Inflatable swim floats sold online are at risk of collapsing in the water, leaving infants at risk of drowning, a study has found.
More than 100 floats sold by third-party sellers on marketplaces, including Amazon, could be deadly, with many designs risking neurological damage and injury to babies.
An investigation by Which? found two unicorn floats advertised on Amazon closely resembling one recalled by the TikTok Shop last December.
The product is promoted with a picture of a baby on the float alone in a pool, while his parents watch from the side on sun loungers.
Another shark-shaped float was in fact condemned by the Amazon’s own AI chatbot Rufus, which suggested the product had ‘significant safety concerns’ in windy weather.
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At least 14 floats by the brand Relaxing Baby were found to appear identical to a product which killed a two-year-old baby in the US.
Baby floats sold on OnBuy and Vinted resembled the toy the US Consumer Product Safety Commission labelled hazardous.
A further 11 identical-looking products appeared on AliExpress and Vinted but were either unbranded or under different branding.
The study also highlighted concerns with neck floats, which can risk babies’ drowning, suffocating and sustaining strains and neck injuries.
The floats, which fasten around an infant’s neck and suspend them in the water, are also disapproved of by organisations, including the Swimming Teachers Association (STA), which warned parents against using them.
Floats with canopies were also flagged as at risk of collapsing or capsizing, with at least 14 such products listed on the UK government’s recall site, the Office for Product Safety and Standards.
Sue Davies, head of consumer protection policy at Which?, said online platforms’ ‘irresponsible’ business model lets third parties list potentially hazardous products without consequence.
‘We’ve seen time and again that they will not do enough to prevent the sale of unsafe products unless they are forced to,’ she said.
‘The government must stand firm against Big Tech lobbying and do what is needed to keep children safe.
‘It must urgently use its new powers under the Product Regulation and Metrology Act to impose a clear legal duty on online marketplaces for ensuring the safety of products sold through their third-party sellers, with tough enforcement for those that fall short.’
Amazon said it had ‘strict proactive controls’ on consumer products, including testing. It said it had removed the products concerned and had launched an investigation.
It said in a statement: ‘We’ve removed the products in question and are investigating how these came to be available. We continuously monitor our store, and we take swift action when we’re alerted of potential issues.
‘If customers have concerns about any item they’ve purchased, we encourage them to contact our Customer Service directly so we can investigate and help resolve their issue.’
A Vinted spokesperson said the site takes action to remove prohibited products from the platform.
How to choose safe pool floats for your baby
Make sure inflatable pool seats are the correct size, with appropriate leg openings, no harnesses and that you hold the float during use in the water.
Avoid floats with overhead structures or canopies and floats that fasten around the neck.
Check armbands for leaks and make sure they’re the right size for children.
Choose reputable companies to ensure products are compliant with safety regulations. Check both the brand’s legitimacy and the site advertising it.
Be aware of fake product reviews, including five-star write-ups often produced in return for a reward or incentive.
Look for the CE/UKCA mark, indicating a product adheres to a specific standard.
They added: ‘We care about the safety of our members and are constantly working on our processes and policies to respond to emerging safety risks. We also collaborate closely with the relevant authorities when appropriate to help us maintain effective detection and compliance efforts.’
TikTok Shop said it removes all products listed by government regulatory bodies and has sent recall notices to all affected customers.
A spokesperson for AliExpress said the platform had removed the flagged products from sale and was rolling out additional ‘safety measures’ for baby floats.
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