Thinking of buying a baby sleeping bag online? You might want to think twice. Despite official recalls, dangerous products posing suffocation risks are still being found on major marketplaces like Amazon and eBay. Is your little one safe?

An alarming investigation has revealed that potentially lethal baby sleeping bags, previously recalled for severe suffocation risks, continue to be sold on prominent online marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay. This persistent availability raises serious concerns about product safety standards and the effectiveness of oversight in the digital retail space, directly impacting baby safety.

Consumer group Which? spearheaded the investigation, identifying numerous products that mirror or are identical to those officially flagged by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS). The critical design flaws include the presence of hoods, which can dangerously cover a baby’s head and face, directly violating established British Standards Institution safety guidelines for infant sleepwear, highlighting a significant consumer alert.

Beyond hoods, the absence of armholes in several sleeping bag designs presents another grave hazard. Products lacking these essential features allow infants to slip down inside the bag, creating a further risk of suffocation. One example cited was a teddy bear-style blanket on Amazon Marketplace, designed without the crucial armholes, underscoring issues in child health protection.

The inquiry also highlighted a sack-style sleeping bag listed on eBay, depicted in a way that showed a baby “positively swamped” by the material, indicating excessive size and potential for entanglement. Even smaller platforms like Etsy were implicated, with five listings raising immediate concern, including two appearing to be direct duplicates of recalled items, a clear instance of product recall failure.

In response to these alarming findings, Which? strongly advises parents and caregivers to meticulously scrutinize baby sleeping bags before purchase, especially when engaging in online shopping. They urge consumers to specifically avoid any designs that incorporate hoods or excess decorative material, such as large bows or novelty additions, which could inadvertently obstruct a baby’s breathing during sleep.

Furthermore, the consumer watchdog emphasizes the critical importance of always selecting sleeping bags equipped with armholes. These provide a secure fit, preventing a baby from sliding down and minimizing the risk of their face becoming covered. Shoppers are also cautioned against multipurpose items marketed as both swaddles and sleeping bags, as these often fail to meet specific safety criteria for each function, impacting overall baby safety.

A significant point of contention for Which? is the continued presence of these hazardous items despite earlier market surveillance by the OPSS. While the regulator undertook test purchasing and collaborated with online marketplaces to remove non-compliant listings, Which? discovered 35 potentially dangerous sleeping bags still available just four months later, underscoring systemic challenges in enforcing product recall.

Sue Davies, head of consumer protection policy at Which?, expressed profound dismay, labeling the ongoing sale of dangerous baby sleeping bags as “outrageous.” Spokespersons for Amazon and eBay, however, asserted their commitment to safety, stating they require products to comply with laws and policies, and that proactive measures are in place to prevent prohibited listings, yet the consumer alert remains.

This investigation serves as a stark reminder of the vigilant role consumers must play in ensuring the safety of infant products, even when purchasing from established online platforms. The persistence of recalled or non-compliant items highlights an urgent need for enhanced monitoring and stricter enforcement to protect the most vulnerable and uphold child health standards in online shopping.