Baby Slings & The Potential for Suffocation
As a parent‚ you know that the more you carry your baby‚ the less he will cry. Though‚ not all of us have the time and energy to carry our child as much as we would like. Many parents and guardians have to multitask and with a crying infant‚ that is hard to do. As a result‚ they turn to baby slings‚ which allows a baby to feel the same nurture and closeness to a parent while freeing the parent to do what they need to do.
When baby slings are used correctly‚ they can be a godsend. However‚ some parents and caregivers fail to read instructions and take the proper safety precautions before putting their infant into these slings‚ especially for babies younger than four months old. In the first two months of life‚ a baby cannot adequately control its head‚ which may lead to suffocation if the fabric presses against the infant’s nose and mouth‚ leading to sudden infant death.
In fact‚ Don Mays‚ of Consumer Reports‚ recommends that parents and guardians don’t use slings at all. “There are safer ways of carrying your baby than in a sling,” she says.
Safety Tips When Using Baby Slings
- Make sure the baby’s entire face is visible at all times.
- Do not allow the baby’s head to be covered by any fabric.
- Be sure that the baby is not hunched over with his chin touching the chest.
- Prevent the baby’s face from pressing tightly against the wearer.
Most baby sling manufacturers advise that babies must be 4 months or older to be put in the sling.
Baby Sling Recalls
In 2010‚ the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Health Canada‚ in cooperation with Infantino‚ LLC of San Diego‚ issued a recall of the Infantino’s “SlingRider” and “Wendy Bellissino” infant slings. In addition to this‚ a warning was issued about baby sling carriers after a string of infant deaths due to these slings. These slings are designed for infants weighing up to twenty pounds. However‚ after a further investigation by the CPSC‚ the babies who died in the slings were either of a low birth weight‚ were born prematurely‚ or had breathing complications from conditions like cold symptoms.
Parents of premature babies‚ twin babies in fragile health‚ and those with low birth weight should use extra care and consult their pediatricians about using slings.
Contact a San Diego Defective Product Injury Attorney
If your child has been injured or killed because of a baby sling defect‚ you are entitled to compensation for medical costs and for the loss of your child. Baby products need to pass through rigorous testing and consumers who buy these products should be able to trust that they are safe for their infants. When baby sling manufacturers don’t exercise the necessary precautions before opening it up to the market‚ they must take responsibility for the risks involved. The San Diego child injury lawyers at the Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers are skilled at handling defective product cases and wrongful death claims when kids are involved. We will get you the reparations you need and deserve. Call our San Diego personal injury law office at (888) 233-5020.
