DUBLIN, Ireland: Parents and caregivers have been warned not to buy or use pillows sold as baby sleep products, because they can cause death by suffocation or overheating.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) said these products are still being sold, mostly through online marketplaces. So far, the CCPC has managed to get 1,115 listings removed from AliExpress, Amazon, Fruugo, and Joom.

Baby sleep pillows, also known as soothing pillows, baby sleep positioners, baby patters, or sleep companions, are soft, cushioned items, often shaped like animals, and are marketed as helping babies sleep.

However, these products are dangerous when placed with sleeping babies or left unattended. Babies can suffocate if soft items like pillows, cushions, or similar objects cover their nose and mouth. For this reason, such items should never be placed in a baby's cot or left with an unattended baby.

To help prevent cot death, the HSE advises that babies should always be placed on their backs to sleep, with their feet at the end of the cot and their heads left uncovered. Parents should use cellular blankets, which have small holes to allow air to circulate, or a sleeveless sleeping bag. Any blanket used should be tucked in loosely but securely below the baby's shoulders.

Grainne Griffin, Director of Communications at the CCPC, said these pillows can be deadly. She explained that parents often buy them, hoping to help their babies sleep, but the products are potentially fatal. She also stressed that pillows and cushions should not be marketed or sold for use in cots or cribs with sleeping babies.

The CCPC has already removed many listings for these unsafe products and has worked quickly to get them off the market. It said it will continue to monitor the market and ensure that sales to Irish consumers are stopped. The agency also reminded businesses that they must ensure the products they sell are safe and encouraged consumers to report any concerns about unsafe items.

Dr Fiona Cianci, a public health consultant with the HSE, said research shows there are steps parents can take to reduce the risk of cot death or sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

These include placing babies on their backs to sleep in a cot with a firm, well-fitting mattress, and keeping the cot completely clear of soft objects and anything loose or fluffy.

She warned that pillows, cushions, and similar products should not be used in a baby's cot because they can cause suffocation. There is also a risk of babies overheating if they sleep on a soft surface that allows their head to sink in, which increases the risk of SIDS.

Some of these products are advertised as helping with issues like reflux or flat head syndrome (plagiocephaly), but experts strongly advise against using them. Parents are encouraged to follow safe sleep guidance instead, and can find more information on the HSE's mychild.ie website.