Peer-reviewed article
Adult-worn sling and baby carrier safety: exploring parental practices, knowledge and information needs.
Strong RLJ, Lovell-Kennedy SR, Grieve LM, Ball HL ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study surveyed 1,470 UK parents about their use of adult-worn slings and baby carriers, which have been linked to infant deaths. Most parents used these carriers for mobility and bonding, but many were unaware of safety guidance or specialist resources. Parents primarily found information through social media and blogs rather than manufacturers or official safety resources. The research highlights a need for universal safety information to be provided during pregnancy and early parenthood through trusted platforms.
Key points
- 96% of survey respondents had used adult-worn slings or carriers, typically starting in early infancy
- 25% of parents were unfamiliar with existing UK safety guidance, and another 25% felt it lacked important information
- Manufacturers provided little safety guidance with their products
- Parents primarily obtained information from social media, blogs and websites rather than official safety resources
- Many parents were unaware of specialist resources such as sling libraries
Limitations
The survey captured responses primarily from white UK mothers aged 26-45 years, so findings may not represent fathers, other caregivers, or more diverse populations. The study is descriptive and does not evaluate the effectiveness of specific safety interventions or identify which practices actually reduce infant harm.
Abstract
Background This project responds to concerns regarding infant deaths occurring in adult-worn slings and carriers (AWSC), the use of which is increasing in the UK. We aimed to explore how and why UK parents and carers use AWSC, their knowledge of AWSC-safety and where they find information about using AWSC. Methods An online survey for parents/carers about AWSC-use was designed in collaboration with a parent advisory group who also tested the survey usability. The survey was circulated via mail-lists and social media by the Durham Infancy and Sleep Centre, as well as AWSC-user groups and baby safety organisations. Results The survey captured 1470 responses from mainly white UK mothers aged 26-45 years with infants under 12 months. 96% had used an AWSC for multiple reasons (mobility, bonding, soothing, being 'hands-free'). Most AWSC-use began in early infancy; families purchased AWSC from physical or online shops. Manufacturers provided little safety guidance and many parents were unaware of specialist resources (eg, sling libraries). Social media, blogs and websites were popular sources of information. 25% of respondents were unfamiliar with existing UK AWSC safety guidance and a further 25% felt it lacked crucial information. Conclusions The survey outcomes highlight the importance of universal AWSC-safety information provision in pregnancy and early post-partum, targeted to mothers, fathers and other infant-carers. This should be disseminated via widely used and trusted platforms with signposting to specialist sources of support and guidance.