After a series of deaths, parents are being warned about the danger of baby slings.
Recently there has been a resurgence in the popularity of baby slings as they are said to promote a natural bond between mother and baby.
U.S. health authorities are saying, however, that the slings pose a risk of suffocation and may have been responsible for the deaths of 14 babies. Babies can find themselves in a situation where their mouths and noses are covered by the fabric of the sling but because their neck muscles are so weak in the first few months of life they can't move to free themselves.
Also, when the baby is in a sling, its neck is kept curled up with the chin bent towards the chest which means that the airways can be restricted and the baby's oxygen supply is limited.
Previously slings have been popular as they have been seen to be practical because they allow parents to keep baby close to them and keep hands free at the same time. Slings are also seen to be a natural way to carry a baby, because the closeness to the parent's heartbeat makes the baby feel safe and secure.
An investigation has recently been launched in the U.S. into 14 deaths associated with baby slings over the last 20 years, including three in 2009. Twelve of the deaths involved babies younger than four months. The deaths have led to the U.S. Government issuing a warning over the use of slings with babies under 16 weeks.
Inez Tenenbaum, chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, said: 'We know of too many deaths in these slings and we know the hazard scenarios for very small babies. So, the time has come to alert parents and caregivers.'
In 2009 the same body warned about the safety of McLaren baby buggies after children's fingertips were cut off in a faulty hinge mechanism.
The British Government has not yet issued any safety warnings about slings but the Department of Health said parents should follow the guidelines printed in its Pregnancy Book, which is handed out free to expectant parents. This advises parents to make sure that the baby's head is supported and that the carrier is always fastened securely to the wearer's body.
Sheila Merrill of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), said: 'If parents feel they must use slings it is very important that they are shown and understand how to use them correctly.'
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