{"id":24753,"date":"2025-03-26T15:12:49","date_gmt":"2025-03-26T16:12:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/?p=24753"},"modified":"2025-03-26T17:29:13","modified_gmt":"2025-03-26T17:29:13","slug":"baby-slings-unsafe-for-hands-free-feeding-charities-warn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/?p=24753","title":{"rendered":"Baby slings unsafe for hands-free feeding, charities warn"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-component=\"byline-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<div data-testid=\"byline-new\" class=\"sc-b42e7a8f-0 haItSe\">\n<div class=\"sc-b42e7a8f-1 cjDa-dM\">1 hour ago<\/p>\n<p><!--$!--><button disabled type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Share\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-2 sc-48d6da7e-5 sc-48d6da7e-6 oYtVL dRvUPz dXDmtS\"><span data-testid=\"button-icon-wrapper\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-0 dMpdqo\"><\/span><span data-testid=\"button-text\" aria-hidden=\"false\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-1 eihkAj\">Share<\/span><\/button><button disabled type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Save\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-2 sc-48d6da7e-5 sc-48d6da7e-6 iQJDhl cCYQUA kItbpD\"><span data-testid=\"button-icon-wrapper\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-0 dMpdqo\"><\/span><span data-testid=\"button-text\" aria-hidden=\"false\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-1 eihkAj\">Save<\/span><\/button><!--\/$--><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"byline-new-contributors\" class=\"sc-b42e7a8f-12 fcCDwR\">\n<div class=\"sc-b42e7a8f-5 evAEAB\">\n<div><span class=\"sc-b42e7a8f-7 kItaYD\">Philippa Roxby<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Health reporter<!-- --><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--$!--><button disabled type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Share\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-2 sc-48d6da7e-5 sc-48d6da7e-6 oYtVL dRvUPz dXDmtS\"><span data-testid=\"button-icon-wrapper\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-0 dMpdqo\"><\/span><span data-testid=\"button-text\" aria-hidden=\"false\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-1 eihkAj\">Share<\/span><\/button><button disabled type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Save\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-2 sc-48d6da7e-5 sc-48d6da7e-6 iQJDhl cCYQUA kItbpD\"><span data-testid=\"button-icon-wrapper\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-0 dMpdqo\"><\/span><span data-testid=\"button-text\" aria-hidden=\"false\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-1 eihkAj\">Save<\/span><\/button><!--\/$--><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 EXUng\">\n<div data-testid=\"hero-image\" class=\"sc-a34861b-1 jxzoZC\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/aede9170-0a3d-11f0-80d5-ff7a1f4f7e48.jpg.webp\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"Getty Images An unidentifiable mum, wearing a stripey top, holds her young baby wrapped tightly in a light grey sling close to her chest.\" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 efFcac\" \/><span class=\"sc-a34861b-2 hesJxn\">Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Childbirth charities are warning parents that hands-free breastfeeding or bottle feeding, when a baby is being carried in a sling, is unsafe.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">The National Childbirth Trust (NCT) and the Lullaby Trust say the risks are highest for premature babies and those under four months old because their airways can be easily blocked.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Their updated guidance follows an inquest into the death of a six-week-old boy who was being breastfed in a baby carrier while his mother moved around their home.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\"><a target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/articles\/cy8y2zzggxko\" class=\"sc-c9299ecf-0 beIoQm\">A coroner&#8217;s report<!-- --><\/a> to prevent future deaths like his found there was very little information on safe positioning of babies in slings or the risks of suffocation when feeding.<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">The baby, Jimmy Alderman, from London, was being breastfed in a sling in October 2023, but was in an unsafe position too far down the sling and lost consciousness after five minutes, the coroner found.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Attempts were made to resuscitate him straight away, but he died three days later.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Senior coroner for west London, Lydia Brown, <!-- --><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.judiciary.uk\/prevention-of-future-death-reports\/james-alderman-prevention-of-future-deaths-report\/\" class=\"sc-c9299ecf-0 beIoQm\">issued a warning<!-- --><\/a> about the dangers of baby slings following an inquest held last year into his death.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">She said there appeared to be no helpful visual images of &#8220;safe&#8221; versus &#8220;unsafe&#8221; postures for babies in slings or carriers, adding that &#8220;the NHS available literature provides no guidance or advice&#8221;.<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">The NCT said it &#8220;immediately reviewed&#8221; its online information on baby slings and carriers after receiving the coroner&#8217;s report and hearing feedback from Jimmy&#8217;s parents.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nct.org.uk\/information\/baby-toddler\/caring-for-your-baby-or-toddler\/baby-slings-and-carriers-guide\" class=\"sc-c9299ecf-0 beIoQm\">The NCT&#8217;s online advice<!-- --><\/a> now says: &#8220;Hands-free breastfeeding or bottle feeding, where the wearer moves around and does other jobs while the baby is feeding, is unsafe.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">&#8220;This is especially true for babies under four months old. It also applies to babies born prematurely or those with a health condition.&#8221;<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">The charity says young babies do not have strong necks and cannot lift their heads, meaning that their airway &#8220;can easily be blocked&#8221; in baby slings and carriers.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">It adds that a sling&#8217;s fabric or the fabric from a parent&#8217;s clothes &#8220;could cause suffocation very quickly&#8221;.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">&#8220;If the sling or carrier is not correctly fitted and adjusted, babies can experience traumatic head injuries,&#8221; the charity&#8217;s advice says.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">The NCT goes on to say that slings should be:<!-- --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"sc-5c9c90b0-0 ggNdZQ\">\n<li class=\"sc-8d73edac-0 ezcCTE\">tight enough to hug your baby close to you<!-- --><\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-8d73edac-0 ezcCTE\">you should always be able to see your baby&#8217;s face by glancing down<!-- --><\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-8d73edac-0 ezcCTE\">they should face upwards, not into your body<!-- --><\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-8d73edac-0 ezcCTE\">your baby&#8217;s head should be close enough to kiss<!-- --><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">The Lullaby Trust said it had also changed its <!-- --><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lullabytrust.org.uk\/baby-safety\/baby-product-information\/slings-and-swaddling\/\" class=\"sc-c9299ecf-0 beIoQm\">advice to parents<!-- --><\/a>. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">If your baby needs to feed, take them out of the sling, it now warns.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">&#8220;We are constantly reviewing the evidence and research, as there is currently no robust evidence on how to feed hands-free safely, which is why we changed our guidance to advise against it,&#8221; said CEO Jenny Ward.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">The charity is helping to fund research to develop better guidance for parents and carers on the safety of baby slings and carriers.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">The NHS website says when using a sling or carrier, do not let the material cover your baby&#8217;s head.<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>1 hour ago<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24693,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24753","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24753","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=24753"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24753\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24757,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24753\/revisions\/24757"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/24693"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=24753"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=24753"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=24753"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}