” and she looked really taken aback. She completely didn’t understand about making sure u baby’s breathing wasn’t occluded.
Yeah, the species has survived, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t some tragic accidents along the way! Best to avoid those, no?
wavybrains commented on Oct 17 10 at 5:54 pmI’m a huge fan of babywearing here. I just wanted to point out that your one link shows a Moby wrap being used for a back carry. Moby Wrap itself has discontinued instructions for a back carry and babywearing safety instructors recommend never doing a back carry in a stretchy wrap like a moby–it has too much stretch and give and your child could sink into an unsafe position without you realizing it. Woven wraps made of sturdier fabrics are much better choices for back carries! The moby is an awesome option for front carries for tiny babies!
I personally am a huge ring sling fan. I like that I can easily get an upright position for my 2 month old that avoids the dangerous chin-to-chest position and it is easy to toss on and off.
Kristy commented on Oct 19 10 at 11:58 amIn 1993, I opened a store called Mothersville that sold slings, breastfeeding supplies/accessories, organic baby clothes, etc. in Memphis, TN. My store housed two midwives and served as a base for a network of doulas. We offered free breastfeeding support groups and babywearing workshops in addition to paid classes like prenatal yoga and infant massage. I was a always there to offer help with slings or breastfeeding or a shoulder to cry on (it stayed wet), regardless of whether or not the parent had purchased anything from me. Unfortunately, in Memphis, as in many parts of the country, it’s hard for businesses like mine to thrive. And as glad as I am to se more slings and breastpumps in mainstream stores like Target, I know that the products aren’t backed up by the necessary support. I still go up to women in public and say very sweetly “Can I show you something about your sling?” They are invariably happy to get help and a more comfortable, secure fit. I agree that TBW is a wonderful resource, and most slings now come with great instructional DVDs, but some people just need the hands-on experience.
Helen Burroughs commented on Oct 25 10 at 8:01 amHI Katie
I’m so glad you brought this issue to the surface. New babies are terribly fragile and it really is up to us as parents to get to grips with all aspects of infant safety.I lost my four month old to SIDS eight years ago despite following all the sids prevention measures I knew about.
Having done extensive research since then, I now know that there are some things I could have done differently – I wish someone like you had been there to raise the issue with me then.
So I guess what I’m saying is, all you moms who are baby wearing, don’t take Katie’s concern with a pinch of salt. Go online, read and research and make sure that you are carrying your baby in the safest way possible. It might save your little one’s life and at the end of the day at least you will be able to rest assured knowing that you have done everything you can to treasure and protect the little life entrusted to you.
Ok – I’m climbing off my soap box! LOL!
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