Finding the Best Baby Sleeping Bag
Why should you use a baby sleeping bag?
Baby sleeping bags are the sleep attire that newborns transition into once they start rolling over. Designed like a wearable blanket with arm holes, baby sleeping bags keep little ones feeling warm and safe throughout the night. Their tight fit design makes a baby feel secure like having a hug overnight. Baby sleeping bags are also known as baby sleep suits or baby sleep sacks.
Choosing between a budget or speciality baby sleeping bags
Baby sleeping bags are available in a range of price points. Global retailers like Kmart and Target produce their own line of budget baby sleeping bags to compete against up market baby sleeping bag companies like Bubbaroo. Whether purchasing a budget sleeping bag or speciality baby sleep attire there are a few design and safety considerations parents need to be aware of.
Baby Sleeping bag features to consider
Each baby sleeping bag brand designs and creates their sleeping bags in slightly different ways. These design features are what set each product apart. The following highlights what to consider when investing in a baby sleeping bag for your little one.
Comfortable to sleep in
Babies love to feel comfortable when sleeping. Being held in their parents arms seems to be a favourite position for infants and who can blame them. Baby sleeping bags are designed to fit tight to give a baby the feeling like they are being hugged while sleeping. The design of most sleeping bags on the market is snug around the torso and chest while widening out just above the hips so babies frog their legs and can also move around their cot while they sleep.
Transitioning from a swaddle to a baby sleeping
Speciality baby sleeping bag companies like Bubbaroo include products in their range which help babies slowly transition out of a swaddle and into a baby sleeping bag. Transitioning from a swaddle to a sleeping bag can be a big adjustment for a little one. When babies transition from sleeping with their arms tightly by their side to sleeping with their arms freely out, it can take some adjustment and often times cause a baby to unnecessarily wake overnight. Using a product like the Joey Pod Transitional Swaddle Bag helps with the swaddle to sleeping bag transition. This swaddle bag allows a baby to sleep with both arms in, one arm in and one arm out, or both arms out. The versatility means babies can stay in the same sleep attire while transitioning from a swaddle to a sleeping bag.
Joey Pod Transitional Swaddle Bag by Bubbaroo.
Front or side position of zipper
When it comes to choosing any baby product, functionality is high on the list for many parents. Investing in a baby sleeping bag with a two-way zipper is a functionality feature many parents agree is worth the extra dollars especially for those late-night nappy changes. Most budget brands feature a one-way zipper in comparison to speciality baby sleeping bags that have a quality two-way zipper included in their design.
Baby sleeping bags are designed with either zippers up the front or down the side. Most parents find that changing a baby during the night is easier using a two-way zipper that goes straight up the front. This design allows parents to keep their little ones torso nice and cosy in the sleeping bag during the nappy change.
Quality fabric and durability
Baby sleeping bags get dirty frequently. With babies, there is always something going in and always something coming out and most of the time the sleeping bag gets soiled. The frequent wash and wear of a sleeping bag means the quality of the fabric is important to stand the test of time. A major difference between a budget brand sleeping bag and a speciality baby sleeping bag is the quality and durability of the fabric it is made from. When removing stains, a higher quality fabric will remove the stain making the longevity of the sleeping bag last much longer.
Fabrics that are breathable, yet warm make for the most comfortable sleeping bags. Since babies do not have the ability to regulate their body temperature it is important that a little one has a sleeping bag that will keep them warm overnight but not overheat them. Baby sleeping bags made with wool padding keep a baby warm and are a breathable fabric. Wool releases moisture allowing a baby to stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Safety features baby sleeping bag
Safe sleep attire for a baby is something all parents need to consider. When picking a sleeping bag ensure the arm holes are tightly fitted but comfortable around both the neck and arms. Arm and neck holes that are too big run the risk of a baby slipping inside the bag while asleep. There should be no ribbons or lose decorations on the sleeping bag as they may get caught on the side of the cot or bedding.
Tog ratings for sleeping bags
TOG ratings are used as a guide to tell consumers what the thermal insulation is of a clothing garment. TOG stands for ‘Thermal Overall Grade’ and the higher the TOG, the warmer the product. TOG ratings are commonly found on baby sleeping bags. All speciality baby sleeping bag companies include a TOG rating on their products along with guidelines on how to dress your baby for every temperature of your baby’s room. Not all budget brands of baby sleeping bags are TOG rated which can make it difficult for parents to know how to dress their baby for bed.
The above chart is from Bubbaroo and is the dressing guide for their Platinum Joey Swag range.
Benefits of speciality baby sleeping bags
With my experience operating a family daycare, I have laid little ones down for their naps in both budget and speciality baby sleeping bags. There are a few design features that I feel set a speciality baby sleeping bag apart from a budget brand. Those features are functionality, fabric and durability. When babies are tired and ready for a nap, having a quality zipper is important. With budget brands, I have seen zippers break and snag shortly after being purchased. The fabric used with speciality sleeping bags have a lot more wear and durability in them when compared to a budget sleep suit.
If you are looking for a high-quality speciality sleeping bag company, I highly recommend the products in the Bubbaroo range. I have personally used their Joey Swag baby sleeping bags with my own girls and with many babies I have cared for and the durability and comfort they provide for babies cannot be compared to any other sleep bag on the market. Learn more about the Australian produced baby sleeping bags and browse the Bubbaroo range here.