Feeding in Slings - Charity Statement
Below see's a copy of the email we have released as a charity surrounding the recent infant death while a baby was being breastfed in a sling. To find a copy of our TICKs information click here
Dear All,
Apologies for starting the New Year with a sad email but as this news has appeared in the Lowestoft Journal, we felt it is appropriate provide a statement.
We are saddened by the news that a baby has lost their life whilst in a sling, however we cannot comment on the individual case as we do not know the specifics such as how the sling was being used or what sling was in use. Feeding in a sling safely, whether breast or bottle, is never hands free but is an option to allow a baby to eat on the move and something our Sling Consultants are trained to support and teach.
We appreciate this may be a cause of concern for many; as a charity, LWBS have a babywearing strand and advocate for sling use and support for many parents accessing our services. Within the LWBS volunteer team there are several Babywearing Peer Supporters as well as two Sling Consultants who hold the highest level of training. Our Sling Consultants and Babywearing Peer Supporters are trained by Slingababy, a reputable training organisation within the UK, and hold the correct insurance.
As a charity we advocate for safe sling use because when used safely, slings are an excellent tool for parents to use, particularly in the early days of life. Our sling strand is open to all parents regardless of how they feed their baby. All of our volunteers are aware of basic sling safety and where to signpost families to if they are concerned.
We appreciate that locally we do not have Health Care Practitioners who are trained in babywearing however we wanted to reassure you all that we do provide trained support within the charity and this support is available. It is vital that all families, regardless of the sling type are following TICKs guidance for sling safety.
When wearing any sling, wrap or carrier, the infant must be high, tight and in sight. If you are feeding (breast or bottle) in a sling, some adjustment is likely needed, to get baby in a better position to feed in. Feeding in a sling/ wrap/ carrier is never hands free. Continuous monitoring is required when feeding in a sling, once the feed has finished, the baby must be returned to the correct position, the sling/carrier retightened and the safety checks carried out.
T - Tight - the sling should be tight enough to hug your baby close to you. Any loose/ slack fabric can lead your baby to slump down and hinder their breathing.
I - In view - you should always be able to see your baby's face, nothing should cover baby's head / face.
C - Close enough to kiss - baby's head should rest on the hard part of your chest, you should be able to tilt your head and kiss the top of your baby's head, without stretching.
K - Keep chin off chest - babies should not be curled up so their chin is pressed to their chest, this can restrict breathing. Always a minimum of 1 finger space under their chin.
S - Supported back - baby's back should be straight upright, curving gently round under their bottom in a J shape. Their knees should be higher than their bottom supporting their natural M position and their hip development.
We hold basic information on our website, over the next few weeks we will aim to put information on the website on feeding safely in slings.
We hope that by providing you with this information enables you to feel supported to talk about sling safety and to signpost families to ourselves for further support. Please do not hesitate to contact us with further questions or support required. We also have training upcoming on sling safety available for anyone to attend
Education Sessions for volunteers | My Site
We have made the decision to offer 10 free spaces on this training to support our healthcare practitioners following this news. Please could you email me to nominate someone for the session if you would like to take this place so we can ensure that you feel supported to meet the needs of families.
Regards
Kaya Thorpe
Chief Executive Officer
Lowestoft and Waveney Breastfeeding Support