Are Sleep Sacks Safe Once Baby Can Roll
Best Sleep Sacks, According to Parents Who've Used Theirs for Years
Medically Reviewed by Micah Resnick, M.D., F.A.A.P.
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Updated: October 2, 2021
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Swaddling is an age-old technique for wrapping babies in a blanket in order to replicate the feeling of being in the womb. When done correctly, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that swaddling can help calm infants and promote sleep.
While our ancestors may have wrapped their little ones in thin cloth, today's marketplace is filled with products that do much of the swaddling work for you.
The sleep company Halo was the first U.S. company to popularize "sleep sacks" when it debuted a product in the early 2000s intended to help babies snooze and also reduce the risk of getting tangled up in clothing or loose bedding during the night. (The product was inspired by European sleeping bags for babies, which have been used for decades.) Today, the term has become synonymous with wearable blankets.
The idea of a sleep sack is the same as swaddling: to provide security, comfort and a snug feeling for little ones to help them rest easy on their own. "Babies like to feel comfort and security while they're sleeping," says Miami-based pediatrician Gary Kramer, MD. "Since traditional blankets are deemed unsafe for children under 1, swaddling or sleep sacks are a great alternative."
Some sleep sack products are marketed toward preventing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) because they help mitigate some of the risk factors associated with SIDS, such as overheating and blanket tangling. While the AAP says wearable blankets are preferable to traditional blankets for keeping baby cozy at night, it's still critical for parents to practice safe sleep hygiene with their babies. Always have baby sleep on her back and never put anything in her crib (even pillows) until she's at least 12 months old. And no matter which sleep sack you buy, make sure to follow the manufacturer's sizing recommendations and usage instructions, as incorrect usage has been associated with injuries.
Choosing the best sleep sack for you
There are now dozens of brands that make wearable blankets, using lots of different styles, fabrics and designs. But there are a few main categories of sleep sacks to choose from:
- Sleeveless sleep sacks: These are designed for baby to have her arms out while sleeping, while keeping the rest of her body contained in a closed sack. They usually have a zipper to help you get baby in and out; the best ones use an inverted zipper for easier diaper changes. This style can typically be used safely for babies long after they're able to roll over because her arms are free.
- Swaddle-style sleep sacks: These wearable blankets combine the best of a sleep bag with the best of a swaddle. Your baby is enclosed in a cozy bag, and then extra fabric flaps are secured around her arms to swaddle her. (Some models mimic swaddling by giving baby covered sleeves to hold her arms instead.) Like a traditional swaddle, these are not safe to be used once baby can roll herself over — usually around 4 months — unless the design of the bag can convert to keep her arms free.
- Weighted sleep sacks: Think of these as the lovechild of a sleep sack and a weighted blanket. These sleep sacks and suits offer some light additional weight (usually in the form of polyfil) on the front of the product to help baby sleep better. However, some doctors worry that the extra weight could make it harder for baby to breathe, or put her at risk of overheating. Talk to your pediatrician before purchasing one.
To help you choose between all the different types of sleep sacks, here are some other things to consider as you're buying:
- How long baby can use it for: Make sure to look at the product's age range. Some sleep sacks, including those that pin baby's arms down, are only intended for use until baby can roll over and must be phased out by 4 months at the latest, Dr. Kramer notes. Other sleep sacks are versatile enough to grow with baby (allowing for her arms to be out, for example).
- Material: Sleep sacks are available in a slew of different styles and materials, so make sure you choose one that's best for the season you're in. Avoid synthetic materials like fleece or polyester, which can trap heat and potentially cause overheating, Dr. Kramer says.
- Size: Again, some wearable blankets can adjust to your growing baby's needs, while others come in a set size. You want to make sure the sleep sack fits baby comfortably so that she's not too squished inside of the blanket , but not so loose that your baby could potentially kick it off or be smothered, says Dr. Kramer.
- Design: Trial and error definitely come into play here to find what works best for you and your child. But many parents prefer sacks with zippers to buttons and snaps because they can be opened more easily.
How we made our picks for the best sleep sacks
We stuck with sleep sacks that met our experts' recommendations for both safety and comfort. We also factored in the experiences of the What to Expect community members and our own editors to find products with a track record for being easy to use and truly helpful at ensuring a better night's sleep for babies and toddlers.
Below, the best sleep sacks for different stages and sleep environments — all of which will keep your little one cozy and secure.
Best Sleep Sack Overall
Halo SleepSack Wearable Blanket
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Pros: Soft and lightweight, trusted brand
Cons: Flimsy zipper
Why We Love It
Once baby can roll over, Halo's SleepSack is a great pick. It has an inverted zipper for easier diaper changes, and the sleeveless design will keep baby from overheating. It's a 2021 What to Expect Mom Must-Have Award winner for a reason.
Keep in mind that the brand offers a variety of different types of wearable blankets, but this style is "arms out," meaning it's best for little ones who can roll over and don't need their arms pinned down the way a traditional swaddle blanket does. This style is available in sizes small (for babies up to 18 lbs. or 26 inches long) to extra large (for toddlers up to 36 lbs. and 40 inches long). You can also find it in fleece for extra warmth on cool nights. Parents love how soft and lightweight it is, although some report that the zipper breaks easily and has to constantly be rethreaded.
Sizes: S through XL
Age range: 0 through 24 months
Best Sleep Sack for 0- to 3-Month-Old Babies
Halo SleepSack Swaddle
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Pros: Versatile with three-way use, easy to use with diaper changes
Cons: Some babies can get their arms free easily
Why We Love It
This transitional item is ideal for the first few months of your child's life, though it also has uses beyond that.
Your little one can wear this product in three different ways, depending on her age and whether or not she's demonstrated the ability to roll over: both arms in (for the youngest babies, to mimic a swaddle blanket), hands to face (another swaddling-style technique) or one or both arms out (if your baby is able to roll over, usually about 4 months) before switching to a sleep sack for good. Parents say the fasteners makes swaddling way easier than traditional blanket-folding techniques, and they love how versatile the sack is. It's available in cotton, cotton muslin, microfleece and the company's "Ideal Temp" fabric, which claims to help better regulate baby's temperature to avoid overheating.
One more smart feature to appreciate: the inverted zipper opening at the bottom, which allows for quick nighttime diaper changes without needing to take the entire swaddle off.
Sizes: Preemie, newborn and small
Age range: 0 to 6 months
Best Transitional Sleep Sack
Sleeping Baby Zipadee-Zip
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Pros: Transitional item that works with baby as she grows
Cons: More expensive than others on this list
Why We Love It
Graduating out of a swaddle and into an arms-out wearable blanket (usually around 3 or 4 months, depending on when baby rolls over) can be a challenge for little ones. The Sleeping Baby Zipadee-Zip Sleep Sack is designed to help ease your baby through this transition. This product has a unique starfish design, à la Maggie Simpson's snowsuit, allowing your baby to safely roll over and wiggle around while still enclosing her in a secure swaddle. It also has a huge range of cute designs and fabrics to choose from. Some parents also recommend getting the brand's Snuggle Strap, which mimics the feeling of swaddling without constricting baby's arms.
Sizes: XS through XL
Age range: 3 months to 3 years
Best Sleep Sack for Arms-Up Sleepers
Love to Dream Swaddle UP Original 1.0 TOG
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Pros: Swaddles while still letting babies have some arm movement
Cons: For a limited age range
Why We Love It
Did you know that many babies like to sleep with their arms up when they're lying on their backs — a self-soothing mechanism that can help them feel more comfortable if they wake themselves up in the middle of the night? Unlike some other wearable blankets, Swaddle Up is a sleep sack-swaddle hybrid designed to allow for this sleep position. Plus, the sack doesn't have (sometimes noisy) Velcro, making it a good fit for fussy or light sleepers.
Note that this product should not be used once baby shows signs of rolling over. At that stage, you should transition to an arms-out wearable blanket.
Sizes: Newborn, small and medium
Age range: Newborn through 6 months (or until baby starts to roll over on her own)
Best Sleep Sack for Warm Weather
Burt's Bees Baby Wearable Blanket
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Pros: Organic and breathable, great value for the price
Cons: No double zipper
Why We Love It
You can always count on Burt's Bees to deliver: This arms-out sleep sack is 100 percent organic cotton and super soft and breathable, making it ideal for warmer weather. It also comes with plenty of legroom, as well as a bottom zipper to make diaper changes a breeze. You can choose from three different sizes and a variety of cute prints, but let's be real — it's hard to resist the sweet little bee pattern!
Also nice? Many members in the WTE community agree that the price is a better value compared to most other sleep sacks. So you can stock up on a few and always have a clean one handy.
Sizes: Small, medium and large
Age range: Newborn through 24 months
Best Sleep Sack for Winter
Baby Deedee Sleep Nest
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Pros: Quilted material, shoulder snaps make sack easy to put on
Cons: More expensive than other sleep sacks on the market
Why We Love It
If you want to sleep in this cozy number after looking at it, you're not alone. This arms-out sleep sack is made of cotton as well as a warm quilted material that makes it a perfect fit for chilly nights. So there's virtually no debate over whether your little one will sleep comfortably. There's plenty for you to love too: Shoulder snaps make it easier to slide your little one into the sack.
Size: Small, medium and large
Age range: Newborn up to 36 months
Best Affordable Sleep Sack
Simple Joys by Carter's Baby 3-Pack Cotton Sleeveless Sleepbag Wearable Blanket
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Pros: Affordable, durable
Cons: Some parents say they shrink in the wash
Why We Love It
A bestseller at a budget-friendly price? It's no wonder parents gravitate toward this arms-out sleep sack from Carter's. The ankle-to-neck zipper will make your job even easier, and who can resist the whimsical patterns? Even better: You'll get a set of three sleep sacks for less than what many competitors charge for just one. But the affordability doesn't mean you'll miss out on quality.
Sizes : 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-9 months
Age range: Newborn through 9 months
Best Sleep Suit
Baby Merlin's Magic Sleepsuit
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Pros: Warm, transitional item
Cons: Expensive for limited period of use
Why We Love It
While it's not technically a sleep sack, many WTE parents swear by Baby Merlin's Magic Sleepsuit to help their little ones transition out of the swaddle. The sleeved sleepsuit is made with three layers — an inner cotton jersey and an exterior microfleece or cotton layer, separated by polyfill for comfort and a little bit of weight to mimic swaddling. Parents call this suit "seriously magic" for its ability to get fussy babies to sleep through the night. However, the suit is very warm, so if you live in a hotter climate, this might not be the right solution for you.
The biggest downside is the fact that baby would use this pricey suit for only a short period of time before she starts rolling over. But if it's the thing that helps your baby (and you) get longer stretches of shuteye, it could very well be worth it.
Sizes: 3-6 months, 6-9 months
Age range: 3 to 9 months (or until baby starts rolling over on her own)
Softest Sleep Sack
Copper Pearl Sleep Bag
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Pros: Beautiful patterns and high-quality fabric
Cons: Pricey, may not hold up in the wash
Why We Love It
Whether you fall in love with the sweet designs of these sleep sacks or the three soft layers of knit fabric they're made from, we won't blame you for splurging. Providing just the right amount of warmth, these beautiful arms-out sacks put baby's comfort first. The neck is also tag-free — a nice touch to prevent any irritation.
Will the fabric meet your standards? Only you can say for sure. But if you opt to buy this sleep bag, be sure to follow the washing instructions exactly (machine wash cold, then tumble-dry on low) for the best chances that it stays as nice as it was when you first bought it. Parents also wish it came in larger sizes so they could continue using it as their little ones grow.
Sizes: 0-6 months, 6-12 months
Age range: Newborn to one year
Best Patterned Sleep Sack
Aden + Anais Cotton Muslin Light Sleeping Bag
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Pros: Soft, lightweight fabric
Cons: Zipper can be difficult
Why We Love It
You'll be hard-pressed to find prettier patterns than those on Aden + Anais baby products. The 100 percent cotton muslin fabric is ultra-soft and lightweight too, helping your cutie sleep cool on warm nights. And even though it's delicate, parents report that it holds up well in the wash. It also comes in a larger size range, so if you love it when your baby's 2 months old, you can stick with the brand as she grows.
Sizes: 0-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-18 months and 18+ months
Age range: Newborn through 18 months
- American Academy of Pediatrics, Swaddling: Is It Safe?, August 2020.
- BMJ Journals, Archives of Disease in Childhood, Can Infant Sleeping Bags Be Recommended by Medical Professionals as Protection Against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome?, October 2018.
- University of Twente, Survey of Prevalence of Protective and Risk Factors for SIDS in the Netherlands, June 2018.
- Gary M. Kramer, M.D., FAAP, Pediatrician, Pediatric Specialists, Miami, FL.
- Mayo Clinic, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), May 2020.
- AAP News & Journals Gateway, Pediatrics: Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, SIDS and Other Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Updated 2016 Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment, November 2016.
- American Academy of Pediatrics, Reduce the Risk of SIDS & Suffocation, January 2017.
- National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, Infant Deaths and Injuries Associated with Wearable Blankets, Swaddle Wraps, and Swaddling, February 2014.
Are Sleep Sacks Safe Once Baby Can Roll
Source: https://www.whattoexpect.com/baby-products/sleep/best-sleep-sacks/
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