Texas Baby Dies in Austin-Made Baby Sling

An Austin infant product company that dissolved in 2008 is at the center of a baby product recall after the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced that a baby suffocated in the sling in 2007.

According to a CPSC press release, the baby sling recall involves Sprout Stuff natural muslin baby carrier ring slings, which were sold in 2006 by a small Austin company. The recall, which was announced last week, came after a report that a 10-day-old infant died while in the sling three years ago in Round Rock, Texas.
About 40 of the baby slings were sold directly to consumers, mostly in Texas. The potentially dangerous infant products were sold between October 2006 and May 2007 for between $35 and $45. The slings have a “Sprout Stuff” tag. The CPSC tells consumers to stop using the baby slings immediately and not to attempt to fix the baby carriers. Instead, the baby sling owners should contact Sprout Stuff for a full refund by calling (877) 319-3103 anytime, or mailing the company at Sprout Stuff Refunds, P.O. Box 612, Buda, Texas 78610.
The CPSC released a general warning to parents regarding infant slings and baby slings after a large recall of the baby products earlier this year regarding the Infantino company. Slings could lead to injury and suffocation especially in very young infants that cannot easily re-position their heads because of weak neck muscles.