Children & baby
Parents and carers want to know that what they order will arrive safely and on time, and that any problem will be sorted without a struggle.
Companies in Children & baby
284 companies
About Children & baby
Online shopping for children and babies covers the goods families buy from home, including clothing, nursery furniture, feeding equipment, toys, nappies and car seats. Some retailers sell only baby products, while others are general department stores with a dedicated children's range. Many companies in this space operate websites and apps alongside marketplace listings on larger platforms.
Products in this category are subject to UK product safety law, which requires that items sold to consumers are safe, and the Office for Product Safety and Standards oversees compliance and issues recalls. British Standards and European safety standards apply to items such as car seats, cots and pushchairs. Retailers selling online are also covered by the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the Consumer Contracts Regulations, which set out rights to refunds, returns and repairs for faulty goods.
Trade bodies such as the British Retail Consumers Association and the Baby Products Association represent businesses and promote good practice across the sector. Consumers in the UK can also turn to the Competition and Markets Authority for matters relating to unfair trading practices.
Questions about Children & baby
How do I choose a good online baby and children's shop?
Check that the retailer gives its full trading name, a geographic address and a company registration number in the footer or on its contact page. Look for a clear returns policy and a customer service phone number or email address that you can contact before you order. Confirm that the site shows a secure padlock and uses https before you enter any payment or personal details.
What should I compare between online children's retailers?
Compare delivery charges, delivery times and whether the retailer offers free returns, since these costs add up quickly on larger items like cots and car seats. Check whether products carry the correct British safety marks, such as the UKCA mark for toys or the relevant British Standard for cots, pushchairs and car seats. Compare how clearly each retailer states stock levels, pre-order dates and any restocking information for popular items.
Can I return a baby product bought online?
Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 you have 14 days from the day you receive goods bought online to cancel the contract and return them for a refund, unless an exception applies. The retailer must refund the cost of the goods and the standard delivery charge once it receives the returned items or proof you have sent them back. Opened items that are unsafe to resell, such as some hygiene products or car seats used in a vehicle, may be excluded from this right, so check the retailer's returns policy before you buy.
What are my rights if a children's product arrives faulty?
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 goods must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described, and you can ask for a repair, replacement or refund. In the first 30 days after delivery you are entitled to reject faulty goods and receive a full refund, and after that the retailer has one opportunity to repair or replace before you can ask for money back. For a product that fails to meet these standards you can also claim against the retailer for the amount of any loss, so keep your order confirmation and photographs of the fault.
How do I cancel a subscription for nappies or baby formula?
Look in your account settings or the terms you agreed to for the cancellation route, and keep a record of the date you asked to cancel. Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 the business must provide an easy way to cancel, and a cancellation online should be as easy as signing up. If the company keeps charging after you have cancelled, contact your bank or card provider to ask about a chargeback, and report the company to the Competition and Markets Authority if the cancellation process is deliberately difficult.
What should I do if an online baby shop does not deliver my order?
Check the estimated delivery date at checkout and the order confirmation, then contact the retailer in writing to ask where the order is. If the item does not arrive within a reasonable time, or by the agreed date if one was set, you can treat the contract as ended and ask for a full refund. If you paid by credit card for an item costing between £100 and £30,000, Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 may allow you to claim against your card provider as well.
How do I complain to a children's retailer in the UK?
Make your complaint in writing to the retailer's customer service team, stating what you bought, when, what went wrong and what outcome you want. Allow the retailer a reasonable time to respond, which is set out in its own complaints procedure, and keep copies of all correspondence. If the retailer does not resolve the matter, you can escalate to an alternative dispute resolution scheme that the retailer belongs to or to the Financial Ombudsman Service if a payment provider is involved.
Which regulators protect shoppers buying children's products online?
The Competition and Markets Authority enforces consumer law and can act against misleading advertising, unfair terms and unfair cancellation practices online. Trading Standards at your local council enforces product safety law, including the General Product Safety Regulations 2005, and can investigate unsafe baby and children's products. The Office for Product Safety and Standards runs the national product safety recall system, and the Information Commissioner's Office enforces data protection rules on how retailers handle your personal information.
Are children's products sold online held to UK safety standards?
Toys sold in the UK must meet the Toy Safety Regulations 2011 and carry the UKCA mark, which shows the product has been assessed against British safety requirements. Cots, pushchairs, high chairs and car seats must meet specific British and European standards, and reputable retailers will state the relevant standard on the product page. Retailers selling to UK consumers are legally responsible for ensuring products are safe, so you can report an unsafe item to Trading Standards or the Office for Product Safety and Standards if you find one.
What should I look for in customer reviews of children's retailers?
Read reviews that describe specific experiences with delivery, product quality and returns rather than general praise or criticism. Look at how the company responds to negative reviews, as a reply that addresses the problem gives more insight than a generic apology. Check whether reviews cover a range of dates, since a recent cluster of similar complaints may point to a change in service that older reviews do not show.
Can I trust a children's shop that has very few reviews?
A small number of reviews gives you limited evidence, so check the company's trading history, registration details and returns policy before deciding. Look at whether the retailer is registered with Companies House and whether its contact details and terms are easy to find and read. Use the reviews you have to judge the experience of real buyers, and treat a business with no reviews and no clear contact details as a reason for caution.
Does a retailer's Trustmark or trade association membership protect me?
Membership of a trade body such as the British Retail Consortium or a scheme like Trustmark can show the retailer has agreed to follow a code of practice. Check that the logo links to the scheme's own register, since logos can be copied, and confirm the membership is current on the scheme's website. Membership does not replace your legal rights under UK consumer law, so you should still use the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 when something goes wrong.
Latest reviews in Children & baby
first order and it went smoothly
I needed a birthday present for my sister in a hurry and had never ordered from them before. Signed up in a couple of minutes, the checkout…
been using them for years
Been ordering from them for years now, mostly home bits and the odd present, and the prices have stayed reasonable even as everything else…
quicker than my bank
Compared to my bank's online loan form this was much quicker, I had a yes in about ten minutes on a Tuesday evening. The questions were…
first time, great result
Ordered a pair of girls' school shoes and they fit really well out of the box. Price was reasonable and the whole thing was quick. Would…
bought a winter coat and it's great value
Ordered a long wool blend coat in navy from the sale section and it arrived in about three days. Fits true to size, lining is decent and…
Needed a new drill set
Needed a new drill set after the old one died halfway through a job. Looked at three or four places before picking this one because the…