Flintshire’s Trading Standards service is warning that bling dummies may pose a serious risk of choking for babies and small children and should be removed from use immediately.
Bling dummies are part of a fashion-led craze for customising babies’ dummies and other childcare products by gluing on coloured gems. Products of genuine brands are bought and then adorned in this apparent cottage industry.
These products present a choking hazard, because the gems may become detached. Similar products tested in other areas revealed that toy gems attached to dummies and baby bottles can easily fall off and cause choking if swallowed.
Some dummies may have gems partly obscuring the air holes in the soother.
Babies’ dummies are manufactured to high safety standards, and are sold with specific safety warnings. One of these (in the interests of hygiene) is “to place the soother in boiling water for five minutes before first use” – which is likely to weaken the glue holding the gems in place.
These customised dummies, and other childcare products, such as dummy clips, baby bottle and feeding bowls, should not be confused with novelty childcare items manufactured by reputable companies which do meet the necessary safety standards.
The Trading Standards service is advising parents that, although these dummies and bottles will appeal to babies and toddlers, they are potentially lethal. Parents are urged to take them away from their children to avoid the risk of choking.
If you require further advice regarding this issue or if you have come across these products and would like to report them, please do not hesitate to contact Trading Standards on 01352 703181. Alternatively you can email the service on [email protected].
