Parents should not use or buy head straps for children\u2019s car seats, the consumer watchdog has said, describing them as \u201cextremely dangerous\u201d accessories that can cause spinal injuries and strangulation.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission<\/a> (CCPC) issued a statement on head straps, following \u201cextensive online market surveillance\u201d by the body.<\/p>\n The head restraint accessory, which is sometimes described as a car seat head strap, a neck protection belt, head support hugger or a nap aid\/sleep holder belt, claims to prevent a child\u2019s head from falling forwards or sideways if they fall asleep. <\/p>\n The CCPC conducted a sweep of 100 product listings and attempted to obtain the safety documentation for each product.<\/p>\n All 100 listings were removed as the safety of the products could not be demonstrated. <\/p>\n The products in question were being sold across five online marketplaces: Amazon<\/a>, Cdiscount, Joom, Shein and Wish, the watchdog said, though acknowledged they may be for sale on other platforms or websites.<\/p>\n An investigation by the CCPC\u2019s product safety team established the products could cause serious injuries to a child\u2019s spine or neck during a collision or suffocation if the strap slips over the child\u2019s nose and mouth, or strangulation if the strap moves down to their neck. <\/p>\n These products have already been recalled in Malta, Germany and Australia. Although the number of products sold in Ireland is unknown, the CCPC is issuing a safety warning about the car seat head straps due to the serious risk they pose. <\/p>\n Grainne Griffin, CCPC director of communications, said products like this \u201cprey on a parent\u2019s basic instinct to protect their child\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cBut instead of making a toddler safer, they put the child much more at risk. If the strap slips down over the child\u2019s face or neck, there is a serious risk of suffocation or strangulation,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n [\u00a0More than 140,000 drivers still on learner permits in advance of sweeping rule changesOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n Dr Katharine Harkin, consultant in public health medicine at the HSE, said there is \u201cno evidence these products are safe to use\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cCar seats are designed to keep your child as safe as possible while travelling. The safest approach is always to use a properly fitted, appropriate car seat and do not use any additional products. The HSE\u2019s mychild.ie has more advice for parents on keeping their child safe while driving and other areas of child safety,\u201d Harkin said.<\/p>\n