Soft infant carrier safety tips

Two infant deaths this year in Infantino slings raise concerns about the product. Participants at a recent ASTM-International meeting on sling carriers discussed the design of the Infantino “bag-style” sling and how it could contribute to suffocation and obstructed airways. That can happen for two reasons—either the baby’s face turns inward and becomes covered by the mother’s clothing or breasts, or the baby is placed in a position where the infant's head falls so far forward that the airway is closed off. Read the rest of the post on our Safety blog.

We think there are better ways to transport infants, including strollers, handheld infant carrier/car seats, and strap-on carriers.

Here are some strap-on front and hip carrier safety tips:

• Read the instruction manual and the warnings on the product before you first wear it to make sure you’re using it properly.
• Before using a carrier at any time, take time to put it on properly. Check that the straps are fitted and adjusted correctly, and the buckles, snaps, straps, and adjustments are safely fastened into position and secure.
• Sit down when placing your baby in the carrier and when taking him out.
• After your child is seated in a carrier, with her legs securely in the leg openings, adjust leg openings to the smallest size possible without cutting into her thighs or seat.
• Make sure your baby can breathe easily when in the carrier. His nose and mouth shouldn’t be obstructed in any way, and his chin should not be pressed against his chest, which carries a risk of asphyxiation.
• Don’t transport your child in a carrier on your back unless it’s made to be worn that way. Note that infants who can’t hold their heads up should never be carried on an adult’s back under any circumstances.
• Use the carrier according to the manufacturer’s weight recommendations. To avoid back and neck strain, stop using a front carrier when your baby reaches 20 pounds, or anytime you feel uncomfortable.
• Until your child can hold her head upright (around 6 months old), she should ride facing toward you with head support.
• Be careful when bending, leaning forward, or going through doorways when wearing a carrier. If you have to reach down, bend at your knees to make sure your baby stays upright. Don’t bend over at your waist.
• Use a carrier only for standing or walking. Don’t use it for sporting activities like running or bicycling or when cooking, cleaning, carrying a load, or driving.
• Don’t use a carrier to hold your baby in a car instead of a car seat.
• Don’t leave a baby in the carrier while putting it on or taking it off.
• Don’t put your baby in a carrier that’s not attached to you or another caregiver.
• Stop using a carrier if any parts or components are damaged, missing, or broken.
• Consider his and hers carriers of you and your partner want to use a strap-on or hip carrier frequently and you’re not roughly the same size. To wear a strap-on or hip carrier safely, adjust the straps exactly right. If you have a separate carrier for each parent, you won’t have to continually adjust the carrier to trade back and forth or be tempted to make a too-quick adjustment.
• If you want to use your strap-on carrier outside in cooler months, consider getting a carrier cover (we have not tested these). It slips over most brands of strap-on soft infant carriers so you don’t have to stuff your bundled-up baby into a carrier or zip your coat around him.