Natural Mom Loves Prada

This is a post I wrote for P.U.S.H. blog but thought that some of my readers here might appreciate it also ~ happy babywearing!

As a woman, wife, mother and doula I do my best to navigate life using one powerful tool – common sense. So when I heard about the Infantino Sling recall – my heart went out to the families who lost their small babies and figured there was a manufacturing defect with this specific sling and honestly didn’t think much more of it. I finally realized that I might want to be in the know when I kept seeing facebooks postings from fellow doulas, and birthie friends AND then I got an email from my dad with the recall notice and saw a picture of the sling:

My heart sank. Just from looking at this picture I can tell that this would not be a safe sling for a newborn baby and I am far from a babywearing expert.
And if I am being totally honest this is not a sling I would recommend for any baby of any age but that is only my opinion of course.

As announcements of this recall rang out so did the new recommendations of Health Canada:

However, earlier this month, Health Canada issued an advisory for parents to “exercise caution” when using any type of infant sling or soft infant carrier because of the risk of the baby falling out or suffocating.

While exercising caution is always very good common sense when doing anything with your new baby – this advisory definitely makes it sound like all slings have the same degree of risk – which I do not feel is accurate information.

Babywearing International has these very clear safety guidelines:

1. Make sure your baby can breathe. Baby carriers allow parents to be hands-free to do other things … but you must always remain active in caring for your child. No baby carrier can ensure that your baby always has an open airway; that’s your job.

a. Never allow a baby to be carried, held, or placed in such a way that his chin is curled against his chest. This rule applies to babies being held in arms, in baby carriers, in infant car seats, or in any other kind of seat or situation. This position can restrict the baby’s ability to breathe. Newborns lack the muscle control to open their airways. They need good back support in carriers so that they don’t slump into the chin-to-chest position.

b. Never allow a baby’s head and face to be covered with fabric. Covering a baby’s head and face can cause her to “rebreathe” the same air, which is a dangerous situation. Also, covering her head and face keeps you from being able to check on her. Always make sure your baby has plenty of airflow. Check on her frequently.

2. Never jog, run, jump on a trampoline, or do any other activity that subjects your baby to similar shaking or bouncing motion. “This motion can do damage to the baby’s neck, spine and/or brain,” explains the American Chiropractic Association.

3. Never use a baby carrier when riding in a car. Soft baby carriers provide none of the protection that car seats provide.

4. Use only carriers that are appropriate for your baby’s age and weight. For example, frame backpacks can be useful for hiking with older babies and toddlers but aren’t appropriate for babies who can’t sit unassisted for extended periods. Front packs usually have a weight range of 8 to 20 pounds; smaller babies may slip out of the carrier, and larger babies will almost certainly cause back discomfort for the person using the carrier.

And they address the recent advisory as saying this:

A correctly-used baby carrier’s positioning should mimic how you would hold a baby in your arms. A normal in-arms holding position is fairly snug to your chest and somewhat close to your face

So let’s put this into visual terms:

can we follow the recommendations of Babywearing International with the sling that was recalled?

The simple answer to the question is no.

Today as in no other time, parents have what seems like unlimited choices when it comes to any product they might be introduced to and slings and wraps are no different. Even though wearing babies has likely been done since the beginning of time and crosses all cultures around the world – it is a relatively new idea in the western hemisphere. With more parents understanding the many benefits to both child and parent from babywearing it is becoming common place for parents to purchase a baby carrier right along side their stroller.

Unfortunately we do not have several generations of babywearing mothers to pass down it’s wisdom and techniques. This along with so many others, is a parenting skill that must be learned and perfected over time. Therefore it’s so important to consult knowledgeable and reliable sources for safety guidelines when first starting out. I would suggest that after understanding the safety guidelines for safe babywearing, it is of utmost importance to choose an appropriate sling, wrap or carrier that will best suit your body type and lifestyle to ensure the safety of your new baby.

I do and will continue to recommend that new parents or parents who have multiple children use a sling, wrap or appropriate baby carrier using knowledge, intuition and common sense. I feel that a carrier can help mothers, fathers and partners more easily transition into life with a newborn as many easy tasks can be accomplished having baby quiet and comfy and their hands free. Here are the websites I would recommend for new parents to consult before purchasing their baby carrier:

Babywearing International

Dr. Maria Blois

Attachment Parenting International

You can purchase a variety of slings and wraps from my good friend Kathleen here:

Drool