SLINGS!!!

Watch out this one has me riled!!

Ok, so mainstream news sources would have you think that EVERY sling is dangerous. NOT SO!! So here is a picture of sweet Leili when she was less than 2 months snugly in our Maya Wrap sling on mama enjoying the beach. Everyone of my babies have ridden in a sling, I have an Over The Shoulder Baby Holder, a Maya Wrap, and a pocket sling made by Marsupicool. (Yes Dan has put a moratorium on slings here). I use my sling tons, Leili nurses in it, sleeps in it, and of course just goes along for the ride too. But along with all these slings I use a good amount of common sense. When Jake was a tiny guy and having a few issues I did not put him in a sling (he had to be kept upright). So yes "bag slings" have been recalled, is that EVERY sling? NO! It is important to hold your baby close, and slings have been used for millions of years. I think "progress" just went a little too far with regard to sling construction.

So will I stop wearing a sling HECK NO!! Will I show you how to use one? SURE! Come on over!!

And here is the Mothering press release I received, thought it was great!!

SANTA FE, NM (March 18, 2010) — On March 12, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), a Federal Agency, issued a warning in regard to the use of baby slings. The CPSC asserts that there is a risk of slings suffocating infants who are younger than four months old, and that caution should be used when carrying babies of this age group in slings.Mothering puts the CPSC warning in perspective: Babywearing is safe, but some slings and positions are not. While baby carriers are as old as civilization, modern babywearing has exploded in the last four years. Along with this rapid increase in use has come the creation of some unsafe carriers, in particular bag-style slings that have a deep pouch, excessive fabric, and an elasticized edge. These deep, bag-style slings can be especially dangerous for premature or small babies.Some general guidelines for safe babywearing:1. Only choose a sling that allows you to see your baby’s face.
2. Be sure baby is not curled up tightly, chin to chest. This position can restrict breathing, especially in newborns or in infants who cannot yet hold up their heads.
3. Make sure that the sling fabric is “breathable,” and keep baby’s face clear of fabric.
4. Do not press baby’s face tightly against the sling wearer’s body.
5. Position the baby’s face upward.
6. Reposition baby if there are any signs of respiratory difficulty: rapid or labored breathing, grunting or sighing with every breath, restlessness.For more information, see Mothering’s Special Report on Babywearing
For babywearing safety tips, see “Babywearing 101”Tune in to Mothering Radio at 11:30 PST on Monday, March 22, for an exclusive one-hour show featuring Glenda Criss-Forshey, president of Babywearing International; M’Liss Stelzer, author of “Babywearing 101”; Jane McClintock, of Quirky Baby, an online baby carrier distributor, and Alma Gordillo-Webb, moderator of Mothering.com’s babywearing community. Look for our feature article on slings in the July–August 2010 print edition.