It is always important to be conscious of safety when wearing your baby!  Please follow the instructions provided with your carrier, and consult your healthcare professional about choosing a proper carrier, and using it safely.

Safe positioning of newborns in your baby sling is especially important, since newborn babies have the least ability to show signs that a carrier is uncomfortable for them.  It is therefore imperative that caregivers be aware of a few basic tips when positioning a newborn safely in a baby carrier.

First, some comments on positional asphyxia, which is a safety risk when using a carrier.  Positional asphyxia is a type of suffocation that occurs when the body is put in a position that restricts airflow. In infants, positional asphyxia can occur when they are placed in a semi-seated position. Positional asphyxia can occur due to the prominence of the occiput (back of the head), as well as the overall lack ofneck muscle strength, which forces the head to slouch forward pushing the infant’s chin down against his/her chest.  This body position causes the windpipe to narrow or close.

An important point to highlight about positional asphyxia is that it is not a danger that is related solely to sling or baby carrier use . Babies may be poorly positioned (or become poorly positioned) in car seats, infant bouncy seats, swings and other similar devices.  In fact, a number of articles we found in a recent google search emphasized that leaving the baby unattended was a major factor in most deaths resulting from positional asphyxia.

One benefit to using a baby carrier is that you are never leaving your baby unattended!  However, it is important to attend to the positioning of your newborn in the carrier, and to pay attention to his/her breathing while in the baby sling.  M’lis Stelzer (and R.N) & Holly McCroskey have written a great article on proper positioning of a baby 0-4 months.  Much of our information is drawn from this article.

To summarize the article, the main positioning safety issues with newborns are:

1. Baby should not be curled tightly with chin to chest.  This position partially closes baby’s airway.   If your baby is correctly positionied, there will be at least one finger’s width of space under his/her chin.

2. Baby carrier fabric should not be draped across baby’s face unless you are sure that it is breathable. Don’t rely on the fabric looking breathable!  You can check the airflow of the fabric by placing it over your own nose and mouth.  If it is difficult for you to breathe through the fabric, don’t position it across baby’s face.

3.  Don’t allow your baby to roll so that his/her  face is pressed tightly against the your body. Position baby’s face upward when he or she is not actively nursing and, when nursing, ensure that baby’s nose is not blocked.

Always reposition your baby if s/he is having any sign of respiratory difficulty.  Symptoms of respiratory difficulty include: rapid or labored breathing, grunting or sighing with every breath and/or restlessness.

Here is a picture (all photos courtesy of UpMama) of a baby who is improperly positioned in a sling.  The baby is positioned too deeply into the sling, and his chin is curled into his chest.



Now here is a photo of a baby positioned properly in a sling.  Her back is straight (not curled) and she is well supported by the carrier.  You could easily slip a finger or two in the space under her chin.

For more information on correct positioning, please refer to this excellent article on Correct Positioning!  Used with permission from M’Lis Stelzer.