Heartbroken parents warn others about baby sling dangers after their six-week-old son tragically died in his
A HEARTBROKEN mum and dad have issued an urgent warning to other parents to be aware of the hidden dangers of baby slings, following the tragic death of their six-week-old son.
Ellie Alderman gave birth to baby Jimmy, who she and husband George called “calm and docile, a real little sweetheart”, in August 2023 – a brother for Arthur, who was then two years old.
But just six weeks later, the family experienced an unthinkable tragedy.
Speaking to The Times, Ellie recalled how they’d been getting ready for a family birthday party when Jimmy started crying.
As George was in the bathroom, Ellie decided to put the tot in a baby carrier and strap him to her chest, to breastfeed him.
“I used the carrier because at the time I was still breastfeeding Arthur,” she said.
“I knew that if I sat down and started feeding Jimmy, Arthur would try to jump on me as well.
“Jimmy latched on, stopped crying, fed and then seemed to fall asleep.”
The carrier was an adjustable design from US retailer Boba, and had also been used by Ellie when Arthur was a baby.
As she breastfed Jimmy, she kept a hand on his back to support him.
But as George began packing up the car for the family to head to the party, Ellie looked down and realised something was horribly wrong – as she saw that baby Jimmy’s nose was bleeding.
Not only that but he had gone completely white, and a stricken Ellie realised he wasn’t breathing.
“I started screaming,” she said.
“I was shouting, ‘Oh my God, Jimmy’s not breathing’.”
She put him on the bed, and was frozen in shock for several seconds as George called 999.
“I felt like the whole world stopped,” she explained.
Ellie then began CPR, which she continued until the ambulance arrived a few minutes later.
Once in the ambulance, and en route to the hospital, paramedics used a defibrillator to restart Jimmy’s heart.
Safety warnings for baby slings and carriers
According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), the “safest method of baby wearing is in a carrier that keeps the newborn baby solidly against the parent’s body, in an upright position”.
“Parents should ensure that they keep their baby’s chin off their chest, thereby keeping the airway free for breathing,” they added.
When you’re wearing a sling or carrier, don’t forget the T.I.C.K.S acronym to ensure your baby is safe at all times.
- Tight
- In view at all times
- Close enough to kiss
- Keep chin off the chest
- Supported back.
But the attempt was unsuccessful, and Jimmy was solely surviving on life support.
At was at this point that ambulance staff warned Ellie and George that even if Jimmy did survive, it was likely he would have suffered severe brain damage.
Over the next few days, Ellie and George had numerous difficult conversations with doctors, while Jimmy underwent various tests and hospital staff battled to save his life.
However, on October 11th, three days after he was rushed to hospital, Jimmy’s life support was switched off, after Ellie and George were forced to make the heartbreaking decision to do so.
I almost wanted someone to say it was my fault, because that’s how I felt
Ellie Alderman
As they tried to come to terms with Jimmy’s death, it emerged that he had slipped slightly in the carrier, which tilted his head backwards and caused his airway to become blocked.
Ellie added that she could see Jimmy’s face the entire time she was feeding him, so was therefore unaware that he had slipped position in the carrier.
While it’s unclear if the breastfeeding played a part in the tragic accident, Ellie added that experts have told her it may have been an extra strain on his breathing.
Jimmy also had a mild cold at the time.
Despite friends and family assuring her otherwise, Ellie kept blaming herself for her son’s death, as she said she “felt so guilty and so awful”.
“I almost wanted someone to say it was my fault, because that’s how I felt,” she sighed.
A coroner concluded last month that Jimmy’s airway had become blocked “as he was not held in a safe position while within the sling“.
And while there was no fault found with the carrier itself, the coroner also said: “There is insufficient information available from any source to inform parents of safe positioning of young babies within carriers — in particular in relation to breastfeeding.”
Carrier and sling retailers in the UK recommend using the acronym ‘TICKS’ – tight, in view at all times, close enough to kiss, keep chin off the chest, supported back – to ensure babies are in a safe position within the carrier.
And as they continue to try to come to terms with the heartbreaking loss of their baby, Ellie and George are hoping their story will act as a warning for other parents, to ensure similar tragedies are avoided.