Last updated by ruth.salter@essex.gov.uk on Friday, January 16, 2026

A safety alert has been issued warning parents and carers not to use baby sleep pillows for under ones.

These soft pillows and cushions are often marketed for baby sleep or as somewhere for a baby to be left unsupervised. But this can cause suffocation or overheating, and babies have even died.

Despite what some online product listings suggest, pillows are not recommended for babies until they are at least 12 months old. The safest place for your baby to sleep is on a clear, firm, flat surface.

For more information visit - https://capt.org.uk/baby-sleep-pillows-warning/