VIA: USA Today
Nearly two weeks after the Consumer Product Safety Commission warned parents that over-the-shoulder baby slings can be deadly for children younger than 4 months old, San Diego-based Infantino LLC is pulling two of its carriers — SlingRider and Wendy Bellissimo — off the market altogether.
The deaths of at least three infants prompted the original recall of more than 1 million baby slings sold throughout North America.
“Our top priority is the safety of infants whose parents and caregivers use our products,” Infantino’s President Jack Vresics, said in a statement today.
“Infantino is announcing a voluntary replacement program for the Infantino SlingRider and Wendy Bellissimo infant baby carriers to address concerns raised by the Consumer Product Safety Commission,” Vresics said.
The CPSC urges consumer to “stop using the recalled slings immediately and contact Infantino to receive a free replacement product.”
There’s a risk involved with all sling carriers, particularly for newborns the CPSC says. Babies’ weak neck muscles make it difficult to move to a better position if they are suffocating. But Infantino slings have raised specific concerns.
“It does not matter how old your baby is at this point with the Infantino sling,” said CPSC’s Scott Wolfson. “Do not use it. This sling places the baby in a very deep part of the product,” Wolfson said. “What is so dangerous is when the fabric covers nose and mouth or when baby is turned into the body of the mother and the airway is restricted.”
In October 2009, Don Mays of Consumer Reports magazine was so concerned about Infantino slings that he wrote a letter to the CPSC, drawing attention to three known deaths and urging the agency for a recall.
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