Risk of Death From Baby Sleep Pillows: CCPC Warning as Over 1,000 Online Listings Removed

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is warning parents and caregivers not to buy or use pillows marketed as baby sleep accessories. The products can cause death through suffocation or overheating.

The CCPC has identified that these products are being made available for sale primarily via online marketplaces. Takedown notices have so far prompted the removal of 1,115 listings from AliExpress, Amazon, Fruugo and Joom. CCPC 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.

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 when placed with sleeping and/or unattended babies. Some variations have a 'patter' function, where a hand or arm attached to the product is intended to pat the baby's bottom. Safety concerns relate to all variations.

The products are also sold under other names, including anti-startle pillow, baby lounger, baby patting pillow, baby comfort cushion, baby cuddle cushion, baby hug pillow, sleeping pillow, and baby sleep cushion.

Suffocation and Cot Death Risk

Babies can suffocate if something covers their nose and mouth, such as pillows, cushions or other soft items. These items should never be placed in a baby's cot or left with an unattended baby.

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. 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.

Grainne Griffin, CCPC Director of Communications:

"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."

Dr Fiona Cianci, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, HSE Child Health Public Health:

"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."

Further safe sleep guidance is available at mychild.ie.