Agency investigates baby carrier safety

(WPRI) -- Parents go to great lengths to assure that their children are safe, and now they're getting more help with new safety codes on products used by their babies almost every day.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) met Wednesday to toughen the standards on two baby products - bedside sleepers and hand-held infant carriers, both of which have been known to cause serious injuries and deaths.

Recalled baby products is a topic that's important to all parents, and in some cases it's a matter of life and death.

Over the past couple of years, the CPSC has approved tougher standards for cribs and play yards, and now the agency is focusing on two different infant products. This after numerous babies have either been severely injured or have died from strangulation.

From Jan. 2007 through June 2012, there were 36 fatalities associated with hand-held infant carriers. The majority of the deaths are attributed to the improper use of the carrier's restraint system.

From Jan. 2001 through Dec. 2011, there have been four fatalities and 36 incidents, some resulting in injuries related to bedside sleepers. The CPSC is currently looking at several defects or design flaws of the products that need to be changed, including poor assembly instructions.

The agency also identified design issues that may have attributed to injuries with hand-held carriers, including instability, sharp surfaces, unsafe infant posture and structural integrity.

The CPSC says they're now asking the public and the industry for comments. They hope to have the new mandatory safety standards in place within the next few months.

For more information, visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission's website.