How to choose the right baby sleeping bag for your newborn?
As you may already know, a sleeping bag is a small sleeping sack that fastens over the baby’s shoulders. Recommended by all pediatricians, it helps keep baby warm safely while they sleep. Other countries, such as the Nordic countries, still use sheets and blankets, but pediatricians have found that the systematic use of a sleeping bag significantly reduces the risk of newborn suffocation. During the first weeks, your baby will spend more than 16 hours out of 24 sleeping in their sleeping bag—so you might as well choose it carefully!
What size sleeping bag should you choose?
On average, a baby measures 50 cm at birth. Maternity wards recommend planning for one or two newborn-size sleeping bags to welcome your baby in the best conditions. These sleeping bags measure on average 58 cm from shoulders to feet, which corresponds to a baby’s height from head to toe of about 68 cm. This newborn sleeping bag will be used every day during the first 3 months of your baby’s life. It should be easy to wash and dry quickly. Choose a sleeping bag that opens nice and wide, preferably with a zipper, so you can lay baby in their crib easily without waking them. You’ll also find 0–6 month sleeping bags for babies who are very chubby at birth and quite tall (over 4 kg and 54 cm). Feel free to treat yourself (or have someone gift you) one or two sleeping bags for your baby’s arrival in beautiful Oeko-Tex or organic cotton, because your newborn’s skin is very fragile. Your baby will be wearing a bodysuit and most certainly pajamas, but if it’s warm, you can put them in just a bodysuit in a lightweight sleeping bag.
What thickness of sleeping bag should you choose?
There are sleeping bags or wearable blankets to cover your baby in different thicknesses. A warmth rating commonly used to try to help parents choose is TOG. TOG 0.5 or 1 sleeping bags are lightweight and recommended for summer. They are often made of cotton gauze, which is a very airy, breathable cotton. For mid-season or winter, you’ll find TOG 2 sleeping bags that are cozy and padded to keep baby warm in bed, ideally with a room temperature of 19°C. Your baby will sleep much better if their room is aired out daily and if the air in the room isn’t too dry. To do this, avoid overheating and put out damp laundry to keep the temperature below 20°C. There are sleeping bags with sleeves, but we think your little one’s movements are easier if the sleeping bag doesn’t have sleeves.
Where can you find a sleeping bag?
It’s simple: you’ll find sleeping bags in all baby stores and childcare retailers.
