The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is warning parents of the potential dangers of both baby nest and baby sleep bag products.
Their guidance follows a combined total of over 4,500 dangerous baby nests and baby sleep bags being recalled in Ireland between 2021 and 2022. To support consumers in making informed purchasing decisions, the CCPC has developed consumer guidance to highlight potential safety risks associated with these products, as well as practical tips for use.
According to research carried out by the CCPC, baby sleep bags can pose a suffocation risk. As we know, a baby sleep bag is a wearable blanket, designed to keep a baby at a comfortable and safe temperature, without the need for any additional bedding. It is secured at the shoulders, ensuring a baby’s head remains uncovered.
However, as a result of their project findings and subsequent product recalls, the CCPC is highlighting a number of potentially serious risks associated with some baby sleep bag products, including:
Suffocation: where the neck opening is too large, making it easy for a baby’s head to pass through and slip inside the sleep bag.
Strangulation: due to strings, cords, ties and ribbons.
Choking: due to small parts (e.g. buttons) becoming detached.
The CCPC have also outlined that Baby Nests are not safe for unsupervised use. A baby nest is a ‘cocoon-like’ mattress consisting of a soft base with padded sides that wrap around the outer rim. They may also be referred to as ‘baby pods’ or ‘sleeping pods’, and are intended for supervised use only.
The CCPC is highlighting a number of potentially serious risks associated with some baby sleep bag products, including:
Suffocation: where there are horizontal gaps between the soft sides and base mattress, which could cause a baby’s head to get trapped. Baby nests are not safe for unsupervised use and should not be used as additional bedding in a baby’s cot, bassinette or left unattended on other soft surfaces.
Strangulation: due to drawstrings or ribbons on certain styles of baby nests.
Choking: as a result of the inner contents, stuffing or small detachable parts becoming accessible to a baby.
The CCPC is encouraging consumers to download its consumer guidance on baby sleep bags and baby nests before they consider buying these products. Available to download from ccpc.ie, the CCPC’s guidance offers full details of the associated safety risks, tips for usage, as well as information on what to do next if a consumer suspects they have purchased an unsafe baby sleep bag or baby nest.
The CCPC is also encouraging consumers to report any retailers selling baby nest products with drawstrings or ribbons via its helpline on 01 402 555, or email ask@ccpc.ie with full details.
Where a consumer is concerned they may have purchased an unsafe baby nest or sleep bag, they are advised to visit the CCPC’s recalls page at ccpc.ie to check if their product has been recalled. Each recall notice will have further details and provide information on what to do next.
For consumers who have safety concerns about a baby nest or sleep bag they’ve already purchased (and which has not been subject to a product recall) the CCPC advises them to stop using the product immediately and contact them as soon as possible via its consumer helpline: 01 402 5555 or email: ask@ccpc.ie
