Baby slings - are they really dangerous??

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I was hoping to get one for my baby for the first few months as i was planning on doing a fair bit of walking as i have horses etc it would be more practical to have baby strapped to me whilst out and about, also for doing things like shopping etc and for dad to carry baby too.
However, 2 of my friends have recently had babies are a look of horror came across their faces when i told them my plans for a sling, they said they are dangerous - what if i was to have a fall? (say they have heard of people falling on their babies) and a horrible thing (could be an urban myth) about a lady who took her baby shopping in one and baby had somehow managed to get stuck/tangled in the sling and actually suffocated??
Its really put me off, am i over reacting or are they really dangerous as they say??

I do hope your dd gets well soon x

Thank you :-) she is out of cast now and doing well - standing with support, but it is likely still to be a long time till she can walk. Only time will tell as to whether this work has done the trick or she will need more though.

www.freedomslings.co.uk/page6.htm

i have one of these. Can anyone tell me if this is considered a bag sling?

So is a moby wrap ok?

My DSs lived in my Ergo as babies. They are great, they will keep your baby really snug on cold days, and as they get older you can move them on to your back, which feels a bit safer around horses (I have horses too, and have even taught riding lessons with small babies strapped to me!). Obviously do be careful around your horses when your baby is in the sling - you will know what feels safe, but there have been a few times where I've had to abort or modify whatever I'm doing, e.g. muddy fields, spooky ponies, windy days... I was always slightly nervous about the potential for an accident, it wasn't just "business as usual" with baby in tow.

peanut A Moby is fine.
I would second whoever said about going to a sling meet. Great way to learn all about different kinds of slings and have a look for something that will suit you and your family.

We used a Kari-Me for our DDs when they were tiny, progressing to an Ergo Baby Carrier when they got a bit bigger. Baby Bjorn types (narrow crotch) are not very good for their hips, as has already been said.

peanut a Moby wrap is absolutely fine. I have used one with DS1 and plan to again with DS2. Follow the instructions or preferably go to a local sling meet to meet experienced mums to help with positioning.

This article here explains which brands make bag slings which must be avoided. The article also explains why to avoid, and gives tips on correct positioning when using a ring sling or pouch sling (both of which are perfectly safe when used correctly, and not difficult to learn how to use comfortably)

This article and others on this website give further information on how to carry your baby giving the best positioning for healthy development of the hips and spine.

WRT to hip and spine development, a well tied, well positioned sling could be healthier for a very young infant than lying in a pram. With their spine supported by a fabric sling, and their legs in a spread-squat (frog) position, the ball of the hip is positioned well within the socket joint.

If anyone would like more information about sling safety, then I am more than happy to receive PMs with questions.

I have been a certified babywearing instructor and consultant since 2007. I trained in Germany.

Thanks for all the useful info and links peeps. I was planning on getting a ring sling but really hadn't considered it very much. This thread has been really helpful.

Mine was a Wilkienet - very secure. I was surprised they are still available but despite teh faff with the long ties it worked really well.

My son suffocated in a karime sling at 2.5 months old. He wasn't tangled, but turned his head sort of under my boob and got his face stuck. I had no idea. I thought it was his arm I was feeling.

He was revived by a medic on the scene after several minutes with no heartbeat. We use one cautiously now (he's almost 6 months) but were earned at the hospital that was not the first time they had seen it happen and we were extremely lucky there was a soldier on the scene with infant CPR experience.

Not only the bag slings are dangerous. Never, never tuck their face in even if its cold and they are asleep. We were advised that the sling remained unsuitable as a way of carrying until they were safely supporting their own head (he was at this stage but clearly didn't have the strength to free himself) and stronger. They suggested 4 months as a minimum age.

He's absolutely fine now by the way but things could have been so different. I used the same sling with no incidents with my first 2 children too, so please don't assume inexperience was a factor.

how scary for you toddlerama!

Wow Toddlerama that must have been an awful thing to go thorough! The advice I have always seen is to make sure you can see baby's face at ALL times in a sling (except when they are in a back carry obviously) and your story highlights the importance of following these instructions.

I have always used slings with my son (now 18 months) and can't recommend them highly enough - a local sling meet is definitely worth searching out as they will help you choose what works for you, and show you the correct way to use it.

toddlerama, what a horrible experience! And how lucky in the end!

I had hip dysplasia myself and my DSs where all screened when they were a few weeks old (all well). I used a soft stretchy wrap (I had a Sleepy Wrap, same idea as Mobi; allegedly the material is a bit thicker and therefore more suitable for the heavier baby - no idea whether this is true) to carry them, to have hands free AND to encourage good hip development.

OP, if you are planning on being fairly active with baba in the sling, the close hold that a stretchy wrap gives, is ideal IMO.

I'm glad he's ok toddlerama!

It's so important to have babies high up in slings, with their head on your chest under your chin - basically so you can kiss their head. Sometimes with a stretchy wrap you do need to tighten occasionally if they start to sag. I've just lent my close carrier to my sister to use with her newborn, so I will remind her how important it is to keep them high up with face uncovered.

Have to say, I had been beating myself up about being overly paranoid about the hip thing (mum had bought me a baby bjorn id liked but I got in a pickle and she sent it back ) thanks for all the tips and advice :)

My goodness toddlerama didn't see your post, what an awful experience - glad all is well now.

And the explanation of why head so high will be relayed to DH cos he'd already questioned bumping his Bruce forsyth chin on baby's head and 'why was that necessary'...

I carried both my babies in a Babyhawk carrier, first on front and then on back. I'd be cautious about being round your horse with a very young baby strapped to you, even if you know the horse well. I found it was just less worry to have my baby in a pram out of reach of the horses when they were very small. Once they were bigger and could go on my back I was happier to lead horses around with them on my back. I am normally the most gung-ho of horsey mothers, and have a great deal of experience working with horses of all types, sizes and temperaments, but just think that the idea of being close to your horse with a newborn on your chest is asking for the horse to accidently clonk you with it's head or something. Once the child can hold their own head up, it's double bonus time - they can go on your back out of the way of stupid head-clonking horses and you won't need to worry about them suffocating either!

Ok I won't be using that one for my newborn. Thanks for the advice!

Can anyone recommend a safe sling to use? I'm a bit thrown by all of this as I relied so heavily on that sling.

Thanks

Ah sorry just realised the info is further up the thread.

So is a Mei Tai sling ok?

A mei tai is fine although there's not many which are suitable from newborn - Ergo have a newborn insert but a lot of others are only once baby can support their own head. My personal preference is a ring sling or a stretchy wrap (either moby or victoria slinglady) for newborn snuggles :)

A Mei Tie sling is good for hip development as it provides a wider seat. Please be sure you have a really good look online at correct leg positioning. Better still, go to a Sling Meet.

Tie all slings high, so baby's head is "close enough to kiss" as has already been mentioned by PPs.

I'm so sorry to hear of your experience toddler

Regarding stretchy wraps - Kari-Me is a stretchy wrap, but is one of the stretchier ones. This is NOT a good thing as it makes it much harder to tie tightly to give correct spine and neck support for your baby.

A soft wrap with some stretch, but not too much is preferable. Test the fabric before you purchase. It should stretch one way, but less the other (think of the warp and weft of the fabric) Moby are a good brand, as are Calin Bleu - they make fleece stretch wraps.

Baby should sit high. His head should be below your collarbone, between your breasts. "Close enough to kiss", is the mantra. Never cover baby's face or head, and check on baby regularly - be constantly aware of their movements, noises and breathing, especially in the early weeks. This soon becomes second nature as your mothering skills develop

Slings are truly wonderful for bonding, and easy transportation on buses etc.

Be armed with the correct information on positioning, and know where to go to ask for help - SLING MEETS are amazing for learning carrying skills.

Accidents do happen, but they can happen in any given situation, sling involved or not. Be aware, and be well researched Babywearing when done correctly is enjoyable and hugely beneficial.

Thingiebob - that Freedom Pouch you posted looks like a pouch sling not a bag sling to me, so you can use it safely so long as you position the baby carefully - in a diagonal position across your chest, face uncovered, chin not pushed to chest.

Other slings you can look at - stretchy wraps, woven wraps, ring slings, close carrier (kind of a stretchy/ring sling hybrid), soft structured/buckled carriers (manduca, ergo, beco, connecta, rose&rebellion), mei tai.