May 24, 2025
Parents Should Know About Amazon Recalls
As parents, we rely on the convenience of online shopping for everything from baby bottles to bassinets. But that convenience can come with serious risks — especially when it comes to safety recalls as a product liability lawyer knows all too well. Online retailers like Amazon don’t always notify customers when a product they’ve purchased has been recalled, and in some cases, they continue to sell dangerous or defective products even after official warnings have been issued. Here’s what every parent should know about Amazon product recalls—and why this issue deserves more attention.
The Problem With Online Retailers And Recalls
In traditional brick-and-mortar stores, recalled products are usually pulled from shelves quickly and visibly. But in the online world, that process is far less transparent. Amazon and other e-commerce platforms often act as middlemen — hosting third-party sellers who may or may not comply with safety regulations.
Amazon has argued in the past that it’s not a “seller,” and therefore not responsible when a product causes harm. Courts and regulators have pushed back on this argument, but legal gray areas remain. This lack of clear accountability means that dangerous products — including toys, cribs, child safety seats, and sleep accessories — can remain available for purchase even after being recalled.
Worse still, unless a customer registers a product with the manufacturer or follows the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) closely, they may never know a recall occurred as our friends at KBA Attorneys have seen in their own practice.
Real Cases With Real Consequences
Here are just a few examples of recalled children’s products that were sold online — sometimes long after warnings were issued:
- Inclined infant sleepers, including models like the Fisher-Price Rock ’n Play, have been linked to dozens of infant deaths. Despite recalls, many were still available on resale platforms and through third-party vendors.
- Children’s clothing with drawstrings that pose strangulation hazards have appeared on Amazon months after official recalls were issued.
- Magnetic toys that can be swallowed and cause life-threatening injuries were available for sale despite being banned by the CPSC.
These products are not just hypothetically dangerous — they’ve caused hospitalizations, permanent injuries, and fatalities.
Why Parents Need To Be Extra Vigilant
Parents already juggle enough without having to be product safety detectives. But if you shop online, especially on marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, or Walmart.com, it’s crucial to:
- Register products with the manufacturer whenever possible
- Check the CPSC recall database regularly for updates
- Avoid third-party sellers with vague product listings or unknown brands
- Be wary of used or refurbished children’s items, especially car seats, cribs, and feeding gear
Even new items can be risky if sellers fail to disclose recalls or safety warnings. That’s why legislation and enforcement need to catch up to how families shop today.
Not Just Amazon As The Risk Is Widespread
While Amazon gets the spotlight, other platforms have similar problems. Walmart Marketplace, eBay, Temu, and Shein are all known for offering low-cost children’s products — often from foreign third-party sellers with limited oversight. Many of these products do not meet U.S. safety standards and are difficult to recall effectively once in circulation.
Parents should be especially cautious when buying items that go near a child’s mouth, are involved in sleep or transport, or contain small parts. The lack of regulation and enforcement across online platforms puts the burden unfairly on consumers to spot unsafe products.
Your Family Deserves Protection
When a child is injured by a defective or recalled product, it’s not just a personal tragedy — it’s often the result of a preventable failure. Big companies make big profits. They should take big responsibility. Lawyers help parents not only seek justice but also make their voices part of a larger call for reform.
Attorneys believe in protecting children, preventing future harm, and holding major sellers accountable when they cut corners at your family’s expense.
If your child has been hurt by a defective or recalled product — whether purchased on Amazon or another online retailer —contact a lawyer near you. They will be assertive advocates and compassionate counselors, committed to securing justice and safer products for all.