Parents have been warned about potentially lethal baby sleeping bags being sold on online marketplaces. A new snapshot investigation carried out by consumer rights group Which? has unearthed 35 dangerous products being sold by third-party sellers on sites like Amazon, eBay, ManoMano, and Etsy.
These items are so unsafe that they are similar or even identical to products previously recalled by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS).
The watchdog said the biggest dangers came from two major design flaws. The sleeping bags were found to have large hoods that could fall over and suffocate a baby, a feature that directly violates British safety standards.
The investigation also discovered products, including a teddy bear-style blanket on Amazon, that lacked armholes, creating a risk that a baby could slip down inside the bag and become covered.
During the investigation, Which? also found an additional seven sleeping bags that were not similar in style to an official recall but were still believed to pose a risk due to the lack of arm holes or hoods.
Specific examples of the dangerous products were found on the sites. A star-shaped sleeping bag on Amazon’s French site, which delivers to UK consumers, was found to be identical to a product that an OPSS recall notice had flagged for a suffocation hazard.
On eBay, a sack-style sleeping bag was found that appeared to be the same as a product recalled in March, having been live for nearly two weeks and selling at least three times.
Sue Davies, head of consumer protection policy at Which?, said "It’s outrageous that dangerous baby sleeping bags are still being sold on online marketplaces."
"The only way to break this cycle is by holding online marketplaces legally accountable, with tough penalties for failures." She stressed that the new Act must be "backed by regulations that impose a clear legal duty, heavy fines, and stronger enforcement of consumer protection laws."
Which? is now demanding a new law that would place a legal duty on these platforms to prevent the sale of unsafe items, holding them legally accountable.
Currently, marketplaces have no legal responsibility for the safety of third-party goods as they are not formally recognised as part of the supply chain.
In the wake of these alarming findings, Which? has issued a stern warning to parents. They are advising shoppers to avoid any baby sleeping bags with hoods or excess material. Parents should also be wary of products sold as "multipurpose items," such as a swaddle or stroller cover, as these may not meet the safety standards for each individual use.
In response to the investigation, a spokesperson for Amazon said the company requires all products to comply with applicable laws and policies. An eBay spokeswoman similarly defended the platform’s measures, stating that consumer safety is a "top priority" and that the site works diligently to prevent and remove prohibited listings.
