Warning issued after baby accidentally suffocated being breastfed in hands-free sling

13 comments

1. She couldn’t spend five minutes paying attention while feeding the baby?

2. For other mothers who want to complete an active busy life and feed your child at the same time, or simply carry your child safely, the T.I.C.K.S guidelines for safe baby wearing are a must know.

   This was a tragic accident but much like the babies who suffocate in cots, baby bouncers, car seats or in baby pillows, it is so important to know how to use baby equipment safely.

3. This is no surprise to me, while feeding my kids I was always worried about it, my breast could easily cover their whole face. What an awful situation.

4. Just because you can buy a piece of baby equipment, doesn’t mean it is safe or well designed. Many baby carriers have very poor placement for their hips, as well as poor placement for their heads. Consult with your health visitor and the NHS website before buying any baby equipment

5. That’s too sad. I intended to baby wear when I had my kids but I tried a few different slings and went to a sling library but every time it just felt like my baby’s face was just smushed into my cleavage so I gave up. I definitely think more advice and regulation can only be a good thing.

6. My wife was big into slings with ours when they were babies. She tried to get me to use it and I remember feeling utterly terrified all the time thinking my eldest wouldn’t be able to breathe tucked away on my chest and I was constantly checking to make sure they were still breathing. This feels like a confirmation of my worst fears from back then.

7. I do worry about these baby slings. You hear more and more incidents involving them.

8. Horrible accident. ‘Baby wearing’ is not a trend, it’s how millions of mothers carry their children across the globe and have for centuries. We have ticks guidelines in Europe. The sling is not the issue, it’s the misuse by a presumably sleep deprived and uneducated user. Really sad but don’t sensationalise.

9. Baby wearing is not a trend- it’s been done by humans for thousands of years and is sometimes the only way that you can get anything done with a young baby. My son was born in October and often has grizzly days where he just wants to be held, but I need to do laundry, cook etc.

   Kinda bullshit that we paid £300ish for antenatal classes and they didn’t mention carrier safety once. I had to work it out from videos and hope for the best as the nearest sling library was too far to go.

   My heart goes out to that poor mother 💔 she was probably trying to fulfil some other basic needs around the hours and hours taken up by breastfeeding

10. I never got the hang of the baby sling. My husband wore it once so I donated it. I was happiest using the baby carrier but only for carrying second baby and holding toddler’s hand.

11. 6 weeks is far too young to feed a baby in a sling 🙁 I wish parents weren’t too proud to be given advice about their child’s safety sometimes. It’s not parent shaming! I also hate how many viral videos happen for totally unsafe things, pets too close, unsafe baby wearing etc and all the comments are AWWW and anyone criticising is chastised!

12. I’m from an African culture, we put our babies on our backs. I wonder how many accidents happen from that form of carrying a wee one?
    The Bebe upward carrier worked best for me, and it felt safe.

13. As a babywearing consultant of 8 years please let me reassure people that these tragic accidents are extremely rare.

    Feeding a newborn in a sling or carrier is NEVER handsfree. Please seek professional help from a sling library or consultant before you begin babywearing or feeding in a sling so we can teach you how to carry and feed safely. This includes breast/chest and bottle feeding.

    You can find your local sling library or consultant here:

    https://www.carryingmatters.co.uk/sling-pages/

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