Posts Tagged ‘sling’

Mom Guilt?

I was reading some articles this morning, mostly about parenting-type subjects.  One that I came across particularly caught my attention.  It essentially was saying that the introduction of modern cloth diapers into the mainstream was adding yet another decision for mothers, thus perpetuating the potential for mom-guilt.  Huh?

As if Pampers saved our lives back in the 60’s when they came out with disposable diapers?  I don’t know about everyone else, but I have some friends that use cloth and some that don’t.  To the best of my knowledge both groups are happy with their decisions.  If I had a friend that felt guilty for not trying cloth, I would probably suggest she give it a try! (Novel idea, I know!)  Why feel guilty about something that is so easy and accessible to all?

I have admitted in the past to having friends who will approach someone about not having their child correctly buckled in their car seat or hanging loosely in a sling and on a few occasions in the past I have seen a new mother with a very young baby timidly breastfeeding in public amongst negative onlookers and have grabbed my toddler, sat down next to her and whipped out a boob in solidarity.  BUT – I can’t say I have ever been witness to or been involved in a conversation where mothers who used disposable diapers have been looked down upon or made to feel guilty, sounds like another excuse to say something negative about cloth diapering to me.

If using Pampers makes you feel guilty…DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

Tags: breast feeding in public, car seat, cloth diaper, cloth vs disposable, disposable diaper, mom guilt, new mother, pampers, sling
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More about the Sling Controversy

For all of  us seasoned sling-wearing mamas at MCDC, it’s heartbreaking to hear the chatter going on in the news about how slings aren’t safe.  Since the original warning by the CPSC that slings are unsafe for small babies and those under 4 mos – they have since gotten more specific by recalling the Infantino Slingrider which was the culprit of the 3 most recent sling-related deaths which sparked this media frenzy. The CPSC is currently working with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), Infantino, other sling manufacturers, consumer advocates, and test labs, among others, to develop voluntary standards that can be used as the basis for industry-wide, third-party certification. Unfortunately as consumers, we all have to be aware that not all products that are on the market are safe for our families and we have to use our own good judgement and parents’ intuition and hope for the best.

Its important to remember that women have been wearing their babies since the early ancient civilizations and is not only practical but extremely beneficial to the child.  Not all parents realize how important attachment is – babywearing facilitates breastfeeding, decreases crying, and helps babies sleep better.  Studies have also shown a marked difference in the attachment of a child carried in a car seat as opposed to worn in a sling.  Here are some general rules of thumb to follow if you are concerned about the safety of your own child when using a wrap or sling.

• Choose only a sling that lets you see baby’s face.
• Be sure baby is not curled up tightly, chin to chest. This position can restrict breathing, especially in newborns or infants who cannot yet hold up their heads.
• Make sure that the sling fabric is “breathable,” and keep baby’s face clear of the fabric.
• Do not press baby’s face tightly against your body.
• Position baby’s face upward.
• Reposition baby if there are ?any signs of respiratory difficulty: rapid or labored breathing, grunting or sighing with every breath, or restlessness.

 If anyone has any questions about babywearing or any sling/wrap in particular, let us know.  If we don’t know the answer we will do our best to point you in the right direction toward finding it!

Tags: attachment parenting, baby carrier, baby sling, baby wrap, babywearing, breastfeeding, CPSC recall, infantino slingrider, sling, sling recall, wraps
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CPSC’s New Sling Warning

While many of us seasoned, sling-wearing parents look at the stories in the news with disbelief it is not difficult to see that clearly there is a break down of the fine line that seperates the safe slings that we use and these inexpensive “bag-like” slings that have been the root of all the controversy and the assumed cause of atleast 14 infant deaths.  How sad is it to hear of another parent’s baby suffocating because of something that could have been prevented?  We know that babywearing has been around since the beginning of time and there are very safe and effective ways to do it, but all slings are not created equally and its important to do your research before chosing the products that you use with your children and family.

I will post the CPSC’s warning at the bottom of this post, but as a member of mothering.com as I am sure many of you also are, I did read their press release and felt like a few of their points were worth re-posting.

1. Only choose a sling that allows you to see your baby’s face.

2. Be sure baby is not curled up tightly, chin to chest.  This position can restrict breathing, especially in newborns or in infants who cannot yet hold up their heads.

3. Make sure that the sling fabric is “breathable,” and keep baby’s face clear of fabric.

4. Do not press baby’s face tightly against the sling wearer’s body.

5. Position the baby’s face upward.

6. Reposition baby if there are any signs of respiratory difficulty: rapid or labored breathing, grunting or sighing with every breath, restlessness.

At MCDC we feel that its important to just be super aware of you baby’s needs and to observe whether they appear comfy or not.  What may be comfortable for you as the carrier, may not be for your baby and on the other side, what may look extremely uncomfortable for your happily snoozing baby may be the most comfortable and soothing position for them!  Most infants will let you know pretty quickly that they are not happy, but like the CPSC warning states, they are most concerned about preemies, low birthweight twins and other infants that might have respirtory issues for one reason or another.  Just for your information here is the warning from the CPSC’s website.

Infant Deaths Prompt CPSC Warning About Sling Carriers for Babies

WASHINGTON, D.C.- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is advising parents and caregivers to be cautious when using infant slings for babies younger than four months of age. In researching incident reports from the past 20 years, CPSC identified and is investigating at least 14 deaths associated with sling-style infant carriers, including three in 2009. Twelve of the deaths involved babies younger than four months of age.

Slings can pose two different types of suffocation hazards to babies. In the first few months of life, babies cannot control their heads because of weak neck muscles. The sling’s fabric can press against an infant’s nose and mouth, blocking the baby’s breathing and rapidly suffocating a baby within a minute or two. Additionally, where a sling keeps the infant in a curled position bending the chin toward the chest, the airways can be restricted, limiting the oxygen supply. The baby will not be able to cry for help and can slowly suffocate.

Many of the babies who died in slings were either a low birth weight twin, were born prematurely, or had breathing issues such as a cold. Therefore, CPSC urges parents of preemies, twins, babies in fragile health and those with low weight to use extra care and consult their pediatricians about using slings.

Two months ago, the Commission added slings to the list of durable infant products that require a mandatory standard. Additionally, CPSC staff is actively investigating these products to determine what additional action may be appropriate. Until a mandatory standard is developed, CPSC is working with ASTM International to quickly complete an effective voluntary standard for infant sling carriers.

CPSC recommends that parents and caregivers make sure the infant’s face is not covered and is visible at all times to the sling’s wearer. If nursing the baby in a sling, change the baby’s position after feeding so the baby’s head is facing up and is clear of the sling and the mother’s body. Parents and caregivers should be vigilant about frequently checking their baby in a sling.

Tags: babywearing, cpsc sling recall, cpsc sling warning, infant safety, infant sling, safe babywearing, safe slings, sling, sling death, sling recall
Posted in babywearing, bag slings, cpsc sling warning, ergo baby carrier, infant sling death, mothering, slings | No Comments »

Come on, we know everyone LOVES Facebook!

Well so do we, and we would LOVE to get some good conversations started over there.  Right now we are pretty much using it to let people know when we update the blog, have a sale, posted some pics, etc but we would love for everyone to feel like its a fun page to visit each time you log into FB to share funny stories, tag us in pics of your kids, whether cloth diapered, extended rear facing, using eco friendly products or toy, anything!  Who doesn’t love to look at cute pictures of kiddies anyway?

It also would be a great place to ask questions or get opinions, as you would not only get the worldly wisedom of MCDC (lol) but of other like minded parents.   Something driving you batty?? Did someone make a comment about your *huge* bulky diaper bag full of fluff, or your sling (poor baby doesn’t have a stroller), or *gasp* ask you why you can’t just use a bottle when you leave the house? I bet lots of us have been in the same boat atleast once as well.  Did you see a new type or brand of diaper and want to know if we have it, have tried it or are planning to carry it? 

We have some great new proucts – hats, boots, adorable Halloween babylegs.  We also now have in the new biodegradable liners for the Gro Baby diapers, so if you use G-diapers or sposies and want to try something new, we have that too.  I personally think these are a much better all around design then the G-diaper inserts.

Have a great day, happy diapering….oh and see you over on Facebook!

Tags: babylegs, biodegradeable diapers, cloth diaper, facebook, gro baby, halloween, like minded parents, no stroller, sling
Posted in Uncategorized, aio, basic cloth diapering, car seat, cloth diapering, cloth vs disposable, environment, extended rear facing, g-diapers, green living, gro baby disposable liners | No Comments »