The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has recently imposed a permanent nationwide ban on baby bottle self-feeding devices.
What are baby bottle self-feeding devices?
The ban applies to products that position a baby bottle, or bottle teat, so an infant can self-feed without another person holding the bottle or without adult supervision. Significant risks have been identified through the official investigation into the safety of these devices, including injury or death from choking, aspiration, or suffocation.
In early childhood education and care services, educators and all service staff working with children must not use or provide self-feeding devices when feeding an infant. It is dangerous to let an infant self-feed with a bottle unassisted or unsupervised. This includes propping the bottle up against cushions, or in the infant’s mouth with a blanket, pillow, or other object.
Educators must provide active supervision for infants at all times. Every educator is responsible for actively supervising children and communicating effectively with colleagues to ensure the adequate supervision of every child.
This ban aligns with mandatory compliance requirements under the National Quality Framework (NQF) and Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011 (National Regulations). Although the National Regulations do not specifically address infant feeding, it reinforces the importance of active supervision and risk management for infants across all care practices.
To promote and protect the health and safety of children in relation to this ban, services and educators must:
- ensure all children are adequately supervised at all times (section 165)
- take every reasonable precaution to protect children from harm and any hazard likely to cause injury (section 167)
- follow safety advice when using and arranging equipment, furniture and experiences from recognised authorities and manufacturers such as Kidsafe Australia and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission guidelines (Quality Area 2)
- ensure food and beverages to be served on a regular basis throughout the day are appropriate to the needs of each child (regulation 78)
- always follow advice from recognised authorities including government safety advice, which advises to never prop a bottle and never leave an infant to feed unsupervised
For more information about the ban, please refer to:
Updated