There are no big mysteries about how to use the sleeping bag, but it can certainly be useful to have some ideas on what to do with it and where to take it to make the most of its potential.
The sleeping bag is also useful for replacing blankets and a sheet even when camping or in kindergarten, in short, in any circumstance in which the child needs to sleep warm.
Here are the best sleeping bags that present below,
What to Look for Before Buying Sleeping Bags?
Bring the Sleeping Bag to Kindergarten
One of the best practices to make the best use of the sleeping bag is to use it when the baby is not sleeping at home. It is recommended to use it starting from the third month, better if the sixth, and in this period, it can be used to crush naps in kindergarten.
It replaces the more bulky linen and allows you to keep the little one protected, limiting the number of interventions that the teachers have to do to check that they all sleep well as little angels.
The sleeping bag must be chosen in order to respond to the precise needs and according to the temperature inside the room. It makes no sense to select models that are too warm and enveloping for afternoon naps when temperatures are never excessively low. In this case, it is better to aim for lighter and more versatile models, which are also easier to insert in the backpack or between the changes to be kept at school.
How to Make a Sleeping Bag by Hand
With the sewing machine, knitted or crocheted, there are many ways to make a sleeping bag for an incoming baby. In addition, the advantage of making it by hand is that it can be made to measure, taking into account the build of the newborn.
Not all infants are created equal, and all have very distinct growth rates from each other. Playing the DIY card is very advantageous if you have the opportunity to devote time and energy to this activity. One can think of commissioning the work from others – friends, grandmothers, aunts, or uncles – many are happy to get busy for the little boy.
Online there are many tutorials to follow to create a good quality model. You can follow the guidelines in principle and rely on your own practical sense to define the details.
The Sack Can Have Strange Shapes
When thinking about the sleeping bag, perhaps some imagine Maggie Simpson’s starlet as the most famous mystery thrillers of the 90s. Indeed, being inspired by fantasy and choosing models with unusual shapes can be a good idea.
But before going crazy, looking for a star-shaped model or an animal-shaped sleeping bag, it is essential to check that they are designed so that the little one who wears them can feel comfortable and protected.
In fact, it is essential that the baby has a right margin for his movements and that he maintains the correct temperature inside. In choosing the suitable model, it is also necessary to evaluate that the materials chosen for its realization are well breathable.
Before the Sleeping Bag There Is the Swaddle
It is a common practice that today is being rediscovered more and more often in different contexts: making the baby feel still protected and safe as in the womb helps him to calm down.
It is not a question of prolonging the separation between mother and baby for a long time, but of offering the infant a gradual and calm passage towards his / her autonomy. That’s why all containment systems work well to calm the baby.
From the headband to the baby carrier, passing through the muslin cloths in which to wrap the body of the newborn baby of a few days, each of these supports recalls the memory of the newborn the era in which it was safe inside the mother’s belly.
If you want to be very respectful of the physiology of the newborn baby and want to follow the timing of its development, it is possible to think of a gradual transition towards total autonomy during sleep.
So the sleeping bag has the task of acting as a hinge between the era in which the baby sleeps wrapped in a bandage, to that in which he does not tolerate the presence of sheets and blankets on himself.
Materials and Fabrics with Which a Sleeping Bag Is Made
To be effective, therefore, the sleeping bag must not tighten or bundle the baby. It is considered that it will be used from three months onwards, so soon, the baby will acquire the ability to move and must not be hindered in any way.
It is equally essential that the baby is not too hot inside the bag. In fact, it must be kept in mind that babies tend to sweat a lot, and it is not necessary to exaggerate by stressing too much: it is essential to make sure that it is always fresh, that is, not sweaty and hot.
Cotton, especially the jersey, is the right solution for making excellent sleeping bags. The warmer ones to use instead of sheets and blankets often have braces instead of long sleeves, to ensure the right breathability for the little one.
Choose the Right Model Based on The Fit
Choosing not to complicate life is lawful and must be done without feeling guilty. It is not a crime to prefer clothes or accessories also because they are simple to manage.
It also gains the baby who feels safer and more peaceful if he does not perceive agitation from the parent who fumbles trying to put it inside a dress or inside the sleeping bag. The full-length zipper is a great way to close or open the bag, or to change the diaper when needed.
If accustomed to this type of accessories, even older children may prefer to go to bed in the sack rather than in the pure pajamas. But in this case, it is essential that the bag does not limit the movements, especially of the legs and feet, which must be free to move without the child’s risk of tripping.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Sleeping Bag For?
It is used instead of blankets, and its purpose is to wrap the baby’s body and keep it warm even in the event that you shake particularly hard. In fact, not all children can stand well being wrapped in blankets that limit their movements, or during the night, they get excited and end up dropping them.
The sack has the advantage of following all movements and always staying in its place. Above all, it avoids that the baby can end up under the sheets; this is one of the warning reasons that must always be kept under control because they can cause suffocation in the little ones.
How to Make a Sleeping Bag?
There are several ways to make a suitable sleeping bag. You can follow a tutorial or copy the model of a body, and from this, continue the part that acts as a real bag. It can be made with different materials.
It can be done with wool, maybe soft merino mixed with silk or alpaca, which are the most delicate yarns and also the most suitable for children’s clothes. Those who prefer to use crochet because it is more skilled with this tool should consider that it tends to wear more yarn, and the result may be more substantial than knitting.
When Is the Sleeping Bag Used?
Whenever the baby takes a nap, he can do it inside the sleeping bag, but it is good to consider that its optimal use is at night, that is when temperatures drop, and the baby stays still for a long time. Putting it on and taking it off for afternoon naps may not be very convenient.
Usually, in fact, during the day, babies do much short-term sleep, and there is no need to disturb their break with too complicated activities such as dressing.
What to Put Under the Sleeping Bag?
The answer to this question is: “It depends on many factors!”. The reason is straightforward, and you have to evaluate what the environmental conditions are, if it is cold or warm at home, if the bag has sleeves or is sleeveless.
In fact, it is always important to consider that the baby’s body temperature is not very different from that of the adult. After the first hours after birth, the baby’s body gradually acquires the ability to regulate itself according to the external temperature as an adult does.
If the parent does not suffer from hormonal disorders or is heavily overweight or underweight, then it is likely that what the mom or dad feels on their skin also applies to the baby. Alternatively, it is possible to do a practical empirical check, evaluating the temperature of the neck, which is usually the one that accumulates the most heat.
Why Choose a Model with Feet or Sleeves?
The simple sleeping bags have suspenders and close entirely below. But these are suitable for infants who still move very little. But if you prefer to offer the sleeping bag even to older children, it is essential to ensure that they can get out of bed quickly and walk without tripping over the fabric.
