New parents should receive more guidance on the safe use of baby slings, researchers have said. Baby sleep experts at Durham University have called for better education for parents before they buy a sling or at the point of purchase.
Study findings
The researchers surveyed 1,470 parents of babies under one year old and found that almost nine out of ten bought a sling or carrier online, with only about 3 per cent being assisted by a virtual sales assistant or chat function. The study, published in BMJ Paediatrics Open, revealed that just three out of ten purchasers received advice when buying the sling in person from a shop.
Instead, parents generally learned how to use the sling by reading the manufacturers' instructions, from social media, or from internet blogs. Some parents did attend so-called sling libraries, where carriers can be borrowed or hired and where safety advice should be available.
Risks of incorrect use
The survey found that even experienced parents had difficulty with positioning the baby in a sling, creating comfort for the carrier, and securing the infant safely. Unsafe use of baby slings has been linked to accidental deaths from suffocation or falls. In 2023, six-week-old James Alderman died in a carrier during hands-free breastfeeding, leading a coroner to issue a warning. With incorrect sling or carrier fitting, a baby's nose or mouth can be pressed against the parent's body or blocked by fabric. In other cases, the baby can slump down in the carrier and their windpipe can become pinched.
Expert comments
Professor Helen Ball, director of the Durham Infancy and Sleep Centre at Durham University, said: 'Many parents are unaware of the safety guidance around baby slings and carriers. As most parents start using slings and carriers when their babies are very young and at their most vulnerable, it is crucial they know how to choose the most appropriate product and how to use it safely. Although deaths linked to using a baby sling or carrier are not that common, they could be avoided with better access to guidance before or as soon as parents buy the product.'
Jenny Ward, chief executive of The Lullaby Trust, which promotes safety for infants, said: 'This research highlights the need for clearer, more accessible guidance to help families use slings and baby carriers as safely as possible. Many families value slings and carriers, but it is important that they have access to trusted information on how to use them safely, particularly during the early months when babies are most vulnerable.'
