Creating a baby registry is one of the most fun and also most stressful things I’ve ever done. There are so many amazing products out there, how in the world are you supposed to choose? What is a “must have”? What might be fun but unnecessary? Which brands are better?

One of the many categories of baby items to look into is sleeping gear. And one piece of baby and toddler sleeping gear that is not a must but is a great bonus is sleep sacks…I’m a big fan!

In this blog post, I will explain:

• Why sleep sacks are so great for baby and toddler sleep
• The best newborn swaddles
• The best transitional swaddles and sleep sacks
• The best baby sleep sacks
• The best toddler sleep sacks, both closed and with leg holes
• Popular sleep sacks I don’t recommend

Why I Love Sleep Sacks for Both Babies and Toddlers

I have used sleep sacks with all three of my girls since we transitioned them out of the swaddle, and my five-year-old and two-year-old are both still in one! And my oldest wore one until right around the time she turned five, as well.  So when I say we love sleep sacks in this family, we really do!

First, sleep sacks are a great physical reminder in the nap and bedtime routine that sleep is coming (and auditory, with the zipper!). My girls often started yawning or rubbing their eyes as soon as they got in their sleep sacks.

They are also really easy to bring when traveling and they’re easy to send to daycare, giving your child one more piece of “home” while away, especially for babies under 12 months who can’t yet have a “lovey” or comfort item.

Sleep sacks also help keep babies and toddlers warm at night! It is not safe for babies under 12 months to have anything in the crib with them, and I’ve not seen many toddlers actually able to stay under a blanket while sleeping. So zipping my girls in their sleep sacks gives me the peace of mind that they’re warm all night long.

Finally, sleep sacks can help prevent some toddlers from climbing out of their cribs; it makes it much harder to swing their legs over the side of the crib. It’s not always so simple as a sleep sack, but it’s certainly a start!

Now I’m going to share the best baby and toddler sleep sacks, from our family to yours.

Newborn Sleep Sacks- The Best Swaddles

Why is swaddling important for newborns?

Before I talk about which swaddles are great, let’s talk about swaddling! Although sleep sacks are not a must for great sleep skills, I view swaddles for newborns a bit differently.

Although there are no requirements, I STRONGLY suggest all newborns be swaddled for any naps or nighttime sleep in their bassinet or crib. Not only does swaddling help minimize the startle reflex we’ve all seen stir or wake a sleeping babe, but swaddling is one of Dr. Karp’s famous Five S’s to soothe a crying baby.

Swaddling helps give our newborns a similar feeling of security like when they were in our womb, and even in non-sleep situations, it can help calm a fussy infant.

So here are the three best swaddles:

The Ollie Swaddle

We didn’t have The Ollie Swaddle until we had our third baby, but it’s now my favorite swaddle for newborns and I can’t wait to use it for baby number four! We used the SwaddleME with our older girls (I’ll share more next) and we loved it. However, the Velcro did not hold up as well for our second daughter, and by our third baby, the Velcro really wasn’t holding well at all.

So a friend sent us her Ollie Swaddles, as they no longer needed them, and they were amazing! The velcro is much stronger, so it lasts multiple kids, and it’s also harder for a newborn to escape the swaddle.

The little tie at the bottom also makes it a one-size-fits-all swaddle, so it grows with your baby. The price is high but, in my opinion, totally worth it! Especially if you plan on using them for more than one child.

SwaddleME Swaddles

We used the SwaddleMe swaddles with our older two girls and loved them! Having Velcro on a swaddle makes it much easier to keep a newborn’s arms in the swaddle rather than trusting your own skills with swaddle blankets, and they were especially easy after those middle-of-the-night feedings.

The only two cons we found with the SwaddleMe swaddles are that the Velcro doesn’t last well for multiple babies, and if you have a bigger newborn, they start growing out of the swaddles more quickly. And who wants to size up on a product that is so short-lived?

Love to Dream Swaddles

Although I’ve never used them personally, I know many people who love them! The Love to Dream swaddle allows babies to sleep with their arms up, which some babies seem to prefer, yet it still prevents the startle reflex from waking the infant.

So if you’ve tried using more standard arms-down swaddles with your newborn and they don’t seem to like it, try the Love to Dream Swaddle!

Why I Do Not Recommend Just Using a Swaddle Blanket

Aden and Anais swaddle blankets are also amazing (and cute!) for a million and one reasons, but unless you are a hospital-grade swaddler or you’re in a bind, I would not recommend swaddling your baby for sleep with one of these blankets. Newborns wiggle around quite a bit in their sleep and it’s not hard for them to wiggle right out of a swaddle blanket, and now that startle reflex is not only ready to wake them, but we also have something loose in the crib, which isn’t safe.

The Best Transitional Swaddles and Sleep Sacks

Although swaddles are amazing and I sure do love those newborn baby burrito days, there does come a time, between 8-12 weeks old, when it’s time to transition out of the swaddle. So what’s next?

Halo SleepSack Swaddle

Once again, Halo Sleep Sacks were the only transitional sleep sacks we had when our oldest was born and they worked well for us, so we didn’t try anything else!

What I love is that you can still use it as a swaddle if your swaddle is getting a bit too small, but you can also swaddle one arm in, one arm out, and even once both arms are out, you can keep the baby’s body snug so it feels like a nice hug!

Zipadee-Zip Sleep Sack

I have not used a Zipadee-Zip personally, but again, I know many people who have and rave about them. Your baby will essentially look like the cutest flying squirrel you ever did see.

The Zipadee-Zip is safe for older babies, as they can roll both ways in them, but for those still struggling with the startle reflex, this is a good transitional sleep sack, as it does not allow babies to fully extend their arms.

I will note that some babies get more frustrated with Zipadee-Zip, because although they can bring their hands to their mouth, they don’t have full access because there’s fabric over their hands. So for babies trying to use their fists or fingers to self-soothe, it might not be the best option.

What should babies sleep in when they’re no longer swaddled?

Once babies have successfully transitioned out of the swaddle, you have two choices: you can either continue living the sleep sack life (I’m all about it), or you can drop the sleep sack altogether.

Just remember that s sleep sack very likely isn’t going to make or break how your little one sleeps! If they’re cold, then yes, that could make the difference. But you will never hear me say that babies who use sleep sacks sleep better than babies who sleep without them.

The Best Sleep Sacks for Babies

Woolino

I am forever grateful for the friend who gifted us with a Woolino sleeping bag at our baby shower, because I would have otherwise missed out! That gift not only spurred on my forever love for them, but for a few other new mamas who were there, as well.

We love the 4 Season Ultimate Baby Sleep Bags – they fit from 2-24 months and they’re amazing quality!

Our youngest currently uses the sleep sacks that both older girls used for two years, and despite their millions of washes and stain removings, they are still just as soft (and not itchy, like you might assume wool to be!).

Merino wool is also magical…I’m not a scientist so don’t ask me why, but it somehow helps kids remain at a consistent temperature, and can even help warm them up or cool them down if they’re a bit too warm or cold. So babies will stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter, meaning my girls wear them year-round!

Who has the time to change out sleep sacks per season? Plus who wants to buy a new sleep sack every six months as their baby keeps growing? So they’re definitely on the pricey end, but having one that fits a baby for two years, plus year-round is just too great to pass up, in my book.

We actually have a 10% discount code for Woolino products, so make sure you use the code VIAGRACES at checkout!

Halo SleepSack

The Halo sleep sacks are another popular option and are on the less expensive side!

They are fairly lightweight, so if your baby’s room tends to run on the cooler side and you’re looking to keep them warm, the Halo sleep sack isn’t the best option. However I believe they also have fleece sleep sacks, so there are multiple options!

Most people think sleep sacks are just for babies, but there are also some great toddler sleep sacks, so let’s switch gears to those.

The Best Toddler Sleep Sacks

Woolino

Once again, Woolino is our favorite and we’ve not tried another toddler sleep sack. We love the 4 Season Ultimate Toddler Sleep Bags, as they fit from ages 2-4 years old – so again, there’s that wide age range! I also love that they look and feel the same as the baby sleep sacks, so we’re really not making any changes except in length.

Woolino also has sleep bags with feet, but we prefer the sleep bags so I know her feet are warm, and there’s much less of a chance she could climb out of her crib.

Our oldest never attached to a lovey, but her sleep sack was absolutely her comfort device. I’ve heard of some kids who end up cuddling their old sleep sacks once they grow out of them and I understand why!

I recently discovered that Woolino also has toddler blankets, so there’s a good chance that’s what we’ll be using when Olivia no longer fits in her sleep sack.

Remember you can get 10% off yours toddler sleeping bags when you use the code VIAGRACES at checkout!

Halo Big Kids Sleepsack

Once again, Halo has a great option with their Halo Big Kids Sleepsack!

These sleep sacks have little foot holes, too. If you’re mostly interested in using a sleep sack to give your toddler an extra layer at night and to be a physical reminder that sleep is coming, this is a great option.

I will say, I’m not as big of a fan of sleep sacks with feet. One, I would be worried about my daughter’s feet getting cold. And two, sleep sacks with feet make crib climbing easier than a sleep sack without feet.

Popular Sleep Sacks I Don’t Suggest

Magic Merlin

Why is the Magic Merlin not on my list of transitional sleep sacks, you may ask?

I just don’t think they’re necessary. Although they allow your child to have their arms and legs “free” and are therefore safe for rollers, the adorable marshmallow suit does not allow for much movement.

And the whole point of transitioning out of the swaddle is to give babies the ability to move, as it’s such a big part of self-soothing.

So I would prefer transitioning from the swaddle into something that allows more movement, rather than transitioning to another sleep sack that could later require another transition.

Nested Bean

Someone actually gifted us a Nested Bean sleep sack when we had our first baby, and although the idea is clever, it’s just not necessary. There is a little weighted shape on the chest that is supposed to resemble the feeling of a parent’s hand.

Well let me tell you, in our months of sleeplessness with our oldest, we tried our Nested Bean just to see if it would magically help, and it certainly did not.

Because it wasn’t a matter of products, it was a matter of sleep skills!

Also, if a baby rolls over while wearing the Nested Bean, they will likely be uncomfortable sleeping on the weighted part, and we want babies to be able to roll around and move as part of self-soothing.

So I would rather teach a child to sleep independently and self-soothe than rely on a specific product.

The Dreamland Weighted Sleep Sack

The Dreamland Weighted Sleep Sacks have become really popular in the last two years, and I don’t love the idea for two reasons.

The first reason is similar to the Nested Bean. Babies and toddlers don’t need a weighted product in order to sleep well!

The second reason is safety. There isn’t clear evidence that weighted sleep sacks are unsafe, but there isn’t enough evidence that they are safe.

And there are so many great sleep sacks out there that are safe, so why risk it?

Conclusion

Even though I’ve narrowed down the options for you, I know it’s still overwhelming! With all of this, I want to make one thing clear…even the most amazing sleep sack is NOT going to be the trick that teaches your baby to fall asleep and sleep through the night.

Sleep sacks are NOT required for great sleep! I think they’re an amazing tool and certainly have their perks, but they are not going to make the difference between sleep and no sleep.

So if you have found yourself in the never-ending search for the “perfect product” that will get your baby sleeping, I’ve been there! But from one parent to another, it doesn’t exist. So don’t let this post convince you that a Woolino sleep sack is going to fix all of those night wakings and short naps because a sleep consultant said she loves them.

What will make the difference in great sleep? A good PLAN! And that’s where we come in with personalized sleep plans to help you approach your child’s sleep with confidence! So if you’re curious about what that could look like, check out how we can help.

Finally, with all of this product talk, if you’re wondering what other sleep products we love for babies and toddlers, you can check those out here!

With Grace,

Lauren

Note that this blog contains some affiliate links, but the reviews are from my personal use.