A Baby Sleep Bag (or Baby Sleeping Bag) is a “wearable blanket” designed for babies to be used instead of traditional blankets and sheets. Baby Sleep Bags have a neck opening and armholes and are therefore “worn” by the baby to help the baby stay at the right temperature through the night without the problem of traditional blankets and sheets being kicked off or getting tangled up.

Yes. A new British Standard BS8510:2009 has recently been produced which has brought the newer term “Baby Sleep Bags” into more common usage. This is to avoid Baby Sleep Bags being confused with traditional camping sleeping bags. Baby Sleep Bags (formerly called Baby Sleeping Bags) are wearable blankets with armholes and neck openings and are therefore quite unlike camping sleeping bags.

Yes. Well fitting, low-tog Baby Sleep 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 Baby Sleep 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 Baby Sleep 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.

The Gro Company has conducted exhaustive research and product testing to ensure that all the components of our Grobag Baby Sleep Bags conform to the British Safety Standards and safety regulations. The National Standards Body of the UK has created a new standard BS8510:2009. Grobag Baby Sleep Bags are one of the first to achieve the new standard which further ensures all aspects of quality and safety. Please click here for more details.

• They stop babies kicking off their covers, getting cold and waking themselves and everyone else up
• They can’t be kicked over your baby’s head or get tangled up
• They keep babies at a comfortable temperature all night long
• Your baby can wake up, move around his cot, and fall back to sleep all on his own without you having to tuck them back in
• They become a great part of the bedtime routine, and will help your baby feel familiar, secure and confident and understand when its time for bed, even when away from home
• They can help the transition from Moses basket to cot by being the familiar “comforter” in both
• They may delay the age at which your baby rolls over onto his tummy
• They may delay the age at which your baby is able to climb out of his cot.

What your baby wears will depend on the tog of Grobag Baby Sleep Bag and the temperature of your baby's bedroom. (In the same way as you would adjust nightclothes and number of blankets). As a guide, please refer to the table below. 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. Placing your fingers on your baby’s chest is the best indicator of whether they are too hot/too cold/just right as babies’ hands often feel cool.

Our 2.5 tog Grobag Baby Sleep Bags are ideal for Autumn, Winter and Spring and can be used right up until the Summer nights become warm. If your nursery is usually below 20°C, we recommend a 2.5 tog Grobag. However, if you live in a particularly mild region or if you have well insulated and heated accommodation and your nursery is usually 21°C or above, you may prefer a 1.0 tog Grobag for year round use. Our 1.0 tog Grobags are ideal for use from during the Summer months when the nights are warmer and are also very useful in early Spring and Autumn for day-time naps whilst your baby is still in a 2.5 tog Grobag at night. 0.5 tog Grobag Baby Sleep Bags are for use in high Summer, for holidays abroad, or if your child is unwell and has a raised temperature.

Health professional guidelines recommend that Baby Sleep Bags should be ‘lightweight'. Our own research and our mounting body of "parent testimonials" confirm that our 2.5 Tog Grobag Baby Sleep Bags are ideal for the UK climate and for the recommended nursery nursery temperatures of 16°C to 20°C. A Baby Sleep 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 Sleep Bags also provide great versatility throughout the year, simply by adjusting the level of your baby’s nightwear. 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.

Remember: never use a duvet or quilt with a Baby Sleep Bag.

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 Sleep Bags are tog tested to conform to BS4745:1990 and to the new British Standard BS 8510:2009. Latest advice from Health professionals is that Baby Sleep Bags should be ‘lightweight' and to meet the new British Standard, Baby Sleep Bags must be between 2.0 and 3.5 togs for temperatures between 10°C and 20°C. This is why our main range of Grobags are 2.5 togs for the recommended ideal nursery temperature range of 16°C and 20°C.

FSID and Health Professionals recommend that the ideal room temperature for your baby is between 16°C and 20°C, and ideally at 18°C/65°F. Our 2.5 tog Grobag Baby Sleep Bags are designed to be used in this temperature range. If the nursery is warmer or colder, simply adjust the level of clothing your baby is wearing. During summer months, or in warmer climates, if your baby’s nursery is above 20°C and we recommend using our 100% cotton 1.0 tog or 0.5 tog Grobags.

Many people ask us how to keep the nursery at around 18°C in the winter, without having to have the central heating going all night! We recommend an inexpensive small thermostatically controlled heater which is available from all good electrical or DIY outlets. Position it well away from your baby’s cot and out of reach of your baby, and adjust it to come on just whenever needed in order to maintain the ideal room temperature, thus saving time and money turning on and off all the radiators. (Remember to remove the heater once your child can climb out of his cot).

We also provide a FREE nursery thermometer with every Grobag to help you monitor the temperature of your baby's bedroom.

If your baby has woken up because he is too cold, pick him up & adjust either the temperature of the room, or the baby's clothing. You can cuddle your baby in his Grobag to warm him up again before putting him back, warm and cosy in his cot. If your baby feels hot, you should cool him down by removing some clothing, then either adjust the temperature of the bedroom or the clothes your baby is wearing before returning him to his cot.

Provided you follow the guidelines on your nursery thermometer (provided FREE with every Grobag Baby Sleep Bag), there should be no danger of your baby over-heating. Always keep your baby’s head uncovered. It is safest to use a Baby Sleep Bag without sleeves and never use any clothing or bedding with a hood attached. Decrease the level of nightclothes and bedding if your baby is unwell and has a raised temperature. If you are in any doubt, please consult a Health Professional.

Our 0-6 month size Grobag Baby Sleep Bag is suitable from birth if your baby weighs 8lb 8oz (4kg)or more or from when your baby reaches this weight. It will last until your baby is 6 months old and may well last longer.

The 6-18 month size is suitable from when your baby is 18lb (8.1 kg) and is generously sized so may easily last until your baby is between 18 and 24 months.

Our 18-36 month size is suitable from when your toddler weighs 25lb (11.4kg) and many toddlers are still wearing their Grobags well after the age of 3.

We also make 3-6 year Grobags and even 6-10 year Grobags.

As the larger sizes last for at least a year, we recommend you buy at least 2 Grobags (so you will always have a spare one if you suddenly need one in the middle of the night!).

We believe that Baby Sleep Bags should be sleeveless to aid heat loss and air circulation. (Babies sleeping under traditional blankets rarely sleep with their arms inside). The new British Standard also stipulates that Baby Sleep Bags should be “without sleeves or hoods”. In cooler weather, we recommend long-sleeve bodysuits, in addition to a long-sleeved pyjama top, pyjamas or a sleepsuit.

All Grobag Baby Sleep Bags can be machine washed at 40°C. They can be hung out to dry or tumble dried on a low setting. As with all cotton goods, we have designed our Grobags to allow for up to 5% shrinkage. If your child has any allergies and you wish to wash your Grobag at 60°C, you should allow for a little more shrinkage. In general, think environment – if not dirty wash at 30°C!

When washing, it is best to keep the zip closed. You can iron your Grobags on a low heat if desired, always keeping the iron away from the zip or covering the zip with a cloth.

We recommend that you wash dark colours separately for the first few washes. We also recommend that you wash your Grobag with a detergent that is free from bleaching agents in order to retain the original colours.

Grobag Baby Sleep 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, they can be used even longer if your child wishes. Even though your toddler will happily stand up in a zipped Grobag, cot-climbing will be far from easy, and your Grobag may well delay the age at which you have to move your child to a bed - a big bonus! Grobags are available for children age 3-6 years who just love them so much, they don't want to say Good-bye! Please note that this size is very generous – so don't consider it until your child has grown out of the 18-36 month size Grobag. We also have 6-10 years size Grobags with double slider zip suitable for older children who aren’t suited to traditional bedding.

You should use your Grobag instead of blankets and sheets. The only other bedding required is a bottom sheet. Grobags are designed to replace blankets and sheets. They come in three tog (warmth) ratings for your individual baby and the temperature of your baby’s sleeping place. Duvets, quilts and pillows should not be used for babies under 1 year old and never with a Baby Sleep Bag. FSID recommend that the safest place for your baby to sleep is in a cot or crib in your room for the first six months. However, if your baby shares your bed, make sure he is only in a Grobag, and not under your own bedding as well. Please note that 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: never use your Grobag Baby Sleep Bag with a duvet or quilt.

Babies do a great deal of growing between 6 months and 3 years and we don’t believe that it would be responsible to try to manufacture a Baby Sleep Bag that would fit, and be safe for, both a 6 month old baby and a 3 year old toddler. Babies grow at the greatest rate in their first 6 months of life, and then their rate of growth slows down gradually. This is why our youngest size Grobag (0-6m) lasts for 6 months, our next size up (6-18m) lasts for a whole year, and our third size up (18-36m) lasts for a full 1½ years.

Before the new British Standard was produced, Grobag Baby Sleep Bags conformed to a Voluntary Code of Practice in the UK which was published by the Baby Products Association in 2005. The recommendations in this code were based on the information available on average babies’ birth weights and head and neck circumferences. The new British Standard working group has made recommendations based on increased average birth weights of babies, and their corresponding average head and neck circumferences and therefore the neck measurements that a Baby Sleep Bag must have in order to conform. Babies come in all shapes and sizes and the most important thing is for you to feel confident that your baby is not in a Baby Sleep Bag which might be too large for him.

Our key safety consideration is to ensure that babies cannot slip down inside the Baby Sleep Bag. Therefore, we 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 Sleep Bag. We use health professional graphs to link head sizes with weight and this is also in line with the new British Standard for Baby Sleep Bags (BS 8510:2009). Most new parents do not know the head circumference of their babies, but they can keep a track of 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 Sleep Bag, blankets or sheets.

Our 0-6 months Grobag Baby Sleep Bag can be used for a full-term, 8lb 8oz (4kg) baby from birth. However, if your baby weighs less than 8lb 8oz (4kg) at birth, we recommend you wait a short time, until your baby grows larger. For the first few weeks and for babies under 8lb 8oz (4kg), we recommend the Grobag Swaddle as a safe and easy alternative for your baby. Our 0-6 month size Grobag includes under-arm poppers to reduce the size of the armholes for babies up to 10lbs (4.5kg).

Over 90% of new mothers in the UK now use a Baby Sleep Bag and 9 years ago, when Grobags were launched, this figure was less than 2%. At The Gro Company, we are really proud that we have changed the way that the nation puts its babies to bed. But it really does go further than that! When we started Grobag, we not only wanted to give both parents and babies a better and more peaceful night’s sleep, but also a safer night’s sleep. We have worked with, and supported, FSID since 2001 to help promote safe sleep for babies and to help fund their research. We also follow all the latest research into safe sleep to make sure that not only are our Grobags the best quality and safest possible, but also that the information we provide is the most up-to-date and useful for parents and carers. So when you buy a Grobag you can be sure that:

• You are choosing a Baby Sleep Bag that meets all the requirements of the new British Standard (BS 8510:2009)
• You are choosing the only Baby Sleep Bag recommended by FSID, the UK’s leading Cot Death Charity
• You are choosing a Baby Sleep Bag that has gone through rigorous quality control and testing
• You are choosing a Baby Sleep Bag that uses only the highest quality and reliable components such as YKK zips and poppers
• You are choosing a Baby Sleep Bag which will be correctly sized for your baby, in line with the new British Standard
• You are choosing from the widest range of sizes and togs available
• You have a FREE nursery thermometer and instructions to ensure that you know how to use your Grobag safely and correctly
• You are choosing a Baby Sleep Bag with 100% natural cotton lining and outer fabric
• You are choosing the UK’s favourite pioneering, and award winning Baby Sleep Bag, Grobag!

Remember: a Baby Sleep Bag by any other name, is simply not a Grobag!

Yes, it is a registered trademark. We first used European Baby Sleeping Bags in 1997 when our son, Sam, was kicking off his covers, getting cold and keeping us awake all night. Rob coined the name, “Grobag”, and it just stuck! When our daughter, Lucy, was born in 1999 and we decided it was time to spread the word, we started the company “Grobag”, which has since become “The Gro Company”. Of course, now that over 90% of the new mothers in the UK use Baby Sleep Bags, other makes of Baby Sleep Bag are now available, but none can call themselves “Grobag”. We are so proud that we are the parents who changed the way the UK puts their babies to bed. We also remain the market leader in the UK, have won numerous awards, and are proud to retain our core values of safety and quality above all else. Remember, a Baby Sleep Bag by any other name is simply not a Grobag! When you buy a Grobag, we truly believe you have the safest, most tested, best-made and therefore best value Baby Sleep Bag available.

The new British Standard for Baby Sleep Bags (BS 8510:2009) has been introduced to provide a quality and safety standard for Baby Sleep Bags to conform to in the UK. Together with other industry and technical experts, The Gro Company has been involved with a working group for over two years in order to produce this very important Standard to help parents to be confident that they are buying a safe and high quality Baby Sleep Bag. To meet the new Standard, Baby Sleep Bags must be constructed to specific guidelines and tested in accordance with industry standard testing equipment. BS 8510:2009 has been developed completely with a baby’s safety in mind and some of the requirements are as follows:

• Baby Sleep Bags should have armholes, but no sleeves or hoods, to prevent over-heating
• The neck openings have both minimum and maximum measurements to ensure safety
• Zips, buttons and press studs (poppers) have to pass rigorous tests to ensure strength and durability
• Loop labels are not allowed and any embellishments such as embroideries, ribbons and appliqués must pass stringent tests to ensure that they are safe for babies and do not pose risks of choking, entanglement, or entrapment
• Shrinkage and colour fastness are also tested to ensure quality and durability
• Tests are also undertaken to ensure that no dangerous chemicals are present, for example, in the dyes used in the fabrics, or in fire retarding the Baby Sleep Bags
• The Baby Sleep Bag must be labelled properly for the correct age and/or height for the baby
• The Baby Sleep Bag should be a low tog (warmth) rating and must be tested and labelled to show the tog rating and the suitable bedroom temperature.

The New British Standard is voluntary, and not all brands of Baby Sleep Bags on sale in the UK will comply. The Gro Company has always produced Baby Sleep Bags with safety and quality as a guiding principle. BS 8510:2009 is based on many of the recommendations in the previous voluntary Code of Practice for Quality and Safety of Baby Sleeping Bags (2005), which we ourselves were involved in drawing up. We have always firmly believed in the utmost importance of producing a Baby Sleep Bag that can be washed time and again, and that is as safe as possible when you are leaving your baby unattended and asleep for up to 12 hours at a time.

Our FREE nursery thermometer, plus all the other useful information you receive when you buy a Grobag, gives further information on usage and suitable levels of clothing for your baby, and is an ideal help for you and anyone looking after your baby. (Our nursery thermometer was originally designed by Ouvrielle for husband Rob, so that he would stop asking how to dress baby Sam every night!)

When the power goes off, the clock ‘freezes’ all the settings, including the main time, the wake up times and brightness settings. Therefore if the power goes off for a few seconds and then back on, the time will have been paused for a few seconds. However if the power was off say for 3 hours, then the time will be out by 3 hours and will therefore need re–setting.

No, your clock uses LEDs so it’s naturally energy efficient. However it also has a built–in energy saving mode. One hour after the wake up time has activated, the clock automatically turns off coloured LED lights and runs on a tiny amount of electricity. To re–activate just press any key and the colour LEDs will come back.

In a way they are very similar because the clock works in exactly the same way in both modes. Once activated, the clock will count down and the star will change into the sun at the time set in each mode. The reason there are two modes is so that parents who are putting their children to sleep during the day and at night can have the two different times stored, which saves them from having to re–set the wake up times every session.

Yes! The time you set for the alarm is independent of the night–time or day–time nap modes. Therefore you could have the sun coming up silently at 7am and then the alarm sounding at 7.30am.

The alarm bell icon appears in the cheek of the sun/star when the alarm is switched on.

Very easily, by using the key–lock function, which is similar to the function on mobile phones.

Yes! There is a built–in demo mode which runs through all the sun and Mr Star transitions. To set the Demo mode on, just press and hold the UP button for three seconds and the clock will show all the transitions on a continuous loop. To turn off the Demo mode, simply press and hold the UP button for three seconds.

The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID) is the leading UK charity working to prevent sudden infant deaths and to promote infant health. More than 20,000 lives have been spared as a result of their research and health awareness projects. The Gro Company has been working closely with FSID since 2000 to help parents create a safer sleeping environment for their babies. We have funded research and awareness campaigns and use all FSID’s guidelines to inform our product development and the information we produce. We have recently launched a new Safe Sleep Guide to help promote the FSID’s “Reduce the Risk” campaign to as many new parents and carers of babies as possible. Please click here for more information and to be sent a free copy. Grobag has always been, and remains, FSID’s only Baby Sleep Bag specialist. Of all the charities we could support and work with, FSID is the one whose core objectives fit most closely with our own beliefs of creating and maintaining a safe environment for you and your baby.

We really hope that we have answered all the questions that you may have. But if not, please let us know by emailing us at know@gro.co.uk

Take action to reduce the room temperature, bedding and clothing. If it is not possible to bring the room temperature down then you may need to remove all bedding and clothing from your baby, leaving them in just a nappy. Additionally you could use a fan to move air around the room (ensuring it is not within reach of your baby or pointing directly at your baby) and give your baby extra drinks. In extremely warm temperatures, sponge your baby down with luke warm water, If in doubt contact your health professional.

Take action to increase room temperature, bedding and clothing. We recommend using a thermostatically controlled heater in the room where the baby is sleeping, which saves your central heating being on a all night (make sure that neither the heater or cable are within reach of your baby’s cot). Increase the level of clothing, but always make sure your baby’s head is uncovered. If your baby has become cold, give them a warming cuddle or a warm drink before returning them to their cot with extra clothing/bedding.

The Gro-egg will indicate the temperature of the surrounding air, so cold drafts and adjacent heating will both affect the reading.

The colours on the Gro-egg are designed to glow gently and be visible in very low level light or dark conditions. In lighter conditions use the digital readout.

Check that the round switch on the base of the Gro-egg is indented in the ‘on’ position. Check that the power supply lead is securely in place at the back of the Gro-egg.

Always start assembly using the primary corner where the care label is located. For a vertical (tall) window begin with the primary corner and position in the top right corner of the window, attaching the suckers along the top of the window. For a horizontal (wide) window begin in the top left hand corner of the window. Use the adjustment system to gather in excess material in the width or drop, or to re-position eyelets around the window. Undo webbing from the button in the hem if you wish to shorten, pull webbing to gather material then re-fasten webbing onto the button. Due to different types of glass or changes in temperature, occasionally a sucker may not adhere properly. Check glass is clean and moisten suckers and reattach.

Just a note before use, sometimes the suction cups can become deformed in transit and as a result may not stick effectively to the window when they are first removed from the packaging.

Don't worry if this happens, simply fold the cup in half and roll it between your fingers for 30 seconds. This will restore the conical shape and allow the cup to stick to glass. If this fails on the first attempt then repeat the process and the cup will regain its correct shape.

The Gro-swaddle is suitable for use from newborn up until around 3 months.

It is very important that you check on your newborn baby regularly to ensure that s/he is not too hot or too cold. To do this, simply place your fingers gently onto her back or chest. It is normal for a young baby’s fingers and toes to feel cold, so this is why its important to check the back or chest.

What your baby wears will depend, not only on the temperature of the bedroom, but also on your individual baby, and, with regular checking, you will soon get used to knowing what level of clothing works best. As a general rule, in the recommended nursery temperature of 16-20Oc,  we recommend either a cotton bodysuit (short sleeves and no legs), or a cotton sleepsuit (with legs and arms). If the bedroom is on the cool side, or your baby feels cool to the touch on her back/chest, then it is fine to layer the clothing, using both a bodysuit and sleepsuit.
In a very warm bedroom, you could simply use the Gro-swaddle with no clothing underneath. If the bedroom is hot (over 24OC), try to cool it down, and if this is not possible, consider not using the Swaddle until it is cooler.
As your baby gets older and you want to move to underarm swaddling, so that your baby’s arms are not covered by the Swaddle, you may want to adjust the level of clothing to account for this. For under-arm swaddling, in the recommended nursery temperatures of 16-20OC, a cotton long-sleeved sleepsuit or both a bodysuit and long-sleeved sleepsuit are recommended.

Because the Gro-swaddle is a single layer and “worn” close to the body, we do not provide a tog rating. Newborn and very young babies are all individual, and the most important thing is to check on your baby regularly to ensure that s/he is at a comfortable temperature. Please see What should my baby wear under a Gro-swaddle  for more information.

The Gro-swaddle is perfect for use in a Moses Basket. You can also use it in a cot or a pram.
 
When should I change from over-arm to under-arm swaddling?
Newborn babies usually like to be swaddled over-arm. This gives them the secure feeling that they were used to in the womb, which can help them to settle to sleep better. You will probably find that anywhere between 3 and 6 weeks of age, your baby prefers to sleep with under arm swaddling, but still with the nice comfortable wrap around his tummy. However, all babies are different, and you will soon get to know what suits your own baby best.

When should I move my baby from a Gro-swaddle to a Grobag Baby Sleep Bag?
Once your baby is happy with under-arm swaddling, and is wanting to move around a little more in his sleep, this is an ideal time to start using a Grobag Baby Sleep Bag. The first size Grobag Baby Sleep Bag can be used from when your baby weighs 4kg (8.8lbs).

You should never use a Swaddle and a Baby Sleep Bag together.

The Gro-swaddle should be used with out any extra top bedding as it is very important to ensure that your baby does not get too hot.

What precautions should I take to help reduce the risk of cot death?
Please visit the Sleep Central part of our website to find out all the information about reducing the risk of cot death. You can also find out lots of other useful information and advice from our sleep expert, Andrea Grace.