National Mens Health week
 and 
Father's story week 
14th - 20th June 2010
News of events to follow
Please view events page
Wednesday 16th June 2pm - 7pm
Redruth Mens Day and family fun event
Redruth Children Centre

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
“It is understood that a person who is on the record as an owner and director of Sparklebox Teacher Resources Limited (which appears to claim ownership of the SparkleBox web site and children’s learning materials) is a registered sex offender who has recently admitted a second offence, is on remand in prison and is awaiting sentence in January." 
Please be advised that this site is now filtered for school use and I would recommend caution if you use this site for your children

 

FOCUS ON...Baby sling safety
Following reports in the press of safety concerns about baby slings, the UK has now followed the US in issuing a product recall of one style of baby sling, the Infantino SlingRider.  

While there has been no evidence that these slings have directly contributed to the deaths of babies in the UK, they have been linked to the deaths of three babies in the last year in the States. 

10,000 slings have been recalled in the UK, with parents and carers advised to stop using them and return them to Infantino for a free replacement. In the US, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a product recall of two styles, the SlingRider and the Wendy Bellissimo earlier this month.  

The concerns surround the incorrect positioning of babies in the slings which are thought to cause them to suffocate, either by them being in a ‘C’ position with their chin being tucked in to their chest, potentially blocking airwaves, or their nose and mouth being smothered by the fabric itself. 

Following the recall, CAPT is consulting with paediatricians, product safety experts and manufacturers to explore the issue of safety. Once it has assessed the evidence, it will issue advice.

At present, it is thought to be babies of low birth weight, premature babies, twins, or those with respiratory conditions who are at risk. Over the past two decades 13 babies have died in the US while being carried in a sling, 12 of whom were less than four months old. The majority were either premature or suffered breathing problems such as a cold. 

Anne Smith, CAPT’s Honorary Advisor and product safety expert told CAPT: “There is currently a standard on ‘soft’ baby carriers but this does not include bag type slings.  It is unlikely that there would be a standard in the near future mainly because it would be difficult to assess the air permeability of the fabrics, which could be affected by detergents used when they’re washed.” 

She advised that parents should check on correct positioning of their child with the sling manufacturer’s instructions, but if their baby falls into the categories outlined by the CPSC (premature, low birth weight, multiple birth babies or with respiratory difficulties) then they should be cautious and check with their doctor or paediatrician before using one. 

Rebecca Ward, of the Consortium of UK Sling Manufacturers and Retailers reinforced this advice:  “While we are unaware of any fatalities in the UK in these bag style slings at the present time, we would caution against using them in light of the recommendations by the US Safety Commission.

“No safety problems have been brought to our attention with any other baby carriers. Make sure you read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions,” she added.

When using a baby sling, the advice provided by the Consortium of UK Sling Manufacturers and Retailers is that when you’re wearing a sling or carrier, don’t forget the TICKS mnemonic: 

Tight
In view at all times
Close enough to kiss
Keep chin off the chest
Supported back

 

Please look out for updates in subsequent newsletters and on CAPT’s website, and in the meantime, if any of your parents have any concerns about specific products, our advice is to contact the baby sling manufacturer. Please note that these concerns relate to ‘soft’ slings where the baby is in a horizontal position, not the more rigid baby carriers where it is upright.

 

Garden safety

After what seemed like the longest, gloomiest winter, I’m sure, like us at CAPT, you’ll be very relieved that summer finally seems to be here!

We hope it’s hot and we hope it’s long. We also hope that you’ll help us spread the word about safety outdoors, especially in the garden, and ensure that the children of the families you work with stay safe this summer and, crucially, away from A&E.

• Make sure young children can’t get onto roads or into other people’s gardens. Keep gates shut and bolted, and check hedges or fences to see that there are no gaps. There have been tragic cases of young children drowning in a neighbour’s garden pond.

• Keep young children away from lit barbeques or bonfires and remember that barbeques will stay hot long after you have finished cooking.

• If you’ve young children, remember to empty your paddling pool at the end of the day. Young children can drown in as little as 5cm (2”) of water.

• Keep all chemicals – such as weed killer or fertiliser – locked away and out of reach of young children. Keep them in their original containers. Never be tempted to transfer them to food jars or drinks bottles.

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