The deaths of two children have prompted a warning for parents not to use weighted blankets on babies and young children this winter.

Weighted blankets, which have small beads or sand built-in to created added weight, have become increasingly popular for parents looking for ways to help comfort their children. They’re often marketed as calming blankets, sensory blankets or anxiety aids, but Red Nose says they aren’t a safe option for babies.

The authority says if misused and on the wrong person, weighted blankets can be fatal.

Red Nose says in 2014 a seven-month-old baby in the US died after he was put down for a nap at daycare, covered with a weighted blanket that was half his weight. And in 2008 a nine-year-old boy in Canada died after being wrapped in a weighted blanket.

“These two deaths highlight what can happen if a baby or child cannot remove the blanket if they need to,” Red Nose explained. “There is much research into the vulnerability of babies and children in the sleep environment, particularly with regard to their airways. We know that babies, in particular, have smaller and more easily compressed airways, a more easily compressed chest wall, and less respiratory stamina than older children and adults.

“Babies have died due to pressure directly on or against their chests. This is because the pressure inhibits full expansion of the chest and the abdominal movement required for healthy breathing.”

Red Nose recommends parents follow the following safe sleep principles:

• A safe sleeping environment is one where your baby is sleeping in a safe cot that meets Australian standards on a firm, flat surface that is not tilted.
• Ensure your baby is placed with their feet at the end of the cot, with any blanket tucked securely underneath the mattress, so it can only ride up as far as the baby’s chest and cannot cover their head.
• Do not add quilts, pillows, bumpers, sheepskins, toys, or any other loose items as these can significantly increase the risk to your baby of SUDI (sudden unexpected death in infancy).
• The safest place for a baby to sleep is in a safe cot on a safe mattress with safe bedding.