Think your baby’s sleeping bag is safe? A new investigation exposes a shocking truth: numerous hazardous infant sleeping bags, posing suffocation risks, are still available on major online marketplaces like Amazon and eBay. Are platforms truly doing enough to protect our little ones? You might be surprised by what’s still being sold.
A recent alarming investigation by consumer watchdog Which? has uncovered a pervasive issue: a significant number of baby sleeping bags, despite posing serious suffocation risks, continue to be readily available for purchase on prominent online marketplaces, including Amazon, eBay, and Etsy. This revelation highlights critical lapses in product safety enforcement and raises urgent concerns for parents worldwide.
The investigation specifically identified over 30 distinct baby sleeping bag products that either mirrored or were identical to items previously recalled by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) due to their inherent dangers. This suggests a troubling pattern where unsafe products, once removed, tend to reappear or are replaced by similar hazardous alternatives, perpetuating a cycle of risk for vulnerable infants.
A primary design flaw consistently observed across many of these dangerous products was the inclusion of hoods. These hoods, intended perhaps for aesthetic appeal, could easily cover a baby’s head and face during sleep, leading to a critical suffocation risk. This design directly contravenes established safety standards for infant sleeping products.
Beyond hoods, other hazardous design elements were noted. For instance, Which? found teddy bear-style blankets sold on Amazon Marketplace that lacked arm holes, a fundamental requirement for baby sleeping bags to prevent a child from slipping down inside and becoming engulfed by the material. Similarly, a sack-style sleeping bag on eBay showed a baby “positively swamped” by the oversized item, further illustrating the danger of ill-fitting and non-compliant designs.
The consumer group’s concerns extended to Etsy, where five listings for baby sleeping bags were flagged. Two of these appeared to be exact matches for recalled products, while the remaining three, though similar in style, still presented potential hazards. This broader presence across multiple platforms underscores the systemic challenge in regulating third-party sellers and ensuring consistent product safety across the vast digital marketplace.
In light of these findings, Which? is strongly advising shoppers to exercise extreme caution. Parents are urged to avoid purchasing baby sleeping bags that feature hoods, excessive material, large bows, or any other novelty additions that could potentially obstruct a baby’s face or head. Emphasizing safety, the watchdog reiterates the importance of always selecting sleeping bags equipped with arm holes, a design feature crucial for preventing babies from sinking too far into the bag.
Both Amazon and eBay have issued statements in response to the investigation, asserting their commitment to consumer safety and compliance with regulations. They claim to employ various measures, including seller compliance audits, block filter algorithms, and AI-supported monitoring, to prevent prohibited listings. However, Sue Davies, Head of Consumer Protection Policy at Which?, remains critical, stressing that until online marketplaces are held legally accountable with tough penalties, the cycle of unsafe products will likely continue.
Davies’s sentiment highlights a critical gap in current oversight, suggesting that the existing voluntary measures by online platforms are insufficient to effectively police the immense volume of products sold. The persistent re-emergence of dangerous items, despite official recalls and marketplace efforts, underscores the urgent need for more robust regulatory frameworks and stronger legal liabilities for platforms to genuinely safeguard consumers, especially the most vulnerable infants.
