Are the colder months approaching soon and you are looking for the best sleep sack for winter for your baby? I have used sleeping sacks (or sleeping bags) for both mi kids throughout all seasons. From when they were 4 months old till they were almost 3. Except when we were in Italy and it was way too hot to wear anything other that a diaper (the kids – not me! 🙂 ).
I always found them so easy to use and my daughters absolutely loved snuggling up in them. I also tried a few different brands, and soon realized not all sleep sacks are the same.
So, here’s a list of my favorites, with their pros and cons. Enjoy!
The Benefits of a Sleep Sack
First of all, before I dive into my list of best baby sleeping bags for winter, I’d like to explain what all the benefits of your baby sleeping in a sleep sack are. I hear so many parents being on the fence of buying one or not when, really, it should be a no brainer!
Let’s start by saying that, once babies start rolling around, it becomes very unsafe to leave them sleeping in a swaddle or with blankets. Even though a swaddle might be the perfect solution to dress a newborn for sleep, it soon becomes unsafe when your baby reaches the 4 month old mark.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) actually recommends keeping loose bedding (such as pillows or blankets) out of baby’s sleeping area for at least the first 12 months of your baby’s life.
However, babies still need an extra layer to keep warm and feel comfortable. So, sleeping bags really become the best sleeping solution for your baby, keeping them nice and cozy, and safe at the same time.
Baby sleep sacks also have other benefits such as:
- They provide a sense of security (similarly to the swaddle), like when baby was in the womb
- Because they provide comfort and safety, they can be a pacifier alternative if you are trying to wean your baby off the pacifier.
- Thanks to their TOG rating, you can always be sure that your baby is wearing the right sleeping bag for the climate you are in, and they are neither going to be too cold or overheat.
- They can become part of the nighttime routine and form a new sleep association for your baby, which will help particularly if you are going through a sleep regression (such as the 4 month or the 6 month sleep regression) and teaching your baby how to self-settle.
- They make it difficult for your toddler to climb out of the crib, which can be a great advantage if you have a climber in your house!
Related:
- How to Dress Baby for Sleep
- 4 Month Sleep Regression: why it’s the most important one to get right
- 6 Month Sleep Regression: how to tackle it fast!
TOG Rating for Sleep Sacks in Winter
If you don’t know already, the TOG rating of a sleeping bag is a reflection of the product’s warmth. The higher the TOG, the warmer the sleeping bag.
2.5 and 3.5 TOG sleeping bags are the perfect solution for colder temperatures below 21 °C (70 °F). Therefore, in this article I am mainly going to focus on the best sleep sacks for winter with a TOG of 2.5 or 3.5.
In particular:
- 2.5 TOG Sleeping Bags should be used for temperatures below 21 °C (70 °F)
- 3.5 TOG Sleeping Bags should be used for temperatures below 17 °C (63 °F)
For more information on the appropriate TOG rating to use depending on the room temperature, and what to wear under the sleeping bags, you can read this article: Baby Sleeping Bags TOG Guide.
When should Babies stop wearing Sleep Sacks?
There’s really no set sure as to when you should stop you your baby from sleeping in a sleep sack. However, most brands only go up to 2-3 years and, after that, they become too small.
Some people transition their baby to a blanket after a year, some later. I have personally used them until my first daughter was almost three, and am still using one now for my almost 2 year old.
I guess it all depends on how your baby sleeps and if they seem ready to start sleeping under a blanket. Mainly: can they put it back on themselves after they’ve kicked it off if it gets too cold? I don’t think my youngest is anywhere near that point!
If your baby looks comfortable in it, I would suggest you leave them in for as long as you can, and only transition them to a blanket once they don’t fit in it anymore.
Related: 15 Best Baby Girl Blankets
8 Best Baby Sleep Sacks for Winter
Without further ado, here’s my list of the best baby sleeping bags for winter!
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1) Merino Kids GO GO Bag: Winter Weight
The Merino Kids Sleeping Bag (also called Go Go Bag) is the most perfect solution for your baby all year round, not just in winter! In fact, it is made or merino, which has an incomparable ability to maintain a comfortable micro-climate between body and bedding, keeping you baby cool when it is hot and warm when it is cold.
The Standard Weight GO GO Bag has a TOG rating of 0.5-1.8 but it’s suitable for temperatures between 18 and 30 °C (64-86 °F), which might be enough already for you.
However, if you need something warmer, the Winter Weight GO GO Bag has a TOG rating of 2.3-3.5, suitable for a temperature range between 12 and 18 °C (54-64 °F).
The outer layer of the Winter Weight is made of certified organic cotton, which makes it very durable, and the inside also has an organic cotton wadding filling, to achieve the higher TOG rating.
I have personally used the Standard Weight sleep sack for my daughters all year round and I absolutely love it. Even though the temperature here in New Zealand goes below 18 °C (64 °F) in winter, I have a heater in the room that keeps the temperature at 19 °C minimum. This means I can use the Merino Kids Sleeping Bag no matter the season.
What I love:
- Itch-free and allergy-safe
- Very durable
- Safety Belt aperture for use in car and strollers: perfect for travelling!
- It comes in only 2 sizes (0-2 years and 2-4 years), which means you get a good use out of it
Cons:
- Expensive compared to other types of sleeping bags. However, you are essentially buying one sleeping bag for all seasons, and each sleeping bag lasts for 2 years, so it’s actually cheaper in the long run
- The zip needs to be closed from under the armpit instead of the feet, which makes it a bit uncomfortable to close, particularly with a wriggly child. However, it does make changing the diaper at night easier, as the zip opens up from the bottom
2) HALO Winter Weight Sleepsack
The HALO Winter Weight Sleepsack is the best sleep sack for winter if you are on a budget. It’s very cheap but it is still of very good quality. It is made of a 100% cotton shell with polyester fill, to provide a cozy quilted feel and lightweight warmth.
The HALO Sleepsack also has a unique roomy sack design that does not restrict baby’s legs to ensure proper hip development. In fact, it is recognized by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute as “Hip Healthy.”
The TOG rating of the HALO Winter Weight Sleepsack is 2.5, which is perfect for temperatures below 21 °C (70 °F). Also, the zipper opens from the bottom, making nighttime diaper changes easier.
However, the zipper is at the front, instead of the size, and I am personally not a huge fan or front zippers. I find it much easier when it’s on the side.
It comes in 3 different sizes:
- Small: 0-6 months
- Medium: 6-12 months
- Large: 12-18 months
What I love:
- Cozy quilted feel
- Very affordable
Cons:
- Front zipper (this depends on what you prefer though)
- Only comes in sizes up to 18 months
- Very little choice of colors
3) Woolino Ultimate Sleeping Bag
The Woolino Ultimate Sleeping Bag is quite similar to the Merino Kids Sleeping Bag: it is also made of Merino, which means that the sleeping bag is perfect all year round.
It also has an Organic Cotton outer shell, which makes it very durable. And it has the safety belt aperture for use in car and strollers, plus the zipper is on the side instead of the front.
The main differences between the Woolino and the Merino Kids Sleeping Bags are:
- The Woolino sleeping bag has snaps on both shoulder instead of only one
- The Woolino sleeping bag has a double zipper, so that you can open it up wither from the bottom or the side. I personally really love this feature: it makes changing diapers at night so much easier!
- The Woolino sleeping bag is a bit cheaper than the Merino Kids sleeping bag. Bonus!
- It comes in a universal size of 2 months to 2 years: this could be a bonus, but the downside is that you can’t use it for your a newborn.
Woolino also offers a simpler and cheaper design with the Woolino Basic Sleeping Bag, which has no snaps and no travel slots, and it comes in traditional sizes (0-6, 6-18, 18-36 months).
Because Woolino sleep sacks are designed for all seasons, they do not offer a TOG rating, not even a range like the Merino Kids sleeping bags. However, they recommend using them in room temperature between 17 and 25 °C (63-77 °F).
Get 10% OFF all Woolino products buy using the discount code “MUMINTHEWOODS10” if you buy direct from the Woolino website!
What I love:
- The price tag: to be made of merino and organic cotton, the price is very good
- The double zipper on the side
- Itch-free and allergy-safe
- Very durable
- Safety Belt aperture for use in car and strollers: perfect for travelling!
Cons:
- Expensive compared to other types of sleep sacks. However, you are essentially buying one sleeping bag for all seasons, so it’s actually cheaper in the long run
- The zip needs to be closed from under the armpit instead of the feet, which makes it a bit uncomfortable to close, particularly with a wriggly child.
4) Nested Bean Zen Sack Winter Weight
The No products found. is another great sleep sack for winter. It has a unique feature which is the presence of light weighted pads on the chest and on the sides.
Babies sleep better when they can feel your touch, but we can’t always be right there beside them while they sleep. So, Nested Bean pads mimic your touch!
If you have a baby that sleeps on their belly, you can also reverse the Zen Sack so the weight is on your baby’s back instead of their chest.
That said, there are a lot of mixed reviews about the pads, mainly from parents that were expecting a miracle because of them! I think you need to realize that these just mimic a parent’s touch, but they don’t magically sleep train your baby!
If your child is going through a sleep regression, like the 4-month sleep regression, then there are other factors at play and the sleep sack won’t make a difference!
The No products found. is made from 100% cotton and heavy poly-fiber filling and it has adjustable shoulder tabs that allow for growth. It also has a two-way zipper system, similar to the Woolino sleeping bag, perfect for middle-of-the-night diaper changes.
Finally, it comes in 3 different sizes: 0-6 months, 6-15 months, 15-24 months.
The TOG rating is 2.5.
What I love:
- Unique feature of the weighted pads on the chest and sides
- Double zipper on the side
- It only comes in 3 sizes, so you get a good use out of it
- Very affordable
Cons:
- The zip needs to be closed from under the armpit instead of the feet, which makes it a bit uncomfortable to close, particularly with a wriggly child
No products found.
5) Kyte Baby Bamboo Ryon Sleeping Bag
My favorite thing about the Kyte Baby Sleeping Bag is the material it is made of, which is rayon of bamboo (97%, and 3% Spandex).
Bamboo fabric is incredibly soft and breathable, not to mention hypoallergenic (great for babies with sensitive skin) and sustainable. In fact, it s one of the most sustainable resources on earth, making it an eco-friendly choice too. The filling is made of polyester for the extra warmth in winter.
It comes in a wide range of rainbow colors and it’s available in a TOG rating of 2.5. It is available in three different sizes: 0-6 months, 6-18 months, 18-36 months.
It also has a unique J-shape double zipper. I love the double zipper for easy diaper changes at night, but I am not sure I am sold on the J-shape. I think I prefer the standard zipper on the side.
What I love:
- Made of bamboo, which is a sustainable material and is hypoallergenic
- The double zipper on the side
- It only comes in 3 sizes, meaning you get a good use out of it
Cons:
- The zip needs to be closed from the top instead of the feet, which makes it a bit uncomfortable to close, particularly with a wriggly child
- Slightly more expensive than other sleeping bags
6) Baby DeeDee Sleep Nest Sleeping Bags
Baby DeeDee comes with a range of three different No products found. for winter, with a TOG of either 2.5 or 3.5.
- Sleep Nest TOG of 2.5. Made of quilted wearable duvet.
- Sleep Nest Teddy TOG of 2.5. It is made of luxurious faux fur, so it’s incredibly soft and snuggly!
- No products found. TOG of 2.5. Same features of the Sleep Nest, but with a choice of cute patterns, instead of just solid colors.
- No products found. TOG of 3.5. This sleeping bag is made of ultralight warm duvet fabric and is suitable for very cold temperatures both inside and outside. It has removable sleeves and flap for the stroller/car buckle!
All sleeping sacks come with snaps on both shoulders, making it super easy to put them on your baby even when they are asleep. Also, the front zipper opens from the bottom, making nighttime diaper changes easier.
They all come in 3 sizes: 0-6 months, 6-18 months, 18-36 months.
What I love:
- Snaps on both shoulders
- Choice of TOG of 2.5 or 3.5
- Great choice of colors and patterns
- They only come in 3 sizes, meaning you get a good use out of it
- Removable sleeves and flap for the car/stroller buckle on the bag with a TOG rating of 3.5
Cons:
- Front zipper (this depends on what you prefer though)
- The No products found. is slightly more expensive than other sleeping bags
7) Slumbersafe Winter Baby Sleeping Bags
The Slumbersafe Winter Baby Sleeping Bags from Slumbersac come with a TOG rating of 3.5 (some also come with a 2.5 TOG rating), so they are another amazing solution for a winter sleep sack.
What I really like about these sleeping bags is that they come with the option of sleeves or no sleeves!
They are made from 100% jersey cotton outer fabric and inner lining, and soft & breathable polyester fleece filling. However, the sleeves have slightly less padding to allow for unrestricted arm movement.
The zipper is at the front and it opens from the top. Some go all the way down, which I prefer, whereas others only go halfway down, making nighttime diaper changes a little bit harder.
They come in 6 sizes: 0-6 months, 6-18 months, 18-36 months, 3-6 years, 6-10 years. It’s the only brand that I know that makes sleeping bags for such older kids, which is great if you are planning on using a sleeping bag until that age. However, not all designs come in all sizes.
What I love:
- Soft cotton outer fabric and inner lining
- Choice of sleeves or no sleeves
Cons:
- Front zipper that opens from the top
8) Gunamuna Baby Sleeping Bag
The Gunamuna Baby Sleeping Bag has an incredibly unique design. It has a 4-way zipper (WONDERZiP) that offers 3 options: allows sack to open just the bottom for easiest diaper changes, or completely from either side for sleeping baby transfers, or the traditional middle. Your choice. I personally love this design, makes total sense!
It comes in a TOG rating of 2.6 and 4 sizes: 3-9 months, 9-12 months, 12-24 months, 24-36 months. Note that the 18-24 and 24-36 months sizes do not have the center zip.
What I also really like is that, similarly to the Kyte Baby Sleeping Bag, it is made of ultra-soft 95% bamboo viscose and 5% spandex.
Finally, the snaps are on both shoulders for easiest sleeping baby transfers!
What I love:
- Made of bamboo viscose, which is breathable, hypoallergenic and very soft
- Unique zipper design that makes life so much easier
- Snaps on both shoulder
Cons:
- It doesn’t come in a newborn size. For 0-3 months they only sell a swaddle sack.
Best Baby Sleep Sacks for Winter: Final Thoughts
Here’s it is mama, my list of the best sleep sacks for winter. I really hope you’ve found the perfect solution for your baby here and that you are looking forwards to many good nights sleep (fingers crossed!).
In summary, all the sleep sacks listed above are good quality and have their own pros and cons. However, the Merino Kids Sleeping Bag remains my ultimate favorite. I love the fact that, because of its fabric, I can use it all year round, and that it only comes in 2 sizes: it becomes such a good investment!
For more information on how to dress baby for sleep and how to survive the sleepless nights, have a read at these related posts:
- How to dress Baby for Sleep
- Baby Waking Up Multiple Times a Night: here’s what you need to know
- 6 Month Sleep Regression: Tips on How to Tackle it Fast
- The 8, 9 or 10 Month Sleep Regression: Signs and Tips on How to Survive it
- 6 Sleep Training Methods that ACTUALLY work (and that don’t involve Cry It Out!)
Are you looking for a sleep sack for your baby this winter and have more questions that haven’t been answered above? Or are you a mom who’s used sleeping bags with your kids and have more brands that you’d like to recommend? Then please let me know in the comments below – I’d love to hear from you!
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