ACCC Issues Warning on 2 Children's Products That Could Cause Severe Injury or Even Death

The ACCC is currently investigating the safety of two popular children’s products after reports of consumer safety concerns.

Safety warnings on products are something we take notice of but don’t always read thoroughly. They’re kind of like the ‘terms and conditions’ of the commercial product world. But they’re there for a reason. They contain valuable information about the correct usage and potential hazards associated with the specific product.

Two Popular After-Market Children’s Products Pose Potential Hazards

1. Aftermarket Car Seat Head Straps

Aftermarket children’s car seat head straps are add-ons parents can buy for their child’s car seat. They come in different styles but usually have a strap that goes across the forehead and attaches to the top of the car seat. These straps are meant to keep their child’s head from falling forward, rolling around, or dropping to their chest when they fall asleep in the car seat.

Concerns have been raised about the safety of these head straps because they could change how a child’s head and neck move during a car accident, potentially causing injuries or even death. If a crash happens, the head strap might mess with how the child’s head, neck, and spine are aligned, which could lead to serious spinal injuries. There’s also a risk that the strap could slip and cover the child’s mouth or neck, leading to suffocation or strangulation. These straps might also affect how well the car seat works, possibly making it less safe.

While there haven’t been any reports of injuries or deaths in Australia linked to these straps, there was a case in the UK in 2021 where an 8-month-old baby died due to suffocation related to a head strap in a car accident.

2. Baby Bottle Self-Feeding Devices

Baby bottle self-feeding devices are tools that help babies feed themselves without a caregiver holding the bottle. They come in two main types:

Self-feeding pillows: These are pillows with a bottle holder that rest on the baby’s chest, propping the bottle in their mouth.
Hands-free bottle holders: These bibs, slings, and clamps attach to caregivers, babies, or hard objects like strollers and tables. They hold the bottle in place for the baby to feed themselves.

Baby Bottle Feeding Devices — Source: ACCC

Baby bottle self-feeding devices can pose several risks to infants, including choking, aspiration pneumonia, suffocation, and ear infections. Choking is a major worry for young children, especially those under three, who might not have fully developed the reflexes to clear their airways if milk flows too quickly. This can happen quickly and quietly, making it hard for caregivers to notice. Aspiration pneumonia happens when a baby inhales milk into their lungs instead of swallowing it, which can lead to severe respiratory infections.

Suffocation is another risk, especially with self-feeding pillows that might cover a baby’s face. These pillows could accidentally block a baby’s airways if the baby is unable to move their head freely. These devices should never be used unsupervised, because a baby might not be able to signal distress or pull away from a dangerous situation. Feeding while lying down can cause milk and bacteria to pool in the back of the mouth, which increases the risk of ear infections. These infections can cause pain and, in severe cases, lead to long-term hearing or speech issues.

What Does The ACCC Advise?

They advise consumers who own these baby bottle self-feeding devices should stop using them immediately and dispose of them safely to ensure they cannot be used by others. Additionally, they recommend parents never prop up a bottle or leave an infant to feed unsupervised, a sentiment echoed by health.gov.au.

When it comes to seat head straps, the ACCC recommends consumers always check manufacturers’ instructions before using aftermarket products.

At Mum Central, we know how important it is to stay on top of product health and safety concerns. This is why we try to alert our readers when a product fails to comply with safety standards. While these products aren’t being recalled, safety information is always good to have.

Please read through our product safety recalls for other recently recalled products, including bikes, cots, bassinets, prams, and more.

Most recent product recalls:

You can follow Mum Central on Facebook or sign up for our weekly email updates (signup box on the right just above) to stay up to date on all product recalls and check back to our website for regular updates!