New parents receive little guidance on how to use a baby sling or carrier safely, according to new research.
The study by leading baby sleep experts at our Durham Infancy and Sleep Centre calls for a UK-wide campaign to ensure parents are directed to trusted sources of guidance and specialist advice, before or at the point of purchase.
Unsafe use of baby slings or carriers have been linked to infrequent accidental deaths from suffocation and falls. The researchers say they could be avoided with greater awareness around baby safety.
In December 2024, a coroner issued a warning about the dangers of baby slings after six-week-old James Alderman died during "hands-free" breastfeeding.
There is currently no evidence-based comprehensive national guidance on sling safety, despite increasing numbers of parents using them to carry their babies.
The study found that manufacturers provide little safety guidance and many parents were unaware of specialist resources such as sling libraries.
Guidance on choosing a sling or carrier and how to use it safely was rarely offered at the point of purchase, particularly when buying online.
Safety guidance
Parents generally learnt how to use their sling or carrier by reading the manufacturer’s instructions, from social media, babywearing websites and blogs, and attending sling libraries.
At sling libraries, parents can borrow or hire slings and get safety guidance from babywearing consultants. Although there are sling libraries in many UK cities and towns, it is not clear how well-known or used they are.
Parents are advised to contact a sling library or babywearing consultant if they need information or help with sling or carrier use. Information can be found at https://www.carryingmatters.co.uk/guide-to-slings/.
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