Philadelphia parents use baby slings because they are supposed to be a nurturing way of keeping baby safe and comforted while on the move. The slings strap across an adult's chest, providing a convenient way to carry an infant close to mom or dad while keeping adult arms free. Now, the Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that baby slings may pose a serious personal injury risk to Philadelphia infants that can result in suffocation death. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the popular sling-type infant carriers most likely played a role in the inadvertent suffocation deaths of 14 infants, three last year. While the deaths are still under investigation, the agency has issued a warning to parents and caregivers in Philadelphia and across the country that infant slings can pose a serious personal injury hazard to babies that can result in their death.
Generally made of soft fabrics that cuddle the baby's body, infant slings are popular with parents and caregivers who find the slings comfortable to wear. Attachment parenting advocates recommend slings, or 'baby wearing," to enhance parent-child bonding. Many parents and caregivers enjoy the convenience of "holding" their infant while keeping their hands free for chores or activities with other children. What appears to sometimes happen though is that as the adult moves around the infant's head can become wedged against the sling. Unable to control their neck muscles, babies cannot turn their heads away from the fabric and are suffocated while essentially in their parent's arms.
Much discussion about the issue is being generated on talk shows and the blogosphere. The most divisive arguments center on whether baby slings are defective products or are being used incorrectly. Ultimately, the issue may be decided in court by Philadelphia personal injury lawyers or government regulators.
