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

WASHINGTON, June 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with Sprout Stuff, of Austin, Texas, is announcing the recall of about 40 Sprout Stuff infant ring slings. CPSC advises consumers to immediately stop using these slings due to a risk of suffocation to infants.

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CPSC and Sprout Stuff are 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, which were made in the United States, directly to consumers between October 2006 and May 2007 for between $35 and $45. Sprout Stuff is directly contacting known purchasers of the recalled infant slings.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled slings and contact Sprout Stuff to return the sling for a full refund. Contact Sprout Stuff toll-free at (877) 319-3103 anytime, email the firm at [email protected] or contact the firm by mail at Sprout Stuff Refunds, P.O. Box 612, Buda, Texas 78610.

Do not attempt to fix these carriers.

CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product.  Please tell us about it by visiting https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx

Additional Message from CPSC:

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. CPSC has determined that a mandatory standard is needed for infant sling carriers. While a mandatory standard is being developed, CPSC staff is working with ASTM International and concerned companies such as Infantino to quickly develop an effective voluntary standard for slings. There currently are no safety standards for infant sling carriers.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death from over about 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction.  Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $800 billion annually.  The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals – contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

Under federal law, it is illegal to attempt to sell or re-sell this or any other recalled product.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772, teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. Consumers can obtain this press release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov. To join a free e-mail subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx.

SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission