Infantino Recalls More Than One Million Baby Slings

Washington, DCJust days after the US Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a public warning about baby slings, manufacturer Infantino— currently the target of a wrongful death lawsuit—announced the recall of more than one million slings.


Some 13 deaths have been potentially linked to baby slings made by various manufacturers over the last 20 years. The recall of Infantino baby slings comes in the wake of three infant deaths in the US, according to a report this morning on CNNMoney.com. One of the infants who died was only six days old; the others were aged seven weeks and three months, respectively.

The safety agency has said that baby slings should not be used for infants younger than four months of age.

The Infantino slings were sold in the US as well as Canada from January 2003 until March of this year and were available at a host of outlets, including Wal-Mart, the Burlington Coat Factory, Babies "R" Us and online at Amazon.com. The slings retailed for between $25 and $30.

In a statement the CPSC said the manufacturer is offering a free replacement for any consumer who bought the "SlingRider" and "Wendy Bellisimo" slings, both of which feature padded shoulder straps and are designed to carry children weighing up to 20 pounds.

Baby slings have found favor with new-age parents during the last several years. "Baby-wearing" is said to aid parent-child bonding, as it keeps infants close to their mother or father for an extended period of time.

However, some infants—especially those younger than four months—are prone to suffocation if they are not placed in the sling properly, or if they shift in the sling unbeknownst to the parent.

Some infants have fallen out of slings and have suffered fractured skulls and other injuries.