Multiple sleep bags are being withdrawn from sale after the UK Government labelled them a danger to babies. In a product safety report, the government stated: “These sleeping bag products present a risk of asphyxiation and overheating. The products do not incorporate arm openings and/or incorporate a hood, which may allow an infant to slip down inside the product during use.”
The bags are marketed as suitable for use from birth to 12 months. The official government product safety report website identifies several different bags being sold by a wide variety of hugely popular shopping websites, including Etsy, Vinted, Wish and Amazon. These are the exact products described as a “hazard” by the UK Government:
It’s listed as a “Soft Cotton Yarn Infant Wrap Starfish Baby Sleeping Bag, Knitted Swaddle Sleep Sack with Hood, Cozy Star Shaped Wearable Blanket, Newborn Photography”. It is described as a “light-blue crocheted, star-shaped baby sleeping bag with an integrated pointed hood and button fastening at the front”, reports the Mirror. The Joom item number is 6a842c1ba915f4015c4feffd.
A total of 14 baby sleep bags sold through Etsy have been listed on the Government’s official website, and have since been removed by the online marketplace. The UK Government has warned: “These sleeping bag products present a risk of asphyxiation and overheating. The products do not incorporate arm openings and/or incorporate a hood, which may allow an infant to slip down inside the product during use. Excess fabric may then cover the infant’s nose and mouth, obstructing breathing and leading to asphyxiation. Infants are particularly vulnerable as they may be unable to remove the obstruction themselves.”
The specific products in question are:
Crochet Baby Sleeping Bag sold via Vinted
The Vinted listed ID is 10028153509 and the product is described as “a cream-coloured knitted infant sleep garment marketed as a sleeping bag. The item has a pointed hood, a wrap-around front panel, an enclosed lower section, and button fastenings along both sides. The front features a knitted character design, while the back is plain with cable-knit detailing along the sides”.