INPAA Welcomes Australia’s Permanent Ban on Baby Bottle Self-Feeding Devices

Australia has taken a major step forward in infant product safety, with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) officially implementing a permanent ban on baby bottle self-feeding devices.

At INPAA, we welcome this important decision and see it as a strong example of why ongoing safety advocacy, industry education and responsible product stewardship matter.

The ban, which came into effect on 26 May 2026, makes it illegal to manufacture, advertise, sell or supply baby bottle self-feeding devices anywhere in Australia due to the serious risk of injury or death associated with these products. (ACCC)

Why Were These Products Banned?

Baby bottle self-feeding devices are designed to allow babies to feed from a bottle without an adult actively holding the bottle during feeding.

These products include:

• Bottle propping devices

• Wearable bottle holders

• Flexible straw-style feeding systems

While often marketed as a “hands-free” convenience solution for tired parents, health experts and regulators have warned for years that these products create significant safety risks for infants. (ACCC)

According to the ACCC, babies using these devices may be unable to regulate the flow of milk or remove the bottle from their mouth, increasing the risk of:

• Choking

• Aspiration

• Suffocation

• Ear infections

• Overfeeding

• Developmental feeding issues

The ACCC also warned that caregivers may miss important signs of distress when active supervision is reduced during feeding. (ACCC Product Safety)

A Strong Message to Industry

This ban sends a clear message to brands, retailers, manufacturers and online marketplaces: products designed for infants must prioritise safety over convenience.

The ACCC has stated that significant penalties may apply to businesses that continue to manufacture, advertise or supply these products in Australia. (ACCC)

For businesses in the baby industry, this serves as an important reminder to:

• Continually assess product safety risks

• Stay informed about evolving regulations

• Ensure products align with evidence-based safe sleep and feeding recommendations

• Review overseas product trends carefully before introducing products to the Australian market

At INPAA, we strongly encourage all suppliers and retailers to take a proactive approach to compliance and consumer safety.

Supporting Safe Feeding Practices

Feeding time is not just about nutrition — it is also an essential opportunity for bonding, supervision and monitoring a baby’s wellbeing.

Safe feeding advice continues to recommend that infants should always be actively supervised during bottle feeding and that bottles should never be propped or left unattended. (ACCC)

As an industry, we all play a role in helping educate parents and caregivers about safe product use and safe infant care practices.

The Importance of Industry Advocacy

This outcome reflects the importance of ongoing collaboration between regulators, health experts, safety organisations and responsible industry leaders.

The ACCC first issued Safety Warning Notices regarding baby bottle self-feeding devices in 2024 before conducting further investigations and consulting with paediatric health experts and stakeholders. (ACCC)

At INPAA, we believe strong safety standards and industry accountability are essential to maintaining consumer trust and protecting Australia’s youngest and most vulnerable consumers.

The baby products industry has an important opportunity to lead by example — by prioritising safety, supporting education and ensuring parents can make informed choices with confidence.

What Consumers Should Do

The ACCC advises consumers who own baby bottle self-feeding devices to:

• Stop using them immediately

• Dispose of them safely so they cannot be reused

• Always supervise infants during feeding

Consumers who see these products being sold in Australia are encouraged to report them to the ACCC. (ACCC)

Looking Ahead

The permanent ban is an important step forward for infant product safety in Australia.

For brands, retailers and manufacturers, it highlights the growing expectation that baby products must not only meet compliance requirements, but also align with best-practice safety guidance and real-world infant development needs.

At INPAA, we remain committed to advocating for safer baby products, supporting industry education and helping create a safer marketplace for Australian families.

Because when it comes to babies, safety should never be optional.