Baby Carriers

www.slingbabies.co.nz/Site/Positioning_2.ashx

I suppose those who think they are wonderful will carry on using them, those who are wary will not.

I know women have used them in traditional cultures but we have no statistics from those days on how safe they were.

I mentioned car seats in an earlier post because a friend was warned against leaving a newborn in one for long if they are sleeping.
A report has just come out today in the Bristol Post, and here is the NHS report on it too:

www.nhs.uk/news/2016/10October/Pages/Warning-over-babies-sleeping-in-car-seats.aspx
www.bristolpost.co.uk/never-leave-a-baby-in-a-car-seat-for-long-periods-shocking-new-study-reveals-serious-dangers/story-29773873-detail/story.html

I worry that babies in slings may be in the same position with their heads more forward on to their chests, combined with a lack of fresh air.

I used a sling a lot for my own children, back in the 80s. Now, I am using one to carry my 8 month old grandson in! I absolutely love the feeling of closeness we get from it. He sleeps more soundly in the sling that anywhere else. My son and daughter-in-la also use a sling for him. It's a bit tough on my 62 year old back sometimes, but it's more than worth it for the feeling of closeness I feel with my beloved grandbaby!

No never worry about that at all I used one in the 60's/early 70's and most of my grandkids have had periods in slings or back carriers when they got bigger
Accidents can happen with any form of carrying, ever felt your foot go as you come down the stairs carrying the babe My son although strapped in managed to get out of the straps stand up and fall out of his pram while I was busy sorting my toddler out in the play park
I would actually think they are one of the safest forms of travel and lovely for young babies to feel cosy What I do hate are those new stlye buggies with one child practically enclosed behind the other with nothing to look out at but the back of the front chair they are hideous

Do the people who worry about babies in slings worry about every child they see being carried by someone? At least with a sling your hands are free to hold/grab something. Slip with a baby in your arms and there's nothing you can do.

I read this article in a journal yesterday:
www.kansascity.com/living/health-fitness/article96424017.html
Quite worrying, but parents have got to use something.

I agree with swanny and shanny.
I find it so scary to see Mums with pushchairs etc not looking when crossing the roads, especially as so many of them are glued to their mobile phones these days.
How these women can put their precious little bundles at so much risk because of a text, I will never, ever, know.?

I only used a baby sling for the first four months as far as I can remember. They aren't mean for older babies or toddlers because the child would be much too heavy.

I worry about children being carried on their parents' shoulders, mostly dads, not just because of the risk of the parent tripping but also because of the damage done to the parents neck and shoulder muscles.

DD is expecting her second sproglet and plans to use a sling with it. Much research is being done apparently!
Unless she has another wee preemie who stays light and slight like DGD I don't see her lasting long. Must be agony lugging around a big baby/toddler!

Falconbird My son'sDD is actually getting a little too big for it now but the other Dgd is only just 3 and my son in law does his own thing regardless but I have to admit it's becoming a bit of an obsession of mine!

Have never thought about this (potential) problem, but have never used a baby sling, and my children haven't, with their own children.I wouldn't have wanted too, as I have always had a dodgy back, and enjoyed pushing them in the pram/ buggy.What always does worry me ( only when I see it) is very young children being towed along by Mum or Dad in a kind of box contraption at the back of their cycle.

I used one in the 70s DIL used one for both GCs. I think they are great!

I know Sheffield has a "baby sling" users group where you can try various styles to see what suits you and your baby.

www.sheffieldslingsurgery.co.uk
I don't know if they have them elsewhere.

NanSue - I totally agree about the dangers of carrying children on shoulders. It's a heck of a long way to fall if the parent trips

Children should be carried in their parents arms, I carried mine on my hip, and when they're older they can have piggy backs.

Tiny babies don't feel the need to stretch out, they like to feel secure. Some babies prefer to be swaddled, as well.

Keeping your baby by you is instinctive for many parents. Both my sons carried their babies in carriers. It's very handy when you're out and about, not having to use lifts and so on.

I didn't worry about the DGC whilst in a carrier, however both my DS and DSil often put their young daughters up on to their shoulders when they tire of walking. For me this is truly terrifying and I'm always worrying about it. If one of them were to trip, the consequences of that don't bear thinking about!

Why do women feel the need to strap their child to their chest all the time? How will they learn to settle themselves and stretch out freely as everyone likes to do.
I only ever used a baby carrier once and I thought it was jolly uncomfortable, both for me and for the baby.
Let babies be free to wriggle around and find the position they can be comfy in. If they cry then use the age old rocking or putting in a pram or swing. They don't need to be crushed by Mum's bosom. I think it's the Mums who have separation issues who keep their babies against themselves all the time. Give baby some 'me' time!

I used a baby carrier in the 70's. I didn't drive and to get on and off public transport was so much easier It was also great at the niggly evening time so you could get on with things .Beginning of attachment parenting probably even though our children think they started it ! . Our second one also spent a great deal of time in our bed ...

But they are jolly difficult to get on! I can't manage it when I babysit in spite of DD insisting it's easer. I use the pushchair!

When you think about it, a front sling and later on a back pack is far healthier for the 'town baby' as in a buggy they're just at the right height to breathe in traffic fumes.

I used to worry about my DS in a buggy in the 80's, many more people smoked in public then and he was at a nonchalant cigarette height! I used to worry about (and still do tbh!) things falling on babies unprotected in a buggy, the old cumbersome prams they were pretty well impervious to most things - I wouldn't want to go back to them though, just imagine the impracticality of a Silver Cross in shops today!

I did trip with DD in the sling in 1984. However all was well as I instinctively pulled her to one side as I fell and no damage was done. Phew!

I used to take my youngest to nursery school on my bike and then cycle to work. The worst that happened was when I stopped and put my foot down and with my officey shoes I skidded and the whole bike, with strapped-in 3-year-old at the back tipped over with me under it.

We righted it and carried on our journey unscathed - or, at least, I haven't yet noticed any damage and now he's 28.

I carried all my babies in a sling, or until I got dressed in the morning, tied tightly into the front of my dressing gown. I'm sure there is no danger for them. Your hands are free and instinct would make you protect them if you did trip.

What I do think looks odd is when people have the sling over their outdoor jackets or coats. I always tied it on first, then put everything over the top. Warmer for baby, easier to get your coat off when you get indoors and the straps don't have to go round those extra inches, so are not so tight.

Yes Swanny. I worry about that too

Shanma I am more worried by the number of prams/pushchairs I see protruding out into the road while the 'pram pusher' is still safely on the pavement waiting to cross