Note: these FAQs relate to the Shnuggle Air Crib to Cot Sleep System and not the Air Lite Bedside Crib.
1. Where is this product manufactured?
Air is manufactured in China by Factories with strict quality control standards. The mattresses are manufactured in the UK.
2. Does this pass all EU and UK safety standards?
Yes. Key standards are:
-
Crib: EN1130: 2019
-
Cot: EN716
-
Mattresses: EN 16890, BS7177
All of our products undergo chemical (toxicity) testing, fire testing, and physical testing before we release them to market.
3. Does this product have the British Standard Kitemark?
No; BSI does not test or certify baby and children’s products, therefore they won’t carry the BSI Kitemark. However, Air has been tested to stringent EU standards specific to baby cribs, cots, and mattresses.
4. Does this product have the CE mark?
No; CE marking is not possible for nursery furniture.
With respect to baby/children’s products CE marking is only relevant for:
-
Toys
-
Measuring instruments (e.g. thermometers)
-
Electronic devices
5. What are the maximum weight recommendations?
We don’t classify air products by baby weight, but by the behavioural development of the baby.
For the crib this is suitable for 0-6 months or when baby starts to roll over, pull up or reach a weight of 9kg.
For the cot: When baby starts to climb out of the cot or reaches around 890mm height (this is around 2 years old) they should graduate to bed. Maximum weight of 13kg.
6. Does the mattress come with the frame or does this have to be purchased separately?
The air bedside crib already comes with a unique breathable mattress. The cot conversion kit does not and the Air Folding Cot Mattress will need to be bought seperately.
7. What is the mattress made from?
Shnuggle Air mattresses are made from a breathable fibre mesh to help promote airflow and temperature control.
Inner – Polyester , Wadding - Polyester , Outer - Polypropylene
8. Can you buy a replacement mattress?
Yes, here is where to purchase-
Crib Mattress:
https://www.shnuggle.com/collections/sleeptime/products/shnuggle-air-replacement-crib-mattress
Cot Mattress:
https://www.shnuggle.com/collections/shnuggle-air-range/products/shnuggle-air-folding-mattress
9. What are the mattress dimensions?
Crib has a standard ‘rectangular’ mattress shape and is 83cm long 50cm wide 3cm thick.
Cot has an ‘Oval’ mattress shape and is 120cm long 60cm wide 7cm thick.
We cannot guarantee that mattresses from other suppliers will fit and are safe for use with Air. Mattresses are tested in conjunction with the product and our mattresses are a custom shape for maximum safety.
10. What makes this more breathable than other mattresses?
Shnuggle Air mattresses are made from a breathable fibre mesh to help promote airflow and temperature control.
11. What firmness is the mattress provided?
Our mattresses are of a firmness required by European safety standards. The lullaby trust recommends that firm, flat mattresses are safer for babies.
Don’t be tempted to add extra bedding to the mattress to make it ‘more comfortable’ babys don’t weigh as much as us and don’t need a thick soft mattress like we do. Bulky soft mattresses, or extra bulk or padding pose a risk of SIDs as they can conform to the face and cause a suffocation risk.
12. Can I turn the mattress and use both sides?
No all of our current mattresses are suitable for use on one side only, but can be rotated.
13. Is the mattress waterproof?
The mattress covers are water resistant rather than waterproof to maximise breathability. We have waterproof sheets available to purchase on our website that fit both the crib and cot mattresses.
14. The strap on my side sleeper is broken. Can I use this without the strap?
No the side sleeper should be used with both straps when attached to a bed. Please contact Shnuggle to arrange for a replacement strap.
15. What height of bed does the crib fit?
43- 64cm measured from the floor to the top of the mattress. The crib can be used with beds above 64cm from floor but drop side feature cannot be used. With very high beds keep in mind you will need to reach a little further to lift baby out.
16. Does this fit all types of bed?
There are some beds which we do not advise use of the bedside crib with, however you can use the crib as a ‘standalone’ crib.
Unsuitable beds:
-
folding beds
-
sofa beds
-
guest beds
-
high sleeper beds
-
low floor beds with ledge frames
-
futon beds
-
antique beds
-
water beds
For normal use, with the option of a side opening, there must be no gaps between the bedside crib and the adult bed. If there is a gap, we recommend the mesh wall is zipped up at all times.
17. Does the bed come with fitted sheets?
There are waterproof sheets and cotton sheets available for both the crib and cot on the bedding section of our website.
18. Do any other fitted sheets fit this?
We recommend only using Shnuggle brand sheets as they are designed to fit our custom shaped mattresses.Our crib mattress size is fairly standard and you will be able to find other sheets to fit. For the Cot, other sheets may fit our product but please check they are tightly fitting without lots of leftover fabric and creases, as our cot mattress is an unusual shape.
19. Is the height adjustable?
Yes the legs have a hidden height adjustment mechanism which can be set to match your bed height when you build your Air.
20. What weight is the product fully assembled?
Crib is 15.9kg and Cot is 22kg
21. Is this easily transported to use as a travel cot?
The Shnuggle Air is intended for use as a piece of furniture as opposed to for travel.
22. Does the crib recline to help reflux?
Yes, you can adjust the angle on the Air Crib to raise baby’s head above their feet to provide relief for reflux and colic. The recline is adjusted by changing the length of the feet fittings
We strongly advise against using the recline function in the Cot assembly
23. I have a premature baby, will this be suitable for when I bring them home?
Yes, you can use the Air for premature babies following the lullaby trusts advice:
The safest place for your baby to sleep for the first 6 months is in a separate cot or Moses basket in the same room as you.
Some babies who were born very prematurely and spent some time in a neonatal unit may have been sleeping on their fronts for medical reasons. Babies may find it hard to get used to a new sleeping position at first, but keep putting your baby onto their back and speak to your health visitor, neonatal outreach team or GP if you are worried about how they are coping with this.
You should not place your baby on their front or use any type of equipment or rolled up blankets to keep them in one position when you get home, unless you have been told to do so by your baby’s doctor or paediatrician because of a medical condition. Babies who need to be given oxygen at home should be sleeping on their backs. You may have been told to increase the amount of oxygen if they are on their back instead of their front but this is still the safest way for them to sleep
Premature babies on neonatal units often sleep with hats on. Once your baby comes home they do not need to wear a hat indoors. Wearing a hat means your baby can’t release heat. The risk of SIDS is higher in babies who get too hot.
The lullaby trust has specific advice for premature babies:
https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/The-Lullaby-Trust-Safer-Sleep-Advice-For-Premature-Babies.pdf
24. Is this product suitable for Twins?
The Lullaby Trust has no evidence that putting twins in the same cot, in the early months, places them at greater risk of sudden infant death.
However, there are some things you can do to increase safety:
-
Never put twins together in a Moses basket or a small cot as they may overheat in the restricted space.
-
If you chose to sleep them side by side in one cot, only do this in the early weeks, when there is no danger of them rolling towards or over each other.
-
It is also an option, right from the start, to place them at opposite ends of the cot, each of them ‘feet to foot’. Each twin therefore has their own firmly tucked in bedclothes or baby sleeping bag.
-
Do not use rolled towels, foam wedges, or other objects between their heads.
By the time the twins are big enough to roll over they should be moved into their own separate cots. All the safer sleep advice applicable to single babies should be followed whether the babies are in the cot together or not.
25. How can the fabrics be washed?
The textile elements of air can be hand washed or washed in a machine on a hand wash cycle at 30°C.
26. Can I purchase replacement fabrics?
Please contact our customer services hello@shnuggle.co.uk if you wish to purchase replacement fabrics.
27. Can I use a blanket in this?
We follow the lullaby trust’s guidelines and recommend:
Firmly tucked in sheets and blankets (not above shoulder height) or a baby sleep bag are safe for a baby to sleep in. Be sure to remove any soft toys from the cot before each sleep period.
Sleep your baby in the feet-to-foot position and avoid using soft or bulky bedding such as quilts, pillows and duvets.
We also advise against pillow use:
Pillow use alone has been shown to increase the chance of SIDS occurring by up to 2.5 times. If you were thinking of using a pillow with your baby due to concerns for plagiocephaly (or ‘flat head syndrome’). There are techniques you can use that could help plagiocephaly which will not increase the risk of SIDS.
https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/mattresses-and-bedding/
28. Is this fire/flame resistant/ tested?
Yes, our materials have passed Fire test standards for cribs and cots. The textiles we use for Air have not been treated with Fire retardant chemicals and are inherently fire retardant.
29. What chemicals or fibers are used to make this fire resistant?
The textiles we use for Air have not been treated with Fire retardant chemicals and are inherently fire retardant. This is part of the reason we chose polyester fabrics as opposed to cotton (we would have had to add chemicals to the cotton to make it fire safe).
30. Can I zip and unzip the side while it is attached to the bed?
Yes, the side on the Air crib can be unzipped and unclipped to provide easy access to baby in the night, this is to be laid onto the adult bed mattress for extra support. The side should never be left in the downward position if you are not awake, aware and supervising your baby.
31. Can I attach a hanging mobile to this cot?
Mobiles which would clamp to a cot through the bars of the cot will not attach to air, but some which clamp over an edge may be compatible provided that they can clamp to a tube/ rail of around 30mm thick.
We can’t guarantee the safety of any non-Shnuggle products when used in conjunction with the Air.
32. How can I stop my quilt moving into the sleeper at night?
To ensure that your duvet, blanket, sheets or pillows do not fall into the crib and cause a risk to your baby, the crib Air side should never be left in the downward position if you are not awake, aware and supervising your baby.
33. When do I purchase the extension kit?
There are bundles available on our website which you can purchase both the crib and cot at the same time along with the appropriate bedding and mattress needed.
If you prefer to wait until your baby is ready, it is time to transition to the cot when your baby is 6 months old, or starts to sit up by themselves (whichever comes first)
34. What items do I need once I extend the crib into a cot?
You will need our extension kit and our Shnuggle Cot mattress, you will also need Cot sheets.
35. Can I put a sleepyhead in it?
We advise against the use of sleep positioners and other padded items for use in the Air due to the advice of the lullaby trust as per below:
“The safest place for a baby to sleep is a separate cot, crib or Moses basket. We recommend a firm, flat, waterproof mattress.
Products that we would advise you not to buy
There are some items that we would not recommend
-
pods or nests
• pillows, duvets or thick heavy bedding
• cot bumpers
• hammocks
• sleep positioners
The key things are to make sure the mattress is firm, entirely flat with no raised or cushioned areas and waterproof and the cot is kept free of bumpers, toys and loose bedding. Pillows and duvets should not be used for babies under 12 months.”
https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/sleeping-products/
36. Do you sell a cot bumper for the Air?
A cot bumper is unnecessary for the air as the sides are mesh and textile.
37. Can I put a newborn in the cot?
Yes you can use the cot with a newborn if you wish, just follow the sleep guidelines of ‘feet to foot’ etc as usual.
38. Why can’t I raise the bed height of the cot?
Once your baby can sit up or roll over they need to be moved to a sleeping area with taller sides in order to be safe. Once your baby outgrows the crib (they start to roll over or sit) they should be moved to the cot for their own safety.
Rather than offering a height adjustable cot we chose to create a (more compact) bedside crib which can be used freestanding if you wish, and then converts to a cot when your baby is able to roll over or sit. This gives parents more room to have baby in their bedroom as per sleep safety guidelines during the all important first months for sleep safety.
39. Does the Air rock? Why not?
We wanted to create a sturdy bedside crib, if it rocks (especially) while attached to the bed there is a risk that arms/ legs etc could be trapped and baby could be injured when the side is opened, due to moving parts.
We have heard that some customers wanted a crib/cot without rocking because once baby becomes used to being rocked to sleep it is the only way they will go to sleep and can cause a dependence.
40. Why isn’t it level with my mattress? Isn’t it unsafe?
When the air is set up correctly, the baby's mattress should be below your own and the grey fabric barrier is level with or below your mattress.
There are very good reasons for not having baby’s mattress level with yours when the side is open (with respect to any side sleeper product)
-
This can make it easy for baby to roll into your bed and be at risk of suffocation from blankets etc
-
This can make it easy for baby to roll into a gap between the crib and your mattress
For this reason the Shnuggle bedside crib wall only drops partially, so that baby's mattress is below yours, to provide a barrier to protect your baby from the above factors.
When you attach your Shnuggle bedside crib to your bed, the grey part where the plastic insert is placed should be in line with or below your mattress, so that when you lower the side there is nothing protruding above your mattress.
41. How long are the straps? Will they fit around my bed?
The straps are 460cm long
42. Is the crib compatible with an ottoman bed frame?
The crib can be used with your bed depending on the thickness of your mattress, the width of the bed so the straps can be put on and if your bed reaches the height of 43-64cm measured from the floor to the top of the mattress.
I recommend attaching the straps as you would a divan bed, here is a diagram of how this is achieved:
It will work with your type of bed if it fits around the base and if the straps go all the way around the bed base (depending on width), and the top isn't opened.If top needs to be opened, you should fit straps with it open, and close down into the straps
Please ensure when the straps are on they are tight and to check the tightness before each use you can pull the bedside crib in a direction away from the adult bed.
When you attach your Shnuggle bedside crib to your bed, the grey part where the plastic insert is placed should be in line with or below your mattress, so that when you lower the side there is nothing protruding above your mattress.
43. I have not got the shnuggle bedside crib as I have a different crib. Do I need to purchase the crib before getting the conversion kit?
Yes, you will have needed the Shnuggle crib in order to use the Cot Kit to extend this into the larger cot.
