Mothercare recalls baby sleeping bags amid fears infants will overheat

Retailer issues recall over incorrect labelling of togs

Katie O'Malley
Thursday 15 August 2019 13:23 BST
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Shoppers walk past a Mothercare shop on Wood Green High Street in north London on June 19, 2018
Shoppers walk past a Mothercare shop on Wood Green High Street in north London on June 19, 2018

Mothercare is recalling baby sleeping bags labelled with the incorrect tog rating amid fears they may cause infants to overheat.

The retailer issued the recall because a care labelling error stated he bags have a tog rating of 1, instead of 2.5.

Togs are a measurement to determine how warm bedding and clothes are. The scale ranges from 1 tog (the coolest) to 15 tog (the warmest).

The recalled product in question is the company's 2.5 tog grey star sleep bag which was sold separately and in a pack of two in Mothercare stores and online from May 2019.

The products are labelled with the style numbers RA184 0-6 months and RA185 6-18 month.

The sleeping bag is a white colour printed with grey stars and a grey trim. In a set, it is paired with a plain grey sleeping bag.

In a warning published on the brand’s website, the recall states that the tog rating of the bags can be found on the care label under the words BS8510:2009.

Mothercare 2.5 tog grey star sleep bag

Mothercare warns customers who purchased the bags to check the care label. If the label states 2.5 tog, the retailer says that the product is “not affected”.

However, if the care label states 1 tog, customers are advised to stop using the product “with immediate effect”.

Shoppers are instructed to return the product to a Mothercare store for a full refund.

A spokesperson from Mothercare tells The Independent: “The safety and well-being of our customers and their children is Mothercare's top priority, as a precautionary measure we have recalled a small number of sleeping bags with the incorrect labels.

They continued, adding that the recall was a precaution against customers unknowingly using the incorrect tog of sleeping bag for their children.

“We have engaged with Trading Standards to ensure we are taking the right action for our customers. We have taken this action to ensure that customers are fully informed to make the appropriate decisions regarding the tog rating of sleeping bags for their children,” they added.

Customers with any queries are advised to contact Mothercare's customer services on 0344 875 5111.

The two pack of '1 tog' sleeping bags for infants up to six months have been reduced in price from £32 to £16, while those sold for babies aged six to 18 months are now on sale for £18, as opposed to £36.

According to the NHS, overheating can increase a baby’s risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

The organisation states that a folded blanket counts as two blankets on an infant and that lightweight, well-fitting baby sleeping bags are a good choice.

“Babies lose excess heat through their heads, so make sure their heads can't be covered by bedclothes while they're asleep,” it adds.

Earlier this year, Cow & Gate recalled jars of baby food over fears they may contain pieces of rubber.

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The baby food company said fragments of a thin blue rubber glove had been found in some jars of its Cheesy Broccoli Bake, made for babies over the age of 10 months.

The recalled batch of baby food affected had the code 28122020 and a best before date of 28/12/2020.

The jars were sold in a number of major supermarkets, including Asda, Boots, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, and Tesco.

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