If you are thinking of giving your children a "mermaid tail" this Christmas, you should think again according to Australian authorities.

A mermaid tail maybe cute on little girls but the NSW Fair Trading Commission has warned parents about the potential danger of giving "mermaid tail" as Christmas gifts to their children.

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NSW Fair Trading Commissioner Rod Stowe said there has been no report of the toy causing drowning or injury in Australia but the warning was made as a pre-emptive one ahead of the gift-giving season.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Australian authorities issued the warning following a video from the US that showed a young girl wearing mermaid tail becoming stuck upside down under the water.

The video showed how the girl was immediately rescued by her mother, who later said letting her daughter wear the mermaid tail was not a good idea.

A mermaid tail is pool toy that allow children to swim like a mermaid by binding the user's feet into a single fin or both legs into a tail that resembles that of a mermaid.

Stowe said the parents who give their children mermaid tails should make sure that their kids are good swimmer. Parents are also urged to closely supervise their children when letting them use the mermaid tail in the pool.

A consumer advocacy group, CHOICE, also issued a similar warning on mermaid tails.

"These aquatic toys could present a risk for a young child, particularly if they are not a strong swimmer. The video is quite harrowing and should serve as a timely reminder to all parents to be vigilant about water safety," CHOICE spokesman Tom Godfrey said.

Mermaid tails are not available in Australia's largest toy stores, including Target, Big W, and Toys R Us, but can be easily purchased online for about AuD20 to AUD700.

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