As many of you have most certainly heard, the CPSC has issued a notification to parents and how they manage their newborns in their baby sling. |A little over a week ago, the CPSC published a notice for parents to use prudence while handling their newborns in child slings.
The Consumer Products Safety Commission urged caregivers to "be cautious when using infant slings for babies younger than four months of age." They also urged parents of tiny infants, twins, and children in poor health to consult their pediatrician before using a sling with their infant. "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.
Several fatalities involving baby slings are being inspected from the past 20 years by the CPSC, including three fatalities from 2009. Children 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.
Two particular hazards to your infant are inherent with baby slings. In the first several months of life, babies have difficulty controlling their heads because of their weak neck muscles. The baby sling carrier cloth 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. Children have been known to suffocate this way as they are not able to cry for help. The CPSC has recommended that parents and caregivers make certain the baby's face is not covered and may be seen at all times by the sling's wearer. In short, please be careful before using your baby sling and read the directions!