Today we shared a reminder over the dangers of safe sleeping following the death of an infant in a cot insert. One MoM has shared concerns over a sleeping bag product aimed at infants.

One of our MoM members shared a product she recently saw advertised online that is a major safety concern if parents aren’t aware of the safe sleeping guidelines.

Liz shared the product on MoM FB and said, “I have emailed the company asking if the product was SIDS safe and got the response “they are not designed for sleeping in” Even though the product is being marketed as a “sleeping bag.”

Liz was very concerned that they actually offer NO warning label at all.

The email response she received after contacting the company to voice her concerns stated, “Having said that, I will have to ascertain whether there is actual risk due to the product itself. There are many instances of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome but that doesn’t make sleeping in a cot dangerous. Leaving a child unattended in a car doesn’t make a car unsafe.

Unfortunately, there are lots of situations and circumstances everyday and everywhere that would have ordinarily been safe but when “many cheese holes are aligned” a tragedy may occur. It can be due to carelessness, to a momentary slip in concentration, to being unaware of potential dangers, to being inexperienced… the list goes on and on.

Do note, that this product which is new to our store, has been on the market for quite sometime and many stores are selling them too, and it would have been banned by governmental agencies and consumer watch organizations.”

The product description reads:
Our CrimsonViolet™ Baby Wrap Swaddle Blanket makes your little one snug as a bug in a rug!

Features:

Size: 70*39cm / 27.5*15.4 in
Lovely baby sleeping bag.
High-quality synthetic wool, comfortable to use.
Buttons can also be undone for convenient use.
Hooded design, warmer and cuter
Warm, easy to slip on, yet not too thick.
Keeping little ones warm in the buggy, pram, or cot crib

Related story – Mum issues warning after death of her infant in baby cot insert

SIDS recommend placing infants on their back for EVERY sleep, naptime or night time, at home, at grandma’s, at day care and placing babies in a crib or bassinet with a firm mattress, without pillows, soft/loose blankets, bumper pads, or other soft objects, in mother’s/parent’s room close to her bed.

If a blanket is being used instead of a sleeping bag, ensure baby is placed with his/her feet at the end of the cot, tucking the blanket in securely underneath the mattress, so it can only ride up as far as baby’s chest and cannot cover his/her head.

Ensure there is no soft bedding in baby’s sleep environment. Soft bedding (pillows, doonas, loose bedding or fabric, lambswool, bumpers or soft toys) in the cot is unnecessary and may cover baby’s face and obstruct baby’s breathing.

Research has shown that among the benefits of using a safe baby sleeping bag (a safe baby sleeping bag has fitted neck and armholes and no hood and is the correct size for baby) are:
•they reduce the risk of bedclothes covering baby’s face
•they delay baby rolling onto the tummy during sleep until baby’s past the age of peak risk of SUDI
•they promote back sleeping as the zipper opens to the front
•they will keep baby’s temperature at a more constant level while sleeping

Do you think there needs to be stricter safety restrictions placed on sleeping products aimed at infants?

Share your comments below.

Image via Facebook