new warning about baby slings

It seems every day there is another safety warning for baby products – and today is no exception!  Over the years we have shared quite a bit of information about baby products, especially those that are used to carry infants. Recently a new warning came out giving parents additional guidance when using baby slings.

These slings, often used by the parents who practice ”babywearing,” allow an infant to be carried without hands. While parents love the opportunity to be close to baby, dangers including falling and suffocation have been reported.  In fact, over the last 13 years, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has received information regarding 17 deaths and 67 injuries as the result of these baby slings.

Therefore, the CPSC has approved a new federal standard that applies to all infant sling carriers made or imported after January 30, 2018.  The new rules require the slings to have warning labels and clear instructions showing how to properly secure a child in the sling.  The warnings must also warn consumers of the suffocation hazards posed by slings, hazards of children falling out of slings and reminders to check the sling's integrity to make sure there are no broken parts. The standards also offer requirements for durability and weight.

For parents who choose to use baby slings, it is important to follow safety precautions, including ensuring the infant’s face is not covered and is visible at all times.