Parents urged to not use Baby Dunlopillo cot mattress as Which? warns it could suffocate tots
PARENTS are being warned to stop using a Dunlopillo baby mattress over concerns tots could suffocate or trap their limbs while using it.
The warning has been issued by Which? after the "Baby Dunlopillo Safer Sleep Cot Bed Mattress" failed two of its key safety tests.
Firstly, the consumer group found that the mattress wasn't firm enough to prevent babies from being smothered if they roll onto their face when sleeping.
This was the case both when testing the mattress from new and following durability tests, which simulate a few years of daily use.
In addition, Which? found that the mattress shrunk by 5cm in length after being washed twice, which could mean babies risk trapping their limbs in the gap between the mattress and the cot.
Which? says these failures could mean the mattress breaks the British Safety Standard "BS EN 16890:2017" - although this is only a voluntary standard, which means manufacturers don't have to comply with the guidelines.
Your product recall rights
PRODUCT recalls are an important means of protecting consumers from dangerous goods.
As a general rule, if a recall involves a branded product, the manufacturer would usually have lead responsibility for the recall action.
But it's often left up to supermarkets to notify customers when products could put them at risk.
If you are concerned about the safety of a product you own, always check the manufacturer’s website to see if a safety notice has been issued.
When it comes to appliances, rather than just food items, the onus is usually on you - the customer - to register the appliance with the manufacturer as if you don't there is no way of contacting you to tell you about a fault.
If you become aware that an item you own has been recalled or has any safety noticed issued against it, make sure you follow the instructions given to you by the manufacturer.
They should usually provide you with more information and a contact number on its safety notice.
In some cases, the manufacturer might ask you to return the item for a full refund or arrange for the faulty product to be collected.
You should not be charged for any recall work - such as a repair, replacement or collection of the recalled item.
However, it's worth pointing out that the mattress hasn't been recalled at this stage, so it's unlikely you'll get a refund unless you've recently bought it and you're still covered by the retailer's returns policy.
The Sun has contacted manufacturer Dunlopillo and we'll update this story if we get a response.
Dunlopillo reportedly told Which? that the mattress complies with all applicable mandatory safety standards, and that it takes safety in its products very seriously.
It has apparently removed the product from sale while it carries out its own internal investigations.
But The Sun found it still being sold online for £249, which suggests not all retailers have taken the item off of their sites.
It's also worth pointing out that there has been no official recall at this stage, which means you're unlikely to be able to return the item and get a refund unless you recently purchased it.
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Earlier this year, Fisher-Price recalled almost 5million Rock ‘n Play sleepers after the deaths of 30 babies.
Ikea meanwhile, issued a safety alert over fears babies could plunge off its Sundvik changing table.
And Argos has urgently recalled a dangerous cot duvet over fears babies could overheat.
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