Babywearing Safety
Babywearing safety is an important topic.
Many parents aren‘t aware about the risks that can appear while babywearing.
In general, babywearing is very safe! When following common sense and some easy rules.
In this chapter I will cover the basic safety rules.
The TICKS rules
The TICKS rules are the babywearing safety guidelines in the English-speaking community.
T – TIGHT
TIGHT – Keeping your baby tight to your body
Your flat hand should find space between you and your baby and you should feel comfortable.
If your baby is too loose though, it can slump together with its chin falling on its chest, restricting the breathing.
I – IN VIEW
IN VIEW – Have your baby in view all the time
Can you see the face of your baby? Isn‘t its face buried in the carrier/wrap, your chest, under a cloth like a hood?
Covering the face of your baby or your baby burying its face in your chest is rising the suffocation risk.
C – CLOSE ENOUGH TO KISS
CLOSE ENOUGH TO KISS – Have your baby in a height where you can kiss its head
Having your baby high up on your chest is for comfort but also for safety reasons.
Especially for mothers, having the head of the baby above the breasts will guarantee free airways.
It is also the perfect height to have the baby‘s face in sight any time.
K – KEEP THE CHIN OFF THE CHEST
KEEP CHIN OFF CHEST – The chin of your baby should always be off its chest
But safely resting on your chest!
It is a very important rule to reduce suffocation risk.
Make sure your carrier is tight or else your baby can slump together and its chin can come to rest on its own chest. This can restrict breathing!
S – SUPPORTED BACK
SUPPORTED BACK – The back of your baby should be well supported and be in its natural shape.
The fabric of your carrier should be firm to your baby‘s back, embracing it. There should be no hollows or big pleats.
The carrier shall hold your baby upright and preventing it from slumping together.
Depending on the age of your baby, the back should be slightly curved or, for older children, in a straighter position.
Free airways, supported back, in all stages
The ASSS Rules
These rules are based on the texts of a German babywearing school and is actually ASSA in German.
The ASSS rules include the ergonomic position.
A – AIRWAYS
AIRWAYS
Are the airways free? No cloth covering the face? Isn‘t the face buried?
S – SUPPORT
SUPPORT
Is the back of your baby well supported and will it not slump together? No hollows or pleats in the fabric? Is the back curved in its natural way?
S – SPREAD
SPREAD
Are the legs of your baby spread in a natural way appropriate to your baby‘s age?
As older and bigger your baby gets, the more it will spread its legs.
S – SQUAT
SQUAT
Are the knees positioned higher than the bottom of your baby?
Small babies have their knees quite high while older babies will have them lower but still above the bottom.
WHY THESE RULES ARE IMPORTANT
When following all these basic rules, your baby is safe in the baby carrier.
It is very important that the airways are always free and your baby is well supported by a carrier – holding it upright.
After breastfeeding in the carrier, always put your baby back into position, even if it fell asleep during breastfeeding.
Don‘t cover the face of your baby with fabric (baby sling, clothes).
Unfortunately, there are still babies who die in baby carriers!
In most cases it isn‘t because the baby carrier isn‘t safe, it happens out of various reasons leading to suffocation.
Usually, these cases are listed under „sudden infant death syndrome“ because the reasons for the babies stopping to breath aren‘t clear.
However, while we have to have in mind that SIDS can happen everywhere: in a crib, in a co-sleeping environment, and also in a baby carrier, we can reduce the risk by always following the safety rules and monitor our babies closely.
If you notice that your baby isn‘t breathing anymore or changed color in the face towards blue, immediately call an ambulance and start with resuscitate measures how you have learned them in your baby emergency measures course.
It isn‘t a nice topic to talk about but I think it is important to share the knowledge.
In case of a „real“ SIDS, resuscitation is not working since babies aren‘t responding. In case of „simple“ suffocation, reanimation can work.
In Tokyo, depending on where you are living, there are sometimes free seminars about how to respond in case of an emergency regarding your baby.
Many online courses and in person courses are available too. It is always worth visiting one!