“Ensure your child is wearing the correct size and that the sack is not too small or large, which can lead to rising up to cover the face, or inhibiting full movement,” sleep consultant Aubrie DeBear, PsyD, tells Verywell Family of choosing the right sleep sack. “Check the age and weight specifications of the sleep sack to make sure it’s the right fit for your child.” In our experience, sleep sacks belong on the “must-have” list of baby supplies for all new parents because they keep babies warm while also following the American Academy of Pediatrics safe sleep guidelines, which advise against loose bedding near infants. Instead of a blanket, look for a sleep sack in a fabric that’s appropriate for the temperature in your baby’s room and with the type of closure (snaps, zippers, even magnets) that is easiest for you to fumble with in the middle of the night. We researched dozens of the most popular sleep sacks from several leading brands with these factors in mind. Based on our reviews, here are the best sleep sacks available right now. Finally, this sleep sack has amazing longevity, because it’s safe for babies as young as 2 months old up to 2 years. It is one of the most expensive sleep sacks available, but the simple fact that it will fit your child until they are 2 years old means this is the only sleep sack you need to buy. And since it’s machine washable, you really can get away with just having one. (Though keeping a second to have as a spare is never a bad idea, especially for colicky or spit-up prone infants.) Price at time of publication: $100 It has snap shoulders as well as a reverse zipper for easy diaper changes and is available in three different sizes ranging from newborn to three years old. This sleep sack is machine washable and available in several color opinions. Price at time of publication: $39 These sleep sacks are made from 100% polyester and feel soft against your baby’s skin. If any accidents happen overnight, you can add the sleep sacks to your regular load of laundry, thanks to the sleep sacks’ machine-washable material. Price at time of publication: $32 “Another benefit of sleep sacks is to provide babies with a feeling of security by enclosing their feet for a more womb-like environment,” DeBear tells us. And the SwaddleMe is very effective in that regard. All you have to do is tuck your baby’s feet into the little pouch and then wrap the wings around their arms and secure them in a tight little swaddle. For diaper checks and changes, simply pull their legs out of the pouch and then pull it back up when you’re done. Price at time of publication: $38 You can get this machine-washable sleep sack in a variety of colors and sizes to keep your little one warm up until they reach 28 pounds. Price at time of publication: $30 It’s made from soft polar fleece and comes in two sizes: 18 months to 2T, and 2T to 4T. Price at time of publication: $40
The sleep sack is available in sizes from newborn and up to 24 months, so your little one is sure to find the right size to keep them comfortable. We also love that this sleep sack is machine-washable for easy cleaning, and it’s available in a variety of different patterns and colors for fun styling. Price at time of publication: $13 ”If your child is able to roll, you always want to ensure that they have the use of their arms in any transitional swaddle or sleep sack," DeBear says. If you’re using this Halo, that’s when you can leave your baby’s arms free and simply wrap the wings around their torso instead, still giving them the tight secure feeling of a swaddle. This sleep sack is made from 100 percent cotton muslin and is safe for the washer and dryer. Price at time of publication: $30 Price at time of publication: $45 Price at time of publication: $25 To use it, tuck your baby’s feet into the little pouch and then simply wrap the wings around your baby’s arms and use the Velcro straps to secure it. For late-night diaper checks and changes, you can simply untuck your baby’s feet without having to undo their swaddled arms. Price at time of publication: $40 While it is hand-wash only, this sleep sack is an especially excellent choice for babies with sensitive skin. Price at time of publication: $55 4.5 to 4.7 stars: These sleep sacks are excellent—they might have minor flaws, but we still recommend them. 4.0 to 4.5 stars: We think these are great sleep sacks, but others are better. 3.5 to 3.9 stars: These sleep sacks are just average. 3.4 and below: We don’t recommend sleep sacks with this rating; you won’t find any on our list.
What to Look for When Buying a Sleep Sack
Safety
Ensure the sleep sack is the right size for your baby before purchasing it. Look at both the age and weight range to find the best fit. Also, DeBear notes that parents should make sure the sleep sack’s zipper is high quality because if it comes undone in the night, it could pose a suffocation risk.
Design
There are several different sleep sack designs to choose from based on your child’s age, size, and mobility. Keep your child’s abilities in mind when choosing either: a swaddle sleep sack that keeps babies’ arms wrapped tight, a transitional sleep sack that can go from swaddle to sack as babies grow, standard sleep sack that covers the body while keeping arms free, or an early walker sleep sack that lets babies’ feet poke out of the bottom.
Materials
Sleep sacks come in a variety of materials. They include light and breezy cotton muslin, eco-friendly bamboo rayon and organic cotton, polyester blends that are often easier to care for, and the warmest polyester microfleece. Obviously, you don’t want to purchase a microfleece sleep sack in the middle of the summer, and you may want to avoid a sleep sack that isn’t safe for the washer or dryer if you’re not up for hand-washing, so look closely at how the product is made before purchasing. Dr. DeBear also suggests considering the climate where you live and the temperature you generally keep your home at to help you decide which material is best for your child.
Why Trust Verywell Family
Ashley Ziegler is a full-time parenting writer and mom to a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old. She has personal experience in researching and purchasing a variety of children’s products, including sleep sacks. Key considerations she used when selecting these recommendations include expert advice, age appropriateness, and user reviews. In order to create a safe sleeping environment and reduce the risk of SIDS, parents should follow the Safe Sleep Guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Babies should sleep in their own crib with a firm mattress free of soft objects and loose bedding like blankets, pillows, toys, or anything else that could cause suffocation. Additionally, it is important to note that the AAP strictly advises against the use of weighted sleep sacks or blankets for babies. If your baby starts to break out of the swaddle or obviously wants their arms free, many of these sleep sacks allow you to wrap the flaps around their torso, so their arms are free. But they’re still getting the feeling of light compression to help soothe them. Some sleep sacks are designed to also serve as swaddles and/or as transitional blankets as the baby moves from a snug swaddle to a roomier sleep sack.
