Recall on Infant Slings

Parents should be cautious when purchasing a new baby sling. According to CNN, Infantino LLC has recalled more than one million of their baby slings today. This comes shortly after news that three infant deaths were linked to the use of these slings. These infants were reportedly 6 days, 7 weeks, and 3 months old.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission advises parents to immediately stop using these slings
for all infants and especially for those under four months of age. These slings have been sold throughout Canada and the U.S. Since January of 2003. With a reasonable price point between $25 and $30 dollars coupled with the fact that they were offered at some major retailers; Wal-Mart, Target, and Babies R US, many people had the opportunity to purchase these.

Infantino is said to be offering free replacements for two baby slings; "SlingRider" and the "Wendy Bellissimo." Both are designed for parents to wear and carry the child weighing up to 20 pounds. For more information on the recalled products and to request a replacement you can use Infantino's website, www.infantino.com.

This has not been the first company to recall their baby slings. According to the CPSC in the last 20 years there has been at least 14 deaths associated with baby slings. Out of the 14 deaths, at least 12 of those were in infants younger than four months. In the last 11 years alone over 37 accidents relating to the use of the baby sling have been reported.

Slings can potentially pose two types of hazards to your infant that every parent should be aware of. Young infants can suffocate because of how the fabric of the sling lays against their face. When in the sling the fabric can get pressed against them and since they are so young they do not yet have the control needed to move their head. Another potential risks is how the infants lay in the slings. Most of them lay in a curled position where the head rests on their chest. This position has the potential to restrict their airways.

Sources:

CNN-http://www.cnn.com/

Babycenter-http://www.babycenter.com/