Sleeping Bags: An Essential Element of Outdoor Comfort

A sleeping bag is basically a thick blanket folded in half, with a zipper closure. They're specifically designed to be warm and comfortable outdoors, and are well-suited for camping trips. Many have an outer layer made of nylon, which makes them easy to clean, and high-quality sleeping bags may be lined with flannel or fleece for warmth.

While adult sleeping bags are ordinarily done in somber colors, children's sleeping bags often have elaborate and colorful pictures on them, usually of popular characters from TV and movies. This might reflect different uses: adults are most likely to use the sleeping bags on a camping trip, whereas a child might use the sleeping bag for warmth and comfort anywhere away from their bed.

You may have heard of a baby sleeping bag; this is a sleeping garment similar to, but differently purposed than, an ordinary sleeping bag.

What's a Baby Sleeping Bag?

A baby sleeping bag is a loose sleeping gown, sewn shut below the feet and held snug to the baby by means of a zipper closure. They are ordinarily sleeveless, loose enough to be worn over other pyjamas, with enough space for the baby to kick but with a fitted top to keep them from slipping inside the baby sleeping bag. The purpose of the baby sleeping bag is to give the infant the feeling of being swaddled and the warmth associated with a blanket, while preventing them from kicking off or rolling away from that warmth. Some babies are very active sleepers, and will wake themselves when they get too cold; it's for just this type of baby that the baby sleeping bag was invented.

Some variants of baby sleeping bag come with removable 'wing' attachments for more secure swaddling, a zip-away lower portion to transform the baby sleeping bag into a gown, and removable sleeves. They're most often made of cotton, though some manufacturers make a baby sleeping bag of polyester, silk, wool, or linen. Unlike adult sleeping bags, the baby sleeping bag is specifically designed for indoor use.

Taking Baby Camping

If you intend to take your infant camping with you, a baby sleeping bag with a tog rating above 2, worn over fairly warm pyjamas, should suffice to keep them toasty without overheating them. Of course, you should bring a portable cot or other sleeping arrangement as well, since it would not be safe or comfortable for your infant to sleep on the floor of the tent or between grown adults.

Once your child is over two they are big enough to use a children's sleeping bag, but there are some manufacturers who make a baby sleeping bag large enough to fit a six-year-old. If your child is a very active sleeper with a habit of kicking off their blankets during the night, a toddler-sized baby sleeping bag may be the perfect solution for their bedding problems.