Baby slings, which are used to increase the physical proximity between the parent and the child, can pose a threat to the baby’s life reports the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The US Consumer Product Safety has issued warnings, especially to the parents bearing children below the age of 4 months. It has been confirmed that the use of baby slings leads to death due to suffocation among the children. The young babies have neck muscles which are weak and fragile and cannot support the head properly and the fabric used in the sling can cause pressure to the nose and mouth leading to suffocation and ultimately to death. The slings, which are made to put the baby in the curled position like the alphabet “C”, push the baby’s chin towards their chest, restricting the airways of the child.

The move to insure a legal safety standard for the baby slings are being pressed harder now due to the unfortunate reported death of 13 babies in the past.

The CPSC recommends that to ensure your baby is safe in slings, do not forget to uncover the baby’s face, it should be visible all the time, change the position of the baby after feeding in the sling, do frequent checks on the baby and if the baby is not healthy enough, then take recommendations from the doctor for the use of sling.