Warning over ‘babywearing’ after newborn suffocates in sling

A coroner has issued a warning to parents after a six-week-old boy died in a baby sling.

Jimmy Alderman was being breastfed ‘hands free’ while in a baby carrier worn by his mum as she moved around their home last October.

The baby was in an unsafe position too far down in the sling, and he collapsed after five minutes.

Despite resuscitation efforts, Jimmy died three days later in hospital.

The coroner who led Jimmy’s inquest said there is ‘very little’ safety information about baby slings despite a ‘significant increase’ in their use in recent years.

It’s thought this ‘baby-wearing’ phenomenon could help mum and baby bond due to their close proximity – but some parents have hit back at suggestions it is a trend, saying mums have carried babies in slings for thousands of years.

Lydia Brown, senior coroner for west London, said there appeared to be ‘no advice that breastfeeding hands-free a young baby is unsafe due to the risk of suffocation’, and called for industry standards promoting the safe use of slings.

‘There appeared to be no helpful visual images of “safe” versus “unsafe” sling/carrier postures,’ she said, adding that ‘the NHS available literature provides no guidance or advice’.

‘In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths,’ Ms Brown said, sending copies of her Prevention of Future Deaths report to sling manufacturer Beco, baby-wearing teacher Madeleine Boot, the NHS, and the Department of Health and Social Care.

The inquest concluded: ‘Jimmy died because his airway was occluded as he was not held in a safe position while within the sling.

‘There is insufficient information available from any source to inform parents of safe positioning of young babies within carriers and in particular in relation to breastfeeding.’

Charities and experts have come forward to share advice for parents in the wake of Jimmy’s death.

Critics warn that babies can risk suffocation because they’re unable to lift their own heads if positioned in a sling or wrap incorrectly – and this risk increases if the baby was premature or had a low birth weight.

The Lullaby Trust, a charity providing expert advice on safer sleep for babies, said the risk appears to be greatest ‘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’.

‘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,’ they added.

A UK consortium of sling retailers and manufacturers, as well as the Lullaby Trust, have shared an acronym, TICKS, to establish safe positioning for babies in slings.

The acronym stands for Tight, In view at all times, Close enough to kiss, Keep chin off the chest and Supported back.

Ms Brown also found that there is no public advice that hands-free breastfeeding young babies is unsafe because of the risk of suffocation and not being able to meet every TICKS requirement.

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