Baby carriers are generally safe if you follow certain guidelines and tips, including selecting one with passed quality and safety tests.
Keep your baby within view at all times, even while they sleep. Make sure their head is high enough for kisses yet low enough not to slip out of their sling or carrier.
Positioning
Baby carriers, slings or backpacks can be an efficient and secure way to transport young children while out and about; however, improper usage could put their safety at risk and pose a suffocation risk to babies.
Positional asphyxiation refers to infants’ heads being forced down into a parent’s chest, blocking off their airway and leading to positional asphyxiation – leading to recalls of several sling carriers; unfortunately babies have died while being carried using unsafe slings and carriers.
As important, ensure your baby is positioned high enough in their carrier for you to easily kiss their head. Furthermore, their chin should be off of their chest, and at least an arm-width of space should exist between their head and your chest.
If your infant is sleeping on your back in a fetal-tuck position, it’s fine to allow them to remain there while wearing their carrier. This position promotes proper hip development and lowers risk of developmental hip dysplasia.
Facing in is an excellent position for restful sleeping for babies who have already shown signs of exhaustion. Additionally, this position protects them from becoming overstimulated by their environment and strangers are less likely to touch them when facing you directly.
Framed carriers and backpacks should not be used with babies under 4 months due to limited head control which increases their risk of airway obstruction and possible airway blockage. Furthermore, babies placed in these devices run the risk of neck injury when restrained by them – possibly being forced into unhealthy positions like the fetal-tuck.
Utilizing a baby carrier with an adjustable, padded base and wide shoulder straps is highly recommended to ensure proper positioning of the child and minimize strain on wearer shoulders. Doing so may reduce shoulder pain as well as disc herniation which could have long-term negative impacts on their physical and cognitive development.
Fabric
Fabric of baby carriers plays an integral part in their safety and comfort. Some fabrics are breathable while others can irritate sensitive skin and make wearing uncomfortable. A safe carrier should feature soft materials, like cotton or linen that won’t rub against baby’s sensitive skin, for both wearer and child alike.
Assembling a baby carrier makes an impactful statement about its maker. Manufacturers offer many styles for choosing, such as backpack carriers that evenly distribute weight across back and shoulders or soft structured wrap carriers that allow parents to carry infants in an ergonomically correct position.
Manufacturers sometimes employ cocoon designs that encase infants, restricting breathing and forcing them into an awkward fetal position that puts them at an increased risk of suffocation. Infants can get into this fetal position even when carried properly – that is why Consumer Reports advises against these products.
Many baby slings and carriers feature loose fabric that allows infants to slump down into their chest, restricting breathing. This can be particularly dangerous for babies under three to four months, who are particularly at risk from airway obstruction. A good carrier should feature the baby facing upward toward you instead of inward against your chest; its fabric should never close completely around them and allow peeking of their face without covering their nose or mouth with fabric.
One crucial consideration when selecting a carrier for a baby is positioning of their head. A carrier should be high enough so when tipping forward you can kiss their chin when tipping forward – and curled up on their chest could restrict breathing. Checking this position regularly is necessary, since infants can display distress without much movement. While manufacturers cannot prevent injuries due to user error directly, they do seek out ways of eliminating opportunities for errors and improving their products over time. They learn from studies showing physical changes such as flat spots on skulls or incorrect spine development as well as from recalls or reports of skeletal stress.
Feeding
Keep vigilance when nursing a newborn while in a carrier – injuries and even deaths have resulted from careless feeding sessions left too long in an upright position for too long.
As soon as your newborn arrives, the ideal situation is having them skin-to-skin as much of the time possible to enhance bonding and ensure adequate nutrition. In fact, hospitals use the Kangaroo Care method frequently in helping preemies and low birth-weight babies thrive due to skin-to-skin contact; the Najell Wrap provides an ideal option for making sure that newborn is in proper alignment for this form of breastfeeding.
At all times, it is crucial that your baby remains within arms reach so you can see and hear their breathing. Furthermore, they should always be visible and kissable–with just a slight tip forward, you should always be able to smooch their noggin!
Some baby carriers tend to be too loose, allowing young bodies with weak muscle tone to slump against them and make breathing harder for infants with limited lung capacity. Meanwhile, others feature rigid high backed panels which compress an infant’s chin against their chest, restricting airway passageway.
Regardless of when they were born or what respiratory issue they have, premature babies or babies with respiratory conditions can sometimes find it challenging to keep their airways open when sitting upright without support – particularly dangerous if breastfeeding is involved. Consult your pediatrician about using a carrier. These vulnerable infants could benefit greatly from receiving support while keeping an upright position as breastfeeding may exacerbate issues arising in this regard.
Slings and baby carriers pose only rare injuries to newborns, yet some have died when using these devices while nursing. Most injuries occurred through falling from these devices or adults accidentally dropping the infant; but some deaths resulted from positional asphyxiation – an undiagnosed condition in which a baby’s body position blocks breathing without anyone realizing what has occurred until it’s too late – such as what occurred here. These tragic deaths can be avoided through simple precautions including positioning correctly when breastfeeding and making sure that their carrier doesn’t become loose or become obstructed – just two measures could save lives from these tragic endings!
Temperature
Baby carriers are designed to keep babies close and cozy in ways that benefit both of you. This helps them form strong relationships with you as part of their breastfeeding experience; but the temperature difference between you and the carrier can affect how well they feel inside.
When carrying your infant, check frequently to ensure their face is visible and high enough for kisses (their head should be close but not pressing down on yours with fabric or your body), while making sure their nose and mouth are unblocked by fabric or you. Be sure air flow remains unrestricted.
Avoid purchasing secondhand baby carriers because they could contain bacteria or other things harmful to your child’s health. Also, stay clear of recalled slings as these could force your infant into an awkward prone position that restricts breathing, potentially forcing their chin onto their chest and impeding breathing.