Choosing the Best Winter Sleeping Bag

Winter Baby Sleeping Bag Guide

Once the autumn starts it's time to think about a winter sleeping bag, which will ensure your baby or toddler stays warm through the cold winter nights. If your baby isn't warm enough, she will find it very hard to resettle during the night and you'll be up out of your warm bed much more often! Waking up cold is another reason many babies wake up around 4 or 5am in the morning as this is often the coldest part of the night.

Do I really need a winter bag?

First have a look at how cold your baby's room gets. If it regularly gets below 18 degrees then you definitely need a winter weight bag or your baby will likely wake a lot more often as they are cold.

If your baby's room is usually between 18 to 20 degrees you could use a standard or 3 seasons merino bag, such as the Woolbabe 3 seasons bag  or 1.0 Tog cotton sleeping bag, such as the 1.0 Tog Ergopouch. However, you will need to use additional clothing at 18 degrees and a heater if it gets any colder.  

Using a winter weight sleeping bag often means you don't need to use a heater every night, which saves a fortune in power!

Also, think of your own bedding in winter, as this can give a good indication as to how warm or cold your house is. If or you change to a warmer duvet, use an electric blanket or additional blankets, then you are likely to need a winter bag for your baby.

Which is the warmest bag you sell?

The duvet-weight woolbabe bags are the warmest bags we sell, and the warmest bag on the market according to customer feedback. We love this sleeping bag as it's quilted and filled with a thick layer of 100% Australian wool. The duvet weight bags are available in a sleeveless style or in a sleeved style which has the addition of merino-filled sleeves.

The duvet weight woolbabe has a warm, blanket feel to it, and the weight makes it feel even snugglier. The weight also helps reduce wriggling round the cot!

The composition is:

• 100% cotton lining

• 100% wool filling

• 30% merino / 70% cotton jersey outer.

• Sleeves filled with 100% merino wool (on Duvet Weight with Sleeves only)

The duvet woolbabe is available with a front or side zip and both styles can be used in the buggy. The duvet with sleeves is front zip only, but can also be used in the buggy. It's also available in the mini style with a side zip for easy night time nappy changes.

Another warm, easy-care option for those on a tight budget, or as a backup bag is the Baby Basics 3.5 Tog Sleeping Bag. It's suitable for room temperatures of 14-20 degrees Celcius and can be tumble-dried, which is perfect for those wet winter days when line drying isn't possible.

What does tog rating mean?

Generally, bags with cotton or synthetic filling will be tog rated, which is a measure of how warm the bag is. The higher the tog rating, the warmer the bag. So a 0.1 tog bag is the lightest bag, suitable for summer and a 3.5 tog bag is the warmest and suitable for winter.

Bags with Merino such as the Duvet Woolbabe are not tog rated, as the temperature regulating properties of wool means that they can be used in a much wider temperature range and are therefore hard to measure and compare. Merino is also amazing at wicking moisture away from the skin, meaning sweaty babies won't wake up from cold, clammy fabric. Woolbabe bags have the widest temperature range - the 3-seasons bag can be used for rooms 18-28 degrees Celcius and the duvet weight bags (sleeved or sleeveless) can be used 14 to 22 degrees. The Duvet Weight Woolbabe with Sleeves is great for rooms under 20 degrees.

If you're on a budget, the Baby Basics sleeping bags offer great value. They feature a cotton lining and outer with a Polyester fill. They're easy to care for and can be tumble dried on low which is perfect for winter. The 3.5 Tog Baby Basics Bag is one of our warmest tog rated bags and offers great value for money.

2.5 tog to 3.5 tog bags or Duvet / Winter weight merino bags are all suitable for winter use.

Comparing Woolbabe, ErgoPouch, Purflo and The Sleep Store Bags

These are our most popular sleeping bag brands and comparing them is a bit tricky as they are quite different. However they are all are fabulous quality and we recommend them all!

Here's a few points to consider

• Duvet Woolbabes have wool filling with cotton lining and outer whereas other brands may have a cotton or polyester filling. The Sleep Store has organic cotton, 100% Merino or Polyester Fill options and Ergopouch offers 100% organic cotton bags.

• Love to Dream, Purflo and The Sleep Store Baby Basics bags are quicker to wash and dry, and don't need a gentle wool wash cycle like the Woolbabe or Sleep Store Merino bags do. Ergopouch, Purflo & the Baby Basics bags can be tumble dried on low, just like The Sleep Store cotton sleeping bags.

• Duvet Woolbabe bags are a slightly heavier weight than cotton or merino bags. Some babies prefer the weight of a Woolbabe which can also help reduce wriggling around the cot!

• All are great quality, will last well and you'll be happy with either bag!