Newbury Slings

25/03/2026

A reminder

Did you know that most primary school-aged children should still be in a car seat or high back booster? Sadly, children aged 4 to 10 (primary school age) are among the most vulnerable to injury in road traffic collisions, often due to improper or lack of car seat use. Data shows 39% of children killed or seriously injured fall into this age group, as they are often moved too soon to adult seatbelts, which do not fit properly.

It is strongly recommended to keep your child rear-facing for as long as possible - ideally up to 125cm (within child car seat limits). For many children, this can be up to around age 7 or school Year 2-3, depending on their growth centile.

Once your child has outgrown their rear-facing seat, the next step is a high back booster. This is essential, as car safety systems (e.g. seatbelts and airbags) are designed for adults. A high back booster is safer for a child, offering vital head and side protection and positioning their body to benefit from the car safety features.

The legal minimum to move out of a child car seat is 12 years old or 135cm tall, whichever comes first, however safety advice shows using an appropriate booster seat until they pass the 5 step test, offers much greater protection.

Only once your child passes the 5-step test (in each car they might travel in) is it safe for them to travel without a booster seat:

- The child's back is against the vehicle seat back?
- Do their knees bend comfortably at the edge of the seat and their feet resting on the floor?
- Does the lap belt sit across their thighs/hips not on their stomach?
- Does the shoulder belt sit between their neck and shoulder, not touching their neck or face?
- Do they sit sensibly with no leaning or slouching, even if they fall asleep?

If the answer to any of these questions is "no," the child still requires a booster seat to ensure the seatbelt is positioned correctly for maximum safety.

You can read more about the 5 step test here: https://bit.ly/4sEvbl1

[Image description: Infographic with 5 illustrated steps on checking safe seatbelt fit for a child, using text and diagrams for back, lap belt, and shoulder belt positioning.]

15/05/2025

There are four main areas to focus on with safety in slings.

🔵 Breathing

🔵 Sleeping

🔵 Feeding

🔵 Clothing

You can read more here and download the leaflet (free) at the link in the comments (it’s also visible from my website homepage in the sling safety section. I believe that websites/manufacturers that truly take safety and wellbeing seriously will have a link to good safety info visible on their landing pages without multiple clicks).

This will be incorporated into a refresh of my Carry Well and Carry Safe leaflet in time, and we will add packs of this infographic as a postcard/flyer to the website soon.

15/05/2025

Ah it’s lovely and warm.
Do protect your baby from overheating and burning - hydration, shade, parasols, light clothing etc

https://www.carryingmatters.co.uk/carrying-in-the-heat/

02/04/2025

Too good to not share :)

Carrier height matters. Babies have large heavy heads with a prominent occipital bone at the back which can be easily pushed forwards by fabric/panels, forcing the chin onto the chest and obstructing airway. This can happen in loose carriers also as baby curls forward and sinks down.

The ideal height is at the nape of the neck so the head is free to move and airway is open. The body of the carrier must be snug to support the chest.

Carrier height can be too low: small/young/sleeping babies need support to their upper back. Older awake babies who have trunk control may enjoy arms out (typically the age they can be perched on the hip and held with one arm).

Please see your local sling library for support if your carrier is too tall or loose. If your baby has a floppy head, let us help you, *don’t be tempted to put the panel height up*. Usually the carrier needs tightening around the chest or the carrier may too big for your baby. See the link below for more information and help/suggestions.

https://www.carryingmatters.co.uk/safe-carrier-height/



Thanks to Ronnie's Creative for the gorgeous artwork

20/02/2025

:)

We were asked recently to design and make an Extra Extra large carrier for a wonderful little girl called Esmae, you may remember Esmae, the little girl with Cerebral Palsy who climbed Scafell Pike with her parents. She’s had many adventures in her Extra large carrier so her parents contacted us to ask if we could go one size bigger. And here it is! A 26”x26” carrier with 5” wide padded arm straps. We hope Esmae has many more adventures in her new carrier ❤️

09/04/2024

Awww. Lovely to see all forms of carrying :)