Mum ‘distraught’ after sling suffocates baby

A mum is said to be “inconsolable” after she unwrapped her three-week old son from a baby sling and found him suffocated to death.

A NSW mum is said to be “distraught and inconsolable” after she unwrapped her three-week-old son from his baby sling — to find he had suffocated to death.

The mother made the horrific discovery when she attended the Long Jetty Community Health Centre on the NSW Central Coast for her post-natal check-up on April 8.

It’s understood the mum unwrapped her newborn from the baby sling and handed him over to a nurse, who quickly realised the boy was not breathing.

NSW Police said the 36-year-old mum had arrived at the health centre with her son wrapped in a “fabric baby sling”.

Police said the mum and the nurse chatted for at least 10 minutes before she unwrapped her baby.

Staff at the centre frantically performed CPR on the baby but he was unable to be revived.

An inquest into the boy’s death will be performed by the NSW coroner.

A friend of the mother told The Daily Telegraphthe mum-of-three was “utterly inconsolable”.

“It’s a horribly tough time for her and the family, she is beside herself, it’s still so raw, and so is her husband.

“She had carried the baby properly on her front in the sling, she’s a mother-of-three, totally devoted to her children, they are her world.”

The family buried their son last week after a post-mortem was completed.

Police are not considering his death suspicious.

Three Australian babies have died while being carried in slings since 2010, prompting doctors to regularly issue warnings to parents.

Each tragedy was caused by the baby being pressed against the carrier, forcing the infant’s chin to be pressed against their own chest.

Red Nose Australia recommends parents do not put babies in slings until they are at least four months old, describing them as a “suffocation risk”.

“That position, whilst it might be comfortable in the womb, it’s certainly not a comfortable or safe position for babies once they’re born,” Dr Nicola Spurrier told 9 News.

The handful of deaths prompted doctors to push for safety standards to be introduced right across the country for baby slings.

The Australian government introduced the TICKS rule in 2014, focusing on baby sling safety.

TICKS was created in the UK by sling manufacturers after doctors raised concerns.

At least six babies have died in the UK from baby slings.

TIGHT

Make sure the sling is tight, with your baby positioned high and upright with his head supported.

IN VIEW AT ALL TIMES

You should be able to see your baby’s face simply by looking down. To avoid the risk of suffocation, ensure your baby’s face, nose and mouth remain uncovered by both the sling and your body.

CLOSE ENOUGH TO KISS

Following on from the recommendation to keep your baby positioned high, this section of the recommendations suggests that you should easily be able to kiss the top of your baby’s head just by tipping your head forward.

KEEP CHIN OFF THE CHEST

Your baby’s chin should be kept up and away from their body, and never curled so that his chin is forced onto his chest, as it can restrict breathing. You should also regularly check on your baby, because they can become distressed without making any noise or movement.

SUPPORTED BACK

A baby’s back should be supported in his sling, with his tummy and chest against you. If you need to bend down, do so from the knees, not the waist, and use one hand to support your baby’s back while you do so.