subject: Death By Suffocation Caused By Baby Slings On Recall, Protect Your Family. [print this page] The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Health Canada (HC) have recently recalled over one million infant slings and 15,000 are being recalled in Canada. CPSC advises consumers to immediately stop using these slings for infants younger than four months of age due to a risk of suffocation.
The manufacturer in question is Infantino LLC, of San Diego, California and they are cooperating with authorities. You may contact them for a free replacement product for either the "Sling Rider" or "Wendy Bellissimo" infant slings. Their website is www.infantino.com. Since 1998 there have been 14 babies who have died inside these sling-style infant carriers and three of those fatalities have occurred recently in Pennsylvania, Oregon and Ohio. Baby slings have grown in popularity since the 1960's but have become extremely trendy in recent years. However, with any market that grows too quickly, there are several potentially dangerous baby slings on the market.
The Juvenile Products Manufactures Association (JPMA) has been working with current baby product manufactures and ASTM to create standards for this product. Important factors such as baby sling style (non bag style) as well as improper fabrics were all considered. Studies have shown that using a baby sling is beneficial for both the parent and child, so this product is very important.
Until standards and safety requirements are in place the CPSC reminds parents of new babies to take some precautionary steps to ensure the safety of your baby If you use any type of wearable carrier, make sure the infant's face is not covered and is visible to you at all times. Be vigilant about checking on your baby often when your baby is in a carrier. Please keep these dangers in mind when selecting wearable carriers for babies. In the first few months of life, babies cannot control their heads because of weak neck muscles. When they are placed with their faces below the rim of a sling, they are not able to lift their heads to breathe.
Remember that another particular risk occurs when the baby's head is turned toward the adult. An infant's nose and mouth can be pressed against the carrier and become blocked, preventing the baby from breathing. Suffocation can happen quickly, within a minute or two. When a baby lies in a sling, the fabric can push the baby's head forward to its chest. Infants can't lift their heads and free themselves to breathe. This curled, chin-to-chest position can partially restrict a baby's airways, causing a baby to lose consciousness. The baby cannot cry out for help.
These slings have been sold in Wal-Mart and Burlington Factory since 2003. If you have purchased a sling, contact the manufacturer and obtain information from the CPSC.
