More than 30 baby sleeping bags sold on major online marketplaces pose serious suffocation risks to infants, according to a new investigation by consumer watchdog Which?. The dangerous products were found on Amazon, eBay and other platforms, with many similar or identical to items officially recalled by safety regulators.
The investigation revealed sleeping bags with hoods that could cover babies' heads and faces, creating suffocation hazards. These hoods violate British Standards Institution safety requirements specifically designed to prevent such risks.
Dangerous design flaws identified
Which? discovered sleeping bags without essential arm holes, including a teddy bear-style blanket listed on Amazon Marketplace. Products lacking arm holes allow babies to slip down inside the bag, potentially covering their faces and causing suffocation.
The consumer group also found a sack-style sleeping bag on eBay showing a baby "positively swamped" by the oversized item. Five concerning listings appeared on Etsy, with two appearing identical to previously recalled products.
Regulatory failures highlighted
The findings raise serious questions about online marketplace oversight, as the dangerous products remained available despite market surveillance by the Office for Product Safety and Standards earlier this year. The regulator had worked with platforms to remove similar listings, yet Which? found 35 potentially lethal sleeping bags still being sold just 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. 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."
Platform responses vary
Amazon disputed the findings, with a spokesman stating: "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?."
eBay emphasised its safety measures, with a spokeswoman explaining the platform uses "seller compliance audits, block filter algorithms for unsafe listings, and AI-supported monitoring" to prevent dangerous products. She added that "listings that violate eBay policy, including those identified in this investigation, are swiftly removed."
Safety guidance for parents
Which? advises parents to avoid baby sleeping bags with hoods or excess material such as large bows that could cover infants' faces during sleep. Products sold as multipurpose items should also be avoided to ensure safety standards compliance.
The safest option remains sleeping bags with arm holes, which prevent babies from slipping down inside the bag and covering their faces.
Sources used: "Which?" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
