They look convenient to use and many babies appear snug and contented in them. But could baby carriers and slings inadvertently cause the death of infants?

Bank executive Serene Ng, 29, prefers to take turns with her husband to carry their two daughters, aged two years and 10 months, because 'babies look so uncomfortable when they are put into a sling or carrier'.

'I have also seen how some babies struggle and try to wriggle their way out when they are in the carrier or sling. That is so dangerous,' she adds.

Last month, more than one million baby slings made by Infantino were recalled in the United States and Canada because of concerns that the product could be linked to the death of three infants there.

Earlier, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission had issued a caution to parents about using slings to carry babies who are too young, born prematurely or have breathing difficulties. It is investigating at least 14 deaths over two decades that could be related to the use of slings.

In Singapore, retailers LifeStyle spoke to said they did not sell the Infantino slings but were quick to add that parents could buy them on the Internet.

A spokesman for the Consumers Association of Singapore said that it 'did not receive any cases or complaints regarding Infantino, baby slings or carriers' since the product recall in North America.

Nevertheless, some local shops are not taking any chances.

'We will provide one-on-one service and consultation for anyone who walks in wanting to buy a sling or carrier,' says Ms Ng Huei Ling, 25, leader of the stroller department at Kiddy Palace in Toa Payoh.

'The first question I will ask is how old and how heavy their babies are because there are some carriers and slings that are suitable only for babies of a certain weight group.'

She adds that 'slings which are wrapped around the body like a sarong and frontcarrying carriers' are the most popular at the store.

Madam Pang Shu Ming, 30, executive director at retail chain Mothercare, advises parents to buy the right carrier or sling for the right purposes.

She says: 'There are different designs that are meant for different purposes such as long walks in the park or short shopping trips.'

She notes that customers tend to do their own research and already know what they want to buy. On average, Mothercare sells 'a couple of hundreds of front carriers a month', she says.

The sling and the front carrier form the majority of baby carriers found in Singapore, neither of which marketing manager Tracie Chong likes. The 30-year-old, who has three sons aged one to five years, 'would rather use a pram because it is easier to manage and I have better control of the children'.

Unlike her, housewife Juliana Toh, 32, is a fan of slings and carriers. She has three - one sling and two front carriers - for her 11- month-old daughter.

She usually goes out alone with her baby, so having her in the sling leaves her hands free to carry her bag and do other things, she says. She adds: 'I still breastfeed my baby. With the sling, I can do it even in public places because the sling provides cover.'

Convenience must not be the only factor in deciding to use a carrier. Dr Adeline Wong, 42, a paediatrician in private practice, says: 'Parents need to be extra careful with premature babies or babies with low birth weight as they might be too small to fit safely into a carrier or sling.'

She also recommends that parents place their babies in a curled-up position when using a sling as this is their natural position in the womb and allows them to breathe.

After taking these precautions, she says, parents should still check on their babies regularly as they have poor control of their neck muscles and can easily slip into a position where they cannot breathe. She adds: 'Babies under six months old should never be carried around in a back carrier.'

Senior account director Lena Kwek's son is three years old and she still puts him in a front carrier. The 35-year-old says: 'It is convenient, allows me to do other things and I can check on him easily as his face is facing me.'

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This article was first published in The Sunday Times.