A six-week-old boy died during hands-free breastfeeding in a baby sling, prompting a coroner's warning that has crystallized a growing safety concern: parents across the UK are using carriers and slings with little reliable guidance on how to use them safely.
Research from Durham University's Infancy and Sleep Center, published in BMJ Paediatrics Open, reveals a troubling gap between the popularity of baby carriers and the availability of trustworthy safety information. As more families turn to slings and carriers for mobility, bonding, and the freedom to manage household tasks—with most mothers carrying their babies for up to three hours daily—the risks of suffocation and falls loom quietly in the background. A baby's airway can be blocked when their nose and mouth press against a parent's body or fabric, or when they slump inside the carrier and pinch their windpipe. Though deaths are infrequent, experts say they are largely preventable.
The study surveyed 1,470 parents with babies under one year old and uncovered stark disparities in how families access safety guidance. The vast majority—89 percent—purchased their sling or carrier online, yet fewer than 3 percent received help from a virtual sales assistant or chat function. Even parents who shopped in physical stores found little support: only 30 percent received any advice at point of purchase. Instead, families cobbled together information from manufacturer instructions, social media, babywearing blogs, and word of mouth.
There is currently no evidence-based comprehensive national guidance on sling safety in the UK, despite their widespread use. Parents generally rely on the TICKS safety checklist, yet a quarter of survey respondents felt it lacked crucial advice on baby positioning, how long babies should be carried, and safe feeding and sleeping practices while in carriers. Some families discovered sling libraries—specialized spaces where parents can borrow carriers and receive personalized guidance from babywearing consultants—but awareness of these resources remains patchy. When parents did access a sling library or babywearing specialist, 76 percent received personalized safety advice. The problem is that many families never learn these resources exist.
Professor Helen Ball, Director of the Durham Infancy and Sleep Center, emphasized the urgency of change. "As most parents start using slings and carriers when their babies are very young and at their most vulnerable, it is crucial they know how to choose the most appropriate product and how to use it safely." The research calls for a UK-wide campaign to direct parents to trusted sources of guidance and specialist advice before or at the point of purchase.
The Lullaby Trust, a leading UK charity, is now working with health organizations and experts to develop new safety guidance. The organization's CEO, Jenny Ward, stressed the importance of accessible information during those critical early months. "Families should feel supported to make informed decisions when choosing to use a sling or carrier."
The path forward is clear: safety information must become visible, accessible, and standard wherever slings and carriers are sold. With better awareness of positional asphyxia, the importance of active monitoring, and guidance on safe feeding and sleeping in carriers, families can continue to enjoy the genuine benefits of babywearing—closeness, mobility, and soothing—without unnecessary risk.