Residents in Powys are being urged to stop using baby sleep pillows immediately following a national safety alert over serious suffocation risks.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has issued the warning after reports of child fatalities in the UK and overseas linked to these products. Baby sleep pillows, also marketed under names such as baby comfort cushions, sleeping pillows, or exhaust pillows, are designed to keep a baby’s head in a fixed position. Experts warn this can restrict airflow and increase the risk of suffocation or overheating, potentially leading to serious injury or death.

Powys Trading Standards is advising households who may have purchased or been given one of these products to remove them from the baby’s sleeping environment, dispose of them safely so they cannot be reused, and warn friends and family of the dangers.

Cllr Richard Church, Powys County Council’s Cabinet Member for Legal and Regulatory Services, said: “We strongly urge parents and carers to act now. Baby sleep pillows are dangerous and should never be used. Babies should always sleep on a flat, firm surface without any pillows, cushions, or soft items.

“Please check your home and make sure these products are removed and disposed of safely. Sharing this message could save a life.”

Parents and carers are also advised not to use these products for babies under 12 months old and not to leave them unsupervised on a cot or crib. Anyone who purchased the products should contact the business directly to discuss redress.

More information is available here.