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Don’t Buy That: Unsafe Baby Products

The Fawnly Blog · Updated June 2026 · about a 4 minute read

Sometimes it's easy to assume that because a product is sold in a regulated market, it must be safe to use. Unfortunately that isn't always the case - some items are not only unnecessary, but genuinely unsafe.

A gentle note: if you already own or have used some of these, please don't panic or feel judged - so many of us have, because they're marketed everywhere. This is simply the current expert guidance, shared so you can make informed choices. No shame, ever.

Safety

Sleep safety

The Lullaby Trust advises that in their first year, babies need a clear cot with a firm, flat, waterproof mattress and nothing else. They advise against:

  1. Cot bumpers - a suffocation hazard, and some can be climbed on as a foothold.
  2. Pillows, duvets and thick or heavy bedding - linked to a higher risk of SIDS.
  3. Pods and nests with soft, raised sides - an overheating and suffocation hazard. Not for sleep.
  4. Inclined sleep surfaces - an incline makes it easier for a baby to roll into an unsafe face-down position.
  5. Sleep positioners and anti-roll wedges - a suffocation and positional-asphyxiation hazard.
  6. Weighted blankets and sleeping bags - not recommended by experts.
  7. Car-seat "prams" - they encourage babies to sleep in a car seat, which can cause positional asphyxiation. Car seats are for travel; babies should sleep on a flat surface (Lullaby Trust).
  8. Swaddling once a baby can roll - can leave a baby face-down and unable to free themselves.
  9. Over-tight swaddling - swaddling that holds the legs straight and pressed together can contribute to hip dysplasia.

Other unsafe products

  1. Baby walkers (especially with inadequate supervision or an unprepared space) - a frequent cause of injuries, and linked to delayed development. Some also suggest they can encourage a baby to push along on their tip-toes rather than flat feet.
  2. Baby jumpers and door bouncers - these suspend a baby so their weight goes through pointed toes, which may encourage a similar tip-toe pattern.
  3. Teething necklaces - a choking and strangulation hazard, with no good evidence they help.

None of this is about fear - it's a few clear, evidence-based "no"s so the rest of parenting can feel a little less overwhelming. When in doubt for sleep: firm, flat, clear cot, baby on their back. That's it.

💰 Read next: Don't Buy That: The Baby "Essentials" Nobody Needs — the "must-haves" that are really just marketing, and what to buy new.

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A note on honesty: Fawnly is free and partly funded by affiliate links - but we'd never recommend an unsafe product to earn a penny. Safety always comes first here.

Scientific analysis to follow. A full evidence review, with references and further reading, will be explored in future blog posts.

Disclaimer: Fawnly shares honest information, opinion and personal experience alongside published guidance - it isn't medical, financial or professional advice. Every baby and family is different, so please check current official guidance (such as the NHS) and speak to a qualified professional about your own situation. Prices and product details can change.

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