This is a Product Safety Alert from the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) for a product commonly known as a 'Baby Sleep Pillow.

'Baby Sleep Pillows' can pose a risk of suffocation, overheating and death to babies. This Alert is for consumers (particularly parents and caregivers to babies), childcare and educational establishments, local authority Trading Standards and businesses to warn of the potential harm that baby sleep pillows can pose.

Key safety messages:

• 'Baby Sleep Pillows' should not be used for babies under 12 months old
• do not place a 'Baby Sleep Pillow' in a cot or crib

What are 'Baby Sleep Pillows'
'Baby Sleep Pillows' are products which are marketed or intended to be used as pillows or cushions for babies to sleep on or with, or to be placed on or with, unsupervised.

Why are they dangerous?
'Baby Sleep Pillows' have been linked to child fatalities in the UK and overseas.

The main harms are suffocation and overheating which can lead to serious injury or death in babies. These harms can occur when a baby is placed on the 'Baby Sleep Pillow' unattended or for sleep including when the pillow is put into a cot or crib.

Suffocation. Soft, squishy materials can cover a baby's mouth and nose if they are pressed against it and could cause the baby to suffocate.

Overheating. If a baby is sleeping on a soft surface that their head can sink into, heat is prevented from escaping and they can get too hot. There is a higher risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) if a baby overheats.

Background
'Baby Sleep Pillow' is a generic term used in this Product Safety Alert. However, other common names for these products 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

OPSS has significant concerns about 'Baby Sleep Pillows' marketed for babies under 12 months old. These products promote sleep or care practices that contravene NHS safe sleep guidance and can give rise to significant harm or death. Action is being taken to assess these products and to remove unsafe products from the market.

Consumers, carers, educators, local authority Trading Standards and businesses are asked to be alert to the dangers of 'Baby Sleep Pillows' and to take action, where appropriate, as advised below.

Advised action
Consumers, childcare and education settings:

• 'Baby Sleep Pillows' should not be used for babies under 12 months old.
• do not place a 'Baby Sleep Pillow' in a cot or crib.
• if the product was marketed for baby sleep, or to be used unattended, you should contact the business that supplied the product; you may be entitled to redress under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.
• always follow NHS safe sleep advice, which includes:
  • always place a baby on its back to sleep
  • be aware of signs that could indicate overheating, including a baby feeling hot on their tummy, sweating, especially from the face and head, being irritable or breathing faster than usual

Businesses:

• must comply with their obligations under product safety law to only place safe products on the market. Any products that are unsafe must be removed from sale and appropriate corrective action taken
• must ensure that any pillow or cushion product they manufacture, import or sell is not marketed as a sleep pillow for a baby under 12 months old and does not feature claims, images or statements that promote or encourage its use for baby sleep or unattended use
• must ensure that clear warnings are included with any cushion or pillow product where there is a reasonable expectation that it may be misused for baby sleep

Local Authority Trading Standards (Environmental Health in Northern Ireland):

• notify businesses selling 'Baby Sleep Pillows' for infants under 12 months within your area that the products promote unsafe baby sleep or care practices which contravene NHS guidance. 'Baby Sleep Pillows' assessed to be unsafe should be removed from sale
• contact OPSS for additional information on product risk
• 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 BS EN 16890:2017+A1:2021. It also does not apply to pillows intended for children over 12 months which comply with British Standard BS 4578:1970

Full Safety Alert