Infant Head-Shaping Pillows Are Useless and Dangerous to Baby, FDA Warns

FRIDAY, Nov. 4, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Infant head-shaping pillows are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and should not be used, the agency warned Thursday.

The pillows can create an unsafe sleep environment for infants, potentially contributing to the risk for suffocation and death. Marketed as changing an infant's head shape or symmetry or claiming to treat other medical conditions, they have no demonstrated benefit, the agency said in a news release.

"If you own an infant head-shaping pillow, throw it away; do not donate or give it to anyone else," the alert said. "Be aware that infant head shaping pillows are not safe or effective for preventing or treating flat head syndrome or other medical conditions."

Health care providers should discourage the use of infant head-shaping pillows and educate patients about the risks, the FDA added. Infant head-shaping pillows are typically small, with an indent or hole in the center designed to cradle the back of an infant's head while the infant lies face up. Some do not have the indent and are rectangular-shaped.

The FDA has cleared caps, helmets, or headbands to improve head symmetry or shape in infants and toddlers from 3 months to 18 months of age. Some devices are also intended for infants from 3 to 18 months of age whose head shape has been surgically corrected, but who still have a moderate-to-severe flat head, the FDA said.

The agency said it has communicated its concerns about promotional materials to companies that make these pillows and will continue to monitor claims for these products.

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