It’s scary to think that something you might buy for your baby could harm, or potentially even kill them.
So, here we explain some of the big risks to your baby’s safety and the simple things you can do to keep them safe.
Your growing baby
Your baby’s age and stage of development makes them more vulnerable to dangerous products. So, what might be less risky for older children is a much bigger risk to babies.
- Your baby’s airway is narrower and more delicate than ours, so they can suffocate very quickly.
- As babies grow, they explore the world around them by putting things in their mouths. So they are at increased risk of swallowing something harmful or choking on small objects.
- Their muscle control isn’t fully developed. This means it’s hard for them to free themselves if they’re in danger.
Dangerous baby products available online
It’s important to know that not all baby products are made to UK safety standards. Many baby products from unknown sellers on online marketplaces come from abroad and have not been safety tested.
So, when you buy from an online marketplace such as AliExpress, Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Groupon, Joom, OnBuy, Shein, Temu, TikTok Shop and Wish remember:
- not everything they sell is supplied by them
- they don’t have to check that baby products sold by other sellers are safe
1. Baby bath seats
While bath seats can help support your baby in the bath, they’re NOT safety aids.
Babies can easily wriggle or slip out, or the seat itself can tip over and immerse the baby in the water.
Babies can’t recognise danger and, if their face goes into the water, they may have trouble lifting their heads so it stays there.
It’s scary to think about but babies can drown in just a few centimetres of water, very quickly and with no noise or struggle to alert you.
How to stay safe
Stay with your baby while they’re in the bath. Keep them in arms reach all the time to keep them safe. If you need to leave the bathroom, even for a moment, take your baby with you.
2. Dangerous baby sleeping bags
The government has issued an urgent safety alert for baby sleeping bags that lack armholes or include a hood, as they can cause overheating, suffocation or even death.
Without armholes to hold your baby in position, they can wriggle down inside and suffocate. Hoods can cause overheating or suffocation if they cover your baby’s nose and mouth.
How to stay safe
Choose sleep bags with well-fitted arm and neck holes and no hood.
3. Nappy sacks
They’re found in almost every changing bag, but did you know that nappy sacks can kill small babies?
Young babies under six months naturally grasp things and pull them to their mouths, but then find it difficult to let go or pull them away.
As nappy sacks are flimsy, they can easily cling to a baby’s face as they breathe in and can tragically result in suffocation or choking.
How to stay safe
Remember to keep nappy sacks well out of reach of children when changing them and never put them in a buggy or cot.
4. Self-feeding baby products
In 2022, an urgent safety alert was issued for baby self-feeding products. These enable babies to bottle feed with little to no assistance from a carer.
They are still available to buy in some places. But they can be deadly. That’s because the baby can’t push the bottle away, so can choke or suffer aspiration pneumonia.
How to stay safe
Your baby needs you with them while they are feeding, so you can react if they start gagging or choking.
Never use anything that encourages you to leave your baby alone to feed with a propped-up bottle.
5. Slings and carriers
Slings and baby carriers are useful for holding a baby hands-free. But it’s important they are made and used safely.
If a baby’s head slumps too far forward, backwards or sideways or if their nose and mouth is covered, their airway can be obstructed and they can suffocate.
As well as this, many cheap slings and carriers sold on online marketplaces have been recalled for having serious safety failures. Inadequate support attachments mean a baby could slip out, fall and suffer serious injuries.
How to stay safe
Avoid buying cheap slings or carriers from online marketplaces. Stick to brand names you know and trust.
Follow the T.I.C.K.S advice for slings or carriers.
- Tight
- In view at all times
- Close enough to kiss
- Keep chin off the chest
- Supported back
If your baby needs to feed, take them out of the sling first.
6. Baby hug or sleep pillows and baby positioners
They may look cute and cuddly but pillows can cause a baby to overheat or suffocate if used for sleeping.
In December 2025 a safety alert was issued warning parents never to use sleep or hug pillows for babies under 12 months.
Using normal pillows alone has been shown to increase the chance of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) occurring by up to 2.5 times.
Products that position or elevate your baby for sleep could pose serious risks. It is safest to sleep your baby on a firm, flat surface.
How to stay safe
For babies 12 months and under, use a firm, flat mattress with no loose bedding, pillows, positioners, bumpers or soft toys. And put them down to sleep on their back and with their feet at the bottom of the cot or moses basket.
7. Cheap toys
Some cheap toys from online marketplaces, markets or small discount stores can be deadly.
They may contain:
- Super-strong magnets that can rip through your child’s belly
- Easy-access button batteries that can kill your child if swallowed
- Small parts that can choke them
- Long cords that can strangle
- Harmful levels of chemicals
Discover recalled baby toys here.
How to stay safe
If you’re shopping for a toy for your baby, we recommend opting for well-known brand names and retailers if you can.
8. Dummy clips
Dummy clips, also known as soother holders, keep dummies in reach and stop them from getting lost. But they can be a massive strangulation or choking risk.
That’s why dummy clips must be safety tested before being sold in the UK. Yet, many dangerous dummy clips are available to buy from online marketplaces.
Common safety issues include overlong straps that could strangle, small parts that break off easily and could choke, and toxic chemicals.
How to stay safe
- Check the dummy clip is compliant with this safety standard: BSEN 12586:2007. This should be clearly written on the package.
- Regularly inspect it and throw it away at the first sign of damage or weakness
- Don’t lengthen it by attaching it to cords, ribbons, laces or loose clothing as there is a risk of your baby being strangled. Dummy clips should not be longer than 22cm.
- Only use a dummy clip when you are there to supervise. Don’t use one when your baby is in a cot, bed or crib.
9. Bath thermometers
Bath thermometers are great for checking the water temperature is safe for your child’s delicate skin.
But many of these thermometers are powered by button batteries which can badly hurt or kill a child if swallowed.
How to stay safe
Always check the battery compartment is secure. And, remember that they aren’t toys, so remove them before you put your child in the bath and store it somewhere safe.
Plus, don’t forget button batteries are in many more household items too.
10. Neck floats
Neck floats are inflatables that sit around a baby’s neck.
They allow babies to float freely in the water and give parents a false sense of security that their child is safe out of reach. That simply isn’t true.
If the float pushes up against or gets caught on something, this could put pressure on the baby’s airways, risking suffocation.
And if the float flips over, the baby’s face could be submerged under the water and they could drown.
It’s scary to think about but drowning happens quickly and quietly, often with no noise to alert you it’s happening.
How to stay safe
Don’t buy a neck float for your baby.
Remember, keep your baby in arms’ reach in the water at all times so that you can act fast to keep them safe.
Why are so many dangerous baby products available to buy online?
According to our research, 74% of parents believe that any product aimed at children under 5 has to be fully tested and certified safe by an independent body before it can be sold online.
But in reality, if an online seller is based overseas, and sells through an online platform, they can evade their safety responsibilities – even for toys or nursery products.
And while a product may have been recalled from one online marketplace, a seemingly identical product may well be available to buy on another site.
Our advice when buying for your baby online:
- Check who you are buying from and where they are based. Is it a reputable company or brand? Remember, not everything advertised on well-known online platforms is sold by that platform. You can be buying from a company you’ve never heard of, based overseas, that’s ignoring UK safety laws.
- Check if the product is dangerous and has been removed from sale. Visit gov.uk for a list of recalled products.
- Stop using recalled baby products straight away. Return them for a refund.
What to do if you find a dangerous baby product
We hope that sharing this information will help you spot products that may be unsafe so you can avoid them.
If you think you’ve bought something unsafe, please report it so action can be taken to protect other families. Simply call:
- Citizens Advice consumer helpline (England and Wales): 0808 223 1133
- Citizens Advice consumer helpline (Welsh-speaking adviser): 0808 223 1144
- Advice Direct Scotland helpline: 0808 164 6000
- Northern Ireland Consumerline: 0300 123 6262. Or report your worries to your local district council.
Related pages
Related pages
Safe baby bath time
Whether you love or loathe bath time, it’s important to keep safety in mind as sadly many accidents happen in the bathroom. Discover top tips for parents and carers.
Danger on the changing mat
Did you know nappy sacks can kill small babies? Discover the dangers and learn how to keep children safe here.
