A warning about a fad of ‘bling dummies’ has been issued by a Trading Standards chief amid fears they could choke a baby to death.

‘Bling dummies’, including imitation Dior ones, are soothers decorated by people at home and then sold on the internet, sometimes via Facebook pages.

The dummies and dummy chains, also adorned with gem stones or beads, are banned in Australia because they pose a serious safety risk.

David Lovell, principal officer at West Yorkshire Trading Standards, said people were buying dummies, which originally adhere to safety regulations, in bulk and then decorating them at home.

“There are three issues with this,” said Mr Lovell. “Insulation holes in the dummy can get blocked, gem stones are not attached correctly and they can come off and choke the child.

“There are also some issues of glue being used, because we do not know whether it is toxic or not.

“Because of the beads, there are also hygiene issues and grime can build up. It is not ideal if they are sterilising the dummy as that might affect the beads being attached.

“If people modify these dummies they become the manufacturer. They must test them and ensure they are safe or do not bother selling them.”

Mr Lovell said that anyone with concerns should contact Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.

“If you are buying them from a retailer there is not an issue, but if you are making them yourself the same rules apply. Exercise caution if buying things from a Facebook group because it was never designed as an avenue for selling products,” he said.

One alarmed Bradford mum is campaigning to get dummy clips, where a dummy is attached to a beaded string, and bling dummies removed from Facebook.

Bethany Davison, 19, who has a one-year-old daughter, said she was worried people were selling products on Facebook harmful to babies. She has set up her own Facebook page titled Ban Custom Made Dummies which has attracted 314 members in three days.

Miss Davison said that she had succeeded in getting two Facebook groups selling the dummy clips to stop after her complaints. “I saw these dummies and dummy chains being sold and thought that they couldn’t actually be doing that,” she said. “No-one knows the type of glue they are using or anything. I came across the dummy clips a couple of months ago and couldn’t believe it.

“I want home-made dummy selling to be banned as they do not have any checks and are dangerous.”