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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Blankets or Sleeping bag, which is best???

29 replies

sum04 · 18/04/2011 14:00

I was hoping for some advice on whether blankets or a sleeping bag/grobag was best for a newborn due in may?
Always used blankets with my other 2, but there wasn't really such a thing as sleeping bags then or i just didn't know of them.
Wondering if its safer to use a sleeping bag for the baby, but im pretty sure i heard on the news last year of a baby suffocating in one of them when there arms got stuck in the bag?? So really not sure...

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soandsosmum · 18/04/2011 14:05

I heard they werent as good for enabling muscle development in legs, and they restrict movements... but would be interested to hear what those who've used them/both would recommend

Tarlia · 18/04/2011 14:17

I swaddled for the first 6 weeks, then changed to a sleeping bag, he was a 6lber so too small. We had bought two proper winter grobags (for 8lbs) but it got too hot before he could use them, i expected a bigger baby, doh! We decided to just get mothercare summer ones and these can be used from 7lb if I remember rightly as they have extra poppers under the arms, he can't manage to snuggle down into it (I'll look after his nap if you'd like to know).

Had he been big enough I would have used the bag from day 1 as it's so much easier for night feeds and he can't kick it off! Because he'd been swaddled we had to transition as he got very upset, but that's another thread :). We've found the mothercare ones great and got a bogof.

Tarlia · 18/04/2011 14:20

Cross post - that's really interesting, I'd not heard that. However, from experience I feel he can kick his legs if he chooses too much more easily than if he were under a blanket tucked tightly down sides. I'd love to see info on that soandsos.

juneau · 18/04/2011 14:24

I swaddled for the first eight weeks and then switched to a grobag. There is plenty of room for a baby to kick if they want to and the newborn size have poppers under the arms to make them extra snug. My DS stayed in a grobag until he was 2.6 and they were great. Kept him warm in winter, and in hot weather I just put him in a lightweight one with a vest and nappy and he wasn't too hot. Blankets get kicked off IME and baby gets cold.

tonythetiger · 18/04/2011 20:58

Swaddled for the first month and then used grobags. Agree with tarlia and juneau that it's easier to kick in the bag than under blankets.
On the 'official' grobag store, you can get 25% off travel ones (2.5 tog) - you can use them as normal ones - and also get cashback from quidco (can you tell what I've been buying today!).

theborrower · 18/04/2011 21:04

We used blankets for the first 6 months as 1) she was just over 5lb when born and too small for a sleeping bag and 2) her crib wouldn't fit a sleeping bag in it (too short). We liked the blankets as it was really easy to adjust the layers. We switched to a sleeping bag when she went in her big cot because we had more room and also because at that age she was a wee fidget/kicker in bed and she would have kicked them off in her new spacious bed. I'd definitely recommend a sleeping bag when they get to that age.

BatFlattery · 18/04/2011 21:35

We started off swaddling with a cellular blanket as DS was tooo small at birth, and switched to sleeping bags as soon as he was big enough. I find them very good as they can't be kicked off, and is easy to adjust the clothing he wears underneath if too hot/cold. Mamas and Papas always seem to have some in the bargain bin by the till. As somone else has already said above, they are great for night feeds.

Joannezipan · 18/04/2011 22:35

I'm planning on sleeping bags just because they will contain any midnight poo explosions a bit better I hope! Maybe I can get away without changing the whole bed then.

breatheslowly · 18/04/2011 22:43

DD has been in a sleeping bag since about 3 weeks. There doesn't seem to be any way for her to shuffle down in them or get her arms caught, so I don't think they pose a risk of suffocation. I think that there may actually be evidence that they reduce the risks as the baby can't get them over their head (unlike blankets if not well tucked in). They are really convienient and we never get woken by DD due to her covers coming off. You adjust the baby's clothing for different temperatures. I think they are the default on the continent. See if you can borrow some from a friend as the first size is 0-6 months, so are outgrown pretty quickly. The travel ones are handy as you can put your baby in the carseat in one, take the carseat in and then just quickly transfer to bed without waking them.

HipHopOpotomus · 19/04/2011 04:17

I used a merino baby gogo sleeping bag with dd and have another for this next baby. Used it from birth to about 19 months. Expensive but worth every penny. Used one bag, could wash in morning and it was dry evening. Regulates temp very well. Great design to fit well at every stage. Dd a kicker - no worries there

georgie22 · 19/04/2011 05:47

We used Gro-bags as soon as dd reached minimum weight for these. Blankets were a nightmare imo as she spent all night trying to kick them off, sleeping bags on the other hand allow them to kick but remain warm and covered. From what I've read sleeping bags are recommended by the FSID - can't see how a baby could slip down in one if the weight restriction is followed and the extra underarm poppers were fastened.

debka · 19/04/2011 06:30

Sleeping bags here too- but I put a blanket round her legs at naptimes.

Tarlia · 19/04/2011 10:11

Yup, we use blanket in daytime too. I think it helps distinguish between day and night, plus it's warmer in the day.

HipHopOpotomus · 19/04/2011 20:39

I too used blankets on the day time. Sleeping bag was for night time. DD loved it- she never had sEcurity blanket or comforter and I did wonder if that might be due to the sleeping bag.

skewiff · 19/04/2011 20:55

sorry to butt in -

But I have just bought a co-sleeping cot from mothercare/ebay.

I didn't have one of these with DS who just slept in bed with me - so I'm wondering if a blanket or sleeping bag is suitable for this sort of cot (considering that I'll probably be breastfeeding then moving baby, breast feeding then moving baby etc all night).

nicolamumof3 · 19/04/2011 21:13

found sleeping bags helped with establishing sleep routine really well for my two youngest.

Jojo used to do a newborn size which was lovely as i didn't worry using those from the really early days.

mothercare had their bags on bogof free last week so i bought a 2.5tog and 1tog for my july baby. Also going to look for some baby snugglers/nightgowns in case its too hot. Jojo also do 'sheet' bags which are really really thin so good if we do get a hot summer.

Pussinflatboots · 19/04/2011 21:13

Hi skewiff, I have a co-sleeping cot and use grobags at night (blankets in the day). It's quite easy to pick them up in the sleeping bag... as long as they don't puke!

breatheslowly · 19/04/2011 21:33

Skewiff - my DD cosleeps and is in a grobag too. It means that I don't have to worry about her blankets as she moves back and forth between the co-sleeper cot and sleeping with me.

nunnie · 19/04/2011 21:39

I swaddled both of mine for the first 6-8 weeks, then with DD we used blanket as she was still to small for sleeping bag, as soon as she was big enough we put her in one. DS went into one when he got sick of being swaddled.

Blankets during the day for DD due to season and no blankets during the day for DS again due to season.

LifeOfKate · 19/04/2011 21:57

Skewiff - I would have thought that a sleeping bag would be ideal in that situation, as the sleeping bag would stay warm and cosy around them while feeding and moving back into the cot again, so perhaps less disruption to their sleep? :)

I have found TK Maxx brilliant for cheap sleeping bags, they sell the Gro-bag brand for about £12-£15 :o

TiggieWiggle · 20/04/2011 09:02

We use these to start with Swaddle Me Found them really good as I was rubbish at using blankets to swaddle DD - she was a wriggler

Then we used Mamas and Pappas sleeping bags when she went into her cot.

soandsosmum · 20/04/2011 09:51

hi
I'm still a mum2B but I read about sleeping stuff in this book about Montessori www.amazon.co.uk/Montessori-Start-Paula-Polk-Lillard/dp/0805211128/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1303289462&sr=8-3

OompaLumpa · 20/04/2011 19:05

Ya dumb question from a newbie mom to be here but where others hsve referred to swaddling and using blankets during the day, what do you use yo swaddle and what kind of blankets do you use for daytime naps?
LO due end june and i am struggling to get my head around making sure i dont overheat or leave LO too cold. Help!!

StoneBaby · 20/04/2011 19:52

I used sleeping bag since birth with a blanket on the top (February baby). DS was 7lb4 at birth and fine in it.

Tarlia · 21/04/2011 21:09

oompa my baby is a feb baby so not positive what youd wrap a newborn in in June as the weather is so varied. I would suggest a 1tog sleeping bag with the clothes specified, or if you want to swaddle then a small cotton flat sheet, with added cellular blanket(s) tucked into matress depending on temperature. In very hot weather, you can get huge muslin cloths, these are fab to swaddle with.

During the daytime I use either a thin fleece blanket, cellular blanket or muslin cloth, the weather is so varied here it's hard to know how many layers are needed so it's trial and error really, by sticking a finger inside their clothes to check once they are settled for a bit and adjust accordingly.

General rule of thumb is to put on the least you think s/he needs with the view to check and add more. A cold baby will likely cry, a hot one will snuggle and overheat which can be scary.

Sorry, bit rambled, but hope this helps.

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