The sale of baby feeding pillows has been banned in Ireland due to a risk of death or serious harm.
They are designed to hold a bottle, allowing tots to feed themselves.
However, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has slapped an immediate ban on them over safety fears.
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It warned that the baby cannot control the flow of milk in this situation, leading to a risk of choking or aspiration pneumonia.
This can occur when the milk goes into the lungs rather than the stomach.
Consumers are advised not to purchase a self-feeding pillow and those who currently own one should immediately stop using it and dispose of it safely.
The CCPC has not identified any such products for sale in Irish stores, but these pillows are being marketed to Irish consumers on non-EU websites.
CCPC director of product safety Clara Thornton said: “Baby self-feeding pillows present a risk of death or serious harm from choking or aspiration pneumonia.
“They are dangerous and go against HSE advice on safe bottle-feeding.”
She added: “If any consumer comes across these products, they should report them to the CCPC.”
The pillow is placed around the baby’s neck, the bottle is held in position by a piece of elastic or a pouch and the baby is positioned on its back to feed itself without the assistance of a caregiver holding the bottle and controlling the feed.
However, the HSE advises that a baby should always be held by a person while being fed with a bottle.
HSE child health public health lead Dr Abigail Collins said: “Never leave your baby to drink a bottle on their own.
“Propping or leaning the bottle using a pillow, self-feeding pillow or any other support can be dangerous.
“Doing this could cause your baby to choke.”
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