The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a warning earlier this month that baby slings — which parents put around their necks to carry their babies — may pose a risk of suffocation.
The CPSC further stated that it is investigating at least 14 deaths associated with sling-style infant carriers, including three in 2009. Twelve of the deaths involved babies younger than four months of age. The CPSC said many of the babies who died in slings were either a low birth weight twin, were born prematurely, or had breathing issues such as a cold. Therefore, it urged parents of preemies, twins, babies in fragile health and those with low weight to use extra care and consult their pediatricians about using slings.
There are currently no federal safety standards covering sling-type carriers.
Later in the month, Infantino, a major manufacturer of baby slings, announced that it was recalling one (1) million slings sold in the United States. In the relevant release, the CPSC urged consumers to immediately stop using the slings for infants younger than four months of age due to a risk of suffocation.
Infantino is offering a replacement product to those parents who contact them.
