If you have been wondering how to keep your baby safe and warm at night, then the answer is simple: use a sleep bag!
The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend using a blanket for your little one and acknowledges that a sleep bag is a safe alternative.
Since 2005, The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended the use of wearable blankets for safe sleep. Unlike regular blankets, a wearable blanket or sleep sack is worn over your child's sleepwear, so it won't be kicked off and your baby stays covered all night.
That means more restful sleep for you both!
If you want to learn more, then click to learn about what is a baby sleep sack!
The sleep bag will become part of your child's bedtime routine, providing a sense of security and comfort.
If your child will not keep a blanket on, a sleep bag will stay on all night long, allowing them to get comfortable in every position for sleep.
Wearable blankets also work well as a sleep cue, meaning it is something they associate positively with sleep. This means they accept sleep more with it as part of their bedtime routine!
Read more about bedtime routines if you are wondering about when to start a bedtime routine for baby!
Sleep bags also make traveling easier. It mimics their home environment so it can ease any anxiety about sleeping in a new place.
So many good things about using a sleep bag in your daily routine with your little one!
Here are the sleep bags you will learn about today:
- Kyte Baby
- Baby Deedee
- Aden and Anais
- Halo
- Woolino
Let’s talk about TOG first, because that is something you will need to decide on when choosing a sleep bag!
TOG is the measure of thermal resistance. It stands for Thermal Overall Grade and is the standard of measure for how much heat a garment retains.
In other words, this is how warm a garment keeps you; you’ll see this often on duvets, baby sleepwear, socks, and even carpet!
The higher the TOG, the warmer it will keep you or the more heat it will retain.
By having multiple options, you can choose a TOG that fits your child’s sleep environment best! You can also use the same slp bag by using different layers underneath it.
If you are still wondering, “what is TOG?!” then check out that blog post to learn more!
Kyte Baby (price point of $55-$70)
Features include:
- 3 different TOGs: 0.5, 1.0, and 2.5.
- Sizes that include: XS, S, M, L, XL
- Sleep Bag Walkers in sizes: M, L, XL
- Material is 97% rayon of bamboo
- J-zipper design for ease of use, and it features a dual zipper so you can unzip from the top to put the baby into the sleep bag or from the bottom to change a diaper while disturbing your baby as little as possible
The zipper is also “out of sight, out of mind” for those busy little ones who like to take off their pajamas!
- Sleeveless to reduce the risk of overheating
- Roomy for healthy hip development
- Closed bag protects little limbs from getting stuck in crib slats
Why bamboo? “The benefits of using bamboo begin with it being the most sustainable and versatile resource on the planet, as we’ve mentioned. It’s the fastest-growing plant in the world and quickly adapts to different climates. Not only is it earth-friendly, but it is also an environmentally intelligent choice because bamboo minimizes CO2 and generates 35% more oxygen than trees.”
Baby Deedee (price point of $22-$42.50)
Features include:
- TOG ratings of 0.6, 1.2, and 2.5
- Sizes available: S, M, L
- Fabric options include: lightweight cotton jersey, Indian-made polar fleece, and faux fur
- Shoulder snaps and inverted zipper in all options
- Cocoon shape is meant to be extra cozy
Aden & Anais (price point of $23-$40)
Features include:
- TOG rating 1.0
- Made with two layers of lightweight and ultra-soft 100% cotton muslin for breathability with good airflow; sleeveless design reduces the risk of overheating
- Unzips from the bottom for easy diaper changes and wide at the hips/bottom allows room for kicking, but cannot be kicked off
- Sizes of 0-6, 6-12, 12-18, and 18+ months
Halo (price point of $24-$30)
Features include:
- Fabric options of 100% Cotton Muslin, 100% Cotton, 100% Organic Cotton, and microfleece
- TOG ratings of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.5
- Sizes range from small to extra large
- Roomy bag for healthy hip development
- Inverted zipper for easy diaper changes
- Includes swaddle sleep sacks and walkers as well
Woolino (price point of $79-$149)
Features include:
- Made from merino wool which gains or loses heat as required to produce warmth in cool conditions and cool them down in warm conditions
- 4 season sleep bag meaning it’s meant to be used year-round in temperatures of 63-77deg F
- 4 season ultimate sleep bag is sized for 2 months to 2 years of age and 4 seasons basic sleep bag is available in sizes 0-6, 6-18, 18-36 months.
- The Ultimate sleep bag has features such as underarm snaps for adjusting the size of the armholes, travel slots for use in car seats, strollers, bouncers, etc., & both shoulder snaps.
- Bottom of the sack is designed to be roomy and grow with your baby
- Dual zipper for easy access to diaper changes
We have personally used every single one of these sleep bags listed! We bought the smallest size available in all 6 of them.
Out of the five listed, my little one outgrew the Halo, Aden & Anais, and Baby Deedee first. His nested bean one still fits but is getting shorter. The Woolino and Kyte Baby sleep bags are both comparable in length.
We keep our home between 68-72 degrees year-round, so we typically only use a 0.5 or 1.0 TOG and then adjust what he is wearing underneath (short sleeve/long sleeve bodysuit or romper typically).
When choosing a sleep bag, the most important features to me were: material (he has eczema and is incredibly sensitive to synthetic fibers, cannot even wear cotton clothing without a huge flare up), longevity of use (having a long enough sleep bag is key for us), and the zipper (I love having a double zipper option and ones where all I have to do is zip, not where I have to thread it and then zip-- because he is a wiggly one!)
So before you look through all the different options when choosing a sleep bag, try to make a list of the top 3 features that are important to you and find one that ticks all of the boxes!
Author Bio: 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!
