Baby Slings Deadly? Consumer Safety Commission Readying Warning
WASHINGTON — The government is preparing a safety warning about baby slings – those popular and fashionable infant carriers that parents strap around their chests to give the little ones a cuddle on the move.
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.
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On the Net:
Consumer Product Safety Commission: http://www.cpsc.gov
All the more reason not to leave a baby in one of those things unattended.
Er.
Well.
Damn, how exactly does a baby suffocate to death right there under its mother's nose?
If it were in a crib on the other side of the split floor plan with its Lullabies playing, door shut, and monitor off, and mom on the veranda enjoying her fourth margarita this afternoon, I can see it suffocating to death with no one noticing...
but right there next to mom's chest?
Mom should lay off the Pot.
I'm sure.
LOL
Sorry, but really, the C shape is alot like fetal position, except the baby isn't in utero getting nutrients through its belly button. I can see how blood flow, might get cut off. But as a "baby wearing" mom to two babies, who lived through the experience to date, I recall constantly shuffling around, hanging laundry, poking the baby's cheek, nudging etc., it wasn't like I strapped him on and forgot about him. His breathing status was relatively important...
I dunno. Seems silly, moms need to pay attention. A nationwide recall of carriers I hope is not in order. Or putting out of business of all Work At Home Moms, who make and sell these carriers...
I equivilate (is that a word?) to someone forgetting to strap the baby in the swing, and the baby leaning out and falling on its head. Whoops, someone's sleep deprived and slacking. One parent (or 8) needs to pay attention, instead of the government or FDA or whatever, having to call all of us morons.
I'm personally thankful for product recalls and warnings. Hard to know what is quality today. If that type of carrier isn't safe then they shouldn't be allowed to sell it.
Quoting SillyJessi:All the more reason not to leave a baby in one of those things unattended.
Er.
Well.
Damn, how exactly does a baby suffocate to death right there under its mother's nose?
If it were in a crib on the other side of the split floor plan with its Lullabies playing, door shut, and monitor off, and mom on the veranda enjoying her fourth margarita this afternoon, I can see it suffocating to death with no one noticing...
but right there next to mom's chest?
Mom should lay off the Pot.
I'm sure.
LOL
Sorry, but really, the C shape is alot like fetal position, except the baby isn't in utero getting nutrients through its belly button. I can see how blood flow, might get cut off. But as a "baby wearing" mom to two babies, who lived through the experience to date, I recall constantly shuffling around, hanging laundry, poking the baby's cheek, nudging etc., it wasn't like I strapped him on and forgot about him. His breathing status was relatively important...
I dunno. Seems silly, moms need to pay attention. A nationwide recall of carriers I hope is not in order. Or putting out of business of all Work At Home Moms, who make and sell these carriers...
I equivilate (is that a word?) to someone forgetting to strap the baby in the swing, and the baby leaning out and falling on its head. Whoops, someone's sleep deprived and slacking. One parent (or 8) needs to pay attention, instead of the government or FDA or whatever, having to call all of us morons.
I agree with SillyJessi. These kinds of carriers are no less safe than anything else out there. It doesn't hurt to warn people, I guess, but it's kinda common sense that you should pay attention to your newborn at all times, how they're positioned, breathing, etc...A baby can just as easily suffocate in a crib or carseat or whatever.
Quoting SxyMartini:
I'm personally thankful for product recalls and warnings. Hard to know what is quality today. If that type of carrier isn't safe then they shouldn't be allowed to sell it.
Quoting SillyJessi:
All the more reason not to leave a baby in one of those things unattended.
Er.
Well.
Damn, how exactly does a baby suffocate to death right there under its mother's nose?
If it were in a crib on the other side of the split floor plan with its Lullabies playing, door shut, and monitor off, and mom on the veranda enjoying her fourth margarita this afternoon, I can see it suffocating to death with no one noticing...
but right there next to mom's chest?
Mom should lay off the Pot.
I'm sure.
LOL
Sorry, but really, the C shape is alot like fetal position, except the baby isn't in utero getting nutrients through its belly button. I can see how blood flow, might get cut off. But as a "baby wearing" mom to two babies, who lived through the experience to date, I recall constantly shuffling around, hanging laundry, poking the baby's cheek, nudging etc., it wasn't like I strapped him on and forgot about him. His breathing status was relatively important...
I dunno. Seems silly, moms need to pay attention. A nationwide recall of carriers I hope is not in order. Or putting out of business of all Work At Home Moms, who make and sell these carriers...
I equivilate (is that a word?) to someone forgetting to strap the baby in the swing, and the baby leaning out and falling on its head. Whoops, someone's sleep deprived and slacking. One parent (or 8) needs to pay attention, instead of the government or FDA or whatever, having to call all of us morons.
I still want a moby wrap but now I will be a little more cautious... he seems fine in our bjorn.
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You know things are bad when…– even Chris Matthews is upset with the HHS/contraception ruling.
- SxyMartini
on Mar. 9, 2010 at 5:27 PM