More than 100 inflatable swim floats sold by third-party sellers on online marketplaces, including Amazon, could collapse in the water and leave babies at risk of drowning, a study by Which? has found. Many of the designs also risk neurological damage and injury to infants.
Floats linked to recalled and hazardous products
The investigation identified two unicorn floats advertised on Amazon that closely resemble a product recalled by TikTok Shop last December. One of these is promoted with a picture of a baby on the float alone in a pool, while parents watch from sun loungers at the side.
A shark-shaped float was condemned by Amazon's own AI chatbot Rufus, which suggested the product had 'significant safety concerns' in windy weather. At least 14 floats by the brand Relaxing Baby were found to appear identical to a product that killed a two-year-old in the US.
Neck floats and canopy designs flagged
Baby floats sold on OnBuy and Vinted resembled a toy that the US Consumer Product Safety Commission labelled hazardous. A further 11 identical-looking products appeared on AliExpress and Vinted, either unbranded or under different branding.
The study also highlighted concerns with neck floats, which fasten around an infant's neck and suspend them in the water, risking drowning, suffocation, and strains or injuries to the neck. The Swimming Teachers Association (STA) has warned parents against using them. Floats with canopies were flagged as at risk of collapsing or capsizing, with at least 14 such products listed on the UK government's recall site, the Office for Product Safety and Standards.
Platforms respond to safety concerns
Sue Davies, head of consumer protection policy at Which?, said online platforms' 'irresponsible' business model lets third parties list potentially hazardous products without consequence. 'We've seen time and again that they will not do enough to prevent the sale of unsafe products unless they are forced to,' she said. 'The government must stand firm against Big Tech lobbying and do what is needed to keep children safe. It must urgently use its new powers under the Product Regulation and Metrology Act to impose a clear legal duty on online marketplaces for ensuring the safety of products sold through their third-party sellers, with tough enforcement for those that fall short.'
Amazon said it had 'strict proactive controls' on consumer products, including testing, and had removed the products concerned and launched an investigation. In a statement, it said: 'We've removed the products in question and are investigating how these came to be available. We continuously monitor our store, and we take swift action when we're alerted of potential issues. If customers have concerns about any item they've purchased, we encourage them to contact our Customer Service directly so we can investigate and help resolve their issue.'
A Vinted spokesperson said the site takes action to remove prohibited products from the platform, adding: 'We care about the safety of our members and are constantly working on our processes and policies to respond to emerging safety risks. We also collaborate closely with the relevant authorities when appropriate to help us maintain effective detection and compliance efforts.' TikTok Shop said it removes all products listed by government regulatory bodies and has sent recall notices to all affected customers. A spokesperson for AliExpress said the platform had removed the flagged products from sale and was rolling out additional 'safety measures' for baby floats.
