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Parents and carers are being urged not to use so-called “baby sleep pillows” for babies under 12 months old, following links to infant deaths in the UK and abroad.
The warning comes in a product safety alert from the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), which says the items can pose potentially fatal risks of suffocation and overheating. The alert is published here: Product safety alert.
How baby sleep pillows can put infants at risk
According to the OPSS, the two main dangers are suffocation and overheating, either of which can lead to serious injury or death. The watchdog says these harms can occur when a baby is placed on a baby sleep pillow while unattended or when the product is used for sleep, including if it is put into a cot or crib.
Risk of suffocation
The OPSS warns that soft, squishy materials can cover a baby’s mouth and nose if the infant’s face is pressed against the product, potentially causing suffocation.
Risk of overheating and SIDS
Overheating is also highlighted as a potentially fatal hazard. The agency explains that if a baby sleeps on a soft surface that allows their head to sink in, heat may be prevented from escaping, raising the chance of the baby getting too hot.
The OPSS notes there is a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome if a baby overheats.
Signs of overheating to watch for
The agency is advising parents and carers to be alert to possible signs of overheating. These include a baby feeling hot on their tummy, sweating—especially from the face and head—becoming irritable, or breathing faster than usual.
Products may be sold under different names
The OPSS says these products can appear under a variety of names. Other common names include, but are not limited to:
Baby Anti-stress Cushion
Baby Comfort Cushion
Baby Cuddle Cushion
Baby Hug Pillow
Baby Pillow
Sleeping Pillow
Stuffed Pillow
Baby Sleep Cushion
Exhaust Pillow
What businesses must do, and what parents can do next
The OPSS says businesses will now have to ensure that any pillow or cushion product they manufacture, import or sell is not marketed as a sleep pillow for babies under 12 months old.
It adds that firms must also ensure clear warnings are included with any cushion or pillow product where there is a reasonable expectation it may be misused for baby sleep.
The OPSS says parents and carers should contact businesses directly to discuss redress if a product was marketed for baby sleep or for use while unattended. It adds consumers may be “entitled to redress under the Digital Markets Competition and Consumers Act 2024”, with information available here: consumer protection rights.
What the alert does not cover
The product safety alert does not apply to nursing pillows or other pillows designed and marketed to be used only for breastfeeding. It also does not apply to baby or cot mattresses which comply with British Standard, or to pillows for children over 12 months old.
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