CPSC Issues Warning For You Parents Relating To Sling Infant Carriers
As many of you have almost certainly already heard, the CPSC has issued a caution to caregivers and how they handle their newborns in their baby sling. |A little over a week ago, the CPSC released a notice for parents to use care while handling their newborns in infant slings.
The company warned parents to "be cautious when using infant slings for babies younger than four months of age." It also urged parents of preemies, twins, babies in fragile health and those of low weights to use additional care and consult their pediatricians about using slings. "We know of too many deaths in these slings and we now know the hazard scenarios for very small babies," said CPSC chair Inez Tenenbaum.
The CPSC is looking into around 14 deaths over the past 20 years affiliated with sling-style infant carriers, including 3 deaths in 2009. Babies younger than 4 months are the highest risk group as 12 deaths involving baby slings over the past 20 years involve babies in this age group. The vast majority of these deaths involved a low birth weight twin, breathing issues, or were born prematurely.
Slings can pose two distinct types of suffocation hazards to infants. In the first few months of life, infants have difficulty controlling their heads because of their weak neck muscles. The baby sling carrier fabric can obstruct the infant's nose and mouth, interfering with the baby's breathing and resulting in accelerated suffocation. In addition, when a sling keeps an infant in a curled position bending the chin toward the chest, the airways can be restricted, limiting the oxygen supply. The baby won't be able to cry for help and may slowly suffocate. The CPSC always recommends that parents utilizing the baby sling make certain that they can see the infant's exposed face and be sure the baby's face is always visible. In short, please be careful before using your baby sling and read the directions!
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