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Bringing a new baby home comes with a whole set of concerns, not least of which is whether they are comfortable, warm and safe under their baby blanket. Unless the blanket is somehow solidly wedged into the side of their cot, it’s not likely to stay in place – what with the little flailing arms and legs – and you won’t be able to look away for even a second before it’s time to readjust the blanket again.

Enter baby sleeping bags: a way for babies to keep covered while sleeping all night (wishful thinking), and to give you some peace of mind. That being said, there has been much discussion around the topic of baby sleeping bags and whether or not they are a safe option. How can you make sure that your child is warm enough, but not too warm when in a baby sleeping bag? What is needed in order to prevent them from accidentally wriggling down into their sleeping bag? What kind of sleeping bag is the safest?

We’ve done all the research and selected a range of the best baby sleeping bags available to buy in the UK for you to choose from, and we tell you exactly what makes them the top and safest options.

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When on the hunt for the perfect sleeping bag for your little one, there are some important factors to consider, the most significant of which is safety.

The NHS advises that if baby sleeping bags are well fitting and lightweight, they are a good way to keep your tot just the right temperature – comfortably warm, with no chance of overheating. The site also states that, contrary to most new parents’ fears, it is more likely that a baby will be too hot than too cold, and not to worry if their little hands and feet are cold to the touch as this is totally normal.

There are some imperative safety points to take note of, however. A baby’s head should never be covered up while they are asleep indoors, as excess heat is dispelled from their heads in order to control and manage their temperature. The room that your baby sleeps in should only be around 18°C and, in most instances, a light blanket – or just a sheet in the balmier months – will be enough to keep them warm and content.

If you’re unsure what kind of warmth level, material, fit or closure to look for in a baby sleeping bag, our brief guide below will point you in the right direction.

Using the right sized sleeping bag, as per the ages or weights stated on the product, is key. The most important part of the fit is the neck opening; it needs to be small enough that the baby’s head doesn’t fit into it as this poses the risk of them wriggling down into it and overheating. At the same time, the neck closing can’t be too tight, for obvious reasons.

Baby sleeping bags come in various sizes, which are usually categorised by how old the child is in months, how much they weigh or how tall they are. If you’re purchasing the sleeping bag before the baby arrives, always go for the newborn option, and then make sure to move up a size as the baby grows. Some baby sleeping bags offer size adjustment by way of poppers in the armholes to keep the blanket snugly around the baby until they are a little bigger and won’t need them any more.

Just as with duvets, the warmth of a baby sleeping bag is measured in togs, a unit of thermal insulation or resistance. The below is an approximate guide of which tog is appropriate for a baby in what weather:

If a sleeping bag has a tog rating at the higher end of the suggested temperature range, only a vest underneath is necessary. However, for temperatures below 18°C, a long-sleeved romper can be worn.

The best material for a sleeping bag for a baby should be breathable, preferably hypoallergenic and soft to be gentle on their delicate skin. Organic and soft cotton or bamboo are good options. In addition, a sleeping bag that’s easy to clean, preferably machine washable and also tumble-dryer-safe will save you the hassle of having to hand-wash it when it inevitably gets dirty.

With button, snap, and zip fasteners all being options for closing up your baby’s sleeping bag, this is really a matter of personal preference. A two-way zip for both top and bottom opening is handy for nappy changes as well as getting the baby in and out of the sleeping bag. A zip is also a little less fiddly than buttons or poppers, although it might be harder to find the zip connections in the dark in the middle of the night, whereas buttons are easier to do up blindly.

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Price: £33 | Buy now from Amazon

The unique Love To Dream Swaddle UP is the only swaddle/sleeping-bag that allows the baby to sleep with their arms up. Though you may have imagined taking many Insta-worthy pictures of your new addition cocooned in the cutest little swaddle blanket, the truth of the matter is that some babies just don’t like it.

This highly rated baby sleeping bag allows the baby to reap the comforting benefits of swaddling without requiring their arms to be stuck down to their body. The T-shape of this sleeping bag also provides safety and eliminates the chance of the baby wriggling its way out of it or down into it. It comes in three sizes and is machine-washable for easy cleaning.

Key specs – Material: 97% bamboo; Tog: 1.0; Closing: Zip; Sizes (months): Newborn (0-1), small (1-3), Medium (3-6); Washing instructions: Machine washable

Price: From £32 | Buy now from The White Company

This cute product from The White Company with its 2.5 tog rating is made for those chillier winter months. The lining and the outer layer are both made from 100% organic cotton, and the smallest size has an extra popper to ensure that the baby is safe and snug in the sleeping bag.

Though not suitable for babies under 8lb 13oz, it is available in sizes up to 36 months so you’ll get plenty of use out of it as your child grows. The rocket-print pattern is delicate, cute and unisex, and subtle enough to match with any room décor.

Key specs – Material: 100% organic cotton outer/lining, filling 100% polyester; Tog: 2.5; Closing: Double zip, shoulder and armhole poppers; Sizes: 0-6, 6-18, 18-36 months; Washing instructions: Machine washable

Buy now from The White Company

Price: £60 | Buy now from MORI

A lighter sleeping bag, like this clever 0.5-tog version from MORI, is a great option in many types of weather: on warm nights, a vest underneath it is perfect, and in colder weather, you can add a couple of clothing layers to keep the baby warm. The material is soft as well as sustainable, it comes in five delightful colour patterns and, as an extra perk, you can also get it personalised.

The “clever” in this sleeping bag’s name relates to some innovative and useful features including a pushchair belt opening for easily strapping the baby in while wearing the sleeping bag, adjustable arm openings and a two-way zip that opens from the top or bottom to allow for easy changes.

Key specs – Material: 30% organic cotton, 70% bamboo; Tog: 0.5; Closing: Zip, side shoulder opening, armhole poppers; Sizes: From 8-9lbs to 24 months; Washing instructions: Machine washable 30°C

Price: £29 | Buy now from Mamas & Papas

For a useful sleeping bag that your little one can use from birth onwards, opt for the Dreampod from Mamas & Papas. Not only is it designed for babies that are fresh out of the oven, but it’s also incredibly soft, has a snug fit thanks to its armhole poppers and cosy neck opening, and has a subtle and timeless design that will suit any style of nursery.

This sleeping bag provides plenty of leg space for the little mite to kick about comfortably, and the zip that goes from the top all the way across the bottom means less faffing about for those in-the-night nappy changes.

Key specs – Material: 100% cotton; Tog: 1.0; Closing: Bottom zip, armhole poppers; Sizes: 0-6 months; Washing instructions: Machine washable at 40°C, tumble dryer safe

Buy now from Mamas & Papas

Price: From £30 | Buy now from Snüz

A great sleeping bag available in either 1.0 tog for spring/summer or 2.5 tog for autumn/winter, the SnuzPouch was made with the parent who has the night shift in mind. The clever curved side zip easily opens the sleeping bag all the way up for changes, and the extra side zip, as well as the shoulder poppers, helps get the baby in and out in a jiffy.

This product conforms to and has been tested according to British Safety Standards, and many happy customers sing its praises, noting that it’s soft, cosy and excellent quality, and the increased safety takes away some of the pressures of parenting.

Key specs – Material: Cotton; Tog: 1.1, 2.5; Closing: Bottom and side zip, armhole and shoulder poppers; Sizes: 0-6, 6-18 months; Washing instructions: Machine washable at 40°C, tumble dryer safe

Buy now from Snüz

Price: from £40 | Buy now from John Lewis

Offering the perk of wear-one/wash-one, each baby sleeping bag in this pack of two from John Lewis is made from breathable cotton and is suitable for temperature of 16-30 degrees centigrade (always dependant on what the baby is wearing underneath). These sleeping bags come in two different patterns and have both shoulder poppers and bottom zips.

Customers reviewed them as being soft and comfy, easy to clean in the washing machine, and more than one happy buyer noted that their baby sleeps really well when in one of these. For twins, as one mother reported, this two-pack is just the ticket.

Key specs – Material: 100% cotton, filling 100% polyester; Tog: 1.0; Closing: bottom zip, shoulder poppers; Sizes: 0-6, 6-18, 18-36 months; Washing instructions: machine washable

Buy now from John Lewis

Price: from £14 | Buy now from Tommee Tippee

As an extra safety precaution, Tommee Tippee’s Grobag has incorporated snug-fit legs and a tighter top part to (a) allow the baby to wriggle about freely, and slightly older ones to even comfortably crawl around in it, and (b) keep the baby firmly in with no chance of them wriggling down into it.

Though only designed for babies of six months and over, this super soft sleeping bag is available in three different togs for varying temperatures, and the company’s site has a helpful size and tog selector so you can get just the right fit for your child.

Key specs – Material: cotton-rich, fluorescent-free fabric; Tog: 0.2, 1.0, 2.5; Closing: zip; Sizes: 6-18, 18-36 months; Washing instructions: machine washed 40 degrees centigrade (can be washed at 60 degrees centigrade if necessary, but allow for a little shrinkage)

Buy now from Tommee Tippee

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