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Find the Best Sleeping Bag for Your Baby

Find the Best Sleeping Bag for Your Baby

Baby Sleeping Bag Guide

Size, fabric type, tog rating, warmth & sleepwear combinations, zip position and more are covered and linked to from this page about infant sleep bags.

Use the links below to jump to each section. Compare sleeping bags, read our guides, watch our instructional videos and find the sleep sack that is the best choice for your baby. Learn how to dress your baby to the room temperature with their sleeping bag, understand about tog ratings to keep them comfortable and avoid overheating.
 

You'll find the best selection of baby sleep sacks in New Zealand & Australia at The Sleep Store. From multi award-winning sleeping bags by Woolbabe and The Sleep Store to styles from Purflo, Love to Dream, Ergopouch, Nature Baby and Babu. We offer bags with natural fibres like merino that kids feel so snug in, to organic cotton and muslin. We also offer bags with good value for money which may have polyester fill - these are a great option for a back up sleeping bag. Whether you need a sleeping bag that is super soft against sensitive skin, suitable for hot Summer temperatures, perfect for changeable Spring and Autumn days & nights, or one that's warm & cosy through a cold Winter you'll find it here at The Sleep Store.

Why should I use a baby sleeping bag?

Choosing the best sleeping bag for your baby or toddler can make the difference when it comes to getting more sleep. Sleeping bags are a safe sleep alternative to traditional blankets or bed sheets and a natural transition from a swaddle, when baby is old enough and ready to stop swaddling. Unlike sheets or duvets that can be wriggled under or pose a suffocation threat, the sleeping bag keeps your baby's face clear, whilst keeping their body warm, cosy and comfortable. A sleep sack can't be kicked off like a blanket either - so there's less chance of getting woken in the night because your little one has woken up cold with their covers on the floor.

They are also a fantastic sleep association that lets a baby know that it's time to settle and sleep. Whether you decide on a Merino, organic cotton or another fibre or filling comes down to your baby's requirements, the season & room temperature as well as your personal preference.

How many sleeping bags do I need?

We recommend you invest in 2 sleeping bags for your baby or toddler. This is particularly important in winter, when washing takes longer to dry and also you really need your sleeping bag to keep your baby warm. If your little one goes to daycare then it's a good idea to get at least one for home and another for daycare.

We have dozens of baby sleeping bag options to choose from in our range to suit most budgets & styles. We hand pick the best, test them thoroughly and if a sleep sack doesn't meet our standards and criteria it doesn't make the cut.

If you are currently swaddling you'll want to check out our articles on transitional swaddles and weaning your baby off swaddling to a sleeping bag.

EXPERT SLEEP ADVICE

Watch our Videos

Swaddles & transitioning

Transitioning to a baby sleeping bag from a swaddle

When should you stop swaddling your baby and transition to a baby sleeping bag? This is one of the questions that the customer service team answers on such a regular basis that Louise put together this video to help.

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Top tips on how to avoid your baby overheating when sleeping

This is probably one of the major concerns of every parent. Here are some top tips from our three Sleep Store sleep coaches about how to avoid overheating with your baby.

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Our Sleep Coaches discuss what tog rating means for your baby

What does tog rating actually mean and how does it affect what you choose to dress your baby in for bedtime? Our three wise sleep coaches discuss this and even a bit about the science of tog rating.

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Embe 2 way swaddle for Summer

If you want to help your baby sleep longer, but are worried about the heat, try the Embe 2 Way Swaddle, available at The Sleep Store. Louise from The Sleep Store shows you how to use the swaddle, including the legs out option for use during summer. The zip up front, means swaddle is escape proof for houdini baby's!

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Using the Miracle Blanket with a sleeping bag

The Sleep Store guide to using the Miracle Blanket wrap with a sleeping bag, including transitioning from the Miracle blanket to just a sleeping bag.

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Layer for the coldest part of the night & cool the room down with a fan at bedtime

What to do on a hot summer night - how to get your baby to sleep and keep them sleeping.... Layer your baby's clothing/bedding for the coldest part of the night & cool the room down with a fan when the baby goes to bed.

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Use natural fibres when swaddling for temperature regulation

Natural fibres, such as merino and cotton are regarded as the best option for babies. Why are they the most recommended materials? Top tip from Andrina - one of The Sleep Stores sleep coaches and a midwife

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Top 3 picks forsummer swaddles

Louise, Andrina & Maria, our resident sleep coaches, check out their 3 top picks for summer swaddles.

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Winter Sleeping Bags

Winter sleeping bags for babies and toddlers

What is the best thing for your baby to wear to sleep in to stay warm all through the night this winter? What is a sleeping bag? Do I need blankets? Does my baby have to wear a swaddle or can I go straight to a sleeping bag?

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Inside our duvet Woolbabe sleeping bag

Did you ever wonder what's in our award winning duvet weight woolbabe sleeping bag? Louise tells you all about the merino and why we use cotton to keep in all that merino warmth.

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Woolbabe 3-Seasons vs Woolbabe Duvet comparison

Lou from The Sleep Store compares the Woolbabe winter duvet weight sleeping bag with the 3-Seasons sleep sack.

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How does our two-layer all merino sleeping bag compare with the Woolbabe Duvet sleeping bag?

Lots of our customers ask what is the difference between our Sleep Store double-layer merino sleeping bags and our woolbabe duvet weight sleeping bag. Louise tells you in 5 mins..... watch to find out.

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Woolbabe sleeping bag - how long does it last?

Our woolbabe baby sleeping bags last for at least 3 children when they are looked after well.

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Always start merino layering with a long sleeve bodysuit

We feel that a good merino bodysuit or singlet is essential to keep your babies and kids warm at night. If nothing else, merino next to the skin, as the first layer will definitely help to keep them toasty!

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Try 3 merino layers on your baby for really cold nights...

Try 3 merino layers for really cold nights...

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Mid-Weight Sleeping Bags
Summer Sleeping Bags

Facebook Live Summer Range 2019/20 Launch

Louise launches our new Elements Summer range and Limited Edition prints designed by the Sleep Store team.

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Summer Sleeping Advice for Babies & Toddlers

Join Louise, Andrina and Maria - 3 of our awesome sleep coaches from The Sleep store meet up for a chat to share their expertise.

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Top tips on how to avoid your baby overheating when sleeping

This is probably one of the major concerns of every parent. Here are some top tips from our three Sleep Store sleep coaches about how to avoid overheating with your baby.

Watch Now noun_Arrow_1920908 Created with Sketch.

Use natural fibres when swaddling for temperature regulation

Natural fibres, such as merino and cotton are regarded as the best option for babies. Why are they the most recommended materials? Top tip from Andrina - one of The Sleep Stores sleep coaches and a midwife

Watch Now noun_Arrow_1920908 Created with Sketch.

Ideas for helping baby sleep through a hot evening and a much cooler night

If you're struggling to work out what to do for your baby when the evenings are hot but then it gets cooler through the early hours of the morning around 3-4am then have a listen to this chat with these three parents and sleep coaches - Louise, Maria and Andrina.

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Tog Ratings & Warmth Guides For Sleeping Bags

Many sleeping bags use the European TOG rating system to indicate how warm the sleeping bag is and what season they are suitable for. The higher the TOG, the warmer the sleeping bag.

The Tog rating describes the warmth or "Thermal Resistance" of a product and is widely used to explain warmth levels of duvets. Unlike duvets, infant sleeping bags have lower tog rating numbers. It is rare to find a safe sleeping bag that is rated over 3.5 tog. For our climate and heated homes 2.5 tog is usually high enough although we have tog rated options up to 3.5 tog in some brands. Alternatively a Duvet Woolbabe (which isn't tog rated because it is made with Merino) is one of our warmest sleeping bags.

A number of external factors determine the tog rating of the sleeping bag that should be used. These include the quantity of clothing the baby is wearing, the temperature of the infant’s bedroom, the baby’s health and the amount of bedding necessary to keep an individual infant warm – this may vary as it does for adults. Check your baby regularly to ensure they do not overheat.

Many sleeping bags that we stock come with a free nursery thermometer to help you select which tog baby sleeping bag to use and what sleepwear to put your baby in.

The TOG indicates approximately how many blankets the sleeping bag is equivalent to. Bags with a tog rating of 0.5 or below are for summer and 1.0 tog are ideal for year-round (all seasons) use. Bags with a tog rating of 2.5-3.5 tog are for winter.

Why are some sleeping bags tog rated and others are not?

Sleeping bags with polyester or man-made fibre fillings that can consistently perform to a testing standard or set temperature range tend to be tog rated. In general sleeping bags made with Merino are not tog rated, as they are a natural fibre which adjusts according to temperature, this is one of the reasons natural fibre Merino sleeping bags are so popular. Merino is also amazing at wicking moisture away from the skin. Woolbabe bags have the widest temperature range - the 3-seasons bag can be used for rooms 18-28 degrees, and the duvet weight bag can be used at 14 to 22 degrees. Tog rated bags have a narrower temperature range for which they are suitable, but are still a good value option for sleep.

To read more about which Woolbabe to choose for the room temperature and the clothing guide click here.  

Is there a sleeping bag that can be used all year round in any temperature?

The short answer is no, not really. As the seasons change you'll need to adapt your baby's clothing and sleeping bag combinations to keep them comfortable to their room temperature. It's the same as you adding more blankets or a heavier weight duvet to your bed in winter! Most families find that they need at least two weights or togs of sleeping bag so that their baby doesn't overheat or become too cold at different times of the year. Scroll down to the table below to find a dressing guide for our most popular styles.

What to dress baby in at night

The warmth of the bag will vary enormously with what clothing you use inside the bag. You can easily add another layer of clothing to make the bag warmer, such as using an extra merino bodysuit.

Using a room thermometer (eg a gro egg) to accurately determine the temperature in your child's room is a good idea. It will be a big help, particularly when it comes to choosing the clothing and sleeping bag combination for the temperature.

Many sleeping bags now come with a clothing guide and a free room thermometer to help you decide which clothing combination to use. Use your common sense too, as the clothing guides are just a starting point. You will still need to monitor your child and adjust their clothing and sleeping bag combination so that they are at a comfortable temperature and don't overheat. Watch the videos above for further tips and advice.

Scroll down to the table below to find a dressing guide for our most popular styles or view the Woolbabe clothing guide.

Sleeping bag & clothing guide

The guide below will help you choose a sleeping bag that's suitable for the room temperature in which your baby will be sleeping. Babies' warmth needs vary from child to child just as they do for adults, so use this as a guide and adjust to suit your baby accordingly. Check your baby regularly to ensure they do not overheat or are not waking up from being too cold. The optimal room temperature is around 18 degrees Celsius. Adjusting the clothing your baby wears inside the sleeping bag will help make your baby more comfortable at different room temperatures. Try to keep baby's room temperature below 27 degrees so that they don't overheat. If the room temperature drops and baby is waking up from the cold choose a warmer-weight sleeping bag. Sleeping bags like the Woolbabe or The Sleep Store merino bags are fantastic at adjusting to a wider range of room temperatures because of the use of naturally temperature-regulating wool. The Sleep Store 2 Layer NZ Merino Sleeping Bag is a multi-award-winning baby sleeping bag from the Clean + Conscious awards.

What size sleeping bag do you need?

Please choose the right size for your baby now, not for the future. While it may seem better value to buy something your baby will 'grow into', you risk buying something that is not safe now. With a sleeping bag that is too big, your baby may slide round inside it or slip down inside the neck.

Generally sleeping bags & sleep sacks are available in 0-6 months, 6-18 months and 18-36 months. Most merino bags are available in 3 months to 2 years and 2-4 years. The actual size of the sleeping bag within each age range can vary. For example, some sleeping bags sized for use from newborn can be used up to 12 months in some cases whereas others are shorter and may only fit up to a 6 month old.

For more details on the sizing from our most popular brands click the link below. Remember to measure your child from shoulders to feet rather then head to toe. The measurements below are just for the most popular size range, other size options available in each of the styles.

(Table scrolls right on mobile)

Woolbabe The Sleep Store Ergopouch Love to Dream Little Unicorn Nature Baby Purflo

Age Range

3-24 months

3-24 months

2-12 months

6-18 months

0-6 months

6-18 months

3-9 months

Length

95 cm

100 cm

82 cm

88 cm

70 cm

87 cm

68-76 cm

Width

47 cm

47 cm

43 cm

49 cm

Chest Width

36 cm

36 cm

32 cm

29 cm

34 cm

The bag lengths were measured at the start of the 2022 winter season - some small variation may occur. The length measurement is taken from the shoulder to the bottom hem of the sleeping bag. Width taken at the widest part of the bag. Chest width measured across the chest area.

Is a Front Zip Sleeping Bag Better than a Side Zip or Diagonal Zip?

We often get asked whether the front or side zip bag is 'better'....it's really hard to say, as our customers have different views on this!

We find a bag with front zipper is much easier to use - simply pop your baby in and zip down the front (zips end at the bottom). Bags with front zips don't have the hassle of babies popping open the shoulder domes, generally have smaller arm holes which are a closer fit and have no risk of the domes failing after lots of use. It's still easy to change a nappy with a front zip, as they are plenty long enough and the bags open wide enough to access the nappy.

Shoulder domes and side zip enable you to open the bag out flat. This can be easier for babies under 6 months who still need frequent night nappy changes. With babies who sleep through the night the easier nappy change isn't really a factor.

Some bags have domes on both shoulders (eg Woolbabe) and when combined with a long side-zip can fold out flat for faster drying after washing, while others have 2 domes on one shoulder only.

Our Top Sleeping Bag Styles

 

 
WOOLBABE

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Compare Sleeping Bag Brands & Styles

The Sleep Store carries a wide range of sleeping bags, the best we can find! This can be confusing if you are new to sleeping bags. We aim to give you a range of fabrics, styles, composition and of course the all-important budget!

While a couple of brands are better known, all our bags have a point of difference and all meet our standards for quality and durability that may make them the perfect option for your baby! Don't assume you need the most-well known or expensive brand as that's what you have heard of or all your parents' group have!

Click here for our full article on comparing sleeping bag brands to help you choose the right one:

To Shop our most popular sleeping bag brands click the brand names below.

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Choosing the best winter sleeping bag

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TOG Rating Guide - Choosing the Weight of your Sleeping Bag

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Why Use a Baby Sleeping Bag?

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Facebook Live Woolbabe Sleeping Bag 3-seasons vs duvet weight comparison march 2019

Lou from The Sleep Store compares the Woolbabe winter duvet weight sleeping bag with the 3-Seasons sleep sack. The Merino filled duvet Woolbabe is suitable for winter and room temperature down to as low as 14 degrees celcuis, although we recommend the optimum nursery room temperature is between 18-20 degrees. The natural fibre sleep bag is our number one option but we often get asked by parents whether they should pick the mid-weight 3 seasons Woolbabe of the merino filled and organic cotton lined duvet weight. We also look as size differences between the 3-24month size and the 2-4yrs Woolbabe. Clip taken from our recent Facebook Live. Visit www.facebook.com/SleepStore for more info and to view the full video. Woolbabe sleeping bags are available to purchase at The Sleep Store. Visit www.thesleepstore.co.nz if you are in New Zealand or www.thesleepstore.com.au if you would like to purchase one in Australia.

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Should I Choose a Front or Side Zip Woolbabe Sleeping Bag?

We often get asked if a front or side zip sleeping bag is better. The answer is, it depends on your preference! The front-zip sleeping bags are our most popular, as it's a simple, one zip closure, whereas the side-zip has a zip and domes at the shoulders which can take a bit more time to do up, especially on a wriggly babe! Front zip sleeping bags are easy to use, with a double ended zip meaning you can open the bag at either end. They are good for wriggly babies, as some manage to pop the domes open on the side zip bags, although this tends to happen more in toddler-hood when they start to stand up in their bag. Front zip sleeping bags are also good for the travel as the buggy slot means you can safely buckle your wee one into their pushchair in their sleeping bag (a great sleep association). Benefits of a side-zip sleeping bag are easy nappy changes and quicker drying on the clothesline as you can open the bag completely flat. It also means you can air the bags very effectively over the cot rails. One of the best benefits though, is being able to easily transfer a sleeping baby - you can open the sleeping bag in the cot, place them on top and then close the bag around them, all whilst they're in dreamland.

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