First reported 4 Apr 2014•Latest report 12 Dec 2024
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes safety-control failures specifically related to baby slings or carriers, including design or positioning guidance, warnings, breastfeeding-in-carrier advice, research or standards needed to identify and control positional-asphyxia and related risks.
Not included
Excludes general safe-sleeping concerns unrelated to use of a baby sling or carrier.
Excludes hoisting harnesses, patient slings and other clinical or lifting equipment unless the assertion specifically concerns baby slings or carriers.
Excludes generic infant-care, parenting or product-information deficiencies without a material baby-sling or carrier safety risk.
Excludes isolated injuries or deaths where no continuing deficiency in baby-sling or carrier safety controls is asserted.
Reports
2
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
4
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2014–2024
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
10
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
British Standards Institution1
Department of Health and Social Care1
NHS England1
Office for Product Safety and Standards1
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust1
Executive non-departmental public body1
Ministerial department1
NHS trust1
Product safety regulator1
Standards body1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
West London
Concerns raised2
Lack of guidance on breastfeeding young babies in carriers/slings
Lack of safety and positioning information for young babies in carriers/slings
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.9
Action
Review the prominence of existing baby-carrier safety information on the Better Health – Start for Life website and in personalised emails.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 28 December 2024.
Action
Consider ways to supplement Better Health – Start for Life content about baby carriers and breastfeeding.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 28 December 2024.
Action
Engage key stakeholders, including UNICEF UK, to develop appropriate messaging about baby carriers and breastfeeding.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 28 December 2024.
Action
Work with NHS England to establish consistent guidance on sling use and breastfeeding.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 28 December 2024.
Action
Develop revised parental guidance on hands-free breastfeeding using slings and carriers.
Stated by CAPT and NCT and the Lullaby Trust and The Royal Society For The Prevention Of AccidentsStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 28 December 2024.
Action
Provide consistent messaging that hands-free breastfeeding using slings and carriers is unsafe and should not be attempted.
Stated by CAPT and NCT and the Lullaby Trust and The Royal Society For The Prevention Of AccidentsStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 28 December 2024.
Action
Work with the NHS.UK website team to make sling-safety guidance easier to find and link it to relevant breastfeeding information.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 28 December 2024.
Action
Refer safe sling-use advice for consideration in NICE guidance.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 28 December 2024.
Action
Convene a multidisciplinary roundtable to agree simple, consistent sling and carrier messaging, supported by accurate images and visual assets.
Stated by CAPT and NCT and the Lullaby Trust and The Royal Society For The Prevention Of AccidentsStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 28 December 2024.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.6
Position
Baby sling manufacturers are responsible for providing clear guidance on product suitability and safe use during breastfeeding.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
The Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England are responsible for responding on baby-carrier and breastfeeding advice.
Stated by Office for Product Safety and StandardsRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Product manufacturers bear significant responsibility for providing parents with adequate guidance on the safe use of newborn carriers and slings.
Stated by NHS EnglandRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
NICE is responsible for considering whether recommendations on safe sling use should be included in routine antenatal advice.
Stated by NHS EnglandRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
The British Standards Institution is responsible for changes to the voluntary baby-carrier safety standard.
Stated by Office for Product Safety and StandardsRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Businesses remain responsible for ensuring product safety instructions reflect the latest safety advice.
Stated by Office for Product Safety and StandardsRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Inner North London
Concerns raised2
Insufficient research and restricted knowledge of positional asphyxia risks from baby slings
Failure to publicise baby sling positional asphyxia risks to parents
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Investigated the feasibility of surveying infant deaths in unusual scenarios such as slings and car seats.
Stated by University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 4 April 2014.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
Position
Data protection, consent, rarity and locally held uncollated records prevent a useful survey or prospective study from being undertaken.
Stated by University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Position
Further progress would require coroners to liaise with sudden infant death clinicians and release available child death review data.
Stated by University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
A study cannot be run from one centre, and undertaking one was outside the respondent’s professional interests and experience.
Stated by University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
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Includes safety-control failures specifically related to baby slings or carriers, including design or positioning guidance, warnings, breastfeeding-in-carrier advice, research or standards needed to identify and control positional-asphyxia and related risks.
