Parents have been warned about ‘potentially lethal’ baby sleeping bags being sold online in the UK.
An investigation by consumer rights group Which? found 35 products which pose a suffocation risk.
They are being flogged on online marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay, ManoMano and Etsy.
These ‘dangerous’ sleeping bags were similar or identical to products which the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) had officially recalled due to suffocation risks.
The sleeping bags featured large hoods which could cover a baby’s face and suffocate them, the watchdog said.
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This is why hoods do not comply with the British Standards Institution safety standards.
Which? also discovered sleeping bags, such a teddy bear-style blanket on Amazon Marketplace, which breached safety standards by not having arm holes.
This means a baby could slip down inside the bag, leaving their face covered and risking suffocation.
Sue Davies, Which? head of consumer protection policy, says: ‘It’s outrageous that dangerous baby sleeping bags are still being sold on online marketplaces.’
This included a teddy bear-shaped sleeping bag, branded a ‘newborn reception blanket, being sold on Amazon without arm holes and with a hood.
Investigators also uncovered a sack-style sleeping bag on eBay showing a baby being ‘positively swamped’ by the item.
Five listings on Etsy also raised alarm bells, with two appearing to be the exact same as recalled products.
Which? are concerned that these sleeping bags are still being sold despite intervention from the OPSS earlier this year.
The regular worked with online marketplaces to remove the potentially dangerous sleeping bags, but just four months later Which? found 35 riskyproducts still being sold.
Which? is now calling for a legal duty to be placed on websites such as Amazon and eBay to prevent the sale of dangerous items.
Davies added: ‘Our previous investigations showed this is part of a wider pattern: unsafe products are removed, only to resurface.
‘The only way to break this cycle is by holding online marketplaces legally accountable, with tough penalties for failures.’
Marketplaces currently have no legal responsibility for the safety of goods sold by third parties because they are not recognised as actors in the supply chain.
In the meantime, Which? is urging parents to avoid baby sleeping bags with hoods or excess material that could cover a baby’s head during their sleep.
They are also advising shoppers to steer clear of products flogged as ‘multipurpose items’, such as a swaddle, stroller cover and baby cocoon.
This to make sure individual items meet safety standards.
An Amazon spokesman said: ‘We require all products offered in our store to comply with applicable laws, regulations and Amazon policies.
‘The products flagged are not in scope of the safety alerts shared by Which?.
‘If customers have concerns about an item they’ve purchased, we encourage them to contact our customer service directly so we can investigate and help resolve their issue.’
An eBay spokeswoman said: ‘Consumer safety is a top priority for eBay. We work diligently to keep our site safe and prevent prohibited listings through seller compliance audits, block filter algorithms for unsafe listings, and AI-supported monitoring by our team of in-house specialists.
‘These proactive measures have prevented millions of potentially unsafe products from being listed every year. Listings that violate eBay policy, including those identified in this investigation, are swiftly removed.’
Etsy has been approached for comment.
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