Parents have been alerted to the presence of dangerous baby products being sold on various online platforms, raising concerns over potential risks to infants. A recent investigation by Which? identified around 150 items that fail to meet safety standards, posing threats such as suffocation, choking, and overheating for babies. These products, including self-feeding items, baby sleep pillows, and sleeping bags, were discovered on popular websites like Alibaba, AliExpress, Amazon, eBay, Etsy, OnBuy, TikTok Shop, and Wish.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) issued a safety advisory in 2022 regarding self-feeding products, highlighting the severe danger of choking or aspiration pneumonia associated with them. Despite the OPSS’s recommendation to remove these products, Which? found 54 baby self-feeders still available for purchase.
Baby sleep pillows have been linked to infant fatalities both in the UK and abroad, prompting a specific warning in 2025 from the OPSS cautioning against their use for infants under 12 months old. The main concerns revolve around the risks of suffocation and overheating, with 37 pillows marketed for infants found to potentially pose a threat.
Further, Which? researchers flagged 59 baby sleeping bags as unsafe due to the high risk of suffocation they present. Some of these sleeping bags feature hoods that could cover a baby’s face or lack proper armholes, creating a hazardous situation where a sleeping infant could slip down inside the bag.
Sue Davies, the Head of Consumer Protection Policy at Which?, expressed grave concerns about the availability of these risky products on major online platforms. Davies emphasized the urgent need for the government to enforce stricter regulations under the Product Regulation and Metrology Act, holding online marketplaces accountable for ensuring product safety and taking firm action against non-compliance.
Responses from the implicated online platforms varied, with Alibaba, AliExpress, Amazon, eBay, Etsy, OnBuy, and TikTok Shop all acknowledging the issue and taking measures to address it. While some platforms swiftly removed the flagged products and pledged to enhance monitoring, others highlighted their commitment to customer safety and compliance with regulations.
However, Wish did not provide a response to Which?’s inquiries regarding the identified unsafe products. The situation underscores the critical need for online marketplaces to prioritize consumer safety and take proactive steps to prevent the sale of harmful items to unsuspecting customers.
