Around 1,115 of these products have been removed from online marketplaces including Amazon, Ali Express, Fruugo and Joom after the consumer safety watchdog issued takedown notices
Closeup portrait Newborn baby 5 months old sleeping with toy.
An urgent warning has been issued to parents and caregivers not to buy or use pillows marketed as baby sleep accessories as they pose a risk of death through suffocation or overheating.
These soft pillows and cushions are often marketed for baby sleep or as somewhere for a baby to be left unsupervised. However, experts have warned that this can cause suffocation or overheating which can lead to serious injury or death in babies.
The term ‘Baby Sleep Pillows’ covers a range of products marketed under names that include baby comfort cushions, sleeping pillows or exhaust pillows.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) issued the warning this week after establishing that the products are being made available for sale to Irish consumers, primarily through online marketplaces.
The CCPC said takedown notices have so far prompted the removal of 1,115 listings of these products from AliExpress, Amazon, Fruugo and Joom.
The consumer safety watchdog said product safety officers continue to engage with online marketplaces to ensure that any of these products marketed for sleep and use in cots with babies are removed from relevant platforms.
If you see a baby sleep pillow for sale, you should report it to the CCPC via our report an issue form.
The CCPC warned that babies can suffocate if something covers their nose and mouth, such as pillows, cushions or other soft items. The soft, squishy material can cover a baby’s nose or mouth if they are pressed up against it, causing the baby to suffocate. There would be no sound or warning that the baby is in trouble.
Parents have warned that use using these pillows could also cause overheating. The baby’s head can sink into the soft material, stopping heat from escaping. Overheating increases the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
These items should never be placed in a baby’s cot or left with an unattended baby.
Grainne Griffin, CCPC Director of Communications said: “Parents and caregivers buy these baby sleep pillows just hoping to help their babies sleep, but these products are potentially fatal.
“Pillows and cushions should not be marketed or sold for use in cots or cribs with sleeping babies. CCPC officers have secured the removal of a number of listings offering these unsafe products for sale and acted quickly to get them off the market. The CCPC will continue market surveillance activities for these products and ensure that sales to Irish consumers are stopped.
“Businesses must ensure that the items they sell are safe. We encourage consumers to contact us where they have concerns about potentially unsafe products.”
To help prevent cot death, the HSE recommends always placing babies on their backs to sleep with their feet to the end of the cot and keeping their heads uncovered.
Why are baby sleep pillows dangerous?
Baby sleep pillows – sometimes called soothing pillows, baby sleep positioners, baby patters or sleep companions – are soft cushioned products, often animal-shaped, which are marketed as sleep aids for babies. The products pose a risk of death when placed with sleeping and/or unattended babies.
Why are baby sleep pillows not safe under Irish law?
Baby sleep pillows are regulated under S.I. No. 199/2004 – European Communities (General Product Safety) Regulations 2004Opens in new window, which requires all products to be safe. Because baby sleep pillows create a risk of suffocation and overheating, they do not meet these safety requirements and must not be sold in Ireland.
Safety advice
- If you have bought a baby sleep pillow, stop using it straight away.
- Don’t put a baby sleep pillow, cushions or similar products in a cot or crib.
- Put your baby to sleep on a clear, firm, flat surface.
- Keep the baby’s head uncovered
- Know the signs of overheating – a baby’s tummy feeling hot, sweating on their head or neck, irritability or breathing faster than usual.
Parents should use cellular blankets (the tiny holes allow air to circulate) or a sleeveless sleeping bag. Make sure the cellular blanket is tucked loosely but securely below the baby’s shoulders.
Dr Fiona Cianci, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, HSE Child Health Public Health said: “Research has shown that there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of cot death or sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). This includes putting your baby on their back to sleep in a cot with a well-fitting, firm mattress and clear of all items, including soft objects or anything loose or fluffy.
“Pillows, cushions and similar products should not be in the cot as they could suffocate your baby. There is also a risk of a baby overheating if they are sleeping on a soft surface that their head can sink into. There is a higher risk of SIDS if a baby overheats.
“Some of these products are described to parents as helping babies with issues such as reflux or flat head syndrome (plagiocephaly). Our advice is to never use any pillow, cushion or similar product in your baby’s cot. Parents can find more advice on safe sleep on the HSE’s mychild.ie website.”
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