Dozens of baby sleeping bags sold on online marketplaces including Amazon and eBay pose a suffocation risk, an investigation by consumer group Which? has found. The products are similar or identical to items previously recalled by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) due to suffocation hazards.
A common dangerous feature identified by Which? is the presence of hoods, which can cover a baby's head and face, leading to suffocation. Such hoods do not comply with British Standards Institution safety standards. Additionally, some sleeping bags lack arm holes, causing babies to slip down inside and risk covering their face.
Which? examined over 30 baby sleeping bags, including a teddy bear-style blanket on Amazon Marketplace without arm holes. On eBay, a sack-style sleeping bag listing showed a baby being 'positively swamped' by the item. Five listings on Etsy also raised concerns, with two appearing identical to recalled products.
Which? urges shoppers to avoid sleeping bags with hoods, excess material, or large bows. It recommends using sleeping bags with arm holes and avoiding multipurpose items that combine functions like swaddling or stroller covers, as they may not meet safety standards.
Despite OPSS market surveillance earlier this year, Which? found 35 potentially lethal sleeping bags still being sold four months later. Sue Davies, Which? head of consumer protection policy, 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.'
Amazon stated that the flagged products are not within the scope of safety alerts shared by Which?, while eBay said it removes prohibited listings swiftly and uses AI-supported monitoring to prevent unsafe products.
