S’pore’s consumer safety watchdog issues safety alert over baby self-feeding pillows

Singapore’s Consumer Product Safety Office (CPSO) has issued a safety alert warning parents and caregivers against the use of baby self-feeding pillows, which pose significant risks of choking and suffocation. These pillows, designed to allow babies to feed themselves from a bottle without assistance, wrap around the baby’s neck and feature a pouch on the chest to hold the bottle. The CPSO emphasized that babies lack the dexterity and cognitive ability to control feeding flow, stop when necessary, or react if they choke, making the product dangerous. The alert highlights the potential for serious harm including suffocation, lung infections, ear infections, and even death. Photos accompanying the warning show babies lying on the pillows with bottles attached, illustrating the risk of smothering and choking. The CPSO found that such products were still available for purchase on e-commerce platform Lazada, while listings on Shopee have been removed, although similar items still appear in search results. The watchdog also noted that similar warnings have been issued by authorities in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Parents and caregivers are urged never to prop a bottle in a baby’s mouth using pillows, blankets, or other supports, regardless of marketing claims or supervision. Instead, they should closely monitor bottle feeding and keep babies in a semi-inclined position to reduce risks. The CPSO’s alert serves as a critical reminder of the dangers posed by these products and the importance of safe feeding practices to protect infants from preventable injuries and fatalities.