Gorgeousbaby

Babywearing Safety for Newborns

As human babies are the least developed of all mammals at birth, they require the most care. Carrying your baby in a sling or baby carrier promotes all areas of an infant’s growth and development. Because they are absolutely dependent on us parents & caregivers, we’d like to share how you can ensure your newborn is positioned safely in slings and other baby carriers.

Pouch Slings

After the birth of my second baby, I had new insight on how to ensure a floppy newborn is positioned safely in a pouch sling. I learned the only way to get a brand new baby into a safe cradle hold is to start from a burp position with baby at your shoulder. Lowering the baby feet first into the sling and bringing their torso to the side, ensures they are safely positioned in the ideal check-mark slant √. This vertically reclined version of a cradle hold helps ensure that the baby is not positioned with their chin too tight to their chest. Although it is recommended by others to place a baby in a cradle hold by holding them in one arm horizontally while lowering them into the pouch, I found my newborn would end up positioned in an unsafe position with her chin to chest. And if your pouch is sized correctly (snug), you won’t likely be able to put a delicate newborn in that way. IMPORTANT: a baby with chin-to-chest is at risk of positional asphyxia, when a baby’s airflow is reduced. Preemies are at an increased risk due to their under-development. Positional asphyxia can also occur in car seats & strollers, if an infant’s head slumps forward and their neck muscles are not strong enough to pull up their head or they are asleep. A baby in a cradle hold in a sling will be in the exact position as seen in arms below or in the photo above. Notice the baby’s body is like a check-mark √ with head, neck and back in a straight line. Please watch our video newborn position in a pouch sling.

Key points for safe sling/ baby carrier positioning (check often!):

• baby’s head at your chest.
• make sure you can get 2 fingers under their chin.
• ensure their is no fabric covering their face.
• should be able to kiss baby’s head (if not then your sling/ carrier is too loose/ low).
• monitor their breathing- if your baby’s breathing sounds irregular, remove them from the sling or carrier immediately. Please refer to thebabywearer.com’s article on safe positioning for newborns in slings & baby carriers.

Ring Slings

A ring sling is ideal for the upright tummy-to-tummy position as you can tighten the rails to provide head support and bring the baby high on your chest. Notice that the baby’s face is clear of the fabric and can breathe optimally.

Wraps

This helpful illustration shows how to position a newborn safely in a Moby Wrap.

Mei Tai’s

Mei-tai’s are an excellent carrier for newborns as you can roll up the bottom of the carrier making the body shorter for a small baby. If your baby’s head needs support you can use a rolled receiving blanket as head support (see photo above). Your baby’s head should be high enough on your chest that you can kiss the top of their head (this is true for any sling or carrier). IMPORTANT: I’ve stopped people on the street for this one! The shoulder straps of a Mei-tai must cross over your baby’s body. Meaning after they wrap around your back they must cross over the body of the carrier to provide support to your baby’s spine and ensure your baby is safe from the risk of falling out the sides of the Mei-Tai.

SSC’s

Soft Structured Carriers are generally recommended for babies 3 mos+, past the newborn stage. Some SSC’s require a baby’s legs to straddle the parents torso with their legs out of the carrier. New babies will not find this comfortable until 3-4 mos due to the width of the carrier seat.

The Pikkolo & Beco Gemini have uniquely adjustable seats so that both a newborn & older baby can be legs out in an ergonomically correct position. Some SSC’s are designed with an infant insert like the Beco Butterfly 2 & Manduca. An infant insert allows the baby to have their legs “froggied” inside the carrier. The insert also brings the baby higher in the carrier so the baby is supported & positioned safely for good airflow.

Warning regarding bag slings!

The carrier shown above is a “bag sling” as they are more similar in design to a travel bag than a baby sling. A bag sling has a flat bottom with high sides and a shoulder strap very similar to a piece of luggage. The inherent design flaw is that the baby’s head is deep within the fabric of the bag sling, not up in safe position near the parent’s chest with adequate air flow. Read more research documenting how bag slings are unsafe at the Baby Carriers- Correct Positioning & Safety blog by M’Liss Stelzer, RN. Like to learn more or discuss sling/ babywearing safety? We’d appreciate your comments below or become a fan of the Facebook page on Babywearing Safety.

All the above photos were taken of my second born…who’s now nearly two! (except of Kourtney Kardashian)