Help your baby to get a good night's sleep with one of the best baby sleeping bags, that's designed to stay on your little one through the night even when they're wiggling in their crib or Moses basket. After all, they (and you!) deserve a night without interruptions.
Until your baby is approximately a year old, it's important to ensure that their crib is free from any items such as loose blankets, pillows and toys, including their favourite stuffed animal, as these items increase the possibility of accidental suffocation.
Our favourite baby sleeping bags shortlist 2023
• Our favourite overall baby sleeping bag: Swaddle Up Original Grey Sleeping Bag
• Our favourite detachable arm baby sleeping bag: Kumla Cotton Muslin Sleeping Bag
• Our favourite footless baby sleeping bag: Love To Dream Sleeping Bag
Sleeping bags are the perfect substitute for blankets. They are designed to stay on your little one, which helps keep them cosy and safe all night long (with the added help of their sleeping aids!).
The best baby sleeping bags 2023
Best overall baby sleeping bag
lovetodream.com
Description
The Swaddle Up Original Grey Sleeping Bag is one of a kind, with a patented wing design to allow your baby to sleep with their arms in a natural position. It's ideal for room temperatures and has a single layer fabric design to reduce the risk of baby overheating.
One review said: "I'm very happy using the Swaddle Up with my newborn, and have even purchased in the next size up. The material is nice and stretchy. It's easy to get on/off and I like that my baby's hands are covered so that he can't scratch himself (even when he's not wearing scratch mitts). Also, the arms up position seems to be comfortable for him."
Pros
- Unique patented wings for natural arm positon
- Certified hip healthy
- Twin zipper
Cons
- No tog reference
Best baby sleeping bag with detachable sleeves
www.laredoute.co.uk
Description
Ideal for mid-season, this Kumla Cotton Muslin Sleep Bag in cotton muslin replaces a blanket and keeps baby warm when sleeping. As well as this, it has practical long sleeves that can be removed to adapt to the different temperatures. Additionally, there are six different colours to choose from throughout the collection.
One review said: "This sleeping bag is perfect for winter for my little one. The arms are detachable, so you can remove them for the warmer months. The fabric and quality of this is lovely. Would definitely recommend."
Another review said: "Super soft, thick and cosy! The removable sleeves are great when the nights are a little milder, my baby won't sleep without this sleeping bag. I'll definitely be purchasing a lower tog for spring time!"
Pros
- Detachable sleeves
- Zip fastenings for easy change
Cons
- No built-in scratch mitts
Best short sleeve baby sleeping bag
www.ergopouch.co.uk
Description
Designed to be difficult to escape from, these Ergopouch Cocoon Swaddle Bag swaddle bags will keep baby warm and snug throughout the night, acting as a safe sleep option for baby. It's easy to layer up baby underneath depending on their room temperature and the bag is also available in different tog ratings.
Our mum tester Katie said: "My baby absolutely loves the cocoon swaddle bag. It’s simple to use and she sleeps so much better than before. She would regularly twitch and wake herself but she hasn’t since we’ve been using the swaddle bag, allowing us both to get a better nights sleep. I can quickly swaddle my wriggling baby in no time with the handy zip feature which is also great for nappy changes during the night. It’s perfect for taking to stay at her grandparents house with no need for blankets. I would definitely recommend to all new parents!"
Read our Ergopouch Cocoon Swaddle Bag review here.
Pros
- Available in several designs
- Made from organic cotton
- Can transition from arms in-to arms-out swaddle
Cons
- May not be long enough for longer babies
Best natural baby sleeping bag
babymori.com
Description
This dreamy Clever Sleeping Bag is a 2.5 tog and will keep your little one comfortable and warm in the chillier seasons. It's made from organic cotton and bamboo fabric, breathable and thermoregulating materials that will help keep your baby or toddler at the perfect temperature all night long. As well as having a double direction zipper to make night-time changes a little bit easier, this sleeping bag as a pushchair belt opening feature so your baby can sleep undisturbed on the move.
One review said: "We love these sleeping bags, our son has been using them from around 6 months, and I just got another one because they're just so good. He has never been able to get himself out of it (yet!), and they're super cute too."
Pros
- Travel pushchair belt opening
- Double direction zipper and side shoulder opening
- Made from organic cotton and bamboo fabric
Cons
- They don't have long sleeves
Best baby sleeping bag for summer
Description
This two pack of organic cartoon sleep bags has a double zipper design for convenient changes in the middle of the night. The Lictin Baby Sleeping bags are a lighter tog for the warmer weather at 0.5, and are made from breathable 100 per cent cotton fabric. What makes these sleep bags unique, is that they come with adjustable length so they extend over time with your baby's growth.
One review said: "Great value! Two baby sleeping bags for the price you can pay for just one! The material is soft and thin so perfect for summer nights for the baby. I’m no expert with tog ratings but these feel more like my baby’s 1.0 tog sleeping bags than 0.5. Either way they’re not thick with padding and are definitely suitable for baby sleeping in warmer conditions. The designs on the sleeping bags are lovely. Even nicer than they look in the picture. The double zip is very handy, as are the poppers under the arms so the arm hole size can be adjusted depending on size of baby. My baby is just over 6 months and the whole sleeping bag fits nicely. I do the poppers up for him so the sleeves aren’t too big. I’d recommend this product."
Pros
- Ideal for warm weather
- Lightweight
- Dual zips
Cons
- Some complained the zip cover wasn't big enough to cover the zips
Best baby sleeping bag for easy nappy changing
Description
The Snüz Baby Sleeping Bag was shortlisted for Best Bedding at the Mother&Baby Awards 2021
The Snüz Rainbow Baby Sleeping Bag is super soft and adorable. It is the perfect fit for your little one, with poppers, a side zip, and their innovative Nappy Change zip on the front for quick changes with minimal disturbance to baby's slumber.
Our mum tester, Amy, said, "Yes yes yes! It’s so easy to change your little one without a fuss, just unzip and off you go! My little one never really woke up and it was so easy to fasten back up quick as I unzipped! It’s easy to get on without a fuss and comfy for my little on and also cosy and warm so you don’t worry about the temperature in the night!"
Read our Snüz Baby Sleeping Bag review here.
Pros
- Easy to change nappies
- Suitable for all year round
Cons
- Some said it marks easily
Best sustainably sourced sleeping bag
www.marksandspencer.com
Description
How adorable is this panda sleeping bag? We love the Pure Cotton Panda Sleeping Bag, which is made from cotton that is responsibly sourced. It features an all over star pattern, with dozing panda on the front.
One review said: "Bought for grandson, daughter very pleased with purchase"
Pros
- Made from pure cotton
- Zip bottom
Cons
- Not suitable for cool weather
Best footless baby sleeping bag
lovetodream.co.uk
Description
The Love To Dream Sleeping Bag comes with an optional foot cover to keep those little toes cosy and warm, or cool. It's made with organic cotton, making it super soft and comfy to sleep in. It also has a lighter, upper chest fabric so that your little one can help regulate their temperate better.
One review said: "Bought as my little one was refusing sleeping bags but would kick off blankets and wake up in middle of the night. Sleep suit kept him warm all night. Lovely and soft. Little one loved the pattern and kept telling me how cosy he was. Design still stops him climbing out of his cot (for now)."
Pros
- Twin zipper
- Two-in-one foot cover
Cons
- Some mentioned it's not as easy to change nappies as others
Best multibuy baby sleeping bag
Description
The Simple Joys by Carter's Baby Cotton Sleeveless Sleep Bags come in a pack of three and are cosy, soft, and have a two-way zip design for easy nappy changes. We love that these come with a 'cuddle tab' which keeps the zipper away from your little one's chin, eradicating any risk of irritation.
One review said: "Yeah they fitted perfectly, I got 6 to 9 months and they are nice and light for nights it's a little warm. We only had ones a bit thicker so these are great."
Another review said: "Great fit, look exactly like picture. Lovely prints too. Ideal for hot weather. I thought they were a bit thicker but very thin, i think that was my own mistake though!"
Pros
- Zipper cover to prevent irritation
- Suitable for hot weather
Cons
- No tog, but reviews state they're thin
Best Silentnight baby sleeping bag
www.silentnight.co.uk
Description
One review said: "Really comfy and feels like just another layer on baby - in fact I put it on as part of his pyjama ritual as it makes no difference walking around in it - it’s brilliant and I can put him straight to bed "
Pros
- Non-restrictive design
- Easy to clean
Cons
- No twin zip
Baby sleeping bags: All you need to know
Are sleeping bags good for babies?
Yes, and in fact, they've been recommended by The Lullaby Trust as a sleeping product you can trust that can help reduce the chance of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Baby sleeping bags are a great option that'll keep your little one feeling snug and comforted at night. They prevent their head from being covered by wriggling, a risk that comes with blankets or sheets.
Things to consider when buying baby sleeping bags:
There are plenty of options available to buy, but there are certain characteristics you should look out for to ensure your baby sleeps safe and sound.
Size: There are different sized sleeping bags for different baby ages. This is a helpful guideline but you should make sure that the sleeping bag fits well around their shoulders. So that their head doesn't run the risk of slipping down into their bag.
Tog: To keep your baby at the best temperature, you can also get options with different togs for different seasons. A 2.5 tog is the most popular and will work well for most of the year. But, you could benefit from buying 0.5 to 1.5 tog sleeping bags for warmer nights and for the height of summer.
Comfort: Alongside this, you can consider different fastening options, cute designs, and natural fibre materials for softness and comfort.
Feet: Most sleeping bags will have be designed to keep your little ones feet tucked up inside, however some may come with the option to go footless. Footless sleeping bags would be better for a toddler, as it will allow them to move more freely.
How to wash a baby sleeping bag
Now that you've invested in the perfect sleepwear for your baby, it's time to get down to the nitty-gritty of how to clean it. First things first, you want to check the garment care label for any special washing instructions like hand-washed or to be cleaned in cold water only.
From there, we'd suggest using a non-bio detergent which is gentler on your baby's sensitive skin. For more advice on temperature recommendations and whether or not you can use fabric softener, read our guide to washing baby clothes.
How many options do I need?
There's no right or wrong answer to this. Here at Mother&Baby, we'd recommend having at least three options that fit your child. Why? Well, we'd advise having all these options tucked away in the nursery in case you're washing one and your little one goes on to have an accident - you can thank us later for having a backup.
Samantha Ball is a Product & Lifestyle Writer for Mother&Baby and freelanced for the website for two years before joining the team full time. She's a mum of two and loves browsing for the best products and cute outfits.