The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has issued a Safety Alert for baby sleep pillows following child fatalities in the UK and overseas.
The alert identifies the products as pillows or cushions for babies to sleep – or be placed – on unsupervised. Risks to the baby include suffocation and overheating which can lead to injury or, in some cases, death.
The term ‘Baby Sleep Pillows’ covers a range of products marketed under names that include baby comfort cushions, sleeping pillows or exhaust pillows. The Safety Alert gives a fuller list of common names on the market.
Parents and carers are urged not to use these products for babies under 12 months old or to place them in a cot or crib. If the product was marketed for baby sleep or to be used unattended, parents and carers should contact the business directly to discuss redress.