The takeaway is clear: While online shopping offers convenience, it remains a buyer‑beware environment, especially when it comes to baby products. Consumer Reports recommends several steps parents can take to protect their families:
Understand who you’re buying from. It’s not always easy to tell who is selling a given product—and that’s part of the broader problem CR is trying to address. But a little digging can often shed some light. You can identify the seller on Amazon product pages by looking directly below the “Add to Cart” and “Buy Now” buttons, where it lists the shipper (“Ships from”) and the seller (“Sold by”). And you’ll find that info a little farther down on the right-hand side of Walmart.com product pages, below the shipping options.
Buy from reputable sellers. Consider buying products only where the marketplace itself (such as Amazon or Walmart) is listed as the seller, because the platforms are unambiguously responsible for those products under current laws. If you’re interested in a product listed by a third party, stick with well-known and reputable brands. If you haven’t heard of one, do a Google search. One good sign is if you can find the exact same product on other major retail sites. Being unable to find a company website is a bad sign.
Check the reviews, but be skeptical. Negative customer reviews should put you on guard, especially if they include specific real-life details and/or multiple reviews identify similar problems. But keep in mind that fake and paid-for reviews, though illegal, are widespread. And know that designations like “Amazon’s Choice,” “Top Seller,” “Highly Rated,” “Sponsored,” or “Pro Seller” don’t guarantee a product’s safety.
Report suspicious products. If you see something that seems suspicious, or you spot a recalled, illegal, or hazardous product, alert the website and consider reporting it to the CPSC at saferproducts.gov.
Look for safety information, including age recommendations and required warnings, and make sure the information provided answers all your questions.
Search independently for recalls and safety warnings before purchasing essential baby gear, whether on the CPSC website directly, on CR.org, or on reputable sites that track baby product recall news, such as Babylist. You can also sign up to receive recall alerts at recalls.gov.
Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true. Shopping online for essentials and baby gear is a part of every parent’s day-to-day tasks, and online shopping safety may seem like just one more thing to worry about. But with these common-sense best practices for shopping online, you can protect yourself, your baby, and your wallet.
“Shopping for a baby can be stressful enough, and parents and caregivers shouldn’t have to shoulder the burden of identifying unsafe products on their own,” Shin says. “Digital marketplaces should step up and ensure that every product listing provides parents the clear, accurate, and complete information they need to make informed and safe purchasing decisions.”
