Friday, March 26, 2010

Babywearing advocacy in light of the recall...

Megan over at Sorta Crunchy had a great post recently on babywearing advocacy after the Infantino Slingrider recall.  She counsels, " Wear your baby with pride in public, and go prepared with a gracious and gentle script for countering the comments of those who seek to make you feel guilty for practicing this ancient and effective art."

I so agree, and would just add, have the principles of safe babywearing in your head, ready to explain.  See each encounter as an opportunity to, possibly, educate and enlighten someone as to the value of babywearing, and how to do so safely!

Megan adds,
"This is not the time to apologize or hide.  This is a time - motivated by compassion and sympathy for those families who have lost babies - to speak more clearly and boldly about what it means to wear your babies in a way that is, above all, SAFE."
Amen!


Also, are you on Facebook?
"In honor of the awful and unsafe Infantino SlingRider being recalled,change your profile picture to show you or a loved one safely carrying your baby in a sling! Let's spread the babywearing love!"
And add that as a caption or comment!

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

SlingRider Recalled

Infantino Recalls to Replace SlingRider Baby Slings; Three Infant Deaths Reported

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Health Canada (HC), in cooperation with Infantino LLC, of San Diego, Calif. are announcing a free replacement program for the Infantino “SlingRider” and “Wendy Bellissimo” infant slings. One million of these infant slings are being recalled in the United States and 15,000 are being recalled in Canada. CPSC advises consumers to immediately stop using these slings for infants younger than four months of age due to a risk of suffocation and contact Infantino for a free replacement product.
CPSC is aware of three reports of deaths that occurred in these slings in 2009; a 7-week-old infant in Philadelphia, Pa.; a 6-day-old infant in Salem, Ore.; and a 3-month-old infant in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The Infantino “SlingRider,” is a soft fabric baby carrier with a padded shoulder strap that is worn by parents and caregivers to carry an infant weighing up to 20 lbs. “Infantino” is printed on the plastic slider located on the strap. “Infantino,” “SlingRider” and the item number are printed on the instruction/warning label inside the baby sling carrier. “Wendy Bellissimo” branded sling carriers were sold exclusively at Babies “R” Us and have a sewn-in label on the inside of the sling strap that says in part "Wendy Bellissimo Media, Inc." and lists Item numbers 3937500H7 and 3937501H7.
Infantino LLC sold the slings in the United States and Canada from January 2003 through March 2010 at Walmart, Burlington Coat Factory, Target, Babies “R” Us, BJ’s Wholesale, various baby and children’s stores and other retailers nationwide, and on the Web at Amazon.com, for between $25 and $30.
The product was manufactured in China and Thailand.
Consumers should stop using the recalled slings immediately and contact Infantino to receive a free replacement product, with a choice of a Wrap & Tie infant carrier, or a 2 in 1 Shopping Cart Cover, or a 3 in 1 Grow & Play Activity Gym. A Jittery Pals Rattle will also be provided. Contact Infantino toll-free at (866) 860-1361 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.infantino.com
Do not attempt to fix these carriers.

CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about it by visiting https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx

Note: Health Canada’s press release is available at http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/recall-retrait-eng.jsp?re_id=1001
Picture of Recalled SlingRider
SlingRider


Picture of Recalled Wendy Bellissimo Sling
Wendy Bellissimo Sling

Monday, March 22, 2010

Friday, March 19, 2010

Recently Acquired...

If you're looking for a carrier, do yourself a favor and go check out the FSOT (for sale or trade) forum on TBW (thebabywearer.com)!  I just traded my moby wrap, which we love, for a Moby D- black with a pretty silk panel in the center.  So excited to add a dressy wrap to my stash!

This is our moby, getting some love a few weeks ago.

We really, really liked it, and I'm so glad it is going to a good home where it will get lots of love.  And we're going to love the Moby D... I just know it! :)

We both shipped our wraps yesterday, so here's hoping they both show up Monday so we don't have to be patient any longer than that!

Also in the mail on the way to me is something that I've been wanting for a few months and decided to go ahead and spring for as a birthday present for my kiddo's second birthday- the book A Ride on Mother's Back: A Day of Baby Carrying around the World!  I am so excited about this, since I know he'll love it and so will I. :)  Have any of you read it?  I can't wait to get it and read it to him!
A Ride on Mother's Back: A Day of Baby Carrying around the World 
I'm also excited since I used my saved up Swagbucks to buy the book for him! :)

I'm sure I'll be sharing pics of the new wrap in action once it is here, but here's a sneak peek...

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Are you wearing green? ;)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!
 This is my favorite mei tai EVER, and I just got it back from a mama who borrowed it for a few months.  Now she is enjoying the podaegi instead. :)  I don't really like outfacing carries, like this, but he wanted to see the world so we tried it out.  Now that I'm more experienced, though, we prefer back carries.  Not to mention that this chunky baby is now an almost two year old, and not being worn on the front at all- way too heavy!


Are you wearing any green today? :)
Maya Wrap Lightly Padded Sling in Olive GreenMAYA WRAP Lightly Padded Baby Ring Sling Carrier (SMALL - OLIVE GREEN)Maya Wrap Lightly Padded Sling MEDIUM (Light Spring Green-17)


Peekaru Original Fleece Baby Carrier Cover Medium - GreenHave you seen the Peekaru?  Adorable winter babywearing coat!




And below, Ergo, Ergo front pouch, and a cute hawaiian patterned Ergo...
ERGO Organic Carrier Sea Green/SilverERGO Organic Front Pouch - Forest Green GreenERGO Baby Carrier Hawaiian Print With Solid Green Lining

Beth at BabyEtte is offering her last Emerald Green silk sling at a discount thru midnight tonight, as well!
Happy (and safe) babywearing!

Monday, March 15, 2010

Sling Safety, Bag Slings, and the CPSC

Maybe you've seen some of the headlines or news stories recently...




So what does that all mean?  Is your carrier safe?  Should you continue babywearing?

Infantino Sling Rider Baby Carrier in Black ToileFirst, if you own the type of sling pictured, please DO NOT use it!  If you have one of these slings, please just throw it away - don't even donate it to a thrift store.
"The popular "SlingRider" by Infantino has been singled out for criticism because of the curved position that the baby can fall into while inside the sling. According to court documents, little Derrik Fowler was in an Infantino sling when he died and his parents are suing the company."


You can read more about these "bag slings" and their risks to babies here. I don't know what type of sling was being used in each of the 13 tragedies, but in at least two of them it was a "bag sling" like the one on the left.  These are dangerous because they put the baby in a curved position, with chin to chest, and make it harder for the baby to breathe.  Also, the elasticized sides can be a suffocation hazard, and make it harder to check on baby.  In one of the deaths, the mother was unaware that anything was wrong until she opened the bag sling. Your baby's face should NEVER be covered by fabric!


Moby Wrap Baby Carrier- OliveJan Andrea's page on sling safety notes, "You should always be able to see your baby's head and face, without opening the fabric to do so, and he should always be able to breathe freely and easily, with his neck straight and his head in a neutral position (not curled forward onto his chest)."

To the left is a photo of a baby being worn safely in a Moby Wrap.  Note that the baby is close to the wearer's face ("close enough to kiss") and has no fabric on her face.

Bottom line?  Slings, used safely, are safe. Here are some safety guidelines from Babywearing International:

 "A correctly-used baby carrier's positioning should mimic how you would hold a baby in your arms. A normal in-arms holding position is fairly snug to your chest and somewhat close to your face ("Close Enough to Kiss"). Babywearing advocates have been teaching about the importance of correct newborn positioning for years and warning against the use of slings that do not allow for safe wearing positions.

Here are some important guidelines to remember when wearing an infant:
  • Check to ensure that your baby is not curled up tightly in a chin-to-chest position; this compresses your baby's airway. Making sure there is a fingers' width or two between their chin and chest is a good guide.
  • Make sure your baby's back is straight and supported.
  • Monitor your child at all times. Make sure nothing is obstructing their face.
  • Be aware of how your movements affect the baby: avoid any bumping or jarring motions."
_____________________________________________________________________
And here are some sling alternatives to bag slings, if you need to buy a safe replacement:
 Note that Beth can easily kiss her baby's head, and she can see baby's face as well...

Other great ring slings:
Original Maya Wrap Sling (NOT PADDED) BRIGHT STRIPE - MediumMaya Wrap Lightly Padded Baby Ring Sling (Med - CHOCOLATE BROWN)Original Maya Wrap Sling (NOT PADDED) Black - MediumZolowear Cotton Baby Sling Sage, X-Small
 

And there are lots of other safe carriers...
Moby Wrap Original 100% Cotton Solid Baby Carrier, BlackERGO Baby Carrier Cranberry With Soild Cranberry LiningBabyHawk Mei Tai Black Sophia on Tea Black Straps
Left to right: Moby, Ergo, Babyhawk

So... use a safe carrier, and learn how to use it safely.  Safe and happy babywearing!