I have written pretty extensively about my love for babywearing since beginning this blog.  There is nothing in the world better than snuggling your little one close to your body, with their sweet heads right under your face within easy kissing reach.  Safe babywearing is the ideal way to spend time with your baby, keep your sanity, chase a toddler, make a sandwich, and get things done.

I’d like to say I wore my son because of the many benefits to babywearing, but for me, it was truly something to save my sanity.  He didn’t want to be put down, and I couldn’t carry him everywhere.  I have worn him all over.  I used to take plane trips with nothing more than my baby, my Ergo, my Ergo Backpack stuffed with diapers, and an ID.  Seeing other moms pushing their strollers through security made me realize how convenient babywearing made travel.

I wore him during fireworks for 4th of July.  He was wrapped up and slept through it all.  I know that he felt safe and loved.

I have worn my son and nursed him while navigating through busy festival crowds and no one was the wiser.

To me, not babywearing (unless your child truly hates it, a rare but possible problem) is crazy.

The thing is, we need to do it safely.  I think the majority of mothers who even use the term “babywearing” are doing it safely.  These moms are using wraps, slings, soft-structure carriers, and so on.  They are not usually wearing Baby Bjorns or the recalled elastic pouch slings.  They didn’t get their carrier from Wal-Mart.  These moms are in the know.  But there are others who don’t know the correct positioning for a baby who is being worn.  Just yesterday I saw a father wearing a very new baby, tummy to tummy, in a Baby Bjorn.  The baby was practically down to his waist, and the back was not crossed correctly.  How he figured this was how it should be done is beyond me.  Did he even read the instructions?  And, if you want to know my opinion, I feel the Baby Bjorn is far more dangerous than any properly made and used sling or SSC.  Every time I see a baby dangling from their crotch, hardly even touching their parent’s body, I cringe.  Who are these pediatricians who are endorsing this product as safe?  Would you want to ride around on your crotch for hours?

To the CPSC has recalled a few slings recently, but their warnings made it seem that ANY baby carrier was unsafe.  This sent a shockwave of panic amongst parents who worried that their carrier might be unsafe.  Now it seems the babywearing industry is under further threats from the CPSC.

The Baby Carrier Industry Alliance is in need of monetary donations and help to spread the word.  The BCIA can help standardize safety standards for slings and is very close to doing so.  Hopefully this, along with better education about babywearing and how to do it safely, will prevent any further unnecessary infant deaths.  Thanks to online videos and very descriptive illustration tutorials, I was able to learn how to wear my son safely and comfortably.  I also don’t take for granted that there are local resources willing to teach classes on babywearing.

You can read the BCIA’s Position Paper on Babywearing/Kangaroo Care. This is a wealth of knowledge about the benefits of babywearing besides just the practical convenience of it.

If you are able and willing, please consider donating to the BCIA to help their legal fees.  If you can’t but you still want to help, share their page on Facebook, tweet it, or blog about it.

Let’s be clear: Proper babywearing is safe!  It is wonderful!  It is beautiful!  Don’t let all baby carriers suffer for the sins of a few.   Let’s use common sense when babywearing.  It really isn’t that hard!

Not long ago I shared with you the story of my friend and her experience with the new Dry Max diapers and the terrible rash her baby endured.  I also pointed you to the facebook page demanding the old Pampers back.  After that story posted their numbers doubled, and soon after major networks and websites picked the story up!  I would like to think I had a little something to do with that!

What is the official stance of Pampers now that the shit has hit the fan?

ABC spoke with Bryan McCleary who had the most idiotic statement made by a spokesperson, ever.

“Diaper rash is one of the most common symptoms and things that babies experience.  The things that are being described, things like blisters, breaks in the skin, deep red rashes, this is part of what is experienced by babies all throughout the year. As hundreds of thousands of moms and babies are switching to the new Dry Max, it’s clear that they’re coincidentally developing diaper rashes and severe diaper rashes at the same time.”

Let us break that down.

His first statement: “Diaper rash is one of the most common symptoms and things that babies experience” True, but it shouldn’t be.  Diaper rash has seen a huge increase since disposable diapers were introduced in the 1960′s.  I understand cloth diapered babies do get diaper rash, mine has, but not due to reactions based on the chemicals in his diapers.

“…blisters, breaks in the skin, deep red rashes, this is part of what is experienced by babies all throughout the year.” This blanket statement says nothing good for their products, before or after the launch of Dry Max.  If he believed blisters, breaks in the skin, and deep red rashes are normal, what is wrong with that picture?  I don’t expect that this is true, however.  Again, plenty of babies experience severe diaper rashes, but this is not the norm!

“As hundreds of thousands of moms and babies are switching to the new Dry Max, it’s clear that they’re coincidentally developing diaper rashes and severe diaper rashes at the same time.”

Wow.  Wow. WOW. The denial is shocking.  Pampers believes it is clear that the outbreak of rashes coinciding with the use of Dry Max diapers is coincidental. Get your head out of the sand and listen to the customers who have suffering babies with severe rashes.  Rashes that were clearly caused by your product.  Moms aren’t stupid.  They ruled out allergies, teething, illness, diaper size, etc.  The common thread amongst thousands of mothers was the Dry Max diaper.

Despite the denial, the complaints set forth by consumers has sparked an investigation of Dry Max by the CPSC (US. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The grassroots efforts of parents using Facebook has paid off indeed.

Even though McCleary insists the diaper was put through rigourous tests and is “…Pampers’ most thoroughly researched and tested new product since we invented the disposable diaper back in the 1960s…” there is something wrong.  I expect that the investigation will result in a mass recall of all Dry Max diapers.

If you are one of the parents who believe they have a rash caused by Dry Max diapers, do yourself and others a favor by filing a complaint with the CPSC by either calling (800) 638- 2772 or filling out an online form and submitting it to info@cpsc.gov.

To remedy your rash problems, most parents have seen near immediate relief by switching diaper brands. I personally would love to invite you to also consider using modern and convenient cloth diapers! If you would like help making the switch you are welcome to email me dirtydiaperlaundry at gmail dot com or read this handy guide. Not only would you be saving your family thousands of dollars, you will help ease the environmental impact disposables have on our planet and keep nasty chemicals away from your baby.

Update: Pampers has released an official statement (Reuters).  I suggest giving the whole thing a read, since it is fabulous, but here are a few excerpts.  And let me tell you, my head is swelling since I have an inkling they were referring to me!

These rumors are being perpetuated by a small number of parents, some of whom are unhappy that we replaced our older Cruisers and Swaddlers products while others support competitive products and the use of cloth diapers

Cloth diapers you say?  Who me?  Nah….

Because the number of families who use disposable diapers is staggering (something like 93%) obviously they sell billions of diapers (all of which are still in a landfill, every diaper, ever made.  Consider that.) Since they claim 2 customers per every one millions diapers sold, they are feeling confident in their stance.  They did say they are going to have to increase advertising (gag, get ready for a slew of new commercials and product placements in your favorite TV show) to make up for the damage done.

Pampers, even if it is a very small percentage of parents using your diapers, every baby counts. And those moms are seeking other brands or cloth diapers.  Good for them!