Parents have been warned to stop using baby sleeping bags with hoods or no armholes after nearly 50 recalls have been issued. The product safety alert, published by the Office for Product Safety and Standards on October 1, asks parents, carers, educators, local authorities and businesses to be alert to the dangers of unsafe baby sleeping bags.
Nearly 50 recalls since 2023
The Office for Product Safety and Standards stated: "We have published nearly 50 recalls or product safety reports for dangerous baby sleeping bag products since 2023." The recall specifies that baby sleeping bags are not safe for babies to sleep in or to be placed in unsupervised if they lack armholes or include a hood.
Suffocation and overheating risks
The warning continues: "The main harms are suffocation and overheating, which can lead to serious injury or death in babies." If a sleeping bag does not have armholes to keep a child in position, a baby could slip into the sleeping bag and the material may cover their nose and mouth.
The sleeping bags can also cause danger due to overheating. Materials that are heat retentive and/or enclose a baby's head will prevent heat escaping, and a baby can get too hot if left for too long.
Advice for consumers
The warning advises customers: "If the product was marketed for unsupervised baby sleep, you should contact the business that supplied the product; you may be entitled to redress under the Digital Markets Competition and Consumers Act 2024."
