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Original poster

My sister has been specifically told NOT to use Grobags

52 replies

bratnav · 25/07/2008 12:03

by her MW.

I was going to buy her one, and asked yesterday if she would like one (36wks pg with first) and she said that she had thought they were a great idea, and she knew I had used them with both DDs.

Apparently without any prompting her MW slated them saying they could cause cot death. I can't find any evidence of this, anyone got any info one way or the other?

OP posts:
Hannah81 · 25/07/2008 16:40

I have a sleeping bag (not the gro bag make) from Dunelm Mill, and have been using it since my DS was a few weeks old (he's now 11wks) - Its a summer tog - only 2tog - and even in this heat its fine to use with just a vest underneath - better than them kicking sheets off.

The one I have has poppers under the arms to make it smaller and also is elasticated at the back so DS can't slip into it. I still make sure he is feet to the foot of his moses basket and i tuck any excess sleeping bag under the matress at the bottom so it really cant move anywhere. We've also kept DS1's (we started using them on him at 6mths and fell in love with them)

I've never heard of anything to do with cot deaths with them, I'm sure if this was evidence based then I wouldn't use it. But NEVER heard anything like this.

Hannah81 · 25/07/2008 16:42

you shouldn't use them with a quilt - maybe that was what her MW was saying?? But then you shouldn't use a quilt anyway until they are 12mths???

Original poster
bratnav · 25/07/2008 20:16

I asked DSis about all of that, whether it was just not under a certain weight, not with extra blankets and she said no, that her MW had said no to grobags full stop

So she refuses to have one at all, despite the fact that I had to go to the same MW a couple of times when mine was on hols, and she told me that I was measuring under my weeks, when in fact both the student MW and GP said I was measuring 3 weeks over. DD1 was born weighing 9lb14oz, another for this MW

OP posts:
oi · 25/07/2008 20:18

mine hated them so maybe the midwife has saved her the cost of them

dcs looked at me as if I'd put them in straitjackets and wriggled like nothing till I let them escape

Califrau · 25/07/2008 20:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

nicolamumof3 · 25/07/2008 20:32

nonsense they must be safer if anything? I've used them on my two younger boys wish they had been around for my eldest as they were fab. Have them all different sizes and togs, even got a sheet bag, that you can use in this very warm weather. And bought newborn bags from jojo which were lovely.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 25/07/2008 20:34

I'd be happy to be keep up to date with new recommendations, but as far as I know, growbags are considered a Good Thing.

Desiderata · 25/07/2008 20:38

When ds was born in November 2006, we are asked to volunteer for laboratory studies into grobags.

This was at the Anne Diamond Sleep lab at Bristol. There were/are concerns that they can raise a baby's temperature.

I didn't conduct the final trial, so am unware of the results, but there were certainly concerns. It is possible that the results have now permeated the profession and the advice they give.

Personally, and I mean personally, I don't like them at all. I had a very sweaty baby .. he still is a sweaty child, and they just don't appeal to me. I get claustrophobic just looking at them.

It's like swaddling.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 25/07/2008 20:40

Ooh interesting Desi.

I liked mine for use in Winter. Our house cools down easily, and DD and DS both kicked covers off and woke up because they were cold. I used them from 6 months onwards though.

expatinscotland · 25/07/2008 20:40

Both mine had them!

DD1 was born in a VERY hot summer, so she had the towelling one.

DD2 was born in December and hers was great.

Am planning to get one for this baby as well - as he is due in October and this is a cold house in a cold part of the country and gas costs a bomb.

Desiderata · 25/07/2008 20:40

SORRY! November 2004 .. yes, I'm sure that's when he was born

susiecutiebananas · 25/07/2008 20:47

I thought that they were completely approved of by the FSIDs. In fact, they are! its on the product packaging, i'm sure its on the website, and the FSIDs website... If it were not the case, they would not be allowed to say so in any of their literature, certainly not such a 'high' profile product, available everywhere!

As long as they are used, as directed with the correct clothing then they are great. The new ones have side poppers up under the armpit so they are ok for a newborn, and say so on them.

I think it would be well worth printing out some of the available info and givign it to the midwife! Then asking her to show her research based evidence - which is all her advice should be based on.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 25/07/2008 22:40

Even more interesting Desi

Hulababy · 25/07/2008 22:47

DD loved her Grobags. She is a very hot child - very sweaty, and spent her time primarily in the low togs one, but they sited her far more than other covers, especially as she moved so much in bed.

I wa under the impression they were supposed to be recommended, rather than a risk for cot death. Granted it is a while since I have used them though.

Leslaki · 25/07/2008 22:49

Sounds like my wonderful MW who told me that the steam from Ds's HOT bath would clear his asthma - he was 9 weeks old!!!! FGS!!! Good thimg I didn't plunge him in then!!! BTW he still has vvvv mild asthma but I've never put him in a steamy sauna type bath - copes well without 3rd degree burns! Both of mine used grobags and they werr FAB have bought them as presents for othe people as they helped with the sleep aspect of new parenting!

shrinkingsagpuss · 26/07/2008 07:36

expat - I didn't realise you were PG again!! FAB!!!!!!! lovely news. hope its all going smoothly.

Seona1973 · 26/07/2008 11:50

they are great in any weather. DS has been in his 0.5tog one the last few nights as it has been hot. That is the equivalent of a sheet but unlike a sheet cant be kicked off.

ten10 · 26/07/2008 12:27

I used them almost from day one, but DS was over 8lb so was big enough for what it said on the packet

Tried to swaddle but he didn't get on with it as he was such a wriggly baby that even though i swaddled him tight he quickly managed to get out of the blanket, so I switched to a grobag.

I love them and they look so cute in them

Klaw · 26/07/2008 14:41

Bratnav Could you send DSis the links I posted before so that she can see for herself?

And yes I think that MW needs to be asked where her research based evidence is...

Cos there are loads of us who would be interested to see it and would accept we are wrong. I expect FSID would too

Original poster
bratnav · 26/07/2008 16:04

klaw I have done, she said that she trusts her MW so will not be using one anyway It is her PFB I suppose.

Will ask her to ask MW what she is basing this on though

OP posts:
theauthor · 01/08/2008 19:30

I have done some research on this for a book I've written on baby products and my main points would be:

  • there is no evidence that Grobags are problematic or linked with SIDS (i.e. the midwife is talking b**s)
  • however, as others have said it is important to use the right size bag for your baby's weight, ensuring the baby's head couldn't slip down through the neck hole
  • sleeves should be avoided too (although very few bags have sleeves)

For very young babies, there is an argument that sheets/ blankets can be layered and adjusted more easily to ensure a baby does not overheat. However, if you ensure the tog rating of the bag is right for the temperature, this shouldn't be a great problem, just something to be aware of.

Waswondering · 01/08/2008 19:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TwoWashTutter · 01/08/2008 19:35

ds2 is still in one despite his room having been up to 29 degrees in the last week or so

it's easy - you buy a very light one (we have a 0.5 tog for summer) and dress them accordingly

most of last week ds2 was in nappy + 0.5 top grobag

EyeballsinHiding · 01/08/2008 19:39

Used them from about day 3 here. In this weather, dd is in a 1 tog and just nappy and she's fine and she's generally quite a sweaty baby. I tried putting her down without it the other night when it was really hot but without it she doesn't realise that it's bed time.

They are a wonderful invention especially for wriggly little ones. I'd never use blankets now.

luvaduck · 01/08/2008 19:53

eyeballs have you tried the 0.5 tog ones?
hannah81 2 tog is a winter one...

i think they are fab but the only thing I would say is assess each baby differently. ds gets far too hot in the clothing/tog that is recommended on the grobag packet, he needs a much lower tog rating

eg at 24deg - just a nappy and 0.5tog
if baby is sweaty then i would say they are too warm rather than just being a sweaty baby

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