Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Out Of The Closet: Babywearing
Baby carriers, and indeed, babywearing, have been brought to the forefront of the news recently with the release of a "warning" by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in the US. While I'm happy to see a broader discussion of babywearing starting to take place, I'm afraid that the ambiguity of the CPSC release will cause undue fears about particular styles of baby slings as unfortunately, what the CPSC release didn't cover was which types of carriers are affected: all baby carriers are NOT created equal.
While many baby carrier manufacturers have been pushing for stringent safety standards for baby carriers for many years, to date, none have been created in either the US or Canada.
The CPSC release refers mainly to "bag style" sling carriers. Imagine a purse with elastic gathered edges and a shoulder strap. So in these carriers, you fold your baby into a "C" shape and place them at the bottom of a deep pocket. These are NOT the type of product you will find at Nurtured.
Those of us who are "boutique" retailers, WAHMs or small businesses are passionate about babywearing. We all have stories about how it made life SO.MUCH.EASIER. I've told countless parents when they come looking for advice on baby carriers exactly WHY I love a particular baby carrier, how I've used a particular baby carrier, and that I own every single one of the baby carriers we sell at Nurtured. We help parents with positioning, education, and follow up support. Just yesterday I spent an hour with a mom-to-be going over, in depth, every single baby carrier option we have. It is SO satisfying.
The benefits of babywearing are well documented: more contented, cry less, happier and more relaxed parents. Slings are also invaluable in facilitating breastfeeding!
1. Make sure your baby can breathe. Baby carriers allow parents to be hands-free to do other things, but you must always remain active in caring for your child. No baby carrier can ensure that your baby always has an open airway; that's your job.
a. Never allow a baby to be carried, held, or placed in such a way that his chin is curled against his chest. This rule applies to babies being held in arms, in baby carriers, in infant car seats, or in any other kind of seat or situation. This position can restrict the baby's ability to breathe. Newborns lack the muscle control to open their airways. They need good back support in carriers so that they don't slump into the chin-to-chest position.
b. Never allow a baby's head and face to be covered with fabric. Covering a baby's head and face can cause her to "rebreathe" the same air, which is a dangerous situation. Also, covering her head and face keeps you from being able to check on her. Always make sure your baby has plenty of airflow. Check on her frequently.
2. Never jog, run, jump on a trampoline, or do any other activity that subjects your baby to similar shaking or bouncing motion. "This motion can do damage to the baby's neck, spine and/or brain," explains the American Chiropractic Association.
3. Never use a baby carrier when riding in a car. Soft baby carriers provide none of the protection that car seats provide.
4. Use only carriers that are appropriate for your baby's age and weight. For example, frame backpacks can be useful for hiking with older babies and toddlers but aren't appropriate for babies who can't sit unassisted for extended periods. Front packs usually have a weight range of 8 to 20 pounds; smaller babies may slip out of the carrier, and larger babies will almost certainly cause back discomfort for the person using the carrier.
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