WASHINGTON (AP) -- The government is warning that those chic baby
slings that hip moms and dads are sporting these days can be
dangerous, even deadly for their little ones.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission says it has investigated
at least 13 deaths associated with sling-style infant carriers and is now advising parents to be cautious when using them for babies
younger than four months.

The agency says babies can suffocate when a sling's fabric presses against the infant's nose and mouth, blocking the baby's
breathing and suffocating a baby within a minute or two. The other
scenario involves slings where the baby is cradled in a curved position, nestling the baby below mom's chest or near her belly.