News Moms Need

The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) disagrees with the recent statement from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) about the suffocation risks posed by baby slings. According to ABM, ring slings, which carry infants in an upright position snug against the parent’s chest, protect the baby’s airway. The organization criticizes CPSC for its “blanket warning about all types of carrier slings.”

ABM also disagrees with CPSC’s advice on how to carry a baby safely. CPSC recommends positioning the infant so that the baby’s head is facing up and clear of the sling and the parent’s body. ABM says this position can be risky for a premature infant because it would not support his neck.

Dr. Arthur Eidelman of ABM recommends this position:

   * Baby’s face sideways with cheek against the chest

   * Baby’s head slightly extended

   * Baby’s body, shoulders and face snug so that the baby can’t move

The ABM Web site has the organization’s full statement about the CPSC warning. ABM is a global organization of physicians dedicated to the promotion, protection and support of breastfeeding.

If you are using a sling to carry your baby or are interested in using one, please talk to your child’s health care provider about what is best for your baby.

Slings have become really popular. You get to hold your baby really close, and baby seems to love them, too. But the Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a warning about how slings can pose a suffocation risk. There are two types of risks.

Risk 1: In the first few months of life, babies cannot control their heads because their neck muscles are weak. The sling’s fabric can press against the baby’s nose and mouth and block his breathing. If this happens, the baby can suffocate within a minute or two.

Risk 2: If the sling keeps the baby in a curled position, her chin can bend toward her chest. This too can lead to suffocation.

Without enough oxygen, the baby won’t be able to cry for help.

The risk seems to be the greatest for low birthweight babies, babies born prematurely, and babies born with breathing problems. Parents of these babies should ask their baby’s health care provider about whether to use a sling.

If you do use a sling for your baby, keep these safety tips in mind. Be sure the baby’s face isn’t covered and that you can see it at all times. If you nurse your baby in a sling, change the baby’s position after feeding so his head is facing up and is clear of the sling and your body. Check your baby often when she’s in the sling.

Update: The Academy for Breastfeeding Medicine disagrees with CPSC’s recommendation. Go to the March 22 post for more info.

Over 400,000 Dorel car seats/carriers have been recalled because the child-restraint handle can loosen and come off. As a result, the infant may fall.

A repair kit is available. The handle of the seat/carrier should not be used until it has been repaired.

The car seats/carriers have been sold by Costco, Eddie Bauer, Disney and others.

For more about the recall, see the news release from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. To learn more about safety and car seats, read the March of Dimes article.

We spent almost three hours in Buy Buy Baby on Sunday afternoon. My head is still spinning from all of the excitement and decisions we had to make. This was not like registering for my bridal shower. That was easy. Even though the store provided a registry checklist as a guide, I felt like I was guessing. I have no idea if my baby will want or need half the stuff I picked out (i.e. play pen, bouncy seat, exer-saucer, slings & swing). And if there isn’t already, there should be an accelerated college course on car seats and strollers.  There were literally 100 different models to choose from. Thank goodness my husband printed out info from Consumer Reports beforehand. It would have been impossible to make a selection otherwise. We probably would have registered for a more expensive and not necessarily safer “travel system”, too.

Are there any items that were a personal favorite or absolute must when you had your baby?