Illegal Child Car Seats Still Sold Online 10 Years After Recall

More than a decade after being identified as dangerous and illegal, flimsy, non-compliant child car seats continue to be sold online on marketplaces such as eBay, Shein, Little Dreams, ManoMano, and Wish. These seats, often priced between £12.50 and just under £40, significantly undercut the standard price of genuine safety-approved seats, making them attractive to families struggling with the cost of living. They contain fundamental safety flaws including thin bases that fail to elevate children properly, multiple buckles complicating quick removal, and no side impact protection, risking severe injury or death in crashes. Consumer watchdog Which? and trading standards officers first exposed these "killer" seats in 2014, with crash tests showing a dummy representing a three-year-old was hurled through a windscreen due to strap failure. Despite warnings and some listings cautioning against car use, these products lack the legally required R44 or R129 safety labels and remain available, prompting calls for stronger regulation and greater accountability from online marketplaces. Experts stress the urgent need to protect children, particularly in less affluent households, from these hazardous products.