- Some baby sleep and feeding products can cause suffocation, choking and overheating
- RoSPA advises parents to keep sleep spaces simple, safe and clear of unnecessary items
- Parents should check for safety markings and avoid unsafe or unnecessary products
Parents are being urged to think carefully before buying sleep and feeding products marketed as ‘essential’, as some may pose serious safety risks including suffocation, choking and overheating.
With families already facing significant costs when preparing for a new baby, estimated at around £600 in just the first month after birth, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is warning that some products marketed to help with sleep and feeding may not only be unnecessary, but potentially dangerous.
RoSPA has identified a number of products that may present risks to babies, including:
- Self-feeding cushions (sometimes sold as ‘hands-free baby bottle holders’, ‘hands-free baby feeding bottles’ or ‘adjustable baby bottle holders’). These products are designed to hold a baby‘s bottle while they feed. This makes it harder for babies to control the flow of milk and increases the risk of choking.
- Baby sleep positioners (sometimes marketed as ‘baby pillows’, ‘cuddle cushions’, ‘hug cushion/pillows’, ‘ergonomic pillows’ or ‘anti-roll pillows’). These products are designed to keep babies in a particular position while they sleep. Restricting a baby’s movement and placing additional items in the sleep space can increase the risk of suffocation.
- In-cot sleep aids (sometimes marketed as ‘sleep aid pillows’). These products are intended to comfort or soothe babies while they sleep. Additional products placed in a baby’s sleep space can increase the risk of suffocation or overheating.
Widely available online, some of these products are sold without clear safety information or instructions explaining potential risks. RoSPA advises parents to look for CE or UKCA markings where appropriate and to be cautious of products that do not clearly explain how they have been assessed for safety. Some products have been recalled by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) because of the serious risks they pose to babies.
RoSPA emphasises that more products do not necessarily mean better sleep, and that proven risks often outweigh potential benefits of some baby products.
The charity’s advice is that simpler is safer when it comes to sleep. Babies should be placed on their backs in a clear space, such as a cot, Moses basket or bassinet with a firm, flat mattress and no unnecessary items. Babies should always be supervised by an adult during feeding.
Top tips for safer sleep
Keep your baby’s sleep space clear:
- Lie your baby on their back.
- Use a firm, flat, waterproof mattress.
- Do not use sleep positioners, pillows, cushions, pods or nests.
- Do not use cot bumpers.
- To keep your baby at a comfortable temperature, if required, use a tucked-in blanket or a sleeping bag that meets BS EN 16781.
- Always read product labels, safety warnings and instructions before using a baby product.
Rebecca Guy, RoSPA Senior Policy Manager said:
‘Every parent wants what’s best for their baby, and it’s completely understandable to look for products that promise to make feeding or sleeping easier.
But some products can introduce risks that parents may not be aware of, particularly when they are marketed as must-have items.
The safest sleep spaces are often the simplest. Babies should sleep on their backs in a clear cot, Moses basket or bassinet with a firm, flat mattress and without extra items.
Before buying any product, take a moment to ask if you really need it and whether it could affect your baby’s safety. Keeping things simple can help protect your baby and save money at a time when family budgets are already under pressure.’