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Original poster

Grobags ...

37 replies

Millie1 · 08/04/2004 21:19

What do you think of them?

DS is a kicker and blankets are going flying during the night so I'm thinking of going down the gro-bag route.

Some questions:

DS is 18w, around 16lb and quite tall. If I go for the young baby, he'll be out of them in another 2 mths so they'd be a waste of money. Is he too small to go in the older baby size (18lb upwards and they measure 92cm long).

What happens all the extra length when the baby is in them? Do you still put the baby's feet at the base of the cot per the SIDS advice and just tuck the surplus fabric under, or can the baby lie further up the cot?

If I buy the older baby size, can I be sure that he won't wriggle down inside it, ie. how big is the neck?

Tog rating ... I was thinking of one x 2.5 tog for nighttimes now and a 1.0 tog for naps and also to use at night during the summer. Does this sound sensible. His room is around 20 deg. C.

Do they shrink much? They say you can tumble dry but can you really?

Leaky nappies ... we seem to get more than our fair share. Are they really inconvenient in this respect?

Finally, moving the baby out of them - is it really difficult or is transition to blankets/duvet okay.

Sorry about all the questions ... I've never been that keen on them but think they may be the answer now.

Thanks!

OP posts:
Galaxy · 08/04/2004 21:24

message withdrawn

kiwisbird · 08/04/2004 21:27

6-18 mth should suit fine
I never bothered folding up the end even when dd young and short!
no need for feet to end position with bags as they cannot in any circs get caught in bedding like they can with sheets.
Don't be tempted to buy big baby size they are BIG my dd is 17 mths and 80cms and still fits easily with lots of room in 6-18mth bag (this is offical grobag type,
no shrinkage I've noted
tumble dry fine if leaking then buy two, cheaper to buy them off ebay
I have not used for naps evr only for bedtime, helps draw a distinction bwteen nigt time and day I though...
Took dd out as she was walking in it and was very very unhappy as she is a very hot baby, she is happy in duvet now...
we found 1 or .5 tog ok for summer, easier to dress them warm or cool with under garments than buy lots fo grobags... 2.5 in a centrally heated house proved too warm for our dd but she is hot baby.

melsy · 08/04/2004 21:27

I was worried at 1st, but dd loves it. Seemed to sleep so much better as she was a kicker and fidget. I put her at the bottom of the cot and she just works her way up & turns on her front now!!! I dont tuck in the excess

I had the same porblem with leaky nappies & resorted to 2 nappies at night & it drove me mad washing it , but I had 2 for this reason. Good idea to have lower tog for night. We changed from huggies to pampers active and its amazing the difference.

With regards to size each make is different in scale IFYWIM. Bonne nuit 6-12 mts is HUGE but my dd is 7mths & 15lbs ish and has been put away for the time being. I use a "grobag" one which is a good in between scale 3-6 mths. I also have a velvet mothercare one 6mths which is lovely as it fits her body, but its poppered & thats annoying!!!. The zips are better.

he may be a bit wary the first time but then they realise its bed time and seem happy.

WideWebWitch · 08/04/2004 21:28

I think they're fab.
Dunno about sizes, sorry. I put dd at the top of a carrycot but she can't go anywhere (well, I suppose she could go down but nothing would happen) or cover herself since there's nothing else in there.
The neck is def too small to wriggle into
I'm using 2.5 tog atm
Haven't tumble dried but washed and dried them on radiators and they're fine
Haven't noticed nappies leaking into them
Dunno about moving out of them, think I'll probably go from Grobags to big sleepsuit type things actually so not to a duvet - we'll see. HTH/

OldieMum · 08/04/2004 21:29

DD is very tall for her age, so we had the same problem. We put her in an 18-24 months sized bag when she was about 12 months old, but the neck is far too small for her to be able to wriggle down. She moves around all over the cot and often ends up at 180 degrees to where we left her, but this isn't a problem, as the bag itself is always facing downwards. I think grobags are an excellent solution to the problem of babies' moving and recommend them highly.

Ours haven't shrunk. We bought two at a time to deal with leaks (though we've had only a few). But you would have to do that with blankets, presumably.

WideWebWitch · 08/04/2004 21:31

I don't fold the ends up either even though she's only about 3/4 of the way down it.

madgirl · 08/04/2004 21:31

i am also a big fan of grobags- ds was in one from about 1 year as he was a wriggler, expecting baby in 3 months and wondered if they are also good for new babies, and from how old? what do you think?

melsy · 08/04/2004 21:32

I think the rule is they have to be 10lbs at least before use.

kiwisbird · 08/04/2004 21:33

madgirl they do a new born under 10lbs one now at grobag

madgirl · 08/04/2004 21:33

right, that's v good to know, thanks melsy.

WideWebWitch · 08/04/2004 21:34

Millie, just noticed your ds is same age as my dd, who is also very long and is over a stone so similar weight I'd guess. I'd go for older baby size in your circs I think.

madgirl · 08/04/2004 21:34

oops posts crossed. is it a safety or a size thing?

melsy · 08/04/2004 21:36

I think it might be a saftey thing. I wondered why they hadnt made a newborn one b4 now. Very interesting.

JeniN · 08/04/2004 21:36

I think the way they fix over the shoulders would mean the arms stop them from wriggling down, have just moved dd into the older baby size and she's fine, even though its really long. She sleeps great in them. We do have 2/3 in case of leaky nappies, but I sometimes think I could just put her in one of her fleecy sleepsuits if needs must. I tumble dry mine all the time, no shrinkage. You could go for different tog ratings, but you can also adjust what they wear underneath (e.g sleepsuit and top if colder, or just a long-sleeved bodysuit if warmer) I don't use them for daytime naps either. Its really nice and cosy to cuddle her already tucked up in it for her bedtime feed.

madgirl · 08/04/2004 21:37

hmm maybe it says on the website, will depart mumsnet now for grobag research

gingernut · 08/04/2004 21:37

Most points seem to have been covered by everyone else, but I have to say I have found that they can shrink a little if you tumble dry them. They are only supposed to be dried on a low setting, which is OK, but if you forget this and put them in on high, they shrink.

I think grobags are wonderful though. ds now uses a duvet - the transition wasn't a problem at all. He just seemed to want to use a duvet like Mummy and Daddy. He used to be very wriggly at night but soon got the hang of keeping his covers on (we changed him over when he was about 2)

If your ds's room is usually at 20C you'll probably be fine with the 1 tog.

treacletart · 08/04/2004 21:38

Urchin do a nice gingham quilted one here . It opens at the top and the bottom too so it makes getting in and out and changing nappies much easier than with the standard grobag. It washes and tumbles fine.

sammac · 08/04/2004 21:47

Also the grobags stop them from climbing out the cot- they just don't think about it. Ds 2&4 months has only this week realised that he could undo the zip in the morning.

We used them for dd, now 10, and transfered her into a Barbie sleeping bag first, and she was fine.

They are now made in a bigger size- I think up to about age 4.

Also bought ones from kiddicare- more expensive than grobag as come from Germany- but can't find the addy.

Original poster
Millie1 · 08/04/2004 22:24

OMG ... so many replies ... thank you!!!! I'm sold, sold, sold only thing is that the colours I want are out of stock with Bump to 3 for another week or two. Must go and check e-baby out now. Does anywhere else sell on-line? Think I'll go for the older baby size definitely. Oooh, wish I could have it tonight!

Thank you!

OP posts:
WideWebWitch · 08/04/2004 22:36

Aren't Grobag online, hang on, yes they are, here

WideWebWitch · 08/04/2004 22:36

Oh I see, they don't sell from the site, sorry!

WideWebWitch · 08/04/2004 22:37

except at bump to 3 who are out of stock, I see.

nicm · 08/04/2004 22:40

Hi millie1

another idea might be the baby sleep suits from dunnes stores. they're only £8 and are worn over the baby gro. one of the babies i look after has just started wearing one for the same reason althought he is 13 months, but tiny wearing 9-12 months clothes. may be cheaper than a gro bag

hth

eddm · 08/04/2004 22:43

Mothercare and JoJo Maman Bebe (can't do accents, sorry) also sell them online:
here and
here

Tommy · 08/04/2004 23:02

We always tumble dry the grobags - never had a problem. They are great - I always recommend them.