sleeping bags...

My DS (yes I still get excited saying that!) is just shy of 12 weeks and is turning into houdini as far as getting out of wraps and from under blankets. He tends to travel upwards (rather than foot-wards) in his cot, and I think tends to get a bit too cold at night because he leaves his bedding behind (think starfish sleeping pose!).

I have a sleeping bag I got from Target which is probably more designed for winter months... so I'm trying that today... but wondered if anyone could recommend particular sleeping bags and why? I'm also keen to get something that's all cotton. I looked at grobags and they seemed quite expensive, so wondering if they're worth it? Do you get what you pay for, and e.g. is there any reason why I should go for a grobag over something else?

TIA!
Belfie

Hiya

For summer you can get sleeveless ones - check Myer/DJ's - I love the Snugtime brand bags, have used them with my kids cos they are all cotton (and the whole eczema thing too you should try to just have him in cotton. In hot summer too I often put them in full bags (ie with sleeves) but in just a singlet and nappy inside so when it got colder early hours of the morning, they are insulated with at least their own body heat.

From memory they are about $35. My little ones are out on loaner to a friend so will have to call them back soon myself!

HTH.

I have never used the actual grobag brand name ones so can't comment on a comparison.

I use the Grobag brand and Snugtime in winter when it is important to have good quality to keep them warm but having said that, I know people swear by the Grobags but they are SO expensive and I don't think they are that justified. Yes they are nice material and have a TOG rating, but so do cheaper ones like Snugtime that are gorgeous fabric and warm as well. I got my Snugtime ones from DJ's and they are about $45 for winter and are great! I got given Grobags for my baby shower and like them but wouldn't buy them myself. Izzy has been in a bag since 8 weeks old so we have a few around! We use sleeveless all year round so that she doesn't overheat, even in winter, and for summer, I have lovely soft cotton ones at Target and Big W. As long as they are 100% cotton and the zips/snaps are secure I don't see the point in spending $80 especially for summer ones that are light fabric. I also have an Uh-Oh one for summer which is nice and light. One thing I look for as well, is that we don't use ones that have a seatbelt hole most of the time unless we are going out - she would get her little feet caught in there once she started moving around more. Good luck with it hun!

I used a Bubbaro Joey sleeping bag for DD and will again when bubs is born, there hands stay in the sleeping bag so they stay warm and they can't whack themselves in the head. It was about $50 but it was worth it as DD slept much better and I didn't have to worry about her being cold. We used it until she outgrew it and then swapped to the ones with the arms.

I just use target ones. I use them with long sleeves in the really cold nights and no sleeves when it's a bit warmer but still cool. When it's over about 15 degrees overnight I just have DD in a jumpsuit or flannel PJ's and don't worry about a sleeping bag and she's fine but she's a bit older than your bub. I think once the really hot nights hit I'll probably just leave her in a singlet and nappy and that will be it for hot nights.

DS has been in a grobag since about 9 weeks has been great, what annoyms me is cost so we only have 1 so needs to be washed lots. I do have a snugtime one also which i have used a few times when cooler.

I love grobags but aggree overpriced for what they are, however well made, nice looking, feeling and TOG

We've used the grobag ones and also the bebe ones from DJ's. They are both very similar.

If you find they are a bit expensive in the shops, try ebay. I bought my grobag off there and it only cost about $45 plus postage and it was Brand New. You can buy them 2nd hand from there also for a bit cheaper.

ive only ever used the snugtime ones!!
summer thin cotton ones are great,
hate to say it but you've just missed there bi-annual sale :doh: they are sooooooo cheap at the outlet im talking around $15

I was in KMart the other day and they just got in new ones that are sleeveless and cotton so I grabbed one for Bethany, it is good. And at only 13 dollars I figured if she hated no loss, maybe try something like that first before making a big investment??

ooh thanks ladies :hug: that's very helpful information! I'm going to trot off (when I'm brave enough to dare go near the Xmas crowds) and check out Kmart/Myer/DJ's until I find some (rather than shelling out $$$ for grobags). I've been sleeping him in the one that we have, and he loves it, so I think a "summer" one (or two) would be great.

SamiH & Tan - great to see you're still both very good at stalking my threads :p much appreciated!

I recently got two grobags on sale online for about $50 each. I got sleeveless summer ones and I think they are great. One of them is a travel bag. It has a velcroed slit in the back which you open up for the seatbelt to fit through so it's great if we are out of an evening and can transfer DS straight from the car into his cot in his sleeping bag without having to change him and wake him up.

We also had a winter sleeping bag from Target which was really good as well, it was that nice cosy material.

I'm happy with the grobags as they will fit him for another year and in winter I can just dress him in warmer clothes under the grobag. Then they will be used for the next baby. So, that's my justification for the $$$.

I would spend the extra $$ on grobags. Both my DDs are quite long and while I like the snug time ones generally, they are significantly shorter than the gro bags and they quickly get to be too short for my girls. The grobags are probably double the prize of the snug time (unless you get them on sale - now is the time to look for winter ones on sale) but they wash and tumble dry so well that I got three for DD#1 (0.5, 1.5 and 2.5 togs) and I then used them for DD#2. Likewise, when DD#1 went up to the next size I got the same 3 tog ratings and DD#2 is just starting to use them now. They are all still in great condition and could easily be used for a third baby.

Um, maybe a very stupid question, but what is "TOG"?

belfie
i used dreambags (they are from the UK) and they are fab.
I have 0.5tog for summer it is great and lightweight. used it up north on DD and now DS is in it (i have 6-18month size and it is fitting him fine! even though he is only 2 months as you know!!!

they are 100% cotton and fabbo! cheaper than grobags too... however keen an eye out at myer/dj's for after xmas sales as you can get grobags pretty cheap there on sale... i have seen them down to $29!!!



TUT - tog is the thickness weight of the bag. 0.5-2.5 i think depending of weather and temp.

Oooh. Makes sense now. Hehe. Thanks!
My little one is due in April, so it wont be freezing, but it will be slowly getting there. Do you think I should just invest in winter ones? Or summer ones and a blanket? I'm so confused. Some people keep telling me you just need to wrap them up, other say you need to wrap them AND put a blanket over them, others say the sleeping bags are the way to go. It would be nice if there was just one right way and thats all.

They advise not to use blankets on sleepbags as bub cant really kick it off if need iykwim.
I would get a lighter one over a heavier one as you can always throw 2 singlets and a long jumpsuit on under and then get lighter in clothing as it warms up
but if you get a winter winter one you can make it much cooler later on :)

unless you live somewhere it gets totally freezing.. then you will need 2 summer and winter

oh belfie - i also have a long sleeve bonds one from big w. dd slept in that for winter which was fine.
the fleecy material! :)

Tutmae - I'm in Perth too and had May babies. Both my girls were in grobags from about 8 weeks and 4 weeks respectively. Depending on the weather, in winter they would wear either a singlet or short sleeved bodysuit under one of those bonds all in one suits, then the 2.5 tog grobag. Then they would have a sheet and either a cotton thermal or fleece blanket over the top.

PP is correct in that they recommend not to use blankets but I always have without any problems - you just need to make sure you keep an eye on how warm your baby is getting - and with a newborn you will be up a lot for feeds anyway so its pretty easy to keep an eye on them.

Well I'm still on the hunt - tried Big W, Target & Myer today and only Myer had them, but they were travel ones with a slit front & bag which I don't think I'd use and don't particularly want... so the hunt continues (might wait & see what Santa brings). Interesting point re the length, even though X's issues is more likely to be with width than length atm hehe.... hmm just googled dreambags, they look great!

I'm actually tempted to get one grobag (there's a really cute panda design! I'm such a sap!) & one dreamtime bag (they are better priced!)and see what i prefer!

Tutmae, I found I needed to wrap X to start with (otherwise he startled himself awake) and he seemed to sleep better wrapped. But now since about 10ish weeks he gets out of all wraps & blankets... and I really want to use the sleeping bags all the time.

PP, LuluHB, Laranna thanks for the info...

LuluHB - you said your bubs were quite long... what kinda percentile long? X is 75th percentile for height & weight (being re-measured tomorrow) so... not sure how that might compare.

Here's another question... he's nearly 3 months, could I get away with just getting a 6-12 month size then I'd get longer wear out of it? do you really need it to be smaller? (I guess it might be better fit at the shoulders arms if I get the right size...:dunno:).

Thanks again!!

belfie, on the 0-6 months grobags they have snaps under the arms so you can make the arm holes smaller by doing up the snaps to fit bubs better. They don't have them on the 6-18months grobags though. DS went into the 6-18mth size about a month or so ago and the arm holes are huge on him but he doesn't seem to have any trouble with it, as in his arms don't get lost into the bag or anything like that.

belf - the dream bags have snaps under the arms :)

Lulu -0 i use blankets too :) hehe but being safe with advice!

I used blankets too over the Grobags in winter and she never overheated, and her room was 16 with a small heater! :)

Belfie - Have a look at the Snugtime ones at DJ's if you go there as well!

lol I just googled the snugtime ones... I see they have pirate designs... that's done it. DH will be fixated on the pirate style :rofl: did I mention i have TWO little boys?

I used grobag and snugtime with DS and will get a couple of different brands this time so I have enough (dont have all sizes, and opposite seasons)

The main thing I was told to look for and that sids recommend is that the bag is sleeveless. You can change what your baby is wearing underneath to suit the room temperature. (pjs, long sleeves, short sleeves etc)

And also not to use any other blankets in addition to the sleeping bag.

Hi

Just wanted to add that I have used the Dreambag sleeping bags with my second son and have been really impressed with them.

I like the fact that even in the bigger sizes the zip still goes from the side (rather than down the front like the grobags).

In winter I would put a light weight blanket over the top of my bub we live in an old farm house with high ceilings and no insulation so could get very cold at night.

Good luck choosing

We've got grobags here and DD loves them. I tend to buy them on sale from Bambini Pronto - you can often get the old stock for a lot cheaper.

One tip though - don't buy ones with white around the neck. No matter how often I wash it, it just gets yucky from all the dribble. Definitely go for colour!

well I bought 2 Snugtime ones from DJ's today - yay! (I just couldn't face the thought of Boxing Day sales crowds, so didn't want to wait!). I've still got my eye on the Grobag panda one... but all the grobag designs in DJ's were icky IMO... (did I mention this was also about fashion? haha).

And thanks for the tip re sleeveless Rayray, that's a good point.
Cally - luckily I didn't buy white necked ones... but I'll remember that too!

Don't forget places like baby bunting too for sleeping bags.

Don't worry I didn't like the grobag designs either. My DS's was red with white stars on it because I couldn't find any designs I liked ;) I can't remember who made his.

For Aidyn I used only Grobags, and could only afford one in each size.

For Eva I was more prepared, looking around for bargains, and I got a beautiful Dreambag from the UK for less than $25 - the quality was just as good, if not better than a Grobag. Unfortunately DreamBag now have an AU website, so the price of them has doubled since I bought one.

Online I also found a Living Textiles sleeping bag on clearance for $20 - again, wonderful quality!

There are also cheaper makes on Ebay... but the quality and fit is not quite as good, I think the brand is Cozy Touch?

I also picked up a thin stretchy cotton bag from Best & Less for only $10, and this is the one that Eva wears on the cooler summer nights (on the hot nights she doesn't need anything at all anymore!).

Good luck in your search...