Letters
Child health
Volume 195 - Issue 6

Infant deaths associated with baby slings

Authors:  Roger W Byard and John D Gilbert

Med J Aust 2011; 195 (6): 321. || doi: 10.5694/mja11.10693
Published online: 19 September 2011
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To the Editor: Recently, there has been an increase in the popularity and use of baby slings to transport infants. A sling is a soft fabric carrier, worn around a parent or caregiver’s neck, in which the infant is suspended. Slings are often promoted as a secure and easy way to carry an infant, that maintains close contact with the child.

An issue has arisen concerning the safety of such devices, in that infants may be placed in a position where there is excessive flexion of the neck (chin-to-chest positioning) or obstruction of the mouth and nose that may cause suffocation. Warnings have recently been issued by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.1 Sixteen deaths attributed to the use of slings have occurred in the United States and Canada,2,3 resulting in calls for mandatory standards by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.2

We report a South Australian case of a 2-day-old boy, born at 38 weeks’ gestation by normal vaginal delivery, who was placed into a cloth sling worn under his mother’s shirt and jumper and was subsequently noted by his mother to be cold and not breathing. At autopsy, there were no significant abnormalities identified, with no injuries visible on x-ray or physical examination. Results of toxicological, metabolic, virological and bacteriological studies were normal. In the absence of definitive pathological findings, the cause of death was undetermined, although the baby sling was considered a risk factor.

It is well recognised that infants placed in certain positions, such as in car safety seats, may be at risk of significant oxygen desaturation, and even death, due to upper airway compromise. This applies particularly to preterm and low-birthweight infants.4 It appears that a similar situation occurs with certain slings, albeit rarely, as the soft and rounded sleeping surfaces may promote a potentially dangerous posture that impedes normal respiration. Certain infants may also be quite vulnerable to airway occlusion, with deaths being reported while breastfeeding, for example.5

Given the cases of infant death associated with baby slings in North America, and this Australian case, it is important that parents and carers are made aware of potential safety issues with the use of these devices, particularly in very young infants. Constant monitoring of infants in slings is advised, to ensure that the infant’s head is facing outwards, with no covering of the face.

Authors

  • Roger W Byard1
  • John D Gilbert2
  • 1. University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA.
  • 2. Forensic Science SA, Adelaide, SA.

Correspondence: byard.roger@saugov.sa.gov.au

Competing interests

No relevant disclosures.

References

View this article on Wiley Online Library

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