When researching the past 20 years of sling use, CPSC identified at least 14 babies who died since 1998. Inside their sling style infant carriers, 12 of the deaths involved babies younger than 4 months of age. We are warning parents and caregivers to be cautious when carrying babies younger than 4 months of age in a sling. And to make sure that your infant's face is visible at all times when using these products. In the first few months of life, babies cannot control their heads because of weak neck muscles. When they are placed with their faces below the rim of a sling, they are not able to lift their heads to breathe. This leads to two hazardous situations. First, one particular risk occurs when the baby's head is turned toward the adult. An infant's nose and mouth can be pressed against the carrier and become blocked, preventing the baby from breathing. Suffocation can happen quickly within a minute or two. Second, when a baby lies in a sling, the fabric can push the baby's head forward to its chest. Infants cannot lift their heads and free themselves to breathe. This curled chin to chest position can partially restrict a baby's airways, causing a baby to lose consciousness. The baby cannot cry out for help. We urge parents and caregivers to keep these dangers in mind when selecting wearable carriers for babies. If you use any type of wearable carrier, make sure your infant's face is not covered, and you can see your babies face at all times. Be vigilant about checking your baby often when your baby is in a carrier. To check breathing, some sling manufacturers tell you to make sure you can fit two fingers vertically under the baby's chin. Many of the babies who died in slings were low birth weight or premature babies, a twin or babies with other health issues such as a cold. We urge parents of those children to use extra caution and talk with pediatricians about using slings. To prevent babies from falling out of wearable carriers, adults who use them should double check that latches and ties are tight and make sure that babies are secure before reaching for things.