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Sleep Sacks

Are you struggling to keep your little one warm at night when all they seem to do is wriggle around in their sleep, kick their blankets off, and squirm out of their swaddling? Winters in New Zealand can be very chilly, and it's difficult to keep your baby's body at the optimal temperature for quality, restful sleep and to prevent them from getting a chill. If this sounds like your baby, a sleep sack might be the answer.

Sleep sacks have been popular in Europe for many years, and now they're coming into their own in New Zealand as well. With winter well and truly here, we thought it was a good idea to check out what sleep sacks are out there, how they work, and how we can use them to help our babies achieve a better night's sleep.
A baby sleep sack (sometimes called a baby sleeping bag) is just as the name suggests: It's a sleeping bag that your child wears like an item of clothing. It looks like a cross between a traditional sleeping bag and a sleeveless vest, with buttons, domes, or zippers to fasten it up. Sleep sacks come in a variety of different thicknesses for summer and winter weights, as well as different sizes to accommodate newborns, babies, and even toddlers. Sleep sacks made in New Zealand are often made of organic cottons and merino wools.
If you've never used a sleep sack, you might be wondering what makes one special, or why you should consider using one for your baby. Here are just a few of the benefits:
• Your baby or child can wriggle as much as he or she likes and the sleep sack won't come off, leaving your baby cold and likely to wake up.
• You can keep your baby at a safe and comfortable temperature throughout the night by adding or removing layers they are wearing under the sleep sack (such as light cotton T-shirts in summer, or long-sleeved merino shirts in winter).
• There is no danger of your child slipping down under the covers and, if you're using a Safe T Sleep Sleepwrap, your child can maintain the recommended sleeping position of "feet to foot".
• Merino sleep sacks remove heat and moisture away from the body and, in cool conditions (between four and six in the morning), serve as insulation.
• Babies learn to associate sleep sacks with sleep, so will settle more easily in unfamiliar surroundings.
• Merino and 100% cotton products can be used safely by children with allergies, eczema and sensitive skin.
• It can ease the transition from cot to bed for older children.
• You don't need any additional blankets when using a sleep sack.
• The bottoms of sleep sacks have easy-access entry points for quick nappy changes and undressing.

Tips for buying:
• Look for a sleep sack with deep sleeve holes, so that air has room to circulate and your baby won't get overheated.
• Choose the weight and thickness of the sleep sack according to the climate or season, so that your baby stays comfortably warm in winter or cool in summer.
• We recommend you purchase at least one summer and two winter sleep sacks. You will need a minimum of two sleep sacks in case of nighttime accidents or illness.

Merino Kids Go Go Bag
(Two sizes: NB-2 years, and 2-4 years. Price between $109-$194 from www.merinokids.com)
The Merino Kids Go Go Bag was the number one most recommended product in the 2011 OHbaby! Awards. Made of natural merino with a fine cotton outer. Underneath the arm hole on each side is another dome to secure your child in the bag. The bag features a zip-up bottom that unzips from halfway down the "closed shoulder" side of the bag, all the way up to the underarm area of the "domed shoulder" side, allowing the bag to completely open up for easy nappy changes and undressing. Midway down the Go Go Bag there is a two-way pouch that opens for threading car seat and pram clips through, so your child can wear the bag while travelling.
Features:
• The standard weight merino Go Go Bag™ is recommended for use in room temperatures between 18-30ºC.
• The bags come in an array of striped colours and fun designs.
• The convenient two-way pouch allows for comfortable, secure travelling and easy transfer from carseat to pram to bed.
Bottom line:
You can feel the quality of the Merino Kids Go Go Bag. It's durable and comes in a great range of fabric colours. The material is obviously quality stuff, and we love the use of 100% cotton and 100% merino wool.

Mokopuna Cocoono
($169.95. Sizes 0-2 yrs from www.thesleepstore.co.nz)
The Mokopuna Cocoono is made of a double layer of 100% merino wool. It has a single button opening on one shoulder. Under the arm hole on each side is another buttonhole to secure your child inside. The sack unzips from halfway down one side all the way to the end of the other side.
Features:
• Made of 100% merino wool.
• Comes in a great range of colours.
• Convenient "carseat pocket".
Bottom line:
Great quality product that comes in a fun colour range. We recommend careful reading of washing instructions to avoid pilling. Also, the top button came undone overnight - simply needs the buttonhole stitched a little smaller to counteract this.

Nature Baby Cocoon
(Sizes 0-24 mths & 2+ yrs, priced from $159.95 www.naturebaby.co.nz)
The Nature Baby Cocoon summer weight has an exterior of 100% organic cotton, with cotton jersey lining. The winter weight has a 100% organic cotton exterior and 100% merino wool interior. The double dome opening on each shoulder makes for quick dressing. The sack unzips around the bottom from one side to the other.
Features:
• Uses 100% certified organic cotton.
• Quality double-tab zipper made by Riri in Switzerland.
• Comes in its own drawstring bag.
• Comes in blue, pink, and natural.
Bottom line:
This comfortable sleep sack travels light and keeps baby warm. Just like pyjamas in a sleeping bag.

Dimples Sleep Sack
(Summer weight $136.90, Mid weight $157.90, Winter weight $169.90 Sizes 0-2 yrs from www.dimples.co.nz) The Dimples Sleep Sack is unique in that it opens and closes up the middle like a shirt, from the top of the neck at the front to midway up the back, with an underarm dome on each side.

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Features:
• Three different weights. Summer: 100% organic cotton; Mid: 100% cotton fleece inner, 100% cotton outer; Winter: 100% merino inner, 100% cotton outer.
• Can be used as a sleep sack, jumpsuit, or in a carseat/pram.
• Comes in a range of colours and motifs.
Bottom line:
The unique design allows you to make the bottom half of the sack into a jumpsuit, which is convenient when you don't want to get them undressed out of the sleepsack as soon as they wake up.