Gov't: Baby Slings Can Cause Suffocation

(AP)  The U.S. government is preparing a safety warning about baby slings — those popular and fashionable infant carriers that parents can sling around their chests to carry their baby.

The concern: Infants can suffocate, and at least a few have.

The head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Inez Tenenbaum, said Tuesday that her agency is getting ready to issue a general warning to the public, likely to go out this week, about the slings.

"We know of too many deaths in these slings and we now know the hazard scenarios for very small babies," said Tenenbaum. "So, the time has come to alert parents and caregivers."

Tenenbaum spoke at a meeting of the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, an industry trade group that certifies certain children's products, including soft infant carriers.

Tenenbaum did not single out any specific baby slings or discuss the number of deaths linked to them. But there have been complaints for a couple years now about some baby carriers.

In 2008, Consumer Reports raised concerns about the soft fabric slings and some two dozen serious injuries, mostly when a child fell out of them. A follow-up blog warned about a suffocation risk and linked the slings to at least seven infant deaths.

Consumer Reports, published by Consumers Union, complained about the "SlingRider" by Infantino. The "bag style" sling wraps around the parent's neck and cradles the child in a curved or "C-like" position, nestling the baby below mom's chest or near her belly.

It's the "C-like" position that causes safety advocates to shudder. They say the curved position can cause the baby, which has little head and neck control in the early months, to flop its head forward, chin-to-chest — restricting the baby's ability to breathe.

Another concern: that the baby can turn its face toward mom's chest or belly and smother in the parent's clothing.

Infantino's "SlingRider" was recalled in 2007 for problems with the plastic sliders on the sling's strap. But there have been no recalls because of a suffocation risk.

A message seeking comment was left with an Infantino representative.

Baby slings have been billed as an important way for new moms to bond with their babies.

Use of slings, also known as "babywearing," has become increasingly popular in recent years, with colorful and vibrant slings seen on Hollywood moms and sold everywhere from big retailers such as Babies R Us to smaller outfits like BabySoSmart.com in Kansas City, Mo.

Tiffany Speck, a nurse who owns BabySoSmart and sells her own baby carriers, has been warning about slings where the baby falls into a chin-to-chest position in the classes she teaches at hospitals, stores and doctors' offices.

"You wouldn't want to put a baby in there," Speck said during an interview with The Associated Press. "The baby is curling, head toward toe, and what happens is the baby occludes its own airway."

Speck recommends that babies in slings remain in an upright position, with the baby's tummy facing mommy's tummy.

[armywifeof7]

Oh, but putting a baby in a baby bucket (aka 'carrier') when their spin is like spaghetti and carrying them around like a pomchi is okay? Or how about propping your baby up with a bottle of formula in said baby bucket so they can choke? Perfectly acceptable parenting in America.
Hey, let's ban blankets. They cover babies faces!

Check out all the deaths from baby formula. http://thebabybond.com/InfantDeaths.html

If Nestle owned Infantino this story would never make the news.

[armywifeof7]

Oh, but putting a baby in a baby bucket (aka 'carrier') when their spin is like spaghetti and carrying them around like a pomchi is okay? Or how about propping your baby up with a bottle of formula in said baby bucket so they can choke? Perfectly acceptable parenting in America.
Hey, let's ban blankets. They cover babies faces!

Check out all the deaths from baby formula. http://thebabybond.com/InfantDeaths.html

If Nestle owned Infantino this story would never make the news.

[Jaquirah1]

I recently replaced the sling and I bought my daughter a carrier because I felt her breathing sounded a bit disturbing. The slings state that the maximum weight is up to 25lbs. My daughter was 14lbs and I noticed that while in the sling asleep her breathing was heavier and louder than usual. When she woke up she tried to stretch but always became frustrated.
I was advised to buy a carrier so I did some research and I questioned parents in BuyBuyBaby who happened to be using the same carriers (EURObaby).
I listened and then I chose it. Such a huge difference in her breathing while asleep.
My concern was never about the baby turning inward while in the sling it was more about the chin to chest, which I think restricts breathing. That could have been what was happening with my daughter and that was enough for me to know to get rid of the sling.
As parents there are, always signs and we need to take heed.

[Jaquirah1]

This is a continuation of my above posting. For the public I personally support both strollers and carriers. Everyone has their own preference that's why they both viewed as highly important to different people. When I go into NYC I take both sometimes. My daughter like them both sometimes and can get bored with them both. They are both convenient and reliable so don't knock them unless you have tried them.

[bumpkingirl]

The only slings that have been involved in the infant deaths alluded to are the ones sold at mass market chains (wal-mart, target), because their design is horrible. Mothers have been wearing their babies in slings since the beginning of time in slings and rebozos (south america) and back carriers like mei tai (china) or podaegi carriers (korea), Kangas (africa) which are just variations of fabric sewn or tied together in different ways. The trouble part only came about because a greedy product manufacture thought they could improve upon that idea, and add lots of buckles and harnesses, but FAILED to pay attention to a very important aspect baby safety. Infantino has been asked by consumer groups and even babywearing advocasy groups to recall their dangerous slings because of the potential for harm. They knew these things could kill babies, but they were making money so they didn't care.

[rf35]

We've all seen it in alder children, now it's being seen with infants: parents who just don't pay attention to their children. Older kids will be placed in front of t TV set or video game consol and the parents expect the government to make sure that what their kids see is in line with their values (no violence, no sex, no drugs, etc.). Well, how about being a parent and actually controlling these things yourself? Learn how to change the channel! Same with the slings. If you have a baby around your neck and you still aren't paying attention to it, perhaps you shouldn't be breeding. I agree with stychokiller's comment...require a license to reproduce.

[MommaChelsea]

Oh good lord! People have been carrying babies in slings for centuries! It's just not something we've done in our culture until recently.

I've used 3 different type slings for my baby and they have all been great. The c-sling, which we used while he was smaller, I will admit was a little sketchy and non-traditional, but he LOVED it! We made sure to watch him carefully but it was a great way for him to bond with both mom and dad. The tummy to tummy sling was okay. The sling we use now is a more traditional sling and we use it to carry him on our hip since he is older and in control of his head.

As for those who claim it's not a workout, you should try carrying a baby in a sling! It's a hell of a lot better work out than just dumping them him a stroller and pushing it along.

Slings are great if used correctly. Just don't be an idiot about it and you and the baby will be just fine.

[thesevenveils]

Baby purses are not cool.

[mgpm-2009]

Three of my four children LOVED being in the baby sling. I never had a problem with them, I'm an attentive mom...I made sure they were able to breathe, I monitored them very closely. I think as with anything else you have to pay attention to what you are doing, not "set it and forget it." People have been using these for so long...my eldest child is now nearly 20---why haven't we heard this concern before now?

[ecowgur]

My first time seeing one of these was in a mall. The woman wearing it was pretty overweight and was wearing a shirt that matched the sling. I thought it was all one outfit and the baby was positioned at an angle that made it look like baby's head was her boob sticking out the top of her shirt. Seriously, it won't kill you to just hold your baby. In fact it burns calories and builds muscles. Considering your size you really should hold your baby. Your over-sized gut might hit your kid and cause damage or kill it. Is this kid your eighth one now?

[Fatesrider]

"Baby slings have been billed as an important way for new moms to bond with their babies. "

Apparently, the way mothers have been bonding with their babies since mankind first evolved - carrying them, nurturing them, holding them - hasn't worked as well as we thought.

No wonder we're all so screwed up. We were never nurtured properly by our mothers because they didn't HAVE slings.

Gosh, thanks for clearing up that mystery.

<exits sarcasm mode>