Report finds banned baby gear on four online marketplaces

A new investigation by Consumer Reports found banned baby products on four major online marketplaces.

The organization evaluated Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Craigslist, and Mercari. Evaluators discovered unsafe items on all four platforms despite laws prohibiting the sale of recalled goods.

Listings included drop-side cribs, padded crib bumpers, infant inclined sleepers, and in-bed sleepers. Facebook Marketplace had the most troubling listings. Evaluators stopped counting after finding 50 in-bed sleepers among 65 search results. These products carry suffocation and asphyxiation risks.

Meta stated to Consumer Reports that recalled products are prohibited by their policies. The company said it enforces these rules using automated detection and human review. The report notes that buyers and sellers often do not understand the law or know if a product has been recalled.

Consumer Reports advises shoppers to search recalls.gov using the exact product name or model number. Sellers should verify items are not recalled before posting them online. The organization warns to be especially careful with used child car seats. A seat may look fine but could have hidden damage, missing parts, or be past its expiration date. Experts say buying a new car seat is usually the safest option.