CPSC Proclaims Warning For Parents Concerning Sling Infant Carriers
As many of you have probably heard, the CPSC has declared a notification to parents and how they manage their newborns in their baby sling. |A little over a week ago, the CPSC broadcast a warning for parents to use care while handling their newborns in infant slings.
The agency 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 increased 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.
A variety of fatalities involving child slings are being investigated from the past 20 years by the CPSC, including 3 fatalities in 2009. Infants younger than 4 months are the highest risk factor 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 baby are implicit with infant slings. In the first few months of life, children cannot control their heads because of their weak neck muscles. The baby sling carrier fabric can press against the infant's nose and mouth, blocking the baby's breathing and rapidly suffocating a little one within a minute or two. 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. Your baby will not be able to cry and could potentially suffocate. The CPSC recommends that parents and caregivers make sure the baby's face is never 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!
|
