Father calls for industry changes after baby dies during 'hands-free' breastfeeding

The father of a seven-week-old boy who died after being breastfed in a baby carrier is calling for increased safety standards around baby slings.

James Alderman, who was known as Jimmy, was being breastfed "hands-free" within a baby carrier worn by his mother while she moved around their home.

Jimmy's father, George Alderman, told Sky News: "Baby slings are sold as being a lifesaver, allowing you to get on with your business while your baby's safe and close to you, but in this instance, we had our baby close, but not safe."

The inquest into his death heard Jimmy was in an unsafe position too far down the sling.

Mr Alderman said that while much of the available advice around slings focused on them not being too tight, few people were aware of the danger of the sling not being tight enough, and so allowing the baby to slump.

Explaining what medical experts think happened to Jimmy, he said: "After he'd been feeding, he fell asleep and then he slumped forwards. Then, because his head was covered and he had his chin against his chest, he was facing downwards.

"Nothing was covering his face, but because of the position he was in, that meant that not enough oxygen was going into his lungs because he was small and not fully developed, and that's why he stopped breathing."

Mr Alderman said that while many brands of baby carriers said they were safe for breastfeeding, the lack of advice around how to safely do it meant that parents were "left to work it out by themselves".

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Source: Sky News, 30 December 2024