Consumer Reports finds banned baby gear on major online sites

Looking for a bargain on a crib, sleeper or other baby gear through Facebook Marketplace or another resale site may come with risks parents can't easily spot from a listing photo.

A new Consumer Reports investigation found banned or restricted baby products listed on Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Mercari and Craigslist, including some infant sleep products that have been linked to infant deaths. The organization gave all four platforms its lowest rating for preventing unsafe or prohibited products from being listed.

The findings come amid broader scrutiny of online marketplaces and product safety. Earlier this year, Consumer Reports also found banned and restricted baby products being sold by third-party sellers on Amazon, Target, Walmart and Temu.

Researchers searched the platforms for four categories of products that are banned, restricted or widely considered unsafe:

Facebook Marketplace had listings for all four product types. eBay had listings for padded crib bumpers, drop-side cribs and infant in-bed sleepers. Mercari had listings for padded crib bumpers and infant in-bed sleepers, while Craigslist had infant in-bed sleepers.

One category stood out. Consumer Reports found 50 infant in-bed sleepers among the first 65 Facebook Marketplace listings it reviewed and stopped counting after reaching 50.

Infant in-bed sleepers…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/