Correct Positioning for Newborns

Wearing your newborn (0 to 3 months) in the sling has many medical and emotional benefits. It is simple and easy to use a baby sling with your infant but it is also important that they are positioned properly in the sling. Many parents assume that if an infant is having difficulty breathing, the child will cry or fuss, which is true for most infants, however, infants born prematurely or those with low tone or developmental delays may not cry out. When cradling a newborn in a carrier it is important that they are positioned properly so that they can breathe clearly and freely.

• Baby should not be curled tight chin to chest because this position partially closes
  baby’s airway. (With correct positioning there should always be at least one
  finger’s width of space under baby’s chin.)
• Sling fabric should not be draped across baby’s face. For slings made from thin,
  airy fabrics please check the airflow of the fabric by placing it over your own nose
  and mouth. No matter how breathable the fabric looks, if it is difficult for you to
  breathe through the fabric it will be difficult for baby as well.
• Baby should not be rolled so that his face is pressed tightly against the parent’s
  body. Position baby’s face upward when he or she is not actively nursing and
  when nursing ensure that baby’s nose is not blocked.
• An infant should be repositioned if he is having any sign of respiratory difficulty.
  Symptoms include: rapid or labored breathing, grunting or sighing with every breath and/or
  restlessness.

When first using a sling, it's a good idea to put the baby in the sling while sitting down. Maneuver the fabric in different ways and see which position works for you and baby. Always check to make sure that the baby's chin is not tight to its chest. One easy way to ensure this, is to fold up a thin receiving blanket into a small rectangle the width of baby's back and 12" long. Place this in the bottom of the sling where the baby's body will go and then place the baby in the sling. Make sure the baby's head is not on the folded receiving blanket, just the body. Again, do this for the first few times while sitting down and baby is happy and well fed.

As your baby grows, positioning them in the sling gets easier and with head control your baby's neck muscles become strengthened enough to support the airway.

Questions? Contact us at any time at: info@lucky-baby.com.

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