Infantino Recalls SlingRider and Wendy Bellissimo Infant Slings Due to Suffocation Risk

Plain-English summary

Infantino LLC is recalling approximately 1 million SlingRider and Wendy Bellissimo infant slings in the United States and 15,000 in Canada. The recall was initiated because the slings can pose suffocation hazards to babies. In the first few months of life, infants have weak neck muscles and cannot control their heads. The sling's fabric can press against an infant's nose and mouth, blocking breathing. Additionally, if the sling keeps the infant in a curled position with the chin bent toward the chest, airways can be restricted, limiting oxygen supply. In these positions, a baby may not be able to cry for help and can slowly suffocate.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is aware of three reports of infant deaths that occurred in these slings in 2009. The victims were a 7-week-old infant in Philadelphia, Pa.; a 6-day-old infant in Salem, Ore.; and a 3-month-old infant in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The SlingRider is a soft fabric baby carrier with a padded shoulder strap designed for infants weighing up to 20 lbs. The Wendy Bellissimo branded slings were sold exclusively at Babies "R" Us. These products were sold at retailers including Walmart, Burlington Coat Factory, Target, Babies "R" Us, BJ's Wholesale, and Amazon.com from January 2003 through March 2010 for between $25 and $30. Consumers should stop using the recalled slings immediately and contact Infantino to receive a free replacement product.

The recalled product

Product

Infantino "SlingRider" and "Wendy Bellissimo" infant slings

Manufacturer

Infantino LLC, of San Diego, Calif.

Category

Consumer Product — Infant Carriers

Hazard

• suffocation
• airway-restriction

Affected units

15,000

Distribution

Related recalls