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Baby Carriers: Safety Tips for You and Your Baby

by Sally Worsham (Subscribe to Sally Worsham's posts)
Jun 28th 2010 10:00AM

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Filed under: Babies


Be sure to test a few styles of slings before you buy. Credit: Getty


Whether you use a Baby Bjorn, a sling, a wrap, a backpack or any other sort of baby carrier, you know that wearing your baby in a baby carrier can be a wonderful way to keep your hands free while keeping your baby close to you.

However, you can cause harm to yourself and your baby if you don't follow a few simple safety guidelines when wearing your baby carrier.

Test them out. You should try on every baby carrier you are considering purchasing before you buy one. You can use a 10-pound bag of flour as the "baby" to get a good idea of how the straps will feel on your body, as well as how it will affect your posture. You also can judge how easy it is to adjust the straps and see that the straps will fit snugly and securely.

Also consider whether or not the product has been recalled in the past. Even the best brand names have had safety recalls, so you want to ensure your baby carrier has not been involved in a recall by checking out a government website such as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Read the fine print. Another important safety tip is to read the instructions for how to use your baby carrier carefully. If you fail to follow any guidelines recommended by the manufacturer, you are endangering your baby and yourself. Make sure you are not pressing your baby's face into the fabric, and watch out for your baby's body curling so that his chin tucks into his chest. Both of these can be suffocation hazards, which are cited in a CPSC warning advising parents to use caution when using a sling as a baby carrier. Slings are very safe when used correctly, so be sure you have read the instructions closely and stay aware of your baby's position while in the sling.

Know what not to do. Using a baby carrier is great for multi-tasking, and there are many baby carrier-friendly activities such as reading, e-mailing, shopping, walking and even light cleaning with no chemicals. However, certain activities should never be attempted while wearing your baby in a carrier. Cooking can be extremely dangerous as your baby could be easily burned from hot oil splashes or even being too close to a burner. Any activity that requires you to bend over, such as yard work or cleaning up clutter, can lead to your baby falling out of the carrier. If you must bend over while wearing your baby, bend at the knees and keep your back and your baby upright.

Other activities that could endanger your baby while wearing him in a baby carrier include reaching for an object on a high shelf or beyond your reach, as it could cause the object to fall over onto your baby. And never step on a step stool or climb a ladder because your center of gravity has shifted due to your carrying your baby in front of you and you could easily lose your balance.

Tags: baby-carrier, baby-carriers, baby-slings, babybjornsafety, babycarrierrecallinformation, babycarriersafety, babyslingsafety, babywrapsafety, parent-dish, sling-safety

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