CPSC issues warning about sling carriers

As promised, the Consumer Product Safety Commission today issued a warning to parents and caregivers who use slings for their infants. The agency said, "be cautious when using infant slings for babies younger than four months of age." It also urged parents of preemies, twins, babies in fragile health and those of low weights to use extra care and consult their pediatricians about using slings. (Learn about car seats for preemies and low birth weight babies.)

The warning came a few days after Inez Tenenbaum, the CPSC's chair, spoke to an industry standard-setting group. "We know of too many deaths in these slings and we now know the hazard scenarios for very small babies," she said.

The CPSC is investigating at least 14 deaths over the past 20 years associated with sling-style infant carriers, including three in 2009. Twelve of the deaths involved babies younger than four months of age. 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.

Slings can pose two different types of suffocation hazards to babies. In the first few months of life, babies cannot control their heads because of weak neck muscles. The sling's fabric can press against an infant's nose and mouth, blocking the baby's breathing and rapidly suffocating a baby within a minute or two. Additionally, when a sling keeps an infant in a curled position bending the chin toward the chest, the airways can be restricted, limiting the oxygen supply. The baby will not be able to cry for help and can slowly suffocate. The CPSC recommends that parents and caregivers make sure the infant's face is not covered and is visible at all times to the sling's wearer.

Read more in the full Safety blog post.

Get advice for infant car seats for preemies in our infant car seat Ratings, available to subscribers, and see our baby front carrier safety tips for related information.