A charity of parenting has warned that 'hands -free' breastfeeding is unsafe after a seven -week -old died while being fed into a pendulum.
James 'Jimmy' Alderman was breastfed by his mother, Ellie, in a pendulum that she wore 'well', not tight – she could even see his face when she looked down.
While she fed Jimmy, who was six weeks and six days old, Ellie moved through their house, but after five minutes she realized that he had collapsed.
The resuscitation started immediately, but unfortunately he died three days later on October 11, 2023 in a hospital.
The National Childbirth Trust (NCT) and the Lullaby Trust have now announced a 'rapid change' in their leadership of practice after an investigation into his death.
Lydia Brown, senior coroner for West -London, warned that there was 'insufficient information' for parents about the safe positioning of young babies in carriers, especially when it came to breastfeeding.
George Alderman, Jimmy's father, said that the move was a 'good first step', but 'mixed with sorrow' because it cost the death of his son to change guidance.
Alderman, 38, added that he was made 'grateful' changes and that the family had felt 'strong' about updated guidance during the research process.
James 'Jimmy' Alderman (photo) died in the hospital on October 11, 2023, from suffocation
Jimmy with his father, George Alderman (left), mother, Ellie (right) and Big Brother Arthur (right)
He said: 'We are really happy that the Lullaby Trust and the NCT have updated their guidance, it was definitely something we found strong about the research process.
“It's a good reaction to what the coroner said, it's a good first step, but we still have the feeling that there are other things that have to change that will take a little longer.”
The Aldermans want to see a warning about breastfeeding on sling labels.
Alderman said: 'We are really happy that positive changes are starting to happen, but it is clearly mixed with sorrow.
'Why did it have to be, why did it have to be Jimmy to change something?
“We are grateful that things are happening, but it's just a shame that these things were not done for it, maybe we would have been more aware.”
Last year the Aldermans collected almost £ 19,000 for St George's Hospital, Momentum Children's Charity and Kingston Hospital Charity by organizing events under the name Jimmy's Cuddle.
After the investigation, the NCT and the Lullaby Trust published a joint response that promised to bring 'rapid change' to their guidance and to inform those who expect a baby who is hands -free breastfeeding 'always unsafe'.
George Alderman (photo), Jimmy's father, said that the move was a 'good first step', but 'mixed with sorrow', because it cost the death of his son to change
Lydia Brown, a senior coroner, concluded that Jimmy suffered a casual death as a result of hypoxic brain injury, from cardiac arrest of the hospital and accidental suffocation
In a prevention of the future death report, the coroner said: 'Baby Jimmy was breastfed in a baby carrier that was worn by his mother.
'After five minutes she discovered that he had collapsed and although immediate resuscitation was started, he died three days later on October 11, 2023 in St George's Hospital.
'Jimmy died because his airways was closed because he was not held in a safe position while he became inside the pendulum.
“There is insufficient information available from each source to inform parents about a safe positioning of young babies within carriers and in particular with regard to breastfeeding.”
Baby mooring – where a child is tied in a harness or wrapped in a pendulum so that they can be worn hands -free by a parent is popular.
But critics warn about the risk of suffocation because babies cannot lift their own heads if they are placed incorrectly.
This risk is increased for babies who are premature or have a low birth weight.
The NCT, which offers classes to expect parents, now says that babies must always be taken from a courier to feed and that practice is also a travel hazard.
Last year the Aldermans collected almost £ 19,000 for St George's Hospital – depicted George Alderman (left) and a friend Lewis Maison (right)
Their website reads: 'The use of a sling is linked to more frequent breastfeeding for at least an hour a day (the baby must always be removed from the wearer to feed)
'' Hands -free 'breastfeeding or bottle feeding, where the wearer goes around and does other jobs while the baby feeds, is unsafe.
'This is especially true for babies younger than four months old. It also applies to babies who were born prematurely or people with a state of health. Walking around with loose winding fabric can also be a travel hazard.
'If the baby has to feed, remove them from the pendulum. When they have finished feeding, send them back to the pendulum or place the baby in a safe room. '
Mrs. Brown concluded that Jimmy suffered a casual death as a result of hypoxic brain injury, from cardiac arrest of the hospital and accidental suffocation.
The NCT said earlier that you could breastfeed a baby in a pendulum, but that the baby must be supported at all times.
This advice was assessed by Mrs. Brown as 'useless', she also noticed that there was no guidance in the NHS literature on this subject.
NHS England and the Ministry of Health and Social Care have responded to the report of MS Brown, where the NHS promises to make their advice about safe baby carrier people who are more accessible and linked to breastfeeding supervision.
