Recall: One million Infantino slings

This morning, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada recalled more than one million Infantino baby slings. The CPSC knows of three infants who died in these slings in 2009: A 7-week-old infant in Philadelphia; a 6-day-old infant from Salem, OR; and a 3-month-old infant in Cincinnati all died of anoxia, or lack of oxygen, after being carried in an Infantino SlingRider.
 
Two models are being recalled: Infantino SlingRider and the similar Wendy Bellisimo, which was sold exclusively at Babies "R" Us. The slings were for sale in the U.S. and Canada from January 2003 through March 2010 at Walmart, Burlington Coat Factory, Target, Babies "R" Us, BJ's Wholesale, Amazon.com, and various other retailers for $25 to $30. The slings were also recalled in Canada.
 
The CPSC advises consumers to stop using the sling immediately for infants younger than four months old. Babies that young often don't have neck muscles strong enough to hold their head up or turn if their breathing is blocked, so there's a risk of suffocation. Infantino is offering sling owners a choice of  replacement products that they may or may not want. See the recall notice for details. Consumers can contact Infantino at 866-860-1361 or at www.infantino.com. Read the full Safety blog post.

See our tips for how to safely use a soft infant front carrier—a safer alternative to a sling