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| Baby sleep positioners dropped by shops after deaths warning | Baby sleep positioners dropped by shops after deaths warning |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Some UK retailers have stopped selling baby sleep positioners amid concerns over their safety. | Some UK retailers have stopped selling baby sleep positioners amid concerns over their safety. |
| A US health regulator said they "can cause suffocation that can lead to death" and have been linked to 12 infant deaths in the US. | A US health regulator said they "can cause suffocation that can lead to death" and have been linked to 12 infant deaths in the US. |
| The positioners, aimed at infants under six months, are intended to keep a baby in a specific position while sleeping. | The positioners, aimed at infants under six months, are intended to keep a baby in a specific position while sleeping. |
| Mothercare, John Lewis, eBay and Tesco have stopped selling them, but they are still available from other retailers. | Mothercare, John Lewis, eBay and Tesco have stopped selling them, but they are still available from other retailers. |
| The Lullaby Trust, a cot death charity which advises the NHS, told BBC News that there are hundreds of baby sleep products on the market - and "parents assume that if something is for sale, it is safe to use". | |
| Lullaby's Jenny Ward added: "The age-old question that hasn't really changed is: how do I get my baby to sleep? | |
| "And if there's a product that says: 'This will help your baby to sleep', its obviously something that some parents will want to find out more about". | |
| But she said the Trust does not recommend wedges or sleep positioners, as evidence shows that the safest way for a baby to sleep is on a firm, flat mattress, in a clear cot free of pillows, toys, bumpers and sleep positioners. | |
| The Food and Drug Administration in the US released a statement on Wednesday explaining that the items - often called "nests" or "anti-roll" products - have caused some babies to suffocate after rolling from their sides to their stomachs. | |
| It said the two most common types of sleep positioners feature raised supports or pillows (called "bolsters") that are attached to each side of a mat, or a wedge to raise a baby's head. | It said the two most common types of sleep positioners feature raised supports or pillows (called "bolsters") that are attached to each side of a mat, or a wedge to raise a baby's head. |
| The FDA first issued a safety warning seven years ago, saying "in light of the suffocation risk and the lack of evidence of any benefits, we are warning consumers to stop using these products". | The FDA first issued a safety warning seven years ago, saying "in light of the suffocation risk and the lack of evidence of any benefits, we are warning consumers to stop using these products". |
| There is no FDA equivalent in the UK, though there are British Safety Standards and Local Safety Standards - as well as NHS sleep guidelines. | |
| Products pulled | |
| Mothercare had been selling a sleep positioner for £39.99 but has told the BBC it is no longer for sale. | Mothercare had been selling a sleep positioner for £39.99 but has told the BBC it is no longer for sale. |
| It came with a warning that it should not be used once a baby was able to turn around on their own. | It came with a warning that it should not be used once a baby was able to turn around on their own. |
| Tesco, which sold sleep positioners on its website through a third party, said: "We have removed these products from our website as a precautionary measure." | Tesco, which sold sleep positioners on its website through a third party, said: "We have removed these products from our website as a precautionary measure." |
| John Lewis, which had one sleep positioner for sale, also said it was removing it as a "precautionary measure". | John Lewis, which had one sleep positioner for sale, also said it was removing it as a "precautionary measure". |
| A spokesman for eBay said the website would be banning the sale of the products, adding: "Our team will be informing sellers and removing any listings that contravene our policies." | A spokesman for eBay said the website would be banning the sale of the products, adding: "Our team will be informing sellers and removing any listings that contravene our policies." |
| Sleep positioners are however still available on other websites, including Amazon, which is yet to respond to the BBC. | Sleep positioners are however still available on other websites, including Amazon, which is yet to respond to the BBC. |
| 'Don't take chances' | |
| The Lullaby Trust said there is no need to use any type of equipment or rolled up blankets to keep a baby in one position, unless parents have been advised to do so by a health professional for a specific medical condition. | The Lullaby Trust said there is no need to use any type of equipment or rolled up blankets to keep a baby in one position, unless parents have been advised to do so by a health professional for a specific medical condition. |
| It added: "Babies are at higher risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) if they have their heads covered, and some items added to a cot may increase the risk of head-covering and can also increase the risk of accidents. | It added: "Babies are at higher risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) if they have their heads covered, and some items added to a cot may increase the risk of head-covering and can also increase the risk of accidents. |
| "We recommend that while evidence on individual products is not widely available, parents do not take any chances and stick to scientifically proven safer sleep guidelines". | "We recommend that while evidence on individual products is not widely available, parents do not take any chances and stick to scientifically proven safer sleep guidelines". |
| The charity has published a checklist to help new parents which can be found here. | The charity has published a checklist to help new parents which can be found here. |
| Have you used a baby sleep positioner or any other sleep products? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | Have you used a baby sleep positioner or any other sleep products? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |