U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Issues Warning on Infant Carrier Slings

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSP) issued a warning on infant/baby carrier style slings on March 12, 2010. The warning advises parents and caretakers of infants four months old and younger to be very cautious when using the infant style carrier slings that have become so popular in recent years.

The warning comes after research disclosed that there were three infant deaths associated with using a baby/infant style sling in 2009. Overall, 14 deaths have been reported from using a baby/infant style sling in the last 20 years. More than half of the deaths reported were babies younger than four months old.

CPSP is cautioning parents that these sling style carriers can cause suffocation. Babies under five months of age cannot control their neck muscles on their own and this leads to a possibility of being suffocated if mouth/nose is pressed against the material of the carrier because the airway is totally blocked. The sling also keeps babies in a curled up position which can push their chins down to their chest and restrict the airway to where the baby cannot cry out for help. This causes the babies to slowly suffocate.

The majority of the babies that died from the incidents reported were low birth weight babies or born premature. Some also had breathing problems due to colds and congestion.

The CPSP is encouraging parents and caretakers of low birth infants, premature or underdeveloped babies to use extra care if they decide to use an infant sling. They are especially asking that you make sure the babies' mouth and nose are visible at all times.

I have a personal problem with this warning. With so many deaths reported from using these infant carrier/slings, why isn't the CPSP recalling them? How many more deaths need to be reported before this product is taken off the market?

So far the CPSP is only interested in hearing about any incidents and/or accidents that have happened to babies that have been using a sling carrier. I would like to encourage you, especially if you are a parent, grandparent, or parent to be to call and express your opinion on taking this type of product off the market.

You can call the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Panel at 1-800-638-2772 or visit their website at www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx.

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Consumer Product Safety Panel Warning on Infant Carrier Slings