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Those slings!

Well I have to say something, don’t I? It’s on the front page of CNN.com. “Grieving mothers blame baby slings for infant deaths.” The long and the short of it is that Infantino has voluntarily recalled 2 of its slings, the “SlingRider” and “Wendy Bellissimo” baby slings after 3 infants died.

My heart goes out to these mothers who thought they were bonding with their babies and instead wound up living out every parent’s worst nightmare. But I would like to quickly point out that the blame should not entirely be laid at the feet of one company. These 3 deaths were 3 of 14 deaths that occurred in sling-style infant carriers. The risk seems to be greatest for infants under 4 months and that makes perfect sense when you consider that infants younger than this don’t have the same degree of head control as an older baby, nor do they have the strength to push clear if their little nose or mouth becomes obstructed.

Therefore, before you either panic because you’ve bought a recalled sling or become complacent because you think your sling is not a safety issue, I’d like to remind you that there is a risk with all types of infant carriers, particularly the sling type. With any type of carrier, it is important that the baby’s head never be tucked down onto his chest and that his nose and mouth remain free from obstruction. The baby should always be visible to the wearer and checked on frequently. So what does this mean for me? My children hate riding “sling” style and my 2 herniated lumbar discs now prevent me from lugging my two chubbos around town on my chest. Eva is now in a “backpack” style ride where she can sit up and see the world. She gets a hat and sunglasses, is safety strapped in place and I carry a small mirror with me so I can see her face when I narrowly avoid whacking her head on a doorframe. In other words, always be careful, no matter how you transport your children!

Dr. Lara Zibners, Mar 25, 2010

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