If you’re a parent who keeps up with baby product news, you no doubt have seen phrases similar to the following in recent headlines: “Sling recall.” “Slings blamed for infant deaths.” “Are any baby slings safe?”
Due to the recent recall of two sling models manufactured by a well-known baby product company, many parents are questioning the safety of their baby carriers. Parents who formerly were convinced of the benefits of baby wearing are now wondering if the benefits are worth the risks.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 13 infant deaths have been associated with sling-style carriers over the last 20 years.
I am an avid baby wearer, and my reactions to the articles and discussions are varied.
I’m glad that the slings have been recalled, because they seem to put babies at risk for suffocation more so than other styles and brands of slings.
I’m thankful for a reminder that, regardless of how we decide to carry our infants, we need to pay attention to them and be aware of whether they are safe.
I’m a little bothered at the uproar this has caused regarding every type of baby sling. There are many, many types of slings in which parents can safely carry their infants. I own many types of slings and carriers, including the Moby Wrap, the HugaMonkey sling, and the Ergo Baby Carrier. I have never felt that my daughter was at risk of any type of injury or death while carrying her in these. However, I use the carriers as instructed and pay close attention to my daughter whenever she’s in them.
I am so sad for the babies who died, and for the families involved. I can’t imagine thinking my little babe was tucked safely away into a sling, only to discover that she had suffocated. With that being said, I do think it is important to put the statistics into perspective.
Thirteen deaths in twenty years? That’s less than one death per year, and if you dig deeper, you’ll discover that most infants who died were under the age of four months and had some sort of preexisting condition, such as being born prematurely, having respiratory problems, etc. I’m not in any way trying to take away from the tragedy of having an infant die, because even one death in twenty years would be horrible, but the numbers don’t suggest that baby wearing is dangerous.
How many infant deaths each year are associated with car seats, strollers, or exersaucers? Do we stop using these baby products? Of course not. We use these items, and we use them using common sense and caution. How many infants die in car accidents each year? Do we stop transporting our children in cars because of this? No. We continue to drive our infants, but are careful and observant drivers.
Whether you’ve been a baby wearer for years or are considering buying a sling for the first time, don’t let these headlines and recalls scare you. When used properly, slings and other baby carriers allow for numerous benefits for both baby and parents, and a child being carried in one can be perfectly safe.