Product safety reportOPSS
LEECHE Water Beads safety warning over a suffocation risk
Product Safety Report for LEECHE Water Beads presenting a serious risk of asphyxiation.
Stop using it now. For sleep, a baby needs a firm, flat mattress with no pillows, padding or loose items in the cot.
Product image from the OPSS safety notice
What to do now
LEECHE Water Beads poses a suffocation risk.
- Stop using it now. For sleep, a baby needs a firm, flat mattress with no pillows, padding or loose items in the cot.
- Store it where children cannot reach it.
- Because the product was found unsafe on an online marketplace, use the platform’s order page to contact the seller.
- If you cannot reach the seller, Trading Standards can be told through Citizens Advice.
Why it matters. Babies cannot move away from something covering their face. Pillows, padded sleeping bags and soft items in the cot are linked to sleep deaths, and that is why many of these products fail UK safety rules.
If someone has been hurt
Look out for
- a baby who seems to struggle to breathe
Get help urgently
- a baby or child who is not breathing or has turned blue — call 999 immediately
This is general information based on NHS public guidance, not medical advice. In an emergency call 999. For urgent advice use NHS 111 (NHS 24 on 111 in Scotland) or, in Northern Ireland, your GP or out-of-hours service.
Getting your money back
A product safety report usually means the product was bought online and the marketplace has removed the listing. Ask the seller for a refund through the platform where you bought it; many marketplaces have their own buyer protection.
If you paid by credit card and it cost over £100, Section 75 may apply; otherwise your bank may be able to raise a chargeback.
From the official notice
Published by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (2604-0119). Quoted as issued.
Summary
Product Safety Report for LEECHE Water Beads presenting a serious risk of asphyxiation.
The risk
The product presents a serious risk of asphyxiation because if the product is swallowed in its hydrated form, it can block a young child’s airway.
OPSS has published a Product Safety Alert for water beads, which can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/product-safety-alerts-reports-recalls/product-safety-alert-water-beads-psa7
The product does not meet the requirements of the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.
Action taken
The product is no longer available for sale.
Advice to consumers
The product is no longer available for sale.
Additional information
PSD notification number: 2604-0119
Notified by: Local Authority Trading Standards
Product description
Multicoloured water beads in various sizes.
Open the OPSS notice
Questions
Why has LEECHE Water Beads been reported?
LEECHE Water Beads poses a suffocation risk. Babies cannot move away from something covering their face. Pillows, padded sleeping bags and soft items in the cot are linked to sleep deaths, and that is why many of these products fail UK safety rules.
How do I know if my product is affected?
The notice describes the affected product rather than listing codes. Compare the product name, pack size and where you bought it with the official notice.
What should I do now?
Stop using it now. For sleep, a baby needs a firm, flat mattress with no pillows, padding or loose items in the cot. Store it where children cannot reach it.
Can I get a refund or a repair?
A product safety report usually means the product was bought online and the marketplace has removed the listing. Ask the seller for a refund through the platform where you bought it; many marketplaces have their own buyer protection. If you paid by credit card and it cost over £100, Section 75 may apply; otherwise your bank may be able to raise a chargeback.
