One of the more common ways that parents are able to help their baby sleep at night while still being able to maintain their own peace of mind is with a sleep sack. A sleep sack is a great way to help baby stay warm at night without the increased risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) that seems to be associated with having blankets, comforters or other items in your baby’s crib when she sleeps. Still, there are a great many different sleep sacks on the market today, and you need to be able to decide between them and choose the correct one for you and for your baby’s needs.
Here are some things you should keep in mind when you are in the process of picking a sleep sack for your baby:
- Keep the fit in mind. You want your baby’s sleep sack to fit properly. The bag portion itself should be long enough that your baby isn’t constrained too much, but you also don’t want it to be so long that your baby wiggles down into the bag.
- Check the fabric. The weight of the fabric matters, too. You don’t want your baby to become too hot, because overheating is also considered to be a risk factor for SIDS. You may choose a heavier material sleep sack that’s sleeveless for the colder months, or if you run an air conditioner during the warmer months.
- Use common sense. For the most part, your baby is going to be comfortable in the same amount of clothing that a grown person would wear. If you’re not sure if your baby has too much clothing on at night or if the sleep sack may be too thin or too thick, you’ll want to watch for fussiness or other signs that your baby is uncomfortable.
A sleep sack can be a wonderful investment. The key is making sure you get one that’s suited to your baby, and that’s also suited to your baby’s own sleeping environment. You may have to go through a couple of different sacks before you find one that will help your baby sleep comfortably.