Safe and snug as a bug (Baby Sleeping Bags and Bedding in general)

Member Name: JStripey

Product:	Baby Sleeping Bags and Bedding in general
Date:	03/11/08 (256 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: keeps baby warm and secure, especially once they start moving around, easy, practical

Disadvantages: reasonably expensive especially if you have a baby who soils the bed frequently

A baby sleeping bag is basically a wearable blanket. It allows baby to stay warm and snuggly without the worry that they will kick their covers off or more importantly suffocate on them when they are very little. I always thought that they seemed a good idea, but was a little confused about when and how to put the bag on my baby, without for example causing him to overheat or to wake him once he had dropped off.

My son has always been a baby that thrashes around, even when very little he would frequently fling off his covers. He is also a baby that likes to feel warm and secure. It was a recipe for disaster as he would often wake crying because he was cold.

They don't seem to sell baby sleeping bags in most baby shops here in Italy, and in summer it is too hot to need any covers at all. However 3 months ago my mother sent me one, which is John Lewis own brand and I believe it cost about £18. It has been a total godsend and even if they seem quite expensive the price really can vary and can be often found discounted online at certain sites. When being worn it appears like a big, warm dress and is actually very cute. I must admit I am almost envious.

Our particular sleeping bag fastens up the front by use of a zip and is therefore very easy to put on, some others I know fasten at the shoulders. It is lined with a towelling material which is useful if he sweats, and is a size 6-18 months which means it has a good life.

Most baby sleeping bags come in 3 tog ratings ( European warmth measurement for bedding). The higher the tog, the warmer the product.

0.5 tog For hot weather and very warm nursery environments of 24-27 degrees C
1.0 tog Use during warmer weather and in nurseries of 20-24 degrees C
2.5 tog Ideal for standard nursery temperatures of 16-20 degrees C

I am planning to buy a 0.5 tog for the spring and late summer here, when it is impossible to get his room down to the recommended temperature and also a 2.5 tog for the winter months in case. In the UK at this time (November) I would say that 2.5 tog is essential. You can also modify baby's temperature slightly by what they wear underneath but in general in a normal bedroom of 18 degrees, baby should be wearing a vest and long sleeve sleepsuit.

Since receiving the sleeping bag, I am not worrying that my son has flung his blankets across the room, or that he has crawled under them. He also seems to stand up and complain less, firstly because he cannot move as well and secondly because he associates the bag with bedtime. The only drawback I can envisage is if your baby is one prone to vomitting often, then you would need several bags to keep pace with the washing.

As part of a bedtime routing it works really well (this was of course my original fear, how and when to put baby inside the thing). Once he has finished his bath, I put his sleepsuit on and then slip the sleeping bag on, read to him and give him his milk. Therefore the sleeping bag is part of the ritual of bedtime and also naptime in the day.

I think these bags are perfect for babies over 6 months, especially those used to being swaddled (wrapped up tightly) and those who are very active and try to escape and throw their bedclothes as far as possible. I cannot recommend them enough.

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