Choosing a winter sleeping bag
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!
Here are some suggestions for making your sleeping bag choice:
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 type sleeping bag, such as the Lightweight woolbabe, standard Baby Caterpillar weight or a Mokopuna Cocoono. 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 have a think about your bedding in winter, as this can give a good indication as to how warm or cold your house is. If 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 is the warmest bag 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, which we've never seen in any other bag.
The duvet 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.
The duvet woolbabe is available with a front or side zip, both styles can be used in the buggy or carseat.
Duvet Woolbabe - Side Zip Duvet Woolbabe - Front Zip
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. Generally the higher the tog rating, the warmer the bag.
Bags with merino or 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.
2.5 tog to 3.5 tog are all suitable for winter use.
Comparing Woolbabes and Grobags:
These are our two most popular sleeping bag brands, and comparing them is a bit tricky as they are quite different. However both are fabulous quality and we recommend them both!
Here's a few points to consider:
- Duvet Woolbabe has wool filling whereas grobags use a warm polyester filling.
- Grobags are quicker to wash and dry, and don't need wool wash or to be washed on a gentle wool cycle like the woolbabe does.
- Both are great quality, will last well and you'll be happy with either bag!
My baby has eczema, which winter bag would be suitable?
It depends how serious the eczema is! My many babies, the Duvet Woolbabe is still suitable, as it is lined with cotton and the wool filling helps with temperature regulation.
However if any wool irritates your child's skin, we highly recommend the ergoPouch range of sleeping bags for eczema.
The 3.5 tog ergoPouch is almost as warm as the Duvet Woolbabe and is made from 100% organic cotton. It's a slim fitting bag, which fits like a long puffer vest!
What about a cheaper bag?
Having a budget doesn't mean your baby can't be warm all night, as we have a great range of entry level priced bags. Although these bags are lower in price they are still good quality and will be effective in keeping your baby warm.
The key differences between the lower end of the price range and the top end is in the fabric and components - the higher the price, the better the fabric quality, zip quality and dome quality. For example a grobag or Woolbabe will have a YKK metal zipper where as a Snugtime or Slumbersac will have a plastic zipper.
Having a lower priced bag is also a good idea for second bag, so you always have a spare in case of accidents and not getting your bag dry in time for bed.
View Slumbersac - the 2.5 and 3.5 tog bags are winter weight
Won't my baby's arms and hands get cold?
Bags are generally designed without arms as it helps to ensure your baby doesn't overheat. The arms and head are the main ways babies release heat to avoid overheating.
As long as your baby's core is warm, then you don't need to worry about cooler arms and cold hands.
However if you do want a bag with arms, here are the options:
Ergo Arms - an organic cotton jacket you can pop over a sleeping bag
Mokopuna Kimono - Also can be worn over a sleeping bag
Striped Cosi Bag with Sleeves - a snug winter bag with arms
I would like an organic bag:
All of the ergoPouch and Nature Baby bags are organic. So if you need a bag for rooms cooler than 18-20 degrees, we recommend the ergoPouch 3.5 tog bag or the beautiful new Nature Baby Duvet Weight Cocoon which has organic merino lining and a thick quilted cotton exterior.
Nature Baby Duvet Weight Cocoon
I would like a New Zealand made sleeping bag:
We have two lovely NZ made sleeping bags in our range, both of which are very snuggly. Both have a thick cotton outer and a heavier than usual layer of merino on the inside.
They compare very well in price to another brands and are excellent quality.
Need more information?
Choosing the right bag for your baby
Woolbabe information
Ask other mums on our Facebook Page for their feedback!
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