AN Australian mum has been left ” utterly inconsolable” after her three-week-old son suffocated to death in a fabric sling.
According to News.Au, the mum had been attending a post-natal check-up when nurses made the horrifying discovery.
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Ten minutes into the appointment, the mum unwrapped the newborn from the sling and handed him over to a nurse who quickly realised that he was not breathing.
Staff at the Long Jetty Community Health Centre performed CPR on the newborn but were unable to revive him.
A close friend of the woman told The Daily Telegraph the mum-of-three was “utterly inconsolable”.
They said: “It’s a horribly tough time for her and the family, she is beside herself, it’s still so raw, ans so is her husband.
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“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 after a post-mortem was completed last week and police are not treating the death as suspicious.
In response to the tragic incident, Red Nose Australia – a charity who supporting parents affected by Sudden Infant Death (SIDs) – has warned parents of the common mistakes they could be making with their baby slings using the TICKS guidelines.
However, the charity recommends that parents avoid using sling until their baby is at least four months old as they can be a “suffocation risk”.
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Tight
Keep the sling tight and ensure your baby is positioned high, upright and with their head supported.
Any slack will allow your baby to slump down in the carrier which can hinder their breathing an pull on your back.
In view at all times
You should be able to see your baby’s face by looking down.
The fabric of a sling should not close around them so you have to open it to check on them.
In a cradle position your baby should face upwards and not be turned in towards your body.
Close enough to kiss
You should be able to kiss the top of your baby’s forehead just by tipping your head forward.
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Keep chin off chest
Your baby’s chin should be kept up and away from their body to avoid restricting their breathing.
Ensure there is always a space of at least a finger width under your baby’s chin
Supported
A baby’s back should be supported in their sling, with their tummy and chest against you.
If the sling is too loose, they can slump which can partially close their airway.
This can be tested by placing a hand on your baby’s back and pressing gently.
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