The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) issued a Safety Alert for baby sleep pillows on 11 December 2025, following child fatalities in the UK and overseas1. The alert identifies the products as pillows or cushions for babies to sleep on, or to be placed on, unsupervised1.
The OPSS states that risks to the baby include suffocation and overheating, which can lead to injury or, in some cases, death1. The term "Baby Sleep Pillows" covers a range of products marketed under names that include baby comfort cushions, sleeping pillows or exhaust pillows, and the Safety Alert gives a fuller list of common names on the market1.
"Parents and carers are urged not to use these products for babies under 12 months old or to place them in a cot or crib."
The OPSS also states that if the product was marketed for baby sleep or to be used unattended, parents and carers should contact the business directly to discuss redress1. The number of fatalities, the ages of the children involved and the specific products named in the fuller list have not been reported in the published announcement1.
Why it matters for households
The alert applies to households with babies under 12 months old, and to anyone who has bought or been given a pillow or cushion marketed for baby sleep, including items sold as baby comfort cushions, sleeping pillows or exhaust pillows1. The OPSS advice is not to use these products for babies under 12 months old and not to place them in a cot or crib1. Where a product was marketed for baby sleep or for unattended use, the OPSS advises parents and carers to contact the business directly to discuss redress1. Households can check official product safety announcements as they are published through the staying informed hub.
What happens next
The Safety Alert was published on 11 December 2025 and remains the reference point for the affected products1. No further dates or steps have been announced in the published notice1.
