A coroner has issued a caution to caregivers following the tragic death of a six-week-old boy while in a baby sling.
Last October, Jimmy Alderman was being breastfed in a ‘hands-free’ manner while secured in a baby carrier worn by his mother as she navigated their home.
The infant was positioned too low in the sling, which led to him losing consciousness after just five minutes.
Despite attempts at resuscitation, Jimmy sadly succumbed three days later in the hospital.
The coroner overseeing Jimmy’s inquest noted there is ‘very limited’ safety guidance available regarding baby slings, despite a ‘noticeable rise’ in their usage in recent times.
This increasing trend of ‘baby-wearing’ is believed to foster bonding between mother and child due to their close contact; however, some parents refute the idea of it being a mere trend, asserting that mothers have utilized slings for millennia.
Lydia Brown, senior coroner for west London, expressed concerns that there appears to be ‘no guidance indicating that hands-free breastfeeding for a young child is hazardous due to potential suffocation risks’ and called for the establishment of safety standards in the industry for sling use.
‘There seems to be a lack of informative visual aids contrasting “safe” and “unsafe” sling/carrier positions,’ she stated, additionally noting that ‘the literature available from the NHS offers no guidance or suggestions’.
‘In my view, measures should be implemented to avert future tragedies,’ Ms. Brown remarked, forwarding copies of her Prevention of Future Deaths report to Beco, the sling manufacturer, baby-wearing instructor Madeleine Boot, the NHS, and the Department of Health and Social Care.
The inquest determined: ‘Jimmy’s demise was due to his airway being blocked as he was not maintained in a secure position while in the sling.’
‘The information available from any source is inadequate in informing parents about the safe positioning of young infants within carriers, particularly related to breastfeeding practices.’
Following Jimmy’s tragic passing, charities and specialists have stepped forward to provide guidance for parents.
Critics caution that infants face suffocation risks if they are unable to lift their heads when improperly positioned in a sling or wrap – and this danger is heightened for premature babies or those with low birth weight.
The Lullaby Trust, a charity dedicated to offering expert guidance on safer sleep for infants, indicated that the risk is particularly significant ‘when a baby’s airway is hindered by their chin resting on their chest or if their mouth and nose are obscured by a parent’s skin or clothing’.
‘The safest type of baby carrier is one that keeps the infant securely in an upright position, allowing the parent to keep constant visibility of the baby’s face, and ensuring their airways remain unobstructed,’ they added.
A UK network of sling retailers and manufacturers, alongside the Lullaby Trust, has introduced the acronym TICKS to help ensure safe positioning for babies in slings.
This acronym represents: Tight, In view at all times, Close enough to kiss, Keep chin off the chest, and Supported back.
Ms. Brown also highlighted the absence of public directives suggesting that hands-free breastfeeding of young infants is unsafe due to suffocation risks and the inability to meet every TICKS criterion.
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