Warnings Issued for Baby Slings After Infant Deaths

March 22, 2010 (by Attorney Michael Ehline) According to reports by baby sling injury attorney, Michael Ehline, the government has issued warnings about the popular baby slings after deaths. There have been approximately 13 deaths investigated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission of the infant carriers known as baby slings during the last 20 years.

SlingRider

This includes three deaths that were investigated during the past year and one case still under investigation. They also stated some of the infants that died were of low birth weight, a twin, had a cold or were born prematurely. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission twelve of the deaths involved infants that were under four months of age. They are advising parents and caregivers to use caution when using these carriers for infants under four months.

The agency has said that baby slings can cause suffocation into separate ways. The fabric of the sling can cover the baby’s nose and mouth suffocating the infant within one or two minutes. The second way that infants can have their breathing restricted is insulin use that form a C, in which the baby is near mother’s belly or other person and due to weak to control can flop ahead forward to the chest causing restricted breathing that can result in suffocation. In this position the infant will be unable to cry alerting the person carrying them in the baby sling.

The slings are made of a soft material and designed to make carrying an infant easy and allow bonding. These types of carriers have become popular and are known as baby wearing and are used by many nursing mothers. They are promoted by some baby experts as a way to calm a fussy infant. Consumer Reports became concerned, alerting in 2008 about baby slings after there were about two dozen injures including skull fractures after an infant fell from the carrier.
According to court records Safety Advocates warned last year after the death of one week old Derrik Fowlerz from Oregon who died in a baby sling due to positional suffocation.

The bag styled slings concern safety advocates the most due to the fabric that wraps around the parents neck cradling the child in a perfect position. According to the director of the breast-feeding Center for greater Washington not all baby slings are dangerous. Director Pat Shelley says that carrying the newborn infant allows the baby to rest solidly against mother’s body in a preposition. Shelley also stated in an interview that parents should be instructed about positioning the child correctly to keep their chin off of their chest, which can obstruct the Airways and proper breathing. Shelley being a nurse conducts class at the breast-feeding Center on how to properly wear a sling with an infant.

One of the slings that have been singled out by safety advocates is the SlingRider by Infantino, due to the curved position the infant can fall into inside of this baby sling. This is also the type that one week old Derrik Folwer suffocated in according to court documents and his parents claim against the company. A statement by Infantino said while they appreciate the actions that have been taken by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and will work with them, the parents and caregivers to address concerns about the baby slings. The company also stated they maintain their SlingRider infant carrier is safe.

Industry trade group chairman Inez Tenenbaum stated at a meeting of Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association that certifies 20 children’s products warned they were going issue a warning to parents three days ago. The organization that voluntarily sets safety standards have no current rules about the baby slings or the potential dangers associated with them.