A widely used infant product has been recalled due to a significant risk it poses to babies.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has issued a recall for baby self-feeding pillows, also known as prop feeders. Despite the initial recall on November 30, 2022, an update on Thursday emphasized the “serious” risk classification in the OPSS risk summary.
The OPSS stated that these pillows are intended for babies to feed from a bottle without caregiver supervision, contradicting NHS guidelines on safe bottle feeding. The agency highlighted that this product could lead to severe harm or even death from choking or aspiration pneumonia.
Infants lack the necessary skills to feed themselves safely, respond to choking incidents, or signal distress to an adult, according to the OPSS. The agency noted that while gagging is audible, choking can occur silently, often due to liquid being dispensed faster than the baby can swallow.
Apart from choking risks, there is a potential for infection and pneumonia if a baby inhales the liquid. The OPSS stressed that these dangers are inherent to the product’s design and intended use, rendering them unpreventable through instructions.
Consumers are advised to discontinue using the product immediately and dispose of it properly. Businesses are required to withdraw the product from sale as it fails to meet safety standards under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.
