The California company based out of San Diego is part of the Step 2 Family of Companies. It keeps its products simple, promoting fun with no fuss products.
US and Canadian consumer watchdogs announced the recall of the slings with two of its infant carriers, the SlingRider and Wendy Bellissimo. The company has initiated a free voluntary replacement program for its consumers. More than 1 million recalls are expected in the United States and 15,000 in Canada, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission released in a statement.
"CPSC advises consumers to immediately stop using these slings for infants younger than four months of age due to a risk of suffocation and contact Infantino for a free replacement product," it said.
The CPSC also stated that it knew about three reported deaths that occurred in 2009 involving the slings. One involved a seven-week-old infant from Philadelphia, a six-day-old in Salem and one of three months in Cincinnati.
Infantino president, Jack Vresics, said the recall was announced to address concerns raised by the CPSC and that its top priority was the safety of the infants. Vresics said the company plans to cooperate with the CPSC and investigate all of its baby slings. The company said it would offer a free replacement baby carrier, activity gym or shopping cart cover to any consumer affected in the recall.
In March, the CPSC had issued a broad warning about the sling-style carriers. It had said they posed a potential suffocation risk to infants, especially under four months. Since infants cannot control their heads at that early stage, the fabric can press against an infant's nose and mouth, blocking its breathing. Since the infant cannot move its head, it can suffocate within a minute or two. Also, since babies would be in a curled position, the chin would be bent toward the chest and restrict airways. Oxygen would be limited and the baby not able to cry for help. In an earlier warning from the CPSC, it had stated there were investigations and a few identified cases of 14 deaths in the last 20 years associated with baby slings.
The slings being recalled were sold from 2003 through 2010 to various retailers including Target, Babies "R" Us and Burlington Coat Factory. Consumers can call 866-860-1361 to receive a replacement.
Using Baby Slings For Years
Baby slings have been used for centuries around the world. In the Western word, there has been a revival of these slings.The invention of baby carrying devices may go back as far as 50,000 years ago to allow mothers to carry food as well as their babies. This lead to a new division of labor between men and women. Slings also allow mothers to keep infants near, making it easier to nurse at varying intervals.
Baby slings and carriers have adapted to the cultural normal. In some areas baskets carry babies, where in others, camping backpack type carriers are common. In New Guinea, a Mayan-style hammock holds an infant or child in a net on the back of the adult or can be hung on a tree branch.
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