Information

[milmomma]

I have a feeling this might get ugly so I'm chosing the Debate section for this reason.
I'm not into the attachment parenting but understand the use and advantages to baby carriers. However baby slings are not comfortable to me and kill babies!
Article here
Another [url=http:/http://blogs.consumerreports.org/safety ... lings.html]here[/url]

If it comes to safety are you willing to risk it? I know they are popular, but I think they should be a popular don't.
However most carriers when worn properly and with the right age requirements are a helpful item. They are designed to help not kill.
What do yall think?

(I'm sure I'll be flamed since I'm not a baby wearing, breast feeding, sleeping with kid kinda person. But I love hearing what people think.)

[Flasher]

Well, to quote you, I'm not a baby wearing, breast feeding, sleeping with kid kinda person either. (Although I always let my kids sleep with me whenever they felt they needed to - no problem with that here.) Oh, and now that I think of it, I was always holding my babies, so I guess I did "wear" them in that sense!


I saw that story on the news. I hesitate to even imply criticism of any mother's choices made in child rearing. I've been criticized more times than I can count because I didn't breast feed. It doesn't feel good to be criticized as a mother. Every mother works out what's best for them and their baby and that's all that matters.



That being said, I have to believe that the mothers that do choose to use a sling (and everyone I know uses/used them), they are diligent and careful.

[milmomma]

I guess a big part of it to me is the lack of parenting. I would think you would check on your baby often. Make sure she/he is okay. I had a Jeep carrier that I loved but the slings always ended up balling up the baby too much for me. Maybe I don't have the right body style.

I understand not wanting to comment on peoples parenting skills Laura, I don't blame ya. I think I'm also asking do you think slings should be recalled? I know I do. If something is killing our babies wouldn't you wanna take away that risk?

[Marie D]

As with everything else - make sure to read the instructions, use the sling with care and according to the instructions. Use a sling that's a bit sturdier than the one in the article. We had the classic Babybjorn sling and LOVED it!!

[alligatorally]

to me it is just a matter of common sense. I mean, a sling is really just a bag. If you use one, you still have to support your baby to some extent, you can't just let it hang there. I used one for a while because my youngest cried ALL THE TIME and the only way to calm her was to hold her. my arms nearly fell off my body... and the sling helped me a lot.

but I never used it away from home and I still supported her, it was just a 'help' to get some weight off my arms.

I had read that article too, and thought to myself, why oh why do people not use common sense?

[4peasinourpod]

I had a sling, but couldnt get it to work. Total user error. I was always afraid the kid would pop out and i would keep walking as I was chasing the 49 other kids i had, and i would lose her. I switched to a Baby Bjorn...that thing SAVED MY LIFE




You didn't offend me, and I WAS a breastfeeding baby wearing mother. My kids still crawl into bed with me.

[Flasher]

I guess a big part of it to me is the lack of parenting. I would think you would check on your baby often. Make sure she/he is okay. I had a Jeep carrier that I loved but the slings always ended up balling up the baby too much for me. Maybe I don't have the right body style.

I understand not wanting to comment on peoples parenting skills Laura, I don't blame ya. I think I'm also asking do you think slings should be recalled? I know I do. If something is killing our babies wouldn't you wanna take away that risk?

OK, to better answer your question, no, I do not think the slings should be recalled because it seems the problem is not with the sling, it is with the parent in making sure positions are adequate to keep baby safe. I would feel differently if the slings were just snapping apart and babies were being injured that way. But, as far as I can tell from the story, it's user error that's causing the problem. Like someone else said, it's all about common sense.

[babykaykz1108]

My daughter was in the detachable car seat carrier when I went out in public until she was over 1. I never bought a sling, because it looked uncomfortable to me and because I was/am essentially a single mother, the front or back "pack" didn't really appeal to me. Besides, I have a bad back. The car seat carriers are designed to safely and securely hold the carrier as are restaurant booths at family friendly restaurants. Not that I like to admit this, because it sounds horrible, but when my daughter was about 5 months old, I fell down the steps carrying her car seat and she was completely fine. She basically slid down the steps, right side up while I rolled down the steps. If I had been carrying her in my arms or in a sling she would have probably been seriously hurt. I hate talking about that incident. I realize it's not really anyone's fault, but it makes me feel like a bad parent because I "dropped" my kid. She's fine, I assure you! She's done worse to herself in the past 4 years!

[imwickedwitch]

I think that there should be safety standards for them like many other products for infants.

[kcatt79]

i have a sling, though it is not one store bought. the problems with the slings with deaths are that they are padded. i have used me non padded fabric sling with 4 kids, no deaths. the thing is, any baby item can be dangerous if not used right and if you arent paying attention to your baby. slings have been used for decades, and i use it because it is eaier for me back. I cant imagine not being aware of your baby having a problem if you really are a baby wearer. i am aware of every move and breath of my one month old in the sling and i dont even wear mine all day.

[immom2anc]

I used the sling with both my girls, and passed it on to my sister and a friend who have successfully used it as well. And I can't wait to get it back for future babies. It came in handy for nursing in public. But, I never used it when they were brand new, I always felt that they were going to be squished, smashed or not able to breathe because they were so small in it. So we waited til they were a little older and I usually held them with one arm while using it as well; it just helped relieve some of the pressure associated with holding a baby 24/7. I was able to vacuum, walk around and actually have a meal or conversation and still have the use of one or both hands. I feel so bad for the parents that have suffered the loss of a child due to incorrect usage; I don't believe the slings should be recalled, like everything else, deaths can occur by misuse or accident. Like someone said, if the slings were breaking and babies were falling, then of course, recall them, ban them, whatever it takes. But for the parents, like myself, who use them responsibly a sling has been a help in parenting an infant.

[megamay]

Im not offended by your opinion, and I have read that article. But I think you are overgeneralizing quite a bit. And I agree with the other ladies that it is user error.

It seems our society wants to make parenting a 'no brainer' kind of thing. That is just not the case. No matter what, parents need to be parents. If you leave your child in a carrier for too much time, they can get a flat head, and their growth can be stunted. If you put a child in a front carrier or back carrier for too long, supposedly it can put pressure on their spines and cause growth problems there.

I used a sling for while with my daughter, but not until she was a little bit bigger. The deaths in the article are among very small (like weeks old babies) and apparently partially caused by the padding in the sling. Women have been wearing slings for millennia they are not inherently harmful. but like anything else, you need to use your brain and check on your child. and maybe the packaging or instructions on these slings was insufficient.

[Sus79]

As with everything else - make sure to read the instructions, use the sling with care and according to the instructions. Use a sling that's a bit sturdier than the one in the article. We had the classic Babybjorn sling and LOVED it!!

Just my words. We used the same sling and just loved it

[anazelia]

I am a breastfeeding, co-sleeping and baby wearing momma. I think that everything can be dangerous, if you are not careful. Remember the bumbo seat and how it specifically said not to put on a table, etc, and then people did and the kids fell. Then bumbo had to recall them and put stickers on the seat. It is the same thing, common sense, common sense, common sense.

I personally never truly never used a traditional sling. I own two, but they never really felt comfortable. With my second child who had colic and would only not cry when I was holding her, I used the bjorn. I swear that thing is a life saver.