Baby Slings Are they Safe? Infantino Recall has got me worried....................

[morethemerrier]

Hi All, I am sure you have heard in the news about the recall of the Infantino Baby slings (Slingrider and Wendy Bellissimo)there has been a reported link of the deaths of three babies in the US.

Infantino have advised all customers to stop using the slings immediately because they pose a suffocation risk to infants.

Further advice on the recall can be found on their website www.infantino.com

I have never used a sling before, but have recently bought a Bubzilla Baby sling which is firm fabric not soft, does that make a difference?

Obviously, I am now relucatant to use it (33 weeks pregnant with DC3) and just wondered what other peoples thoughts were?

I have looked through the instructions/website and there appears to be no advice on limiting time in the sling etc?

As I will be breastfeeding I was hoping to use it a lot, out and about as I have a busy active life with DS1, 10 yr old and DS2, 2 yr old!

My DH is not happy about using it at all now, any advice/experience about using these slings would be most welcome!!!

I have a baby bjorn sling for out & about & it's fine. I carry my dd around at home.

I'll still be using my baby bjorn when DC4 is born next month.

the problem is only with the 'bag' type of sling, particlarly the Slingrider and the Premaxx

Bjorns, ringslings, pouches, wraps, sscs, meitais etc are all perfectly safe (though the bjorn type is less good for the baby)

Are the Baby Bjorn the ones with the straps? Where they face inwards/outwards and upright?

As that is what I have used in the past but they hurt my back and I couldn't breastfeed in them which is the reason I went for the Bubzilla.

yes that's right, more

the Bubzilla looks more like a pouch (eg Coorie, Hotsling) than a bag sling, I'm sure it will be fine

Surely there is only a risk if you don't check how baby is doing in there, which you would frequently? I used slings for all mine - its an easy way of carrying baby and leaving your hands free.

I heard there was a bigger risk from back-carriers where parents go on long (cold) winter walks and baby gradually gets so cold, asleep and not moving, that the babe gets hypothermia.

Is that just a myth? Has anyone else heard this?

melted, the studies done with the Premaxx showed the position the babies were in lowered their O2 sats even if they seemed fine

I've only heard the hypothermia in back carriers stuff re actual skiing

Thanks MrsBadger, yeah the Bubzilla is a pouch and like melted says I had hoped it would be invaluable for 'hands free' activities/chores etc!

Not heard anything about the back-carriers but it is worth bearing in mind, we have one of those but only used it on holiday in France with a parasol attached!

DH looked like Inspector Gadget!

I wonder if any further stats or advice comes out, or as usual the media throw out the headlines and don't follow it up?!?

"(though the bjorn type is less good for the baby)"

I often hear this anecdotally but have never managed to find any decent evidence to back it up. Can you shed any light, Mrs Badger?

BTW, the stats about baby deaths was something like 14 in 20 years, and most of these babies had underlying health issues.

Obviously it's important to be aware of risks with pouch slings, but also to keep things in perspective...

Thanks confusedfirsttimemum, did it say what the underlying health issues were, I have now read something about them not being suitable for babies born prematurley or low weight?

Can't find the article, but fairly sure someone on here linked to it. Maybe in In the News?

They were things like respiratory problmes...

I started a thread here.

it has the bbc link on it

Did find this link about which designs are unsafe and why...

that's a very interesting link confusedfirsttimemum.

I can't take credit. Another MN found it somewhere. Can't find the thread or I'd say who it was. I bookmarked it. Interesting that it's from 2008...

Thanks for the links, very interesting will read them again when children are in bed. x

I'm in a fb group called "babywearing safety" that has very useful info in it.

I have never seen these bag slings before. I used a Karime (?sp) fabric wrap around sling for DS1 and both he and I loved it (and I will be using it again). I have just looked at confusedfirsttimemum's link and the sling does look like a funny thing, so enclosed, seemingly closing the baby completely in. It's good that companies are acting promptly on designs that are clearly floored, just a shame it takes something so serious and so sad to make them realise in the first place. I just hope people realise that not all slings are badly designed and how much of a benefit they can be when you have a little one x

I've got a Pittari and a suppori sling for my LO. Never been more sure that it's secure :) Never had problems with it. But, yes, of course, there are a lot of things which people say and write about slings :) I think you just need to ensure yourself that it's secure by trying different slings out.

Bag slings are the unsafe ones. Bjorn a and other narrow based carriers ok but quickly get uncomfortable as the baby gets bigger. They can also exacerbate existing hip issues. For a newborn, I'd recommend a wrap or if you don't fancy wrapping, something like a Close Caboo which is like a pre tied wrap. Google to see if there's a sling library nearby. Failing that, there are loads of baby wearing Facebook grips where you can ask for advice.

Google the TICKS guidelines for usage of slings - the important thing is that you stick to those.

For breastfeeding I found soft structured carriers such as the Tula and Manduca were brilliant once my baby was a few months old, but I'd have probably found it hard to bf in anything when he was smaller. I think if you have a natural breastfeeder (not fussy at the breast, nice deep latch) you'll probably manage to make it work in any kind of sling!

High St carriers such as Baby Bjorns are popular as they're simple and quick, and there's a lot around second-hand. There's a choir of thought that says such narrow-based carriers aren't comfortable for either the wearer or the baby, though, as the baby's legs should be in a nice wide froggy position rather than dangling. Personally I think there a bit of mild hysteria around regarding this, but there's no doubt that most of the babies I've seen in slings look much comfiwe in ergonomic carriers with their legs in the froggy position, rather than in narrow-based carriers. I do agree that they could aggravate hip dysphasia in babies already predisposed to it. Ergonomic slings, on the other hand, are often recommended for babies with hip dysplasia, as they keep the legs in the correct shape.

OP, have you googled for your nearest sling meet? Definitely the best way to try a range of slings out and get face-to-face tailored advice.

Choir of thought = school of thought!

P.S. I second the recommendation for a Kari Me stretchy wrap (or similar) - lovely for a newborn