Durham baby sleep experts call for better guidance on safe use of slings
Researchers say there should be given more guidance on safe usage before parents buy or at the point of purchase
Baby sleep experts at Durham University are calling for better education for parents around baby slings.
The researchers say new mums and dads should be given more guidance on safe usage before they buy or at the point of purchase.
There's warnings incorrect fittings could be linked to accidental deaths from suffocation or falls.
They surveyed 1,470 parents of babies less than a year old and found that almost nine out of 10 of them bought a sling or carrier online, with some 3% being assisted by a virtual sales assistant or chat function.
The study found that three out of 10 purchasers got advice when they bought the sling in person from a shop.
Instead, parents generally learned how to use the sling by reading the manufacturers’ instructions, from social media or internet blogs.
Some parents did attend so-called sling libraries, where carriers can be borrowed or hired and where safety advice should be available.
The survey found that even experienced parents had difficulty with positioning the baby in a sling, creating comfort for the carrier and securing the infant safely.
Unsafe use of baby slings has been linked to accidental deaths from suffocation or falls.
In 2023, six-week-old James Alderman died in a carrier during hands-free breastfeeding, leading a coroner to issue a warning.
With incorrect sling or carrier fitting, a baby’s nose or mouth can be pressed against the parent’s body or blocked by fabric.
In other cases, the baby can slump down in the carrier and their windpipe can become pinched.
Professor Helen Ball, director of the Durham Infancy and Sleep Centre at Durham University, said: “Many parents are unaware of the safety guidance around baby slings and carriers.
“As most parents start using slings and carriers when their babies are very young and at their most vulnerable, it is crucial they know how to choose the most appropriate product and how to use it safely.
“Although deaths linked to using a baby sling or carrier are not that common, they could be avoided with better access to guidance before or as soon as parents buy the product.”
Jenny Ward, chief executive of The Lullaby Trust which promotes safety for infants, said: “This research highlights the need for clearer, more accessible guidance to help families use slings and baby carriers as safely as possible.
“Many families value slings and carriers, but it is important that they have access to trusted information on how to use them safely, particularly during the early months when babies are most vulnerable.”
The research is published in BMJ Paediatrics Open.