The 5 best baby sleeping bags money can buy

Baby sleeping bags are not just some cosy wearable blankets for your child. They’re a much safer alternative than normal blankets and even provide some additional perks!

Infants sleep up to 18 hours a day, spending the vast majority of their day in the comfort of their beds. This is necessary for their overall mental and physical development.

With sleep playing such an active part in the growth of your child, it’s imperative that the bed in which he or she sleeps is comfortable and cosy.

Sleeping bags for babies are usually sleeveless sacks that cover the shoulders.

The torso of the baby is contained in the sack, and the arms remain outside the sleeping bag. This will ensure the free movement of the baby and prevents the sack from rising above the head.

No blanket or duvet is needed to cover the head of the baby. If it’s too cold, you may use a cap as protection. These are far better than traditional blankets and other covers used for babies.

So much is being talked about baby sleeping bags these days that you might ask yourself why we didn’t grow up wearing one.

Why have these sleeping sacks gained so much importance and popularity lately?

Like we’ve mentioned, sleeping bags are essentially wearable blankets, they help you keep the baby warm through the night. The temperature in the blanket will always stay constant.

They also give great flexibility for the baby to move. The baby sleeping bags ensure that the kid can conveniently move around in them. Babies’ natural movement of limbs isn’t restricted, unlike in traditional blankets.

Most importantly, there’s no danger of the baby getting tangled in the sleeping bag. Normal blankets are prone to this. Hence, sleeping bags are well-known for being highly effective in preventing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Finally, there’s no need for additional blankets or covers to protect the baby. The sleeping bag is a self-sufficient bed. Not to mention, it’s easy to carry and super convenient during travel.

Normally, parents prefer to use sleeping bags for babies after they're a few weeks old. Younger babies love and need to be tucked in covers to feel secure.

The confines of the womb, to which they're accustomed for nearly 9 months, have to be recreated for them to feel comfortable and not out of place. Plus, the factors of safety and flexibility need to be considered while putting your baby to sleep.

The traditional way of making a bed for babies has its own pitfalls… babies manage to wiggle their way under the covers and the blanket can get kicked off.

Given the positives of baby sleeping bags, the big question to ask would be about their size and quality – how to pick the right one for your baby.

Baby sleeping bags come in different sizes and degrees of quality. If you place your baby in an oversized or undersized sleeping bag, the purpose of the bag is defeated. An oversized one will allow your baby to wriggle and get trapped in the bag. Similarly, an undersized one will stifle the movements of your baby and cause discomfort.

Baby sleeping bags are measured by their tog rating. The higher the rating, the warmer the bag will be. Bags with higher ratings are ideal for cooler zones, while the low rated togs are suitable for warmer places.

A rating of 2.5 is considered the standard rating for cold weather. The togs you need might vary with the local temperature. Different weather conditions demand varying togs and hence it's always better to keep a couple of them handy.

A general benchmark in determining which tog to choose is the room temperature in which your baby sleeps. For temperatures up to 17 degrees Celsius, a standard tog of 2.5 with one or two blankets is the norm. It will ensure the baby is nice and snug in bed!

For room temperatures ranging between 17-20 degrees Celsius, you may consider using the normal 2 tog sleeping bag. A 1 rating tog is ideally suited for 21-23 degrees Celsius while a 0.5 tog is essential for temperatures above 24 degrees Celsius.

For room under-14 degrees Celsius, a 3.5 tog sleeping bag is preferred. This is an abnormal situation, for sure!

Depending upon the temperature range of your city and your home, you may need more than one baby sleeping bag. it's also essential that you check the body temperature of the baby by placing your hand on its belly before deciding which bag to use on any particular day.

Baby sleeping bags come in three different sizes – for babies up to 6 months, from 6-18 months, and 18 months and above.

Sleeveless and hoodless sleeping bags are ideal, while the armholes and neck hole must be comfortably sized for your baby.

Ensure that the apertures like arm and neck holes are sutured properly. Rough edges might fray the skin of your baby.

Finally, multiple zipped sleeping bags are preferable over uni-zip sleeping bags. They provide greater convenience at the time of feeding and changing.

Baby sleeping bags are available across a wide variety and ranges. Several of them have acquired brand value by virtue of their distinctive features and utility value.

We’ve done some extensive research and came to a verdict. These are undisputedly the best baby sleeping bags you can get your hands on!

Pros:

• Affordable and doesn’t sacrifice quality
• A perfect transition from the womb to the swaddling stage.
• The external cotton cloth and the inner quilt finish provide an additional sense of warmth

Cons:

• Not portable. Ideal for home use but not practical for journeys.
• Not the best choice of material

Pros:

• Temperature regulating feature makes it a unique sleeping bag for your baby
• Attractive design
• Good quality of material

Cons:

• No shoulder or underarm snaps
• Not adjustable
• Expensive

Pros:

• Spacious and comfortable due to its unique shape
• Opens completely from the front. You can unzip as much as needed and allow the baby to enjoy the warmth of the sleeping bag.

Cons:

• Its polyester outer shell makes it prone to catching fire quickly

Pros:

• 100% soft imported cotton
• Additional padding on the chest makes it more convenient for putting your baby to sleep
• Adjustable shoulder snaps and the two-way zipper add value to the product

Cons:

• Available in a single colour, giving no room for choice
• The light-coloured sack is prone to get dirty quickly

Pros:

• Comfortable outer and inner layers to aid heat loss and air circulation
• Quality snaps and zippers for ease of use
• Lightweight

Cons:

• Side zippers make it inconvenient to operate.

A full front opening zip.

It allows for easy handling of the baby whether for feeding or diaper change. Side zippers are inconvenient.

All manufacturers have sizing charts available with them. Measure your child from top to toe and match the length of your baby with the corresponding size.

The material that's used for baby sleeping bags must invariably be 100% soft cotton. The internal lining must not contain synthetic fibres like polyester or fleece. The outer shell must also be made from cotton so that it's easy to wash and dry.

More than the shape, it's the size and the dimensions to match the size of your baby that matter.

Ideally, a bell-shaped sleeping bag will ensure more leg space and body space for your baby to move easily. Look out for a sleeping bag with adjustable shoulder snaps.

You might feel overwhelmed with the multitude of products when it comes to picking up a good baby sleeping bag for your child.

Depending on the weather conditions, age, and size of the baby, you’ll find that there’s always one sleeping bag that checks all the boxes.

Considering the various pros and limited cons, in addition to the price advantage, I feel Baby Deedee Sleep Nest Sleeping Sack from Baby Deedee House doesn’t compromise on anything. It's by far the best baby sleeping back I’ve come across!

By any chance, if the model is unavailable or you’re looking for colour and design variations, go in for Nested Bean Zen Sack Classic.

In any case, you can’t go wrong with any of our picks for the best baby sleeping bags in the market.

Sweet dreams!