PARENTS have been urged to think twice before buying a number of “must-have” baby products.
Three popular but unnecessary and unsafe products have been highlighted as presenting a risk to babies.
Experts have urged parents to avoid buying certain sleep aids and feeding products for babies as they may be putting infants at risk.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has revealed the “hidden dangers” behind three popular baby items which can cause suffocation, choking and overheating in babies while they sleep.
Three items have been highlighted as the most dangerous products for parents to buy, with a number of items recently being recalled for the risks they can cause.
This includes self-feeding cushions, also known as hands-free baby bottle holders, which can hold a baby’s bottle while they feed.
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According to the RoSPA, these products can make it harder for babies to control the flow of milk, increasing the risk of choking.
Another item considered to be dangerous is baby sleep positioners, or baby pillows, cuddle cushions or anti-rolled pillows, designed to keep babies in a particular position when they sleep.
The society has suggested that having items in a baby’s sleep space and restricting their movement can increase the risk of an infant suffocating while they sleep.
In-cot sleep aids, sometimes sold as sleep aid pillows, can also increase the risk of suffocation and overheating, the society has warned.
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Rebecca Guy, senior policy manager at RoSPA, 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.”
RoSPA says that the safest places for babies to sleep “are often the simplest”, with Rebecca advising that “babies should sleep on their backs in a clear cot, Moses basket or bassinet with a firm, flat mattress and without extra items.””
Parents should also check for a CE or UKCA marking on products that have been bought for infants, and to be cautious of products which do not explain how they have been safety assessed.
Rebecca continued to advise parents: “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.”