When it’s time to stop swaddling your baby - perhaps they’ve outgrown their swaddle cloths or they’re master escape artists that don’t remain swaddled for longer than an hour - you can transition to sleep sacks.
Sleep sacks keep your baby warm, feeling safe, and happy.
Babies like to feel as though they’re still in the womb even months after they’ve been born, so it makes sense that a sleep sack would help achieve this.
The sack contains their entire body and legs, but their arms are often able to move outside of the sack.
There are some sleep sacks that allow the baby to move their arms and there are some that don’t.
Whether you opt for the former or not will depend on your baby’s preference.
Some babies like the freedom of armholes and others prefer the security of only an exposed head.
Today we’re going to be looking at the five best sleep sacks on the market.
We’ve also included a buyers guide to help you choose the best sleep sack for your baby, ensuring a good night’s sleep for both parent and child.
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Our Best Sleep Sack
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After our extensive research, we’ve found the Burt's Bees Baby sleep sack to be the best.
Below are a few reasons why we think you and your baby will love this model:
- There are plenty of gorgeous patterns to choose from.
- It’s made from organic cotton material, making it super soft and breathable.
- The two-way zipper makes removing diapers very simple in the middle of the night.
- You can layer it over any pajamas.
OUR TOP PICK
Starting off our list is a sleep sack from Burt’s Bees, which is made from 100% cotton. Ideal to be used all year round, the sleep sack can be zippered over any pajamas you feel suitable.
Your baby’s arms are free and outside of the sleepsuit which is safe and ideal for older babies that are starting to roll over.
Your baby will be able to move around freely while keeping them safe from suffocation. The zipper reaches all the way from the top of the sleep sack to the bottom.
It is also usable from the bottom so that you don’t have to waste time undressing your baby for a diaper change.
The material is organic and breathable to ensure that your baby gets a good night’s sleep every night. They won’t overheat and the fabric is excellent on sensitive skin.
There are 11 gorgeous patterns to choose from and three sizes depending on your baby’s age.
Pros:
- Made from 100% organic cotton.
- Easy to use in the middle of the night.
- Breathable and soft material.
- Lovely patterns to pick from.
Cons:
- A few customers have had trouble with the zipper.
EDITORS CHOICE
Coming in at a close second is the Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit.
Although the suit is not a sleep sack per se, it works just like one and keeps your baby warm without the need for dangerous blankets and pillows.
The outer and inner layers of the sleepsuit are made from 100% cotton with a polyester fill.
The sleepsuit is soft enough for your baby’s skin all throughout the night. Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit is thought to be the first transitional swaddle product, and if it isn’t broken why fix it?
Thousands of happy parents have used this sleepsuit created by a pediatric physical therapist and mom.
Two zippers trail down your baby’s torso for an easy nighttime routine. The zippers are hidden with a small piece of fabric to ensure they aren’t meddled with throughout the night.
Your child’s feet and hands are free to avoid them from overheating.
Pros:
- Soft material with a warm filling.
- Created by a professional pediatric physical therapist.
- Two zippers are better than one!
Cons:
- Might limit your baby’s movement slightly.
BEST VALUE
Hudson’s sleep sack is made from 100% polyester with zipper closure. Simple yet effective, this sleep sack is great value for money and the most inexpensive model on our list.
You won’t be getting the bells and whistles of the other sacks that we’re talking about today, but it does the job well.
You can wash the sleep sack in the washing machine so you don’t have to worry about any special measures.
The polyester material is soft and plush, ensuring that your baby has a warm and cozy night’s sleep.
Your child won’t need to wear thick pajamas in the winter with this sleep sack to keep them warm!
There is a clasp over the zipper to prevent your baby from undoing it in the middle of the night. There is no way that the shoulder straps will come undone, keeping your baby safe throughout the night.
With 18 patterns and colors to choose from, you’re spoilt for choice!
Pros:
- Great value for money.
- Machine washable.
- Prevents your baby from undoing the zipper.
Cons:
- You’ll have to remove the entire sack to change their diapers.
RUNNER UP
The Nested Bean Zen Sack is another model made from 100% cotton, making it breathable and comfortable to wear.
You can machine wash the material, making for easy cleanup should you need one, and it is toxin and phthalate-free.
The shoulder clasps are adjustable so you can make them larger as your baby grows.
On the chest of the sleep sack, there is a small weight that is used to mimic the feel of your hand.
If your child is particularly sensitive to being left alone during the night, the weight can trick them into thinking that you’re resting your palm on their chest.
The two-way zipper allows you to change diapers without disturbing your child too much. Instead of having them wake the entire neighborhood at 3 am, the zipper might prevent them from screaming so loud.
Choose from nine patterns and three sizes ranging from 0 to 24 months.
Pros:
- Made from 100% cotton.
- A small weight is included on the chest to help soothe your child.
- The zipper keeps the midnight diaper changes simple.
Cons:
- The weight is not substantial enough to make a difference for some babies.
RUNNER UP
Last but not least is the Zipadee Zip Sleep Sack. This is the only model on our list that covers the arms as well as the rest of the body.
It gives your baby the feel of a swaddle without limiting their movement so much that they cannot get themselves out of a compromising position.
The sleep sack is made from 96% polyester and 4% spandex, ensuring that your baby has full mobility inside of the sack.
This allows them to feel swaddled and safe when they want to be but still stretch out freely as well. The sleep sack can be worn all year round without causing your baby to overheat.
There are three simple colors to choose from as well as three sizes, ranging from newborn status to two years old.
The zipper is hidden by a flap of material so that the zipper can’t be pulled at by your baby. The sleep sack also eliminates the need for scratching mittens that can easily be pulled off.
Pros:
- Covers your baby’s entire body.
- Breathable material.
- Still allows your baby to roll and wriggle freely and safely.
Cons:
- No two-way zipper.
Buyers Guide
Now that we’ve taken a look into the best five sleep sacks to give you and your baby the best night’s sleep possible, let’s discuss some of the most important factors to consider when finding the best sleep sack for you to use.
Sleep sacks all work towards one goal and therefore they don’t differ from each other too much, but there are some distinct differences that will affect your baby’s opinion of them.
Every baby is different, after all, and something that worked for thousands of others might not be suitable for your baby. That’s just one of the many joys of being a parent, isn’t it?
Arms or no arms?
Some sleep sacks are designed to keep the arms within the sack, whereas others allow your child to keep their arms moving outside of the sack.
The former option acts more similarly to a swaddle and therefore might be better for babies who need additional security as they sleep.
As your child gets older you might leave them with more freedom to move their arms. Which option you choose is down to you as the parent.
If your baby likes to scratch their face during the night and always wakes up with bright red lines across their cheeks, you might want to keep their hands kept away in a closed sack for a few more weeks.
Security
Sleep sacks are designed to keep your baby feeling safe and secure when you aren’t available for cuddles.
However, they’re also used to prevent them from suffocating. Baby blankets can easily be pulled up over their face, preventing them from breathing properly.
To avoid the unimaginable from happening, you need your sleep sack to be secure. Your baby should not be able to open or loosen the sack during the night.
When you wake up in the morning you’ll want to see your baby sleeping with the sack looking exactly as it did when you went to sleep.
The majority of sleep sacks on the market will have zippers to open and close the material.
As long as there is a stopper on the zipper to avoid your baby from unknowingly tugging at it during the night, you should be able to sleep peacefully.
Make sure that the zipper is not low-quality and does not unzip on its own.
Check with the customer reviews to ensure that previous buyers have not had an issue with the zipper coming undone or their babies figuring out how to remove the sack.
Ease of Use
One disadvantage of sleep sacks is that they can get in the way a lot.
Presuming that your baby is still waking up through the night, you will probably need to pick them up at some point, whether it be to feed them or soothe them.
Sleep sacks that have too much material can get in the way of doing this. While it might be something that you have to live with and ignore, you should choose the right size for your baby.
Another thing to consider is diaper changing. Some sleep sacks have zippers near the bottom of the sack which you can use so that you don’t have to remove the entire sleep sack when you need to change a diaper.
This saves much more time and doesn’t stress your child out as much.
Material
The material of your sleep sack is very important as well. Your baby needs to feel comfortable throughout the night to ensure that they get the best sleep possible.
Cotton is often advised for sleep sacks because it is very breathable and soft. Cotton is durable and lasts well after many washes.
However, cotton is quite thin and therefore only suitable for summer use. If you needed a sleep sack for winter, a polyester fill can be good for your baby as well.
It will keep them warm and comfortable. Spandex is also often used in conjunction with other materials because it is stretchy and great for offering a swaddle-like feel.
Make sure you pay attention to the fabric that your sleep sack is made from. Cotton is best for summertime and polyester is better for colder months.
However, if you keep the thermostat set high throughout the entire winter, cotton might be best to prevent your baby from overheating.
Cleaning
Babies are messy and their clothing needs to be washed all the time. Once you have a child, you will know that your laundry day quickly turns into every single day.
Sleep sacks are no different. Your baby is capable of doing lots of things to make their sack dirty, so you need to ensure that you can wash it easily at home.
Don’t go for anything fancy enough to say ‘dry cleaning only’ - nobody has time for that.
Find a sleep sack that is easy to clean and dry so that you can wash and reuse it in record timing.
Color
What design are you wanting on your sleep sack?
The color is not likely to alter how well you and your baby sleep overnight, but it is still something to consider when picking a new item out.
There are plenty of colors and patterns on the market, so take your time and find one that you like best.
Bear in mind that we’ve added this low on the list because we think that all of the other factors above are more important to consider.
However, just because a sleep sack is easy to clean doesn’t mean you have to buy a bad looking one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do babies sleep better in sleep sacks?
Not only do babies sleep better in sleep sacks, but they also sleep safer.
Using a sleep sack ensures that your baby remains at the right temperature throughout the night as well as giving them the supportive feeling of being held.
If you have a baby that loves to be held, a sleep sack will help them sleep much more soundly and gives them the secure feeling that they get from being cuddled.
Are sleep sacks safe for rolling babies?
Once your baby begins rolling you can no longer swaddle them. However, a sleep sack that allows them to move their arms is perfectly safe to use.
This is because your baby can use their arms to get themselves out of a dangerous situation.
Using a sleep sack once your baby is rolling is fine as long as you don’t have anything else in the crib that could be used to suffocate them. This includes pillows, blankets, and toys.
Can sleep sacks be too big?
Sleep sacks are only too big if the arm and neck holes allow the fabric to ride up over the baby’s face.
It doesn’t matter how long the sleep sack is as long as they cannot get the material above their nose, as this could pose a risk of suffocation.
What should babies wear under sleep sacks?
Your baby can wear whatever you want them to underneath a sleep sack as long as they’re not overheating.
As a general rule of thumb, you should keep your baby in an onesie underneath their sleep sack.
Whether it’s a short-sleeved or long-sleeved onesie depends on the temperature and the sleep sack itself.
Start off with a short-sleeved onesie to avoid them overheating during the night. If they are still too cold you can change them into a long-sleeved alternative.
The onesie shouldn’t be covering their feet.
Sleep, baby, sleep. Thy father’s watching the sheep. Thy mother’s shaking the dreamland tree, and down drops a little dream for thee.
-Elizabeth Prentiss
