Baby sling warning coming...

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. government is preparing a safety warning about baby slings -- those popular and fashionable infant carriers that parents can sling around their chests to carry their baby.

The concern is that infants can suffocate, and a few have.

Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Inez Tenenbaum says her agency is getting ready to issue a general warning to the public, likely to go out this week, about the baby carriers.

She did not single out any specific slings or discuss at least seven reported deaths linked to them.

Safety advocates have cautioned that some slings, where the baby falls into a curved or "C-like" position inside the sling, can lead to suffocation by restricting the baby's breathing.

I hated those types of slings. I think this is the one they are talking about. Anytime I tried putting Max in it I felt like he couldnt breath. It would also come up and over his face, he also hated it. No matter how i adjusted it, it sucked!

Not only do they suck for all the reasons you mentioned, but also because they don't offer the right kind of shoulder and back support and they end up leaving you in pain! Padded slings, in general, are a PITA.

I bought one similar to this when Hannah was a baby.  I hated it and took it back the next day!   I'm glad I did!

They are talking about the Infantino padded "sling", and they should warn against them, they are horrible. Not only does the padding make everyone hot, leading to overheated babies, but they often cover babies face and padding prevents the mother/baby contact which is the reason you should wear your baby in the first place. It is also HORRIBLE for the back and sholder as it does not provide the proper support. Looking at moms with babies in them makes me think of those fancy purses that people have to carry their little dogs in LOL 

Baby wearing is an age old practice, and when done properly it is the most amazing and awsome thing you can do for your baby. Proper ring slings, peanut shell's, Moby's or Mei Tei's are all awsome, and can be easily learned and used properly. The mother/baby contact that is premoted while using them will prevent suffocation and overheating!

Glad you mentioned that because the Infantino was the one that I was going to get! Not anymore!

I heart my Maya Wrap BUT it does take practice to get it right LOL I practiced with my dog (yes, my dog LOL) and a cabbage patch doll until I really learned how to get it adjusted without dropping baby on his head. Now it takes me all of 30 seconds to get it on, get baby in and be on our way with a tight, secure hold that does not require me to keep my hands on him (we just started the back carry since he can sit up on his own, and I LOVE that because I can use both arms without worrying about hitting him in the head LOL). I have heard good things about the Hot Sling, although some have said that their sizes run small. 

I have been eyeing a MeiTei, but they are not cheap and I am afraid that my shoulder span will be to big for us to get a comfortable back carry. The Moby didn't work for me because I am big chested and broad shouldered, so it was too short (even the long one) to get a good tight fit for us.

Good luck, if you have any questions about any slings you find around the net don't hesitate to ask about them before you buy. I am crazy about reseracing things before I buy, so I have read up on most of them. 

I make my own ring sling, and regular unpadded slings or moby wraps are much safer than the ones they are talking about. But a lot of it has to do with user error too. There are still far more deaths involving strollers, cribs, and even swings than there are with slings, if you know how to use them correctly.