Quick question about "sleep bags"

[cagnew]

I bought a couple those really soft sleep bags for the baby and I was wondering- babies like to be swaddled when they sleep... how do you a swaddle a baby in a sleep bag? It seems too thick and I can't see how you could swaddle it inside the bag.

I feel like I am not explaining myself very well... does anyone understand what I mean?

[Mamato2]

I think you don't swaddle in a sleeping bag blanket (their arms need to be out the armholes). Swaddling depends on the baby too so some babes might love to be swaddled (especially the first couple of weeks) and others won't. Probably with newborn frequent diaper changes etc the bags won't be used until a little later. Hope this helps a bit. They can be great though, nice knowing your baby is always safely covered and warm

[purple2008]

this is actually a good question -- I had been thinking that I would swaddle at night, but I had also planned to buy a couple fleece sleep bags. It never occurred to me that I couldn't do both at night.

Maybe the alternative is swaddling in a light fleece blanket?

[BathrobeGoddess]

There is no reason to put a swaddled babe in a sleep sack...they will get way too warm! Just lay baby down in the swaddle and they will be plenty warm, particularly if you are cosleeping (not bed sharing necessarily though...that can be a danger)

I use the Miracle Blanket for swaddling and I really can't say enough about it! It rocks!

[Lisanne]

I don't think you can do both. My daughter didn't love being swaddled, but she wore a sleep sack until she was 2.

[nighten]

Originally Posted by BathrobeGoddess

There is no reason to put a swaddled babe in a sleep sack...they will get way too warm! Just lay baby down in the swaddle and they will be plenty warm, particularly if you are cosleeping (not bed sharing necessarily though...that can be a danger)

I use the Miracle Blanket for swaddling and I really can't say enough about it! It rocks!

Yep. You do not want baby to get overheated -- that can contribute to SIDS. The recommendation is around 68-degrees (F) room temp and only one layer more than you would wear. But if you're bedsharing, I'd go with the same amount of layers you have if the room is comfortable, but a hat and maybe one thin layer more if it's really cool in your room. Take into account body heat, for sure.

We're getting some sleep sacks this time because Guinevere broke free from swaddling all the time after she was a few weeks old. I bought longer/fancier blankets, and tried several different swaddling styles and little bugger kept breaking free. She napped much better when swaddled.

So I'm going to get a few of these in case new baby is the same:

https://www.toysrus.com/product/inde...uct_skn=808517

But definitely don't swaddle and then put on a sack. One or the other.

[kohlby]

Both of my kids hated to be swaddled from the start! Those sleep sacks were wonderful! (Plus their feet were too big for sleepers with feet and socks are hard to keep on - so another reason why sleep sacks are awesome).

[hedgewitch]

Swaddling was never a great thing for us, ds got sick of it pretty quickly. We used the sleep sacks from him being 3 months to about 18 months and I loved them. I'll be using them again, they are so good at keeping them toasty

[ejg123]

<<Just lay baby down in the swaddle and they will be plenty warm, particularly if you are cosleeping (not bed sharing necessarily though...that can be a danger)>>

What can be a danger? A swaddled baby in a bed sharing situation? Why would this be as long as other precautions were taken (no blankets around, bed not too soft, room not too warm, etc....)? Just wondering.

[lj2blessed]

Not in your DDC, but was at BRU Wednesday night making my registry and they make 2-n-1 Sleep Sacks/Swaddle Me blankets for that purpose! You aren't doubling up, but it has the swaddle aspect up top, with the free feet of a sleep sack at the bottom. Hope this helps...

[motherbirth]

Neither of mine liked swaddling, and those sleep bags were the best. They were way better than blanket sleepers (easier to change diapers, and no worry about the baby pulling the legs out of the legs of the blanket sleepers and getting two legs crammed down one side and then crying like my daughter used to). Both my other babies were winter babies, and they lived in infant gowns inside sleep sacks for bedtime.

[BathrobeGoddess]

Originally Posted by ejg123

<<Just lay baby down in the swaddle and they will be plenty warm, particularly if you are cosleeping (not bed sharing necessarily though...that can be a danger)>>

What can be a danger? A swaddled baby in a bed sharing situation? Why would this be as long as other precautions were taken (no blankets around, bed not too soft, room not too warm, etc....)? Just wondering.

If you are bed sharing, you shouldn't swaddle because your mommy sense needs those baby movements to help you know where baby is next to you. When swaddled, well, baby isn't moving much. It messes with your mommy sense so if baby rolls into you (like say from night nursing and you fall asleep), you might not know because baby can't really push and squirm like they would if their arms and legs weren't basically immobilized...you might want to take a look at the Nighttime Parenting stickies for some good bed sharing practices if you haven't already. Lots of great information about safe cosleeping and bed sharing

[JesiLynne]

Originally Posted by BathrobeGoddess

There is no reason to put a swaddled babe in a sleep sack...they will get way too warm! Just lay baby down in the swaddle and they will be plenty warm, particularly if you are cosleeping (not bed sharing necessarily though...that can be a danger)

I use the Miracle Blanket for swaddling and I really can't say enough about it! It rocks!

:

[mum23boyz]

just saw this, as the others said, you're best to have one or the other. and to use natural products (e.g. cotton, or wool). I swaddled for the first few months and my babies slept so well, but as they get older they start 'unwrapping', some babies then transition really well to a sleeping bag (still best to use natural fabric if possible as it lets babies skin 'breathe' and prevents them from getting overheated as they can in synthetic fabrics. My youngest unfortunately did NOT sleep well when he was out of the swaddle, so we used a Peke Moe sleep sack from New Zealand, and it was perfect to transition him. It keeps their arms inside the sack and they have movement, but still feel snug and cosy. worked really well for us.