Baby Sling Warning from CPSC

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a warning that caregivers should be cautious if using sling type carriers for infants younger than four months. This warning is due to at least 14 deaths in recent years that were deemed to be caused by the slings.

CPSC says,

Slings can pose two different types of suffocation hazards to babies. In the first few months of life, babies cannot control their heads because of weak neck muscles. The sling’s fabric can press against an infant’s nose and mouth, blocking the baby’s breathing and rapidly suffocating a baby within a minute or two. Additionally, where a sling keeps the infant in a curled position bending the chin toward the chest, the airways can be restricted, limiting the oxygen supply. The baby will not be able to cry for help and can slowly suffocate.

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