Comparing different sleeping bag brands

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, but 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 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 coffee group have!!!

The bag lengths are measured at the start of the 2011 winter season - some small variation may occur. The measurement is taken from the shoulder to the bottom hem of the sleeping bag.

Here's a few points on each brand to help you choose:

Top of the line, high quality brands ($120-$200):
 

Woolbabe:

Woolbabe is our favourite brand and the one we recommend most often!  We loved woolbabe bags so much we bought the company! So we suggest starting with our gorgeous woolbabes and seeing if these suit what benefits you are looking for in a sleeping bag.

Duvet Woolbabe Bag:

Our customers report this is the warmest sleeping bag available, and we agree based on our experience using this bag in a bedroom which gets down to 12 degrees!  The thick layer of 100% Australian wool filling is unique and gives you fabulous temperature regulation and a wide bedroom temperature range the bag can be used in. The generous sizing means you will get excellent value from your bag.

Customers often report their baby or toddler starts sleeping through once they changed to a woolbabe duvet bag, as their child stays warm all night.

Key features:

• Duvet weight is suitable for 18-20 degrees & under, down to approx 12 degrees.
• 100% cotton lining, quilted to Australian wool filling and with a 30% merino/70% cotton blend exterior.
• Available in front or side zip styles.
• All styles can be used with a 5-point harness for teh buggy or carseat.
• Must be gentle-washed in wool-wash. You can low tumble dry. These need little washing, just air daily over the side of the cot.
• Rated low fire danger.
• Bag sizes: 3-34 month - 94cm, 2-4 years - 110cm.
• We recommend woolbabe for a wonderful value, natural fibre bag.
• Made in China
• Priced at $149
• View woolbabe range:

3 Seasons Woolbabe Bag (used to be called 'Lightweight'):

We rate this bag very highly as we consider it the most versatile bag available in terms of temperature range it can be used in. We have personally used the 3 Seasons Woolbabe between 18 to 30 degrees, with baby sleeping sweetly for hot day sleeps and through the night comfortably. No matter how hot the day, our baby was always just the right temperature. Just vary the clothing inside the bag, use only a nappy for hot day sleeps and a fan with the window open. We don't know of any other summer weight sleeping bag that can also be used down to 18 degrees.

The 30% merino/70% cotton blend fabric is unique to woolbabe, knitted each season to woolbabes exact specifications. It is so soft, washes fabulously and looks gorgeous.

Key features:

• 3 Seasons weight is suitable for 18-20 degrees & up to 30 degrees - just vary the clothing inside!
• 2 layers of 30% merino/70% cotton blend.
• Available in front or side zip styles.
• All styles can be used with a 5-point harness for the buggy or carseat.
• Must be gentle-washed in wool-wash. You can low tumble dry. These need little washing, just air daily over the side of the cot.
• Rated low fire danger.
• Bag sizes: 3-34 month - 94cm, 2-4 years - 110cm.
• We recommend woolbabe for a wonderful value, natural fibre bag.
• Made in China
• Priced at $129
• View woolbabe range:

Baby Caterpillar:

The premium New Zealand made merino sleeping bags, these are made in small quantities with beautiful detailing and excellent quality fabrics.

• Made in New Zealand
• Beautiful quality, made with incredible attention to detail.
• Standard weight - light merino inside & light cotton outside. Suitable for 18 degrees & over.
• Winter weight - heavy merino lining & soft 100% cotton exterior, for rooms approx 18 degrees & under.
• Baby size is suitable from 0-2 years & toddler sizesfor 2-4 years.
• $159 for baby & $169 for toddler size
• All 0-2 year bags have travel slot, toddler bags do not have travel slot.
• All have shoulder domes and side/bottom zipper which you close under the arm and zip downwards.
• Baby size bags have a travel slot.
• Must be gentle-washed in wool-wash, low tumble dry.
• Rated low fire danger.
• Bag sizes:  0-2 years - 92cm, 2-4 years - 109cm.
• Recommended for a beautiful, year-round, made in NZ merino bag.
• View Baby Caterpillar range:

Nature Baby Cocoons:

A beautiful range of organic cotton and merino bags from organic experts Nature Baby.

• Range of lovely striped and print colour options.
• Summer bag is 100% organic cotton, 2 light layers of jersey fabric.
• Merino/cotton bag is lined with organic merino and the exterior is organic jersey cotton.  The merino/cotton bag could be used in winter if the bedroom was generally over 18 degrees or you would need additional layers of merino clothing.
• The new Nature Babt Duvet bag is gorgeous. Lined with organic merino, cover with a warm layer of quilted organic cotton.
• All bags have a travel slot.
• Shoulder domes on one side, one fixed shoulder and full side-zip.
• Rated High Fire Danger, due to the zipper opening fully across the bottom and the light-weight fabric.
• Summer bag is from $99.95, merino/cotton bags $179, duvet weight $189.
• Bag sizes: 0-2 years - 90cm, 2-4 years - 110cm.
• Made in India
• View full Nature Baby range:

Mokopuna

The Mokopuna Cocoono is a lovely 100% merino bag, made from Mokopuna's famous quality merino!

• The winter Cocoono is 2 layers of merino - 280gm on the outside and 180gm on the inside
• Travel slot
• Size zipper, extra layer of fabric on the chest and button on the shoulder.
• Underarm buttons for a tighter fit on smaller babies
•  Size is suitable up to approx 18 months. Bag measures 80cm from shoulder to hem.
• New size 2-4 years
• Made in China
• rrp $160
• A lovely snuggly bag for those who would like a 100% merino bag.

Mid price Brands ($80-$120):

grobag:

The key benefit of grobags are their incredible quality and durability. If you want a bag which last well and is easy to care for, grobags are tops.

They are also developed in conjunction with SIDS researchers, have undergone rigorous testing for years and exceed all safety standards in the UK (where they originate from), so you can be assured you are buying the safest bags around.

Highly recommend by The Sleep Store.

• 3 tog weights (warmth levels) so you can always get the perfect bag for your baby's room temperature.
• Includes a free room thermometer.
• Best known sleeping bag brand, best-selling bags in Europe and Australia
• Most bags are made in Indonesia or similar Asian countries.
• Wide range of funky & traditional styles, colours and fabrics including 100% cotton.
• Incredible quality, will easily last for 2 children.
• Simple to wash and dry, they don't need any special care apart from closing the zipper.
• Selected styles have travel slot, eg Bubbles
• Styles available with front zip, some have domes on both shoulders and side zip - check individual styles.
• Prices vary according to tog and size, from NZ $99.95.
• Fire labelling depends on the fabric and composition - check individual styles.
• Bag lengths: 0-6 months - 76cm, 6-18 months - 94cm, 18-36 month - 112cm.
• Best option if you want something easy-care, robust and long-lasting.
• View all grobags

ergoPouch:

We highly recommend ergoPouch bags for the organic fabrics and the only 100% cotton winter sleeping bag, ideal for babies with sensitive skin. They are also an excellent mid-price option offering excellent value.

• An Australian label, made from beautiful natural fibres and simple, stylish design.
• 3.5 tog organic cotton - cotton inside and out, with organic cotton filling for warmth. Suitable for rooms 20 degrees & under.
• The Quilted cotton bag is the best if you want organic winter weight bag with no wool or polyester.
• 0.5 tog Bamboo sheeting bag is ideal for mid-summer, rooms 25 degrees and over.
• 1.0 tog bamboo/cotton is suitable for rooms 20-25 degrees.
• ergoCocoon is a swaddle/sleeping bag combo, which is ideal for weaning off swaddling - it can be used with one or both arms inside or out. Sizes 3-12 months.
• ergoHybrid is a swaddle/sleeping bag with 2.5 tog bottom half & 1.0 tog top half. Size 2-12 months.
• Bags can be warm machine washed and warm tumble dried.
• The fit of all ergo products is slim. The arm holes and neck size is quite a bit smaller than other sleeping bag and swaddle brands. If you find the neck a bit snug, you can always just not do the zipper quite to the top.
• Rated low fire danger.
• Made in China
• Bag sizes:  2-12 months - 80cm , 12-36 months - 101cm, from 10kg.
• View ergo bags

Plum :

Plum is a long established babywear brand in Australia, who now also make a beautiful range of sleeping bags. They are similar to grobags but slighly lower priced and the fabric and zips is slightly lower quality than grobags but still lovely.

• 3 tog weights (warmth levels) so you can always get the perfect bag for your baby's room temperature.
• Includes a free room thermometer.
• Most bags are made in Indonesia or similar Asian countries.
• Wide range of funky & traditional styles, colours and fabrics including 100% cotton.
• Simple to wash and dry, they don't need any special care apart from closing the zipper.
• Selected styles have travel slot,
• Styles available with front zip, some have domes on both shoulders and side zip - check individual styles.
• Prices vary according to tog and size, from NZ $69.95
• Fire labelling depends on the fabric and composition - check individual styles.
• View all Plum Bags
  

Low-mid price Value Brands ($40-$80):

Snugtime Cosi-Bags

Snugtime offer incredible value - their products are amazing quality for the price and we get excellent customer feedback about both the bags and sleepsuits.

• Snugtime are most well-known for their fleece Blankets Sleepers, all in one sleepsuits with feet.
• We have added a small range of their Cosi Bags, as they are the only sleeping bags we can find with sleeves...which many customers have requested.
• 2.2 tog bags are cotton jersey inside & out, with a polyester filling.
• 1.0 tog bags are 100% cotton.
• All Snugtime bags are rated High Fire Danger.
• These are a good value sleeping bag option, comparable in quality to what you might buy for a similar price in a chain-store. You obviously can't expect the same quality from a $50 bag as you get with a $100-$170 bag, however these will last a season fine and Snugtime are a very long-established brand with a reputation for quality.
• Exclusive to The Sleep Store in New Zealand
• View Snugtime range here

Slumbersac:

A UK brand of sleeping bags known well known for their excellent value -  a good basic, entry level option if you are on a tight budget.

• Available in front or side-zip styles, check the descriptions carefully.
• These are an entry level bag, so the fabric quality, zippers and finishing reflects this. While the bags are good value for the price, the quality does not compare to our top of the line bags such  as woolbabes and grobags.
• Available in 3 togs and 3 sizes.
• Winter weight 2.5 tog bags are cotton inside & out, with light polyester duvet filling.
• Rated High Fire Danger.
• Made in China
• Great option for a lower priced bag, which will still be far better quality than a chain-store bag and the summer bags are always incredibly popular.
• View Slumbersac here