27 May 2026
Red Nose Australia welcomes the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) permanent ban on baby bottle self-feeding devices, describing it as a critical step in protecting Australia’s most vulnerable infants.
The ban, which came into effect on 26 May 2026, prohibits the supply, manufacture and possession of devices designed to prop or position a baby bottle so that an infant can feed without adult supervision. Products covered include bottle-propping devices, body-worn bottle holders and straw-style feeding attachments. It is now illegal to sell, advertise or manufacture these products anywhere in Australia.
The ACCC moved to implement the ban following a Safety Warning Notice issued in August 2024 and a subsequent investigation involving paediatric health experts and healthcare stakeholders. The key safety risks identified include choking, aspiration and suffocation, all of which can result in serious injury or death.
The ACCC has taken important action to protect Australian babies from these dangerous products. Baby bottle self-feeding devices pose a very real and unacceptable risk. Infants are simply not developmentally capable of managing the flow of milk or removing a bottle from their mouth without help.
The ban sends a clear and important message: safe infant feeding must always involve an attentive caregiver. Red Nose commends the ACCC for listening to the evidence and acting to keep babies safe.
Red Nose looks forward to continuing its work alongside the ACCC and other important safety organisations in Australia to keep babies safe.
Red Nose urges all families and carers to stop using any baby bottle self-feeding devices immediately and to always remain present and attentive during feeding time. Feeding is not only a time for nourishment; it is also a vital opportunity for bonding, supervision and the early detection of any feeding difficulties.
Businesses that continue to supply or advertise these products face significant penalties under Australian consumer law.
For more information about the ban, visit: Permanent ban on baby bottle self-feeding devices now in effect | ACCC
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