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Parents have been told 'the safest sleep spaces are often the simplest'
Parents are being urged to reconsider purchasing trendy baby sleep and feeding products after the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents issued a stark warning about their potential dangers.
RoSPA has cautioned that several items frequently marketed as essential for new parents could expose infants to serious risks, including suffocation, choking and overheating.
The safety organisation said these hazards were often concealed within products that appear helpful, making it difficult for parents to recognise the threat they may pose.
According to the body, the simplest sleeping arrangements tend to be the safest option for babies, and many widely promoted accessories are both unsafe and unnecessary.
Three types of products were specifically highlighted by the safety body.
Self-feeding cushions, which are also marketed as hands-free bottle holders, can make it harder for an infant to regulate milk flow, thereby heightening the danger of choking.
Baby sleep positioners, sometimes sold under names such as cuddle cushions, anti-roll pillows or baby pillows, are intended to keep infants in a fixed position but can increase the likelihood of suffocation, RoSPA warned.
The organisation also flagged in-cot sleep aids, frequently described as sleep aid pillows, which it said could elevate the risk of both suffocation and overheating.
Rebecca Guy, RoSPA's senior policy manager, 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."
Ms Guy stressed that minimal sleeping environments offer the greatest protection for infants.
"The safest sleep spaces are often the simplest. Babies should sleep on their backs in a clear cot, Moses basket or bassinet with a firm, flat mattress and without extra items," she said.
Ms Guy also encouraged parents to pause before making any purchase and consider whether a product is genuinely necessary or could compromise their child's safety.
"Keeping things simple can help protect your baby and save money at a time when family budgets are already under pressure," she said.
RoSPA advised that parents should check items carry CE or UKCA safety markings before buying.
The organisation also recommended exercising particular caution with any product that fails to clearly explain how it has been assessed for safety.
It comes after a warning was sent out to parents after a series of products released last year could harm their children.
Matalan flagged several items, including rompers, dungarees and sweater sets, as unsafe.
The affected garments, which were available in stores from mid-July through to mid-October last year, have been found to have faulty poppers that could injure babies.
Matalan confirmed that the poppers on these garments have rough edges, "which could lead to infants receiving cuts or scrapes".
