Babywearing Safety

Let me reassure you that babywearing is a safe.

Now, let's get deeper into babywearing safety.

Our Babywearing 101 Handout for health care professionals, childcare providers and parents is a great place to start for babywearing introduction and safety tips. Please clik here to view the handout. If you'd like free color printed copies of this handout, please contact us.

Babywearing safety has been a discussion for years with those of us in the babywearing community. All the baby carriers that we carry here at Granola Babies are made by mothers that have been using baby slings for years and make baby carriers with the greatest of attention to detail, construction and design. The designs are made to carry your baby in a safe and comfortable position.

The design of a bag sling is such that the baby is positioned in what is referred to as the "C-like" position, in which the body is curved similarly to a "C" shape, causing the chin to be pressed against the chest. This position decreases the oxygen intake of the baby and is very dangerous to her health. Furthermore, bag slings are so poorly designed that you are not able to clearly see your baby while she's worn.

Because of the dangers of these types of slings, the CPSC has issued a warning to parents.

The warning urges parents to avoid the types of slings (also known as bag slings) "where a sling keeps the infant in a curled position bending the chin toward the chest, the airways can be restricted, limiting the oxygen supply." We know that these types of slings should be avoided at all costs and will never recommend nor carry bag slings at Granola Babies.

We are happy that the CPSC warning also provided safety tips that are commonly known in the babywearing community, but may not have been known to the general public. This is a great opportunity to teach babywearing safety and to assure parents like you that babywearing can be a safe practice when used correctly and with the right baby carrier.

There are safe baby carriers.

Here are some guidelines for carrying your baby safely in a baby carrier.

•  Avoid placing baby in a C-like position, as this can push his chin to his chest and constrict the oxygen intake.
•  Airway should be clear and open.
• The safest position for a young baby is tummy-to-tummy and upright. This can be accomplished in wraparounds, ring slings, pouches and mei tais and soft structured carriers.
• Avoid baby carriers in which baby is intended to be placed in the C-like position.
• For infants, the baby carrier should fully support his bottom, back and neck.
• For older babies worn with legs out, the baby carrier should support from the back of his knees to his shoulders.
• The baby carrier should support the curve of your baby.
• Baby should be carried with his bottom at or above your belly button.
• Baby should be visible to you while worn.

Learn more on our favorite links below:

www.thebabywearer.com
www.nurturebabynaturally.com
www.facebook.com/babywearingsafety
http://tinyurl.com/correctpositioning
http://babywearinginternational.org

And download our free Babywearing 101 Handout to distribute among your local health care professionals, childcare providers and parents. You may also order for free high quality printed copies to distribute.

Babywearing 101 Handout (Free)

$0.00