Injuries From Baby Slings Rise As They Gain More Popularity

Beth Leistensnider on Fri, 8th May 2009 2:09 pm 

There are several very important facts to point out here. First, none of the above-mentioned recalls resulted in any injuries at all. No sling-related deaths have been due to falls, but due to SIDS or positional asphyxia. PA is a serious concern, but this is true across the board: newborns must be monitored carefully no matter what type of carrier or infant car seat or swing or bouncy seat they are. Infants may fall victim to PA is any of these NOT just a sling carrier. Second, no differentiation is made between “bag-style” slings and other pouches and adjustable slings with rings. Bag-style slings with a flat bottom and sides that extend vertically with tightly elasticized rails make safe positioning harder than in other pouch and ring sling styles. PA can be combatted in all infant carrying devices with better education about it, not scare tactics. Furthermore, the front packs that Mays claims are safer have had recalls, skull fractures and babies may suffer from PA in them as well-despite their having a standard to which they are supposed to adhere. It should also be noted that standards are being worked on and have been for more than a year; Mays claim that a front pack is a “safer” design is entirely unsubstantiated by hard data and is instead guided by cultural bias. To place the above statistics in context, Consumer Reports would do its readers a service to note how many injuries and deaths have taken place in cribs or car seats in proportion to their usage-and then note that they do not recommend against the use of cribs or car seats. Finally, some skull fractures resulted from the parent tripping and falling-an event entirely unrelated to the sling itself, its design, or ultimate safety.

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