A charity has issued a stark warning about the potential dangers of baby slings after a six-week-old boy tragically died. The infant, known as Jimmy Alderman, was being breastfed within a baby carrier worn by his mother as she moved around their home.
The inquest into Jimmy’s death heard that he was positioned too far down the sling, leading to him collapsing after just five minutes. Despite immediate resuscitation efforts, the young boy sadly passed away three days later on October 11, 2023.
The practice of “baby-wearing”, which sees parents carry their infants in slings or carriers close to their bodies, is often touted as a method of enhancing bonding due to the close proximity between parent and child. This trend has gained popularity among ‘mumfluencers’ on social media, many of whom extol the benefits of the technique while overlooking the associated risks, particularly for very young babies.
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The Lullaby Trust, a charity offering expert advice on safer sleep for babies, stated that the risk is highest “when a baby’s airway is obstructed either by their chin resting on their chest or their mouth and nose being covered by a parent’s skin or clothing”.
They added: “The safest baby carrier to use will keep the infant firmly in an upright position where a parent can always see their baby’s face, and ensure their airways are free.”