Ugh. I have to start this post with that 3-letter word. The CPSC has decided they would like to shutdown babywearing. While not everyone can sew their own, either due to lack of time or talent, there are many happy babies out there being worn by their parents, either because of necessity, because they realize the benefits, or because soemoen else did it (heck, not the best reason, but I'll take it!).
In the end we have to find a way to ensure that safety is a priority, and it is with work-at-home parents. A "gateway" babywearing divice, HOTSLINGS, appears to be out of business (their website is down, and there's a letter of goodbye to them on the Babywearing Industry Alliance website). So, what's next?
Earlier this year, the CPSC issued a recall on bay-style carriers because some babies died. Yes, this is tragic (and I'll get slightly political, 4 times more babies die each year from circumcision...), but it doesn't mean that all babywearing is bad. In fact, babywearing is nothing new. It is something done for centuries out of necessity and to promote bonding. As a baby- and toddler-wearing mom, I am outraged that there appears to be action against babywearing.
According to their abstract, "The Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME), Father Involvement and Developmental Quotient (Griffiths) scores. Results: 1) Kangaroo mothers created a more stimulating context and a better caregiving environment than mothers in the Traditional Care group; 2) this environment was positively correlated to father involvement and 3) the family environment of male infants was most improved by Kangaroo Mother Care" ... basically, babywearing works and is better than plopping the baby in a stationary item or bucket... (Citation: Tessier, R., Charpak, N., Giron, M., Cristo, M., de Calume, Z., & Ruiz-Peláez, J. (2009). Kangaroo Mother Care, home environment and father involvement in the first year of life: a randomized controlled study. Acta Paediatrica, 98(9), 1444-1450. doi:10.1111/j.1651-2227.2009.01370.x.)
We know that infants, especially premature babies benefit from kangaroo care (babywearing).
We know that many babies and toddlers love to be worn for comfort and love to be touched
We know that this has been done for generations and is not something new
We know that babywearing is best for babies
We know that Dr Sears (and many others) indicate that sling babies cry less
We know that babies learn more when they're content, and sling babies cry less...
We KNOW that babywearing can be done safely.
Please help save SAFE babywearing - get rid of the "bag" carriers (made by large companies, not by moms who care!), educate for safe waring... and please contact government:
1. Stop all recall actions against baby sling companies until
2. We can finalize the ASTM voluntary sling standards (scheduled for November) and
3. Force the CPSC to follow their own internal procedures, stop using bullying tactics, and use sound science.
SENATE: Mark Pryor – Chairman, AR (202) 224-2353 (202) 224-2353
Byron L. Dorgan, ND (202) 224-2551 (202) 224-2551
Barbara Boxer, CA (202) 224-3553 (202) 224-3553
Bill Nelson, FL (202) 224-5274 (202) 224-5274
Claire McCaskill, MO (202) 224-6154 (202) 224-6154
Amy Klobuchar, MN (202) 224-3244 (202) 224-3244
Tom Udall, NM (202) 224-5941 (202) 224-5941
Roger Wicker – Ranking Member, MS (202) 224-6253 (202) 224-6253
Olympia J. Snowe, ME (202) 224-5344 (202) 224-5344
Jim DeMint, SC (202) 224-6121 (202) 224-6121
John Thune, SD (202) 224-2321 (202) 224-2321
Johnny Isakson, GA (202) 224-3643 (202) 224-3643
David Vitter, LA (202) 224-4623 (202) 224-4623
HOUSE: Bobby L. Rush, IL, Chairman 202-225-4372 202-225-4372 ; 773-224-6500 773-224-6500
Jan Schakowsky, IL, Vice Chair 202-225-2111 202-225-2111 ; 773-506-7100 773-506-7100
Ed Whitfield, KY, Ranking Member 202-225-3115 202-225-3115 ; 270-885-8079 270-885-8079
John P. Sarbanes, MD 202-225-4016 202-225-4016 ; 410-832-8890 410-832-8890
George Radanovich, CA 202-225-4540 202-225-4540 ; 559-449-2490 559-449-2490
Betty Sutton, OH 202-225-2266 202-225-2266 ; 330-865-8450 330-865-8450
Cliff Stearns, FL 202-225-5744 202-225-5744 ; 352-351-8777 352-351-8777
Frank Pallone, Jr., NJ 202-225-4671 202-225-4671 ; 732-571-1140 732-571-1140
Joseph R. Pitts, PA 202-225-2411 202-225-2411 ; 717-303-0667 717-303-0667
Bart Gordon, TN 202-225-4231 202-225-4231 ; 615-896-1986 615-896-1986
Mary Bono Mack, CA 202-225-5330 202-225-5330 ; 760-320-1076 760-320-1076
Bart Stupak, MI 202-225-4735 202-225-4735 ; 231-348-0657 231-348-0657
Lee Terry, NE 202-225-4155 202-225-4155 ; 402-397-9944 402-397-9944
Gene Green, TX 202-225-1688 202-225-1688 ; 281-999-5879 281-999-5879
Sue Wilkins Myrick, NC 202-225-1976 202-225-1976 ; 704-362-1060 704-362-1060
Charles A. Gonzalez, TX 202-225-3236 202-225-3236 ; 210-472-6195 210-472-6195
Tim Murphy, PA 202-225-2301 202-225-2301 ; 412-344-5583 412-344-5583
Anthony D. Weiner, NY 202-225-6616 202-225-6616 ; 718-520-9001 718-520-9001
Phil Gingrey, GA 202-225-2931 202-225-2931 ; 770-429-1776 770-429-1776
Jim Matheson, UT 202-225-3011 202-225-3011 ; 801-486-1236 801-486-1236
Steve Scalise, LA 202-225-3015 202-225-3015 ; 504-837-1259 504-837-1259
G. K. Butterfield, NC 202-225-3101 202-225-3101 ; 252-237-9816 252-237-9816
Robert E. Latta, OH 202-225-6405 202-225-6405 ; 419-668-0206 419-668-0206
John Barrow, GA 202-225-2823 202-225-2823 ; 912-354-7282 912-354-7282
Joe Barton, TX 202-225-2002 202-225-2002 ; 817-543-1000 817-543-1000
Information from http://www.thebabywearer.com/forum/showthread.php?416887-Brace-Yourself
(A TBW link to a 2008 indication of the lack of safety of BAG style slings: http://www.thebabywearer.com/forum/showthread.php?205359-Concerns-about-quot-bag-slings-quot-PIC-HEAVY-amp-LONG)
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