As a new parent, you want your baby to be as safe and comfortable as possible while he or she is sleeping. And what could be more comfortable than wearing a blanket in bed? Indeed, this is one of the many benefits of a “wearable blanket,” otherwise known as a baby sleep sack.
In this post, we’ll discuss all the advantages (and minor drawbacks) of sleep sacks, how to go about choosing one, and dive into reviews of the best baby sleep sacks currently selling today. But before we get going, let’s first define what baby sleep sacks actually are…
What Are Baby Sleep Sacks?
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that babies be put to sleep on a firm mattress without pillows or blankets (source). But if you’re like me, you worry about your baby getting cold at night wearing just pajamas. To get around this problem, wearable sleeping bags, better known as baby sleep sacks, have become popular among parents. Moreover, these sacks also come highly recommended by health professionals to help babies regulate their temperature (source).
Baby sleep sacks typically zip up the middle and may either be sleeveless with shoulder snaps or have arms similar to regular pajamas. But as a sack, these sleeping bags don’t have legs. Instead, they resemble a sleeping bag to place your infant in.
Sleep sacks can vary in the fabric used to wrap your baby in, with some made from cotton, others fleece, and still others merino wool. The best baby sleep sacks offer the ability to grow with your baby and are designed with a specific temperature range in mind.
What Are the Advantages of Using a Baby Sleep Sack?
There are several notable advantages to using a sleep sack for your baby:
- It can save your baby’s life, as the use of safe sleeping practices reduces an infant’s chance of SIDS by up to 50%. Even hospitals have begun to recognize this fact and now many use sleep sacks in their mother-baby units (source).
- It can offer your little one the feeling of security. Since bed sharing puts babies at risk for SIDS, many parents of newborns worry that their baby feels lost with too much empty space around when sleeping. A sleep sack, however, can envelop your baby’s legs and even arms to offer a more womb-like, cozy space.
- It stays put when your baby wiggles. If you cover your baby with a blanket, and he or she starts kicking and moving around, what happens to the blanket? It slips off! In contrast, a sleep sack stays put and your baby stays cozy and snug.
- Many can be used for swaddling. Swaddling keeps very young babies from startling themselves awake by helping to keep their arms close to their bodies. Many sleep sacks come with side wraps to allow you to swaddle your newborn without extra blankets.
- It can help with nighttime diaper changes. If you’ve ever had to fiddle with a pajama snap in the middle of the night, you’ll understand how much less tortuous a sleep sack diaper change is! All you have to do is unzip, change the diaper, and zip it back up.
- It can help regulate your baby’s temperature better than extra blankets. In very cold climates, it can be layered with pajamas or be used as standalone sleeping clothes in warmer temperatures.
What Are the Disadvantages of Using a Baby Sleep Sack?
There are only a couple of disadvantages to speak of when it comes to using a baby sleep sack:
- Its lack of legs can make it frustrating for older babies who want to move around, crawl or stand up. Longer sleep sacks can offer active infants more room to wiggle, but they can also inhibit movement if they get stuck under a knee or bottom.
- Babies can outgrow them easily. As a solution, manufacturers typically offer different sizes for a range of ages, but this can get expensive for parents who keep buying the next size up.
Types of Baby Sleep Sacks
Like pajamas, you won’t find a great deal of variety when it comes to baby sleep sacks. Still, there are some differences worth noting:
- While some have long sleeves for a baby’s arms, others are sleeveless and may have snaps that make it easier to put on or take off.
- Sleep sacks tend to zip up the middle, but be on the lookout for ones with reversible zippers that allow for easier middle-of-the-night diaper changes. The reversible zippers allow you to unzip the sack from the bottom, so you can reach the dirty diaper without removing the whole thing. (Note: All the sleep sacks recommended below feature reversible zippers).
- Sleeps sacks may be designed using different material like cotton, fleece or wool for specific temperature ranges. Different fabrics have different advantages:Cotton tends to be lighter weight can be worn in warmer climates, fleece has a heavier weight and can work well for cooler temperatures, and wool does a great job at regulating your little one’s temperature in cold or heat.
- Some sleep sacks also come with wing-like cuts for swaddling. These sacks are typically sized for younger babies who need the feeling of added security that swaddling provides to sleep well.
How to Choose a Baby Sleep Sack
Sleep sacks are a basic, easy to use baby sleep product. So how do you decide which one to buy, if they all offer similar features? The product reviews below can help with that, but first, here are some tips on what to look for to help you choose the right sleep sack for you:
Consider your budget – Sleep sacks can range anywhere from ten dollars to over a hundred. As part of setting a budget, think of how long you’d like your baby to wear the sack. Otherwise, you’ll be doubling your budget when you have to buy the next size up once your baby outgrows it in a few months time. This leads to our next tip…
Note the age and weight ranges – This will help you figure out how quickly your little one may outgrow each sleep sack you’re looking at. There are some sacks made for babies as old as 36 months while others are made for preemies.
Determine whether you want to swaddle your baby – Since most babies sleep better when swaddled, it’s better to be safe and get a sleep sack with a swaddle feature if you’re purchasing ahead of time.
Pay attention to fabric type and temperature range – If you live in warmer climates, look for lightweight fabric to keep your baby from overheating. However, colder areas may require a heavier material to keep your infant warmer.
Reviews of the Best Sleep Sacks
| Image | Title | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
Top | Baby Sleeping Bag, 4 Season Basic Merino Wool Wearable Blanket, 0-6 Months, Earth | PrimeEligible | Check Price |
 | Merino Kids Baby Sleep Bag Standard Weight for Babies 0-2 Years, Bear Print - Dark Slate | PrimeEligible | Check Price |
 | Baby Deedee Sleep Nest Sleeping Sack, Warm Baby Sleeping Bag fits Newborns and Infants,Large (18-36 Months) | PrimeEligible | Check Price |
 | Love to Dream Swaddle UP Transition Bag, Gray, Medium, 13-19 lbs., Patented Zip-Off Wings, Gently Help Baby Safely Transition from Being swaddled to arms Free Before Rolling Over | PrimeEligible | Check Price |
 | HALO Sleepsack 100% Cotton Wearable Blanket, TOG 0.5, Baby Blue, Small | PrimeEligible | Check Price |
Woolino Baby Sleeping Sack
- REDUCE OR ELIMINATE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS - When baby sleeps better, so do parents. Premium fabrics for best comfort: Australian merino wool lining - 100% natural, luxuriously soft, and temperature regulating. GOTS certified organic cotton outer. Machine-washable.
- CAN BE USED IN ALL 4 SEASONS as optimal weight merino wool lining regulates body temperature unlike any other fiber, keeping baby warm when it’s cold, and cool when it’s warm.
- Basic NO-SNAP DESIGN with a TWO-WAY ZIPPER that unzips from top and bottom for easy dressing and quick diaper changes. Opens flat. ZIPPER GUARDS to protect child’s skin. NURSERY THERMOMETER and dressing guide included.
Designed for babies up to two years old, the Woolino Baby Sleeping Sack comes in three different sizes and two different designs. It includes a two-way zipper with no snaps, along with double shoulder and underarm snaps. Also, it comes with seat belt slots to easily transfer to car seats or swings.
This sleeping sack is made from Australian merino wool and has an outer shell made from organic cotton. The merino wool helps regulate your baby’s temperature, making it appropriate for year-long use.
The Woolino also includes a temperature guide with layer recommendations for various climates.
WHAT WE LIKED
- Made from comfortable Merino Wool and organic cotton
- Good for all seasons
- Includes handy shoulder snaps and adjustable arm holes
- Can be used with a car seat
WHAT COULD BE IMPROVED
- Basic design has fewer features and isn’t one size fits all
- Machine washing and drying may cause it to shrink
- Relatively expensive
Merino Kids Baby Sleep Bag
- Merino Kids Standard Weight Go Go Bag is an international award-winning baby sleep bag which is designed with the safety and comfort of your baby in mind. It uses only 100% superfine merino wool on the inside & 100% GOTS certified organic cotton outer. The natural ability of superfine merino wool allows the skin to breathe and regulates body temperature year-round, so baby wont overheat or wake up cold - perfect for all seasons and environments
- For parents who want the very best. Crafted by master tailors from luxuriously soft Superfine Merino wool. 100% natural, itch-free and allergy-safe. Temperature Range: 64 - 86 degrees Fahrenheit. TOG rating 0.5 - 1.8
- Machine washable. YKK zip opens from the bottom for easy nappy changes. Travel vent for easy transfer from stroller to the little ones cot. No need to use sheets or blankets which can disturb a childâ€s sleep when it wriggles free or gets tangled up. Simply add merino base layers for extra warmth if required
The Merino Kids Baby Sleep Bag is designed to fit babies under two years of age. With an inner layer made of thin merino wool and an outer layer made from organic cotton, this two-layer technology allows the merino wool to regulate your baby’s temperature. Moreover, it can let out air so your infant won’t overheat when it’s warm out and keep your baby warm during chilly nights.
One feature we especially like is the hole designed for seat belts, baby seats or anything that requires you to strap your baby in. This is great if you like the added warmth of the sleep sack for winter when transferring from your home to your car, or during times when you don’t wish to wake your sleeping baby.
The sleeping bag zips up, and it includes snaps on one shoulder as well as snaps under the arm, which can be used to reduce the size of the armholes.
WHAT WE LIKED
- Made from comfortable Merino Wool and organic cotton
- Recommended by textile scientists to help regulate a baby’s temperature
- Easy to get on and off
- Can be used with a car seat
WHAT COULD BE IMPROVED
- Machine washing and drying may cause it to shrink
- Relatively expensive
Baby Deedee Sleep Nest Baby Sleeping Bag
- SAFE AND COZY SLEEP: breathable fabric & comforting cocoon shape mean a restful night’s sleep for all
- UNIQUE FEATURE: exclusive shoulder straps make placing a sleeping or standing baby in the sleep nest a cinch, high-quality reverse zipper. Filling is 100 percent polyester
- WINTER WEIGHT: quilted duvet material, extra layer of warmth, TOG 2.5, Recommended room temp 64-74 DegreeF
- Machine wash cold inside out with like colors. Dont bleach, tumble dry low, dont dry clean
- Do Not Ble
The Baby Deedee Sleep Nest Baby Sleeping Bag comes in three different sizes that allow you to buy one for every stage your baby is in through 36 months. It also comes in three different weights for winter, mid-range temperatures or summer. The winter weight is quilted, the mid-range is fleece and the summer weight is made of cotton.
One of the best features of the Baby Deedee is the reversible zipper as it allows you to check and change diapers without having to take off the whole sleep bag. This is really useful for middle of the night wakings!
The Baby Deedee uses a zipper and shoulder snaps on both shoulders, making it easy to put on and off. This feature comes in handy when you don’t want to wake your baby up by navigating an arm through an armhole.
WHAT WE LIKED
- Soft fabric feels warm and cozy
- Has different sizes and weight options for various ages and climates
- Uses shoulder snaps for both shoulders and a zipper for easy in and out
- Reversible zipper for easy access to diaper
- Holds up well with washing
- Relatively inexpensive
WHAT COULD BE IMPROVED
- One size doesn’t fit all
- Size of arm holes isn’t adjustable
- Length isn’t adjustable
Love To Dream Swaddle UP
- When your baby shows signs of rolling over, it’s very important for safety reasons to transition them out of being swaddled. Their hands need to be free to reposition themselves when they roll over so they can push up off the mattress.
- Most babies really love being swaddled, so transitioning them out of swaddling is usually a real challenge as it is a change to their sleep routine.
- The Patented Zip-Off wings on the Swaddle UP 50/50 Transition Bag helps make this transition gentle and uneventful. We recommend transitioning both at naps and bed time to ease baby into this new sleep routine.
- To start, simply zip off one wing and let the baby get used to having one arm out for a few nights. Once that works, remove the second wing and your baby has successfully transitioned from swaddling into a comfy wearable blanket for longer use. Twin zipper for easy diaper changes
The Love to Dream Swaddle Up helps some parents solve the problem of their babies needing a transitional swaddle.
The original Swaddle Up allows small babies a good deal of swaddling security while the 50/50 version features swaddle wings that can be unzipped and completely removed. The latter allows you to remove one swaddle wing at a time to help your baby transition to a non-swaddle. This can help suppress the startle reflex while still allowing your little one access to his or her hands.
Moreover, this swaddle wing feature also prevents babies who tend to roll over from suffocating (having an arm, and eventually two, out of the swaddle helps babies lift their heads off the mattress if they roll over).
Like the Merino Kids Baby Sleep Bag described above, the Love to Dream also has a slit in the back so you can use it in a car seat or baby seat. This is great if you want to transition your baby without changing clothes.
WHAT WE LIKED
- Soft fabric feels warm and cozy
- Can be used with a car seat
- Has different sizes and weight options for various ages and climates
- Reversible zipper for easy access to diaper
- Relatively inexpensive
WHAT COULD BE IMPROVED
- One size doesn’t fit all
- Armholes aren’t adjustable
- Some parents complain about babies not being able to suck on their hands or move them freely in the transition swaddle
HALO SleepSack Cotton Wearable Blanket
- SleepSack nestles baby like a soft blanket, without the risk of sleep-related dangers. Used by hospitals nationwide as their swaddle of choice for safe sleep education.
- “Back is Best” embroidery is a gentle reminder to place baby in the recommended sleep position.
- Features a 2-way zipper for easy diaper changes and a roomy sack design that’s recognized by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute as promoting healthy hip development.
- Sleeveless design reduces the risk of overheating. Use over regular sleepwear to take the place of loose blankets. Discontinue swaddling when the baby shows signs of rolling over or breaking out of the swaddle wr
The HALO is a foundational brand in sleep sacks. In fact, it’s the number 1 choice of hospitals that use sleep sacks to help babies sleep safely from the get-go.
Made from 100% lightweight cotton, the HALO SleepSack comes in four different sizes that can fit babies up to 24 months old. While it may not work for all climates, it can be layered to keep your baby warmer. It offers a functional, inverted zipper that allows you to unzip from the bottom for easy diaper changes in the middle of the night.
One thing to note is that the armholes aren’t adjustable, which is a common complaint among most sleep sacks. While this may cause your baby’s arms to slip out on occasion, it’s generally not a big concern.
WHAT WE LIKED
- Made from comfortable 100% cotton
- Has different sizes and weight options for various ages and climates
- Reversible zipper for easy access to diaper
- Inexpensive
WHAT COULD BE IMPROVED
- One size doesn’t fit all
- May not be warm enough for some climates/houses
- Customers have complained about the zipper being prone to break
- Armholes aren’t adjustable
Conclusion
While you can’t go wrong with any of the baby sleep sacks reviewed in this guide, we’re partial to the Woolino Baby Sleeping Sack in particular. First, we like how lightweight it is while still being appropriate in a variety of climates and temperatures. Second, it features our favorite option of slits for car seat buckles for an easy transition.
Now, even though the Woolino is relatively expensive, the universal design is one size fits all, which allows you to purchase just one sleep sack instead of several in different sizes to fit your baby during the first couple of years. When you couple this with its temperature-regulating wool liner, we think the Woolino universal design is the best baby sleep sack on the market today.
Now Over to You!
What are your thoughts about our choices for the best baby sleep sack? Do you have any questions that we haven’t addressed? Leave your comments below!
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