CPSC Gives Alert For You Parents Concerning Sling Newborn Carriers
As many of you have most certainly already heard, the CPSC has declared a notification to parents and how they handle their newborns in their baby sling. |A little over a week ago, the CPSC released a warning for parents to use care while handling their newborns in baby slings.
The Consumer Products Safety Commission urged parents to "be cautious when using infant slings for babies younger than four months of age." Additionally, they also urged parents of lightweight infants, twins, and children in poor health to consult their pediatrician before using a sling with their baby. "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.
A number of fatalities involving baby slings are being investigated from the past 20 years by the CPSC, including 3 fatalities in 2009. Infants younger than four months are the highest risk factor as 12 deaths involving baby slings over the past 20 years involve babies in this age group. Many of the babies who died in slings were either a low birth weight twin, were born prematurely, or had breathing issues.
Two particular hazards to your infant are innate with baby slings. In the first few months of life, infants cannot control their heads because of their weak neck muscles. The baby sling carrier cloth is known to hinder the baby's airways, ultimately suffocating them within a minute or two. Additionally, 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. Your child will not be able to cry for help and may gradually 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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