Baby & Toddler Sleeping Bags

Baby Sleeping Bags

As a new parent you may be overwhelmed by all the advice and paraphernalia surrounding your baby’s sleep! Who would have thought these tiny little humans could create such a stir amongst the older (and hopefully wiser) generations! We understand that you may be faced with a whole host of products that you could buy, that have been hailed as “essential” by friends, relatives and the media - with personal preference often being the deciding factor. Our Baby Sleeping Bags offer up a selection of practical and industry approved bedding to keep your baby sleeping soundly (and more importantly staying safe) and are ideal for use once your baby is sleeping in their own cot bed or crib. When, or if, you decide to use a baby sleeping bag, is again often a personal choice; many of our baby sleeping bags are suitable to use from birth up until the age of 18 months. So if you are on the hunt for some super cute nursery bedding you have most certainly come to the right place – with brands such as Cam Cam Copenhagen and The Little Green Sheep, you’re not only guaranteed gorgeous designs and prints, but you can rest assured that your baby is going to be wrapped in the softest organic cotton… almost as soft as your babies bottom!

Baby Sleeping Bags vs Swaddling

Swaddling is a technique that has been around longer than our grannies! Dating back to the 17th Century, it involves snugly wrapping your baby in a thin blanket or sheet, to aid the feeling of being safe and secure. The benefits are said to reduce the chances of your baby waking itself by its own startle reflex (a perfectly normal body reflex), thus helping your baby feel more settled and promoting longer sleeping periods. Swaddling is recommended from birth and can be continued until the age of approximately 4-6 months, once your baby starts to take their arms out of the swaddle they are ready for a new routine. Baby sleeping bags offer an alternative sleeping solution to swaddling and the traditional baby blanket. Again they are approved to be used from birth, it’s important to always check that the baby sleeping bag you are going to use is the correct size for your baby, they are often sized from 0-6 months and then 6-18 months. They also come in different TOGS (much like your duvet) so you can ensure that you are keeping your baby at the recommended temperature throughout the year. Baby sleeping bags allow for plenty of movement whilst keeping your baby covered, unlike blankets that can be wriggled off! There is lots of advice and information offered on the internet and it always good to explore the risks and benefits for yourself, so that you can make an informed decision about what routine you would like to follow your baby.

If you’ve made the decision to use a baby sleeping bag, you may still have unanswered questions! Here are some FAQ’s we often receive…

Baby Sleeping Bag FAQ's

1. Are Baby Sleeping Bags safer than blankets?

Both blankets and baby sleeping bags are an approved and safe option to use for your baby’s bedding, providing that you follow the recommended guidelines, but if you are unsure, The Lullaby Trust offers great safer sleeping advice. Although baby sleeping bags can be used from birth, many parents opt to use a baby blanket for the first few weeks. Guidelines suggest that blankets must not be doubled over and are firmly tucked in, sitting below your baby’s shoulders. Baby sleeping bags are a great option as they prevent your baby’s head from being covered, or wriggling out of their bedding and getting cold. It is important that the sleeping bag fits well around the shoulders in order that your baby doesn’t slip down into the bag. When using either a blanket or a baby sleeping bag it is also important to consider the season in order to keep your baby at the recommended temperature and most importantly to choose products that have been tested and approved to British Standards.

2. Why are Baby Sleeping Bags so long?

Most baby sleeping bags are sized 0-6 months and 6-18 months, your baby is going to do a lot of sprouting between these months! So they are designed to allow for growing and free movement. It is more important to ensure that the top of the bag fits your baby correctly around the shoulders so that your baby doesn’t slip down, you’ll be amazed at how quickly they grow into the length!

3. What is a TOG?

TOG stands for 'Thermal Overall Grade'. A TOG is a measure of thermal insulance or thermal resistance. Basically the higher the TOG the warmer the product.

4. What TOG should I use in summer and winter?

Baby sleeping bags are available in a choice of TOG ratings the most common being 1 tog and 2.5 TOG. The recommended guidelines are that during the summer months you should use a lower TOG (0.5 or 1 TOG) and then in the winter months a higher TOG of no more than 3.5 should be used. Also be mindful of what you are dressing your baby in before putting them to sleep in their sleeping bag as this may need adapting during the seasons as well. The Lullaby Trust also advises not to use any additional bedding, such as a blanket or quilt, as this will make your baby too hot.

Require more assistance?

Still feeling slightly bamboozled?! No problem! We have a super team of nursery experts on hand to answer any further questions you may have. Please feel free to us a call on +44 1305 231231 or simply pop us an email.