The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has issued guidance to consumers warning of the potential dangers of both baby nest and baby sleep bag products.
This guidance follows a combined total of over 4,500 dangerous baby nests and baby sleep bags being recalled in Ireland between 2021 and 2022.
The CCPC has developed consumer guidance to highlight potential safety risks associated with these products, as well as practical tips for use.
Between 2020 and 2021, the CCPC participated in The Coordinated Activities for the Safety of Products project, alongside a number of market surveillance authorities across the EU and European Economic Area. The focus of the coordinated action was to establish standardised testing and sampling methods of specific infant products, namely baby nests and baby sleep bags, to help identify and remove dangerous products.
As a result, 4,524 baby sleep bag units and 36 baby nest units sold in Ireland were found to be dangerous to consumer safety and subsequently recalled. The coordinated efforts across Europe served to highlight the safety risks associated with baby sleep bags and baby nests, prompting the CCPC to develop product safety guidance for consumers in Ireland.
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. As a result of the CASP 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, strangulation and choking.
Meanwhile, 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 also including suffocation, strangulation and choking.
Commenting on the announcement Gráinne Griffin, Director of Communications with the CCPC said: “Product safety testing and market surveillance is central to our role in protecting the welfare of consumers across Ireland. Where a safety issue is identified, the CCPC will take necessary action which, in the case of baby nests and baby sleep bags, involved a substantial number of dangerous products being recalled from the Irish market. A number of safety risks have been identified during the course of our work.
"The purpose of our guidance is to empower consumers with the knowledge of how to be product safety aware before they buy and avoid these risks. We know that safety is an essential consideration for consumers, particularly when it comes to our children. We would encourage all consumers who may be thinking about buying these products to visit ccpc.ie to follow our safety guidance on baby nests and baby sleep bags.”
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: [email protected]
