Best Baby Sleeping Bag: Expert Buying Guide

Best baby sleeping bag - Bedtime for the little one! Maybe the baby was still in the bath, you have read a book or sung a song, but now it's really time to put the little one in his / her own cradle. To prevent your baby from kicking off the covers in the night, you can purchase a baby sleeping bag!

What is a baby sleeping bag?

Some may think that a baby sleeping bag, also called a sleeping bag, is the same as a sleeping bag for adults, but this is not entirely correct. What differences are there exactly and why is a baby sleeping bag a convenient addition to the baby's room? I'll explain!

What does a baby sleeping bag look like?

In principle, a baby sleeping bag does indeed look like a sleeping bag for adults. Yet there are some characteristic differences. A baby sleeping bag has, as the picture above shows, sleeves (or arm holes) so that the baby's arms are not in the sleeping bag itself.

A second difference is that an adult sleeping bag is relatively larger. An adult person can turn and move in the sleeping bag, while a baby sleeping bag fits almost completely on the body of the baby. The shape prevents reeling and turning.

Why a baby sleeping bag?

There are three main reasons for the baby to wear a sleeping bag to bed:

1. The baby can not be exposed, thus maintaining a constant body temperature.

2. The chance of rolling over is greatly reduced, which also reduces the risk of cot death also known as SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

3. The chance that the baby ends up with the head under the blanket is smaller, so the chances of suffocation is reduced. For many babies, a blanket is no longer necessary.

All this is prevented by the arm holes or sleeves in the sleeping bag. The baby can not turn around in the sleeping bag because of this. Also, the baby can not roll over with a bag as he can make little use of his legs.

Even if your baby gets older, the use of a baby sleeping bag remains handy. Some babies are real adventurers and, once they reach a certain age, will try to climb out of their bed. A baby sleeping bag prevents this.

There is basically no fixed age at which it is recommended to let babies sleep in a baby sleeping bag. Do you think your baby benefits from a sleeping bag, because he / she, for example, increasingly starts to wander through the bed or kicks off the blankets?

Then, regardless of the age of the baby, it is possible to purchase a sleeping bag. Age does not play a role, but the size does! It is important that the sleeping bag is not too small (uncomfortable for your child!) Or too big (unsafe for your child!).

Have you decided to buy a baby sleeping bag? Or are you digging into the possibilities? I can help you! There are 5 different types of baby sleeping bags:

1. Summer baby sleeping sack

2. Winter bag

3. Four seasons baby sleeping bag

4. Footmuff (for on the go!)

5. Baby sleeping bag with push buttons

In the summer it often gets too hot indoors. For a baby it is not always good to lie on the tummy. A better solution is to remove all the bedding from the cradle and let the baby sleep in a summer baby sleeping bag.

A summer sleeping bag can be characterized by the fact that it is not padded. Not because of the lack of sleeves as many moms and dads think! A summer baby sleeping bag can also have sleeves, but usually you can zip it off.

A winter baby sleeping bag is actually the opposite of a summer baby sleeping bag. These sleeping bags are padded and ensure that the baby stays completely warm. In some cases, the sleeves can also be zipped, so that the sleeping bag is also suitable for "between periods".

A four seasons sleeping bag, the name says it all, is a baby sleeping bag that is suitable for autumn, winter, spring and summer! 

In fact, if you buy one four seasons baby sleeping bag, it looks like you're buying three! The sleeping bag is specially designed to be adapted to the weather. Above you can see how you can turn the baby sleeping bag into the suitable sleeping bag for every season:

o Left: is the winter edition. A thick lined sleeping bag with long sleeves to keep the baby warm in cold nights.

o In the middle: the intermediate version! Even we moms and dads get hit by so-called "between seasons", what do we have to wear? A winter coat is now too hot, but we are not going to go outside yet in denim jacket. The same is probably true for the little one, who also can not tell if he / she is too hot. The solution? Zip off the sleeves of the sleeping bag! This way the baby can lose enough heat.

o Right: The summer edition! Real warm nights? then the "inner lining" of the baby sleeping bag is sufficient. No sleeves, no double layers, just a thin bag of traps.

Immediately an important note with this baby sleeping bag: a footmuff is only meant for travel! It is not the intention that the baby sleeps in a footmuff at night in the cradle.

The reason for this? Take a good look ... No arm holes, exactly! This sleeping bag is only intended to keep the baby warm in the maxi cosi or pram. Without arm holes the baby can turn around in the sleeping bag and when the baby is not under supervision, this increases the risk of cot death.

Are you going out the door and is it cold outside? Then a footmuff is certainly suitable!

Some summer baby sleeping bags have an opening at the bottom (sometimes with buttons, zipper or another way of closing). Of course, this is not just there! Not only does this make it easier to put the baby in the sleeping bag, but if it is very hot you can leave the bottom open. This way the baby can also lose some warmth through the feet.

Incidentally, push buttons at the bottom of the sleeping bag are a real solution, but this does not apply if the push buttons are located over the length of the sleeping bag. In this case it is better to use a baby sleeping bag with zipper (as with the four seasons sleeping bag).

This prevents the sleeping bag from opening at night, causing the baby to become entangled.

So many different types! But what is the best baby sleeping bag? I review the most popular sleeping bags for you below. Click on the link to be redirected to the website that has the best deal for the said product.

Style: Different colors and prints

Brand: HALO

o 100% Polyester micro-fleece

o Good price / quality ratio

o different colors and prints

o Can be in the washing machine

The halo sleepsack wearable blanket is the most popular and affordable sleeping bag for babies.

It was voted as the number one trusted choice of hospitals (2016) in helping babies sleep safely from their early age. This sleeping bag comes in 4 distinct sizes: Small (10-18 lbs), Medium (16-24 lbs), Large (22-28 lbs), XLarge (26-36 lbs).

This product has an inverted zipper that comes in handy for when changing baby’s diaper (no need to remove the entire bag).

Additional features include enough room to cater for a healthy hip development of the new born and the lack of sleeves preventing overheating.

Made out of fleece, it is machine washable. It is a very good choice to fight SIDS which common amongst new born babies.

Price and opinions

What makes this the best baby sleeping bag for the summer? The moms speak mainly of the good price / quality ratio.

The only disadvantage? The sleeping bags can only be ordered in four sizes small, medium, large and extra-large. So pay attention to whether the right size for your little one is included!

Style: Different colors

Brand: Baby Deedee

o 100% cotton exterior, quilted interior

o Different colors and prints

o Comes in 3 kinds: quilted winter-weight, fleece mid-weight and cotton lighter-weight

o Machine washable

The baby deedee sleep nest is our top pick for sleeping bag. It comes in 3 sizes: small, medium and large to fit babies at various stages of their development.

The small size will fit a baby from 0-6months old, 22-26 inch tall and weighing between 10-18 pounds.

A medium size will generally be used for babies from 6 to 18 months, 25-31 inch tall and weighing no more than 26 pounds.

The large size will suit a kid not older than 36 months, 31-39 inch tall and between 25-35 pounds.

What I particularly like about this baby sleeping bag are the shoulder straps that allow to easily place the baby in the nest while asleep. That’s a unique feature to baby deedee. It also boosts a reverse zipper.

The fabric is breathable and very cozy thus conducive of a restful sleep. Although the interior of the bag is 100% polyester, the exterior is made of pure cotton.

So, you now have an idea of ​​all the different baby sleeping bags that exist. You even know what is the best baby sleeping bag in your situation, right? Well, not quite yet. There are a number of important issues that you should keep in mind when purchasing the sleeping bag:

Baby sleeping bags are made of all kinds of different materials and each material has its advantages and disadvantages. The most popular materials? There are roughly three:

Almost everyone is familiar with cotton, after all it is in almost all our t-shirts. Cotton is also the most used material especially in summer baby sleeping bags.

This is mainly due to the fact that cotton is spun from the fibers of the cotton plant. The fibers are spun into threads and thus form a very air-permeable textile.

You can imagine that this is very pleasant for the baby in the summer, because it can lose so much heat through the dust.

Cotton is also indispensable in the seams of a baby sleeping bag. In some cases, these stitches are made of nylon, but when these come loose, the baby can get entangled with fingers or toes. I really don't recommend nylon stitching! Cotton is much safer.

Polyester is an unnatural substance that is melted and then made into threads. In baby sleeping bags, polyester is often combined with cotton and then used as a filling.

Polyester has very different properties than cotton. For example, the material is resistant to bacteria and mold and absorbs virtually no moisture (0.4%). Are you a mom who likes to wash everything, but not into ironing everything? Polyester can be washed well and hardly wrinkles!

Do not be mistaken for terry, it is nothing else than a fabric made of cotton! However, loops are formed from the threads in terry cloth. This ensures that the fabric initially feels a bit "fluffier" than normal cotton, but terry can get a little harder after a good number of washes and give an unpleasant feeling.

Jersey is a fabric that is made by machine and is often used for clothing. One distinguishes cotton jersey and wool jersey. Actually, Jersey is not a fabric at all, but a collective name for fabrics that have been knitted in the right-left binding. Knitting moms you know what this means!

Jersey is also very elastic, which ensures a comfortable and stretchy fabric. That is why many mattress covers are made of this.

There is almost nothing so important in choosing the best baby sleeping bag as the size. Remember: babies come in all shapes and sizes and grow like cabbage (all thanks to the super moms and dads!). It is of the utmost importance for the comfort and safety of the baby that the size of the sleeping bag is correct.

Are you going to order a sleeping bag? Then you will see that there are many different sizes, usually ranging from 50 to 160 cm. How do you determine as a mom which size your baby needs? Fortunately, that is fairly easy, follow the following steps:

1. Measure your child from shoulder to toe with a measuring tape.

2. Take about 15 centimeters extra (this acts as a space for the legs).

3. Go online and find the size that most closely matches. This will be the best baby sleeping bag for your little one.

Furthermore, it is extremely important that the holes for the neck and the arms are not too large, as shown above or the image.

You can only test this together with your little one. Put the baby on the sleeping bag and see if you can get the hands back through the arm hole, without opening the sleeping bag. Remember, do this carefully!

Doesn't work? Beautiful! The arm holes are small enough. Can't you get the sleeping bag over the head of the baby without opening the zipper (you do not have to try this, you can see it almost immediately)? Then the head hole is also small enough.

Of course it is also important that these holes are not too small. Can you get about two fingers between the holes, while the baby has the sleeping bag on? Beautiful, then the baby has enough space!

A brand is obviously not a necessity in principle. Does your preferred sleeping bag not have a brand, but does it meet all of the above requirements? Top! In that case you have found the best baby sleeping bag for your little one.

"I have now bought a baby sleeping bag, can I continue to use my bedding?"

A blanket can still be used in the crib, unless it is too warm for the baby. Mind you, I advise against the use of a duvet . A blanket is always better than a duvet, but with a sleeping bag it simply becomes too much of a good thing.

"So I do not have to use a footmuff for the cradle, but can I use an ordinary sleeping bag for the maxi cosi?"

No, the intention is not to use the normal baby sleeping bags for the maxi cosi. This is also not very practical. Foot bags are specially designed for the maxi cosi or pram, but the normal sleeping bags are not designed for this. For example, it can be difficult to properly secure the baby in the maxi cosi or pram.

It is also the intention that a baby sleeping bag fits reasonably well to the body of your little one. Are you going outside? Then you always have to dress the baby well. It can be very uncomfortable for the baby to also have a sleeping bag around the arms.

"How do I know if my baby is too hot or too cold?"

It is always difficult to estimate whether the baby is too hot or too cold. Therefore, it is recommended by professionals to take the temperature of the baby daily with a thermometer.

There are five cut-off limits when it comes to the ideal body temperature of the baby:

o Is the body temperature below 36 degrees Celsius? Then measure the temperature once again. Still below 36 degrees Celsius? In that case always consult a doctor.

o Between 36 and 36.5 degrees Celsius? Then dress the baby a little warmer, the body temperature is somewhat on the low side.

o Between 36.5 and 37.5 degrees Celsius? Perfect! This is the ideal body temperature for a baby. You do not have to do anything in this case.

o Between 37.5 and 38 degrees Celsius? That is somewhat on the high side. Therefore, take off any caps, remove the sleeping bag or place the baby without a blanket. Then measure the temperature again. Has it dropped to the right one? Then the baby was too hot, but you have solved the problem as a super mom! Does the temperature stay on the high side? Then call the midwife.

o Higher than 38 degrees Celsius? Call a nurse! The baby has a fever.

After a while you will stop measuring the temperature daily. In that case, the hands and feet are always a good indicator of whether the baby is cold. You can also put your hand (no cold hand, but normal temperature!) In the baby's neck. Does this feel warm or cold? Then you can always take the thermometer!