A sleep bag is also known as a sleep sack or baby wearable blanket. It’s like a sleeping bag for your baby, except they can’t crawl out of it! Unlike a loose blanket, a sleep sack/sleep bag is like a “crib blanket” and will keep your child’s temperature regulated while keeping their sleep space safe. The AAP’s recommendation is that nothing is in the crib with your baby, just a tight fitted sheet until they’re 12+ months.
Typically, when you use a sleep bag for every sleep, it becomes a positive sleep association. It can become a “lovey” to them when they’re too young to have a lovey in the crib with them and makes sleeping outside of their home much easier when traveling!
You can start using a Kyte Baby sleep bag whenever your little one transitions out of the swaddle (as long as it safely fits-- you can reference the sizing guides if needed). Most babies will transition out of the swaddle around 8 weeks or whenever they show signs of rolling. A sleep bag can be used from birth if it fits! But most parents find that swaddling is helpful in the first few weeks to prevent them from startling awake as soon as you put them down.
If you found that swaddling your little one took a special skill set, you’ll find a sleep bag much easier to use! They even make diaper changes easier because Kyte Baby bamboo sleep sacks have a double zipper, meaning you can unzip from the bottom and disturb your little one a lot less during night time diaper changes!
Another bonus of using a sleep sack is that it can help prevent little limbs from getting in between the slats on the crib. Crib-related injuries account for thousands of trips to the emergency room every year according to a report from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Most kids can fit into a sleep bag for quite a long time because Kyte Baby sleep bags are generously sized (in length) which allows for kids to wear them for years and years. If your little one needs to be able to walk in the sleep bag, you can use a sleep bag walker for them!
Sleep bags are helpful in deterring little ones from climbing out of the crib as well as keeping their diaper on (if you’ve got a diaper flinger).
So when should you stop using a sleep bag? Well, you can continue using one until they no longer fit! You may have an escape artist who won’t keep it on (make sure to try it backwards first) and they may decide they’re done with it themselves, but there’s no reason to stop otherwise.
There’s no set age that you have to stop using one. It usually isn’t a hard transition; it just takes some time for them to learn to keep a blanket on.
Most toddlers will wear a sleep bag while still in a crib and then transition into a sleep bag walker once they’re in a regular bed. Once they’re out of the sleep bag walker, they can use a toddler blanket!
Since the sleep bag can be a great sleep aide, there is no reason to rush your child if they are not ready to give it up. As with many things, each child is different and it will be up to you and your child to determine whether or not you want to use a sleep sack and whether or not it’s time to let it go.
AUTHOR:
Ashley Olson is a certified pediatric sleep consultant, owner of Heaven Sent Sleep, and passionate about helping new parents, experienced parents, desperate and sleep deprived parents form healthy sleep habits for their children.
She has over 3 years of experience in working with families and has completed over 150 hours of coursework plus continuing education related to infant and toddler sleep. The focus of her work is on fostering a routine that grows your bond with your child while improving their sleep habits. She specializes in custom sleep plans and one on one support in changing sleep practices!
