Baby Slings A Safety Threat?
The parenting world is abuzz with the news that the US government is hunkering down to issue a safety warning on baby slings. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission says that there have been too many deaths for the threat to go unchecked. A certain baby sling was even named to be particularly unsafe, specifically the Infantino SlingRider, which is a bag type sling (a sling similar to a messenger bag, with baby sitting in front of the wearer’s tummy or just below the chest). Some babies/kids have also reportedly fallen from some soft cloth slings - hence the hoopla.
With all products, safety should be an issue particularly concerning babies. However, it seems as though slings have been generalized in the warning. This is just unacceptable as it becomes a strike against baby wearing. I personally feel the attack because I have received those “looks” while wearing my daughter. Apparently, more and more people are becoming oblivious to the wondrous experience of wearing ones bub, to the point of it becoming an unusual or even weird practice. Again, this is just unfair. As one blogger mentioned, people wore their babies in olden times with women even working in the fields!
It is sad to hear that even with something that is meant to help parents such as a sling, babies can die. But rather than razz on the product, isn’t it better to call out parents who can’t be bothered to check their babies while in the sling? I’m just saying that an item can only be an instrument of harm, but the one who can do the most harm to babies is parents’ negligence.
Catch more of the story here. For proper baby wearing tips, visit Babywearing International.
By the way, I am a babywearer and darn proud of it!
1 year ago - read more...
