Police have taken a seven-month-old baby away from its parents after they offered to sell him for €1 on eBay.
The German mother said the ad on the internet auction site was only a joke.
But authorities have begun an investigation into possible child trafficking against the parents.
Police spokesman Peter Hieber says the baby has been placed in the care of youth services in the southwestern Allgaeu region.
No offers were made for the child in the two hours and 30 minutes the ad was posted.
The posting was later removed by eBay
Several people who saw the ad alerted police.
