How do I check a baby sling using the TICKS rules?

What does each TICKS letter ask you to check?

The Consortium of UK Sling Manufacturers and Retailers publishes TICKS as a fit check, not a brand ranking. The Lullaby Trust and RoSPA both reprint the five letters. The National Child Mortality Database sets out the Consortium's longer wording for each point.

RoSPA's published position is an upright carry, held solidly against your body, with the chin off the chest so the airway stays clear. That is RoSPA's wording, not a MayTally product verdict.

How do I run a TICKS check before I leave the house?

Do this standing still, in good light, before you add a coat or a bag. NCT says to follow the maker's weight, age and size limits first, then apply TICKS on top.

1. 1
   Read the maker's instructions Check the weight range and the carry positions the model is sold for. NCT says that if a second-hand sling has lost its leaflet, ask the maker or download the current guide. Social-media demos are not a substitute.
2. 2
   Tighten until there is no slack Take out loose fabric at the rails and the waist. The Consortium wording is that slack lets the baby slump, which can hinder breathing.
3. 3
   Glance down at the face You should see the nose and mouth without opening the sling. Nothing from your clothing should cover the face.
4. 4
   Tip your head forward If you cannot kiss the head, the baby is sitting too low. Raise the carry, then re-tighten.
5. 5
   Check the chin gap and the back A finger should fit under the chin. Press gently on the back: the baby should not fold closer to you. Then walk a few steps and glance down again.

NCT also says the wearer needs to stay alert and not sleep in the sling, and to put extra cold-weather layers outside the carrier so straps still sit snug and the face stays clear.

What do RoSPA and The Lullaby Trust say about feeding in a sling?

RoSPA states that it does not support breastfeeding or bottle-feeding while the baby is in a sling or carrier, because that position does not match the upright carry it describes. The Lullaby Trust and NCT both say to take the baby out of the sling to feed, then return them to the sling or put them down in a clear sleep space.

• The Lullaby Trust flags 'hands-free' feeding — walking around or doing other jobs while the baby feeds in the sling — as a particular concern for babies under four months, and for babies born early or with a health condition.
• Loose fabric during a feed is also a trip hazard, in the Lullaby Trust wording.
• After a feed, do not leave the baby in a curled cradle position with the chin on the chest.

Who should ask a health professional before using a sling?

RoSPA says care should be taken with premature and low-birth-weight babies, and that you should seek advice from a health professional such as a health visitor. NCT uses the same signpost where the baby was born early, has a low birth weight, or has a medical condition. MayTally does not give a weight cut-off — that sits with the clinical team and the maker's instructions.

The Lullaby Trust notes that recorded sling accidents worldwide have often involved young infants whose airway was blocked by a chin-on-chest fold or by fabric over the mouth and nose. TICKS is a fit checklist. It is not a medical all-clear.

Does TICKS replace the maker's instructions?

No. TICKS is a position check that sits on top of the model you already have. NCT says a sling used outside the maker's instructions should be treated as in-arms only: do not do anything you would not do holding the baby in your arms. Different wearers often need different strap settings on the same carrier.

In shortIn short: run Tight, In view, Close enough to kiss, Keep chin off the chest, Supported back, every time you put the sling on. Take the baby out to feed. Ask a health professional before using a sling with a premature or low-birth-weight baby. Official checklists describe a position; they do not grade a brand as fine to buy.