Baby sleeping bags advice
Baby sleeping bags are a relatively new addition to the baby bedding market, but their popularity has risen very quickly. This is largely due to their practicality since, unlike with blankets, your baby can't wriggle out of them or kick them off so they are less likely to wake because they are cold. Baby sleeping bags are now available which are suitable to use from birth, but many parents still choose to wait a few weeks (or even months) before introducing them.
What are the benefits of baby sleeping bags?
There are many reasons why baby sleeping bags are a good choice of bedding:
Your baby will be kept at a consistent and comfortable temperature, and won't be waking up because they have kicked off their covers.
Sleeping bags can be a safer choice than blankets, because it alleviates the worry of them wriggling down underneath their bedding. It is unnecessary to follow the "feet to foot" rule with baby sleeping bags.
Having a familiar sleeping bag will make the transition from a moses basket to the cot much less stressful for your baby.
Your baby wont wake because they've trapped their foot in the cot bars.
Infants suffering from eczema may find it harder to scratch affected areas, preventing them from injuring themselves during the night.
A sleeping bag can prevent older, more mobile babies and toddlers from climbing out of a cot.
Baby sleeping bag tog guide
There are several different togs available. Which one you buy will probably be determined by the season, and you may find you need more than one tog with the changeable British weather. This guide should help you determine which sleeping bag (or sleeping bags) you will need.
| Very warm room |
24 C / 75 degrees F or higher |
0.5 tog |
| Warm room |
21 C / 70 degrees F |
1 tog |
| Moderately warm room |
18 C/ 65 degrees F |
2.5 tog |
| Cool room |
16 C / 60 degrees F or under |
2.5 tog with one layer of sheet or blanket |
If your baby is ill and has a fever remember to put them in a lower tog, such as a 1 or 0.5 tog.
What should I use under a baby sleeping bag?
Using sleeping bags is a simple way to ensure that your baby has just the right amount of covering for the temperature of the room of they are sleeping in. Many baby sleeping bags even come with a room thermometer that tells you which tog to use. But what often isn't so clear is what nightwear your baby should be wearing underneath, and parents can still worry that their baby is too warm or too cold. So here is what your baby should be dressed in depending on the temperature:
| Very warm room |
24 C / 75 degrees F or higher |
Just a nappy |
| Warm room |
21 C / 70 degrees F |
Babygro (sleeveless) |
| Moderately warm room |
18 C/ 65 degrees F |
Babygro with sleeves |
| Cool room |
16 C / 60 degrees F or under |
Sleep suit or pyjamas |
Babies are highly individual and can have their own preferences about how warm they like to be when tucked up in their moses basket or cot, so there is some room for flexibility in this guide. The important thing is not to let your baby get too warm, as this can be a contributing factor in cot death. So remove bedding or dress them in lighter sleepwear if their stomach feels very warm to the touch, (cold hands are normal however, and not a sign that more bedding is required).
How long can baby sleeping bags be used for?
Baby sleeping bags can be used from birth, but some are only suitable once the baby is 10lbs or over so check if this is the case before using them for your newborn. Using one which is too large for your baby can be dangerous (see safety guidelines below).
They are available up to the age of 36 months. However, many parents will stop using them and start using a duvet instead once their toddler moves from the cot to a bed ,but this depends on what the parent feels best for the child or the child's own wishes.
Baby Sleeping Bag Safety
There are a few simple guidelines issued by the FSID (Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths) which will help keep your baby safe. They state that the sleeping bags should be cotton, lightweight and should not have a hood. This is to lessen the risk of the baby overheating. On very cold days, a sheet or light blanket can be placed over a 2.5 tog sleeping bag, but duvets and quilts should not be used because the baby can get too hot. It is also important to adhere to weight restrictions to ensure that the baby cannot slip down inside the bag.
|
