Infantino, Caused Three Deaths, Recalls Baby Slings

• Date: March 25, 2010
• Source: Admin

After death of three infants, Infantino is finally recalling SlingRider Baby Slings, announced the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Health Canada (HC).

CPSC announced to stop buying or using the SlingRider and Wendy Bellissimo slings for children younger than four months. For free replacement of the slings, consumers can contact the san-Diego based Infantino. Additionally, the CPSC has given a strong advice “Do not attempt to fix these carriers”.

CPSC has acknowledged the news of death of three infants due to these slings in 2009: a seven-week-old infant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; a six-day-old infant in Salem, Oregon; and a three-month-old infant in Cincinnati, Ohio. The CPSC is advising consumers to immediately stop using these slings for infants younger than four months of age as it has risk of suffocation.

From the U.S., one million slings are being recalled whereas from Canada, the number of recall is 15,000. After the news of death of three American infants, Britain also has started recalling as many as 10,000 baby slings.

The replacement program is free and involves the Infantino “SlingRider” and “Wendy Bellissimo” infant slings. One million of these infant slings are being recalled in the United States and 15,000 are being recalled in Canada. 

The CPSC in its warning letter, issued on March 12, 2010, informed about two different types of suffocation problems. As in the first few months of life, babies cannot control their heads because of weak neck muscles, the sling’s fabric can press against an infant’s nose and mouth, blocking the baby’s breathing and rapidly suffocating a baby within a minute or two. Furthermore, a sling keeps the infant in a curled position bending its chin towards the chest; therefore, airways become restricted, limiting the oxygen supply. The baby will not be able to cry for help and can slowly suffocate.

However, as of now, there are no safety standards for infant sling carriers. Hence, the CPSC has decided to develop a mandatory standard for infant sling carriers. While a mandatory standard is being developed, CPSC staff is also working with ASTM International and concerned companies, such as Infantino, to quickly develop an effective voluntary standard for slings.

Source: 

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article7074961.ece

http://money.cnn.com/2010/03/24/news/companies/infantino_recall/index.htm?hpt=T2

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-03-24/...

http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/19346