Babywearing Safety Questioned After Infant Deaths

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently came out warning parents of the dangers associated with infant slings and carriers. However, not all slings are created equal and the danger may not be worth the panic being stirred.

Infantino, a sling company that makes and sells the SlingRider, has put forth a recall on nearly one million of their slings after reports of three deaths. Suffocation due to the shape and style of their carriers has caused concerns about the safety of all carriers, and prompted the CPSC to look into issuing safety standards for all companies to abide by.

However, for some companies a set of safety standards is already being followed. Several sling and carrier companies became alarmed by the possible dangers from poorly made products several years ago and asked the Juvenile Products Manufactures Association (JPMA) to create a set of standards. A set of international standards were put in place by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), an internationally recognized standards creator for consumer products. A subcommittee was created to handle infant slings and carriers and enforce the stanards in the U.S. and Canada. Several members of the CPSC joined the subcommittee.

The dangers of some infant carriers, specifically the bag-style carriers, has prompted the ASTM to put more effort into educating consumers on the safety of proper babywearing as well as the risks of poorly made carriers.

"We see this as an opportunity to reach out and educate American consumers. We hope to provide valuable information allowing parents and caregivers to not only make informed buying decisions, but also to increase the awareness of how to properly wear children, especially babies, in baby slings and carriers," says Kristen DeRocha, ASTM Subcommittee Chair.

According to some, there are many benefits of babywearing that should not be overshadowed by the risks of a few bad apples. Improved health, decreased crying, and bonding are just some of the benefits being suggested by experts such as Dr. William Sears, Dr. Maria Blois, Urs A. Hunziker MD and Ronald G. Barr MDCM.

When done correctly, with a properly made carrier or sling, babywearing can be a wonderful way to maintain closeness and care for a young child. According to La Leche League International, millions of babies have been worn in one way or another throughout history. Companies such as Hotslings, Maya Wrap, Moby Wrap, Kangaroo Korner and Taylormade Slings are just some of the companies working with the ASTM to improve the quality of infant carriers and provide a safe way for parents to keep their babies close.