For Immediate Release
Contact: Karla Shepard Rubinger, Executive Director, Academy of
Breastfeeding Medicine,
(914) 740-2100, ext. 2153, [log in to unmask] (mailto:[log in to unmask])
CPSC warning on slings misses the mark
New Rochelle, NY, March 19, 2010 — The Consumer Products Safety
Commission's warning on baby slings provides vague and misleading information for
parents.
The popularity of slings has increased tremendously in recent years, as
more and more mothers report that slings facilitate parenting and
breastfeeding on demand. "All slings are not created equal," says Arthur Eidelman, MD,
vice president of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. "Unfortunately,
however, the CPSC issued a blanket warning about all types of sling
carriers."
Ring slings, which carry infants in an upright position snug with the
parent's chest, protect the infant's airway. By contrast, the illustrations of
"unsafe" slings in the CPSC warning appear to be bag or duffle slings. In
bag slings, the infant is carried near the parent's hips. In this position,
the infant may be curled up and the neck may be bent, making breathing more
difficult.
The CPSC's advice on safe baby carrying is also misleading. The agency
recommends positioning infants so "the baby's head is facing up and is clear
of the sling and the mother's body." "The face out position they say is
correct could be risky with a premature infant, because of the baby's
unsupported neck," Eidelman says. "A baby whose face is sideways with cheek against
the chest, head slightly extended and body and shoulders and yes, face,
snug so that the baby can't move, is secured in a safe position."
In the warning, the CPSC reported 14 deaths associated with sling use in
the past 20 years, including 3 in 2009. The agency provided no information
on the types or brands of sling involved, nor did they account for the rapid
increase in sling use among parents in the US. This stands in contrast
with the hundreds of recalls of other juvenile products issued by the CPSC
that specify the precise brand and model number involved in adverse outcomes.
"Last month, when the CPSC recalled a crib model associated with 3 infant
deaths, they did not issue a blanket warning that cribs can be deadly,"
Eidelman notes. "Parents deserve the same precise, accountable information
when it comes to baby-carrying."
The _Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine _
(http://cl.exct.net/?ju=fe3316767067077c741576&ls=fdf01c777361047f751c737d&m=ff281776736c&l=fe5b157671650c7575
1c&s=fdf815797d6d067f74107076&jb=ffcf14&t=) is a worldwide organization of
physicians dedicated to the promotion, protection and support of
breastfeeding and human lactation through education, research, and advocacy. An
independent, self-sustaining, international physician organization and the only
organization of its kind, ABM's mission is to unite members of various
medical specialties through physician education, expansion of knowledge in
breastfeeding science and human lactation, facilitation of optimal
breastfeeding practices, and encouragement of the exchange of information among
organizations.
Breastfeeding Medicine is the official journal of the Academy of
Breastfeeding Medicine. It is an authoritative, peer-reviewed, multidisciplinary
journal published quarterly. The journal publishes original scientific papers,
reviews, and case studies on a broad spectrum of topics in lactation
medicine. It presents evidence-based research advances and explores the
immediate and long-term outcomes of breastfeeding, including the epidemiologic,
physiologic, and psychological benefits of breastfeeding.
Nancy
Nancy E. Wight MD, IBCLC, FABM, FAAP
Neonatologist
Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women and Rady Children's Hospital San Diego
Medical Director, Sharp HealthCare Lactation Services
San Diego, CA
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