Retailers warned not to sell baby sleep pillows by OPSS, citing 'significant concerns'

Retailers and online sellers have been warned not to sell or market baby sleep pillows for infants under 12 months after the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) issued a Safety Alert citing links to child fatalities.

OPSS said businesses should review their product ranges and remove from sale any baby sleep pillows that are unsafe or promoted for baby sleep or unattended use, in line with product safety advice.

An OPSS spokesperson said: “We have significant concerns about baby sleep pillows marketed for young babies, as they promote sleep practices that go against NHS guidance and present a real risk of serious harm or death.”

Businesses are also advised to ensure that any pillow or cushion they manufacture, import or sell does not include claims, imagery or descriptions that encourage use for baby sleep, particularly in cots or cribs. Where there is a reasonable expectation that a cushion or pillow could be misused for baby sleep, retailers must include clear and prominent safety warnings with the product.

The alert covers products sold under a range of names, including baby comfort cushions, cuddle cushions, sleep cushions and baby pillows, and applies regardless of branding or design, with the OPSS saying that the main risks associated with these products are suffocation and overheating, which can occur when babies are placed on soft surfaces that restrict breathing or prevent heat from escaping.

Action is already under way to assess products on the market and remove those found to be unsafe, with Trading Standards also being asked to engage with local businesses.

OPSS stressed that the alert does not apply to nursing pillows used only for breastfeeding, compliant baby mattresses, or pillows designed for children over 12 months that meet relevant British Standards.

To read the full advice from OPSS, you can read it in full here.

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