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Infantino baby sling recall: Is your baby carrier on the list?

Infantino is voluntarily participating in a baby sling recall. Three children were reported to have died from suffocation while in two of the companies' models.

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Courtesy of US Consumer Product Safety Commission
Baby sling recall: Infantino is voluntarily recalling 1 million “SlingRider” and “Wendy Bellissimo” infant slings in cooperation with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. CPSC is aware of three reports of deaths that occurred in these slings in 2009. (Click on the arrows below for more photos.)
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Courtesy of US Consumer Product Safety Commission
US Consumer Product Safety Commission advises parents using an infant sling to make sure the infant’s face is not covered and is visible at all times. Correct sling usage is seen here.
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Courtesy of US Consumer Product Safety Commission
The Infantino baby sling recall was necessary because the design allowed an infant’s nose and mouth to be pressed against the carrier and become blocked, preventing the baby from breathing, according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. But parents should be careful using any sling, experts say. This picture shows the wrong way to position an infant in a sling. (Click the arrow below for a photo of the correct way.)
  • By Tracey D. Samuelson Correspondent

Infantino LLC is recalling more than 1 million of its infant slings after reports surfaced of three fatalities of infants who suffocated while in them.

The two models involved in the baby sling recall are Infantino's “SlingRider” and “Wendy Bellissimo.” They were sold in the US and Canada from January 2003 through March 2010 at Wal-Mart, Target, Babies “R” Us, and other stores nationwide, retailing for between $25 and $30.

The San Diego, Calif., company is offering free replacement products for the slings.

To check if you own one of the affected models, look for the labels on the slings. For the “SlingRider,” a soft fabric baby carrier, “Infantino,” “SlingRider,” and the item number are printed on the instruction/warning label inside the carrier. “Wendy Bellissimo” branded carriers have a sewn-in label on the inside of the sling strap that says in part "Wendy Bellissimo Media, Inc." and lists Item numbers 3937500H7 and 3937501H7.

If you own one of the recalled slings, contact Infantino toll-free at (866) 860-1361 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Pacific Dayllight Time on weekdays, or visit its recall website at http://service.infantino.com/UnitedStatesRecalls.html. The company is offering a free replacement carrier or other products.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says it is has received reports of three infant deaths involving the slings during 2009: a 7-week-old infant in Philadelphia; a 6-day-old infant in Salem, Ore.; and a 3-month-old infant in Cincinnati.

The CPSC had previously warned of the danger of using such slings with young children in mid-March. In the first months of life, infants aren't able to shift their head if their airflow is restricted. Additionally, the position of the child in the swing – curled with chin resting on chest – can make breathing difficult. (Click through the photos above for examples of proper and improper positioning.)

The CPSC is currently working to establish safety standards for sling carriers.

This is the latest in a series of recent child-safety recalls. Last week, 1.2 million Graco highchairs were recalled. Previously, strollers made by both Graco and Maclaren were also recalled.

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