More than 30 baby sleeping bags discovered on online marketplaces including Amazon and eBay pose a suffocation risk, according to an investigation.
Which? said online marketplaces had been permitting the sale of baby sleeping bags similar or identical to products that were officially recalled by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) for suffocation risks.
A common feature of the products found by Which? were hoods which could cover a baby’s head and face and result in suffocation, the watchdog said.
The inclusion of hoods does not comply with the British Standards Institution’s safety standards for this reason.
Some of the sleeping bags Which? examined, such as a teddy bear-style blanket on Amazon Marketplace, did not have arm holes, despite sleeping bags requiring them to meet the safety standard.
Those without can cause a baby to slip down inside the sleeping bag, covering their face and risking suffocation.
Which? also discovered a sack-style sleeping bag listing on eBay which showed a baby being “positively swamped” by the item.
The consumer group also found five listings on Etsy that it was “concerned about”, with two appearing to be identical to recalled products, and the other three in a similar style and listed as sleeping bags.
Which? is urging shoppers to avoid baby sleeping bags with hoods or excess material, such as large bows or other novelty additions, which risk covering a baby’s head and face while they move around in their sleep. It is always advisable to use a sleeping bag with arm holes for babies, as these prevent the little ones from slipping down inside the bag.
Parents should also steer clear of multipurpose items such as swaddles, stroller covers, baby cocoons and sleeping bags, ensuring each item meets safety standards individually.
Consumer watchdog Which? expressed concern that these products continue to be sold despite market surveillance conducted by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) earlier this year.
The regulator carried out test purchases on a variety of items sold online, including baby sleeping products, and collaborated with online marketplaces to remove the listings.
However, Which?discovered 35 potentially deadly sleeping bags still available for sale just four months later.
Sue Davies, Head of Consumer Protection Policy at Which? stated: “It’s outrageous that dangerous baby sleeping bags are still being sold on online marketplaces.
“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.”
A spokesperson for Amazon responded: “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 stated: “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 contacted for a response.