Infant Death Prompts Recall of Infant Slings Made by Sprout Stuff Due to Suffocation Risk

On June 2, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall of about 40 Sprout Stuff infant ring slings. The agency advises consumers to immediately stop using these slings due to a risk of suffocation to infants.

CPSC is aware of one report of a death of a 10-day-old boy in the recalled sling in Round Rock, Texas in 2007.

The Sprout Stuff infant ring sling is fabric/natural muslin and comes with or without a shoulder pad. The sling is worn by parents and caregivers to carry a child up to two years of age. “Sprout Stuff” is printed on the back side of the tail’s hem.

Sprout Stuff sold the recalled infant slings directly to consumers between October 2006 and May 2007 for between $35 and $45.

For more information, including how to receive a full refund, read the CPSC recall notice.  

On March 12, 2010, CPSC issued a warning about sling carriers for babies. Slings can pose two different types of suffocation hazards to babies. In the first few months of life, babies cannot control their heads because of weak neck muscles. The sling’s fabric can press against an infant’s nose and mouth, blocking the baby’s breathing and rapidly suffocating a baby within a minute or two. Additionally, where a sling keeps the infant in a curled position bending the chin toward the chest, the airways can be restricted, limiting the oxygen supply. The baby will not be able to cry for help and can slowly suffocate.