grobag® Frequently Asked Questions

Are baby sleeping bags safe?

Yes. Well fitting, low-tog baby sleeping bags, when used correctly, are potentially one of the safest forms of bedding for your baby. While the baby has complete freedom of movement within the bag, the fitted neck and armholes ensure that there is no danger of either slipping in or out, provided the baby is placed in the correct size of grobag® baby sleeping bag for his age/weight. Therefore, provided also that a suitable level of nightwear is worn, he can sleep safely at a pleasant and constant temperature throughout the night.

grobag Limited has conducted exhaustive research and product testing to ensure that all the components of their baby sleeping bags conform to relevant British Safety Standards and safety regulations. They also follow guidelines from Health professionals that baby sleeping bags should be well-fitting and lightweight. This is why grobag® baby sleeping bags are no more than 2.5 togs.

When can I first put my baby in a Grobag?

The Young Baby Size Grobag™ can be used for a full-term, 10lb baby from birth. However, if your baby weighs less than 10lbs at birth (as most babies do), we recommend you wait a short time, until your baby grows larger or use the Newborn Size.

The Newborn Size Grobag™ has been produced as a result of feedback from parents with premature or very small babies. These small babies would take some time to reach 10lbs in weight, and therefore the Newborn size is ideal for babies weighing over 6lbs.

For the majority of babies, an ideal time to start using a Young Baby Size Grobag™ is from approximately six weeks, when your baby is over 10lbs in weight.

Why is the weight of the baby so important for smaller size Grobags?

The key safety consideration is to ensure that babies cannot slip down inside the baby sleeping bag. Therefore, key is to design the neck size to be as large as possible to allow comfort and heat loss, whilst being smaller than the average head circumference of the younger age/lower weight of baby we advise for the grobag® baby sleeping bag. We use health professional graphs to link head sizes with weight. Most new parents do not know head circumference of their babies, but they do know their weight, hence we use weight as a guide.

You must always take care not to allow your baby's head to slip down and get covered by any bedding, whether that bedding is a grobag® baby sleeping bag, blankets or sheets.

What size grobag™ should I buy?

Until your baby is around 5 months, we recommend you buy the Newborn or Young baby size. The Young Baby grobag® may even last until your baby is around 9 months.

Once your baby is 5 months, as long as s/he is an average size, you can use the Older Baby grobag® baby sleeping bag that should fit until your baby is 18 months old, and may last considerably longer.

The Toddler grobag® baby sleeping bag is best used from around 18 months, but may be used from 15 months as long as your baby is at least average size. This size may easily last until your baby is well over 3 years old.

Why don't the larger sizes have the shoulder poppers?

The shoulder popper and side/bottom zip version is ideal for a very young baby because it can be opened out flat for easy night time changes. However, for older and more robust babies, the front zip version is more suitable because an older baby can fiddle with poppers and undo them.

The front zip style is still very easy to access for nappy changing and the zip (which undoes from the bottom) is harder for an older baby or toddler to undo, and also means that the zip puller is not at the baby's chest if he/she wishes to roll over onto his/her tummy. Most front zip version Grobags now feature zip guards to make your baby even more comfortable!

What other bedding can I use with my Grobag™?

You should use your Grobag™ instead of blankets and sheets. The only other bedding required is a bottom sheet.

Duvets, quilts and pillows should not be used for babies under 1 year old. If your baby shares your bed, make sure he/she is only in a Grobag™ and not under your own bedding as well.

Please note that the Grobags are designed to replace blankets and sheets in your baby's cot or bed. They are not intended for use as dressing gowns outside the baby's bedroom.

IMPORTANT: DO NOT USE YOUR GROBAG™ WITH A DUVET OR QUILT

When do I stop using a Grobag™?

grobag® baby sleeping bags can be used right up to the time your child is ready to move from a cot to a bed, and because of the freedom of movement they allow, can be used even longer if the child wishes. Even though your toddler will happily stand up in a zipped bag, cot-climbing will be far from easy, and your grobag® baby sleeping bag may well delay the age at which you have to move your child to a bed - a big bonus! The Young Child grobag® baby sleeping bag is for children age 3 - 6 yrs who just love their grobag® so much, they don't want to leave it! Please note that this size is very large – so don't consider it until your child has grown out of the Toddler size.

What should my baby wear under a Grobag™?

What your baby wears will depend on the type of Grobag™ and the temperature of the baby's bedroom (in the same way as you would adjust the night clothes and number of blankets). Please remember, though, that babies are all different and, just as with blankets and sheets, you will soon discover what your baby is most comfortable wearing.

Why don't Grobags have sleeves?

We believe that baby sleeping bags should be sleeveless to aid heat loss and air circulation. (Babies sleeping under traditional blankets rarely sleep with their arms inside). In cooler weather, we recommend our long-sleeve bodysuits, in addition to a long-sleeved pyjama top or sleepsuit.

Is there any danger that my baby could become too hot in a Grobag™?

Provided you follow the guidelines in the table above, there should be no danger of your baby over-heating. Decrease the level of nightclothes and bedding if your baby is unwell and has a raised temperature. If you are in doubt, please consult a Health Professional.

How can I tell if my baby is too cold or hot?

Simply slip your hand gently under the baby's clothes and feel the skin on his/her back and chest.

What should I do if my baby gets too cold or too hot?

If your baby has woken up because he/she is too cold, pick him/her up and adjust either the temperature of the room, or the baby's clothing. You can cuddle your baby in the Grobag™ to warm him/her up again before putting him/her back, warm and cosy in the cot.

If your baby feels hot, you should cool him/her down by removing some clothing, then either adjust the temperature of the bedroom or the clothes your baby is wearing before returning him/her to the cot.

What is the best room temperature for my baby?

Health professionals recommend that the ideal room temperature for your baby is around 18°C or 65°F. Our grobag® baby sleeping bags are designed to be used at this temperature. If the nursery is warmer or colder, simply adjust the level of clothing your child is wearing. Many people asked us how to keep the nursery at around 18°C in the winter, without having to have the central heating going all night!

Simple, for us, we invested in a small thermostatically controlled heater that cost about £15 and this just came on a few times a night to maintain the room temperature, thus saving time turning on and off all the radiators. (Remember to remove the heater once your child can climb out of his cot).

We provide a free nursery thermometer with every grobag® baby sleeping bag to help you monitor the temperature of your baby's bedroom.

What does the TOG rating mean?

The Tog rating describes the warmth or "Thermal Resistance" of a product and is widely used in the UK to explain warmth levels of duvets. grobag® baby sleeping bags are tog tested to conform to BS4745:1990. Latest advice from Health professionals is that baby sleeping bags should be ‘lightweight'.

This is why grobag® baby sleeping bags are 2.5 togs or less.

Why only 2.5 togs when my winter weight duvet is 12 togs?

Health professional guidelines recommend that baby sleeping bags should be ‘lightweight'. Our own research and our mounting body of "parent testimonials" confirm that our 2.5 Tog grobag® baby sleeping bags are ideal for the UK climate. A baby sleeping bag surrounds the baby, providing insulation from both below and above, and also a warm pocket of air around the baby.

Because of the low tog rating grobag® baby sleeping bags also provide a versatility that a higher tog sleeping bag would not allow, and both our 2.5 tog and 1.0 tog baby sleeping bags can be used for the vast majority of the year.

When the weather is very cold, simply add more clothing (this could include a sleepsuit, socks and even a cardigan). When the weather is warmer, or perhaps if your child is unwell, you can remove layers of clothing while still keeping your baby at the right temperature. Never use a duvet or quilt with a baby sleeping bag.

How do I wash my Grobag™?

All Grobags can be machine washed at 40 degrees C. They can be hung out to dry or tumble dried on a low setting. As with all cotton goods, the Grobags are designed to allow for approximately 5% shrinkage.

Which weight of grobag® baby sleeping bag should I buy?

Our 2.5 tog quilted grobag® baby sleeping bags are ideal for autumn, winter and spring and can be used right up until the summer nights become warm. So if your nursery is usually 18°C or below, we recommend a 2.5 tog baby sleeping bag. Approximately 75% of the grobag® baby sleeping bags we sell are 2.5 tog, so they are very useful! However, if you live in a particularly mild part of the country or if you have well insulated and heated accommodation and your nursery is regularly 21°C or above, you may prefer a 1.0 tog grobag® baby sleeping bag for year round use. 1.0 togs are ideal for use from late spring to late summer when the nights are warmer. They are also very useful in early spring and autumn for day-time naps whilst your baby is still in a 2.5 tog grobag® baby sleeping bag at night. 0.5 tog grobag® baby sleeping bags are for use in high summer, for holidays abroad, or if your child is unwell and has a raised temperature.

How many Grobags should I buy?

As the larger sizes last for up to a year, it is recommended that you buy 2 Grobags (so you will always have a spare one if you suddenly need one in the middle of the night!)