Product Safety Pertaining to Ultra-Plush Fabric
The safety of children is always our highest priority. We recognize the concerns for both Finger Entanglement (outlined below) as well as Fiber Shedding with the ultra plush fur. Fiber shedding can happen when a child sucks the product and small pieces can detach from the creature and can be swallowed. For these reasons, products with ultra-plush fabric are not suitable for children under 3 years of age and we recommend they are not left unattended with children.
Finger Entanglement due to Hair Tourniquet Syndrome
Learn more here: https://www.thebump.com/a/baby-hair-tourniquet
We are aware of a few very young children that got their fingers stuck in the fur of a very well-loved, ultra-plush Slumberkinscausing this issue. No children were seriously harmed, but the “what if” weighs heavy on our hearts.
We’ve always prided ourselves on learning the ins and outs of the safety-testing process as we have grown Slumberkins and we are always proud to share that all Slumberkins are safety-tested at the highest industry standard, this includes Slumberkins with ultra-plush fur. However, products with ultra-plush fur are age-graded only for children 3 years and up and are not suitable for children under 3 years of age. And it is imperative detailed washing and drying instructions provided with every product are followed to maintain the safety and integrity of the fabric.
Visit our FAQ page for reference.
What the safety-testing process (for the entire toy industry) doesn’t take into account is the wear, tear, and matting that can happen to the fur over time, along with how little ones might use things like a hair strand or other items to self-soothe.
After doing extensive research within the industry, we have not seen any other plush toy or baby product companies mention these concerns within their safety instructions even though their products use the same material or even longer fur.
As mothers, we are thankful for the messages we have received that brought both of these issues to our attention. We want to make sure that you are all aware of this potential danger - with Slumberkins, other plush toys, blankets, and/or hair.
As the owners of Slumberkins, we are currently doing more work behind the scenes and taking steps to highlight this with any ultra-plush fur creatures. We will be including new inserts in shipping boxes and adding stickers to the back of a box to products with ultra-plush fabric.
For existing ultra-plush Slumberkins out there being loved by your littles, please rest assured that they have all passed our safety testing. This message is simply meant to raise awareness of this issue and take notice if your child tends to use this as a self-soothing technique, while also reminding our community to use the care instructions and brush out any matted fur. Please always follow the washing instructions below.
Washing Instructions:
All Slumberkins should be washed prior to giving them to your child. Machine wash using cold water and lay flat to dry.
Wash as needed. DO NOT use fabric softener or dryer sheets or dry on high heat, as it can damage the fabric and cause extreme matting. DO NOT allow the ultra-plush Slumberkins to become matted. Wash the item and gently brush out fabric to remove knots or discard. As with any plush, minky material product, the original softness will change over time with washing.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to email us at hello@slumberkins.com.
What is Flex and what is their relationship with Slumberkins?
Slumberkins has partnered with Flex to allow you to use your Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA). This means you can now use your HSA or FSA debit card to buy Slumberkins with pre-tax dollars, resulting in net savings of 30-40%, depending on your tax bracket.
How do I pay with my HSA or FSA card?
To use your HSA or FSA debit card, add products to your cart as usual. At checkout, select “Flex | Pay with HSA/FSA” as your payment option, enter your HSA or FSA debit card, and complete your checkout as usual. If you don’t see “Flex | Pay with HSA/FSA,” you may be in Shop Pay. Select “checkout as guest” to view more payment options.
What if I don't have my HSA/FSA card available?
If you don’t have your HSA or FSA card handy, still select “Flex | Pay with HSA/FSA” as your payment method. Enter your credit card information and log in to the consumer portal at withflex.com/portal using the same email you used at checkout to download an itemized receipt to submit for reimbursement.
Why can't I see Flex as a payment method?
The key here is to make sure you are logged out of ShopPay. One of the easiest ways to do this is to go through checkout in an incognito window.
Why is my HSA/FSA card being declined?
HSA/FSA cards are debit cards, and the most common reason for declines is insufficient funds. Reach out to your HSA/FSA administrator to confirm your balance.
I submitted my Flex itemized receipt for reimbursement and my FSA requires more information.
Please forward us the request from your FSA, and we will work with the Flex team to issue you a new receipt.
Help! I didn't receive an email from Flex with my itemized receipt and/or letter of medical necessity. What should I do?
Please log in to the consumer portal at withflex.com/portal using the same email you used at checkout to download all the documents needed for the product you purchased. If you still need help, please email support@withflex.com and let them know the email address associated with your order.
I would like to use multiple HSA/FSA cards to pay for an item. Can I do that?
No, unfortunately, this isn’t a supported feature right now. If there are insufficient funds in a single HSA or FSA account, you can instead enter a credit card on the Flex checkout page. You can then log in to the consumer portal at withflex.com/portal using the same email you used at checkout to download an itemized receipt and/or Letter of Medical Necessity, which you can submit for reimbursement.
My purchase receipt from Slumberkins has a different number than what my FSA was charged. How can we resolve it?
Thanks for reaching out, and apologies for the discrepancy. We’ll review the charges and get back to you with details of the likely refund shortly.
Is sales tax covered by HSA/FSA funds, or is it treated separately?
Sales tax for eligible items is also covered by HSA/FSA funds. If the customer has a split cart, the tax will be divided among the cards based on the items.
What is a Letter of Medical Necessity?
Some products require documentation from a licensed healthcare provider stating that the item is necessary to treat or manage a specific medical condition. If the product requires a Letter of Medical Necessity (LOMN), Flex facilitates a chat-based telehealth consultation that is reviewed by a licensed provider, and typically the Letter is provided within 2 hours.
Why do I need to provide Slumberkins with health information?
In order to qualify to use your HSA or FSA card for Slumberkins, the IRS requires you to have a Letter of Medical Necessity. Slumberkins has partnered with Flex to enable telehealth visits as part of our checkout. A licensed provider will review your consultation, and within 2 hours of your purchase, you can log in to the consumer portal at withflex.com/portal using the same email you used at checkout to download your Letter of Medical Necessity and itemized receipt.
Do I need to do anything with my Letter of Medical Necessity?
You should keep it on file for at least three years in the event of an IRS audit of your HSA or FSA account. Occasionally, FSAs may ask for the Letter to confirm the eligibility of your purchase.
Help! I mistakenly entered my name and/or date of birth and need to get an updated letter. Who can I reach out to?
Please email support@withflex.com and they will reach out to their telehealth team to reprocess and send your corrected Letter of Medical Necessity.
The date on my Letter of Medical Necessity is one day different from my receipt.
Thanks for letting us know! This may be a time zone issue. We’ll reach out to our partners at Flex to see if they can reissue the Letter with an updated date.
My FSA says I need [a product name, NPI number, other info] added to my Letter for approval.
Generally, we’re not able to accommodate one-off requests, but we will reach out to our partners at Flex and see if we can accommodate your request.
Help! I did not receive an itemized receipt and/or Letter of Medical Necessity from Flex. What should I do?
Please log in to the consumer portal at withflex.com/portal using the same email you used at checkout to download all the documents needed for the product you purchased. If you still need help, please email support@withflex.com and let them know the email address associated with your order.
My HSA/FSA claim was denied. What should I do?
We strongly recommend checking with your HSA/FSA provider to see if a purchase is eligible prior to completing the purchase. However, if you believe your claim has been wrongly denied, please send over any response from your HSA/FSA provider to us so we can share it with Flex and receive guidance on the next best steps to take. Please note that employer-sponsored FSAs can determine what products are eligible beyond the IRS’s guidelines, so it’s extremely important to check prior to purchase.
Can a customer purchase a product now and apply for FSA reimbursement in the next calendar year?
The ability to apply for FSA reimbursement in a future calendar year depends on the policy of the specific FSA provider. Most FSA administrators require that the purchase be made during the time of coverage. For example, if the FSA coverage is for 2025, all purchases typically need to be made and/or submitted for reimbursement within that coverage period. However, some administrators may have more flexible rules regarding the timing of when the expense occurred. We recommend that customers review their plan policy to confirm the details.
Note: Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are different and generally allow for reimbursement at any time, even in future years.
Can old (non-Flex) customers use their order confirmation email to apply for HSA/FSA reimbursement?
Unfortunately, for purchases made without using Flex in the checkout to receive an itemized receipt, it may be difficult to apply for reimbursement.
For Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), consumers can use an itemized receipt for reimbursement anytime after they have made the purchase, even if it is many years later.
For Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), most accounts require that the purchase was made in the calendar year during which the consumer had the FSA, as FSAs typically do not roll over. Some FSAs offer a buffer window, allowing customers additional time to submit receipts for expenses incurred during the previous calendar year.
How to file for HSA/FSA reimbursement?
Where do I submit an HSA/FSA reimbursement claim?
When should I expect to be reimbursed?
Reimbursement times vary but can take several weeks. For a specific timeline, contact your HSA or FSA administrator directly.
While checking out with HSA/FSA eligible products, it says the state I live in is ineligible.
Certain states - Louisiana, New Mexico, and Mississippi, have local and state laws limiting telehealth services. Flex is unfortunately unable to provide Telehealth Consultations and Letters of Medical Necessity to customers in these states.
