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Original poster

Grobag?? General newborn baby sleeping help

32 replies

Misscocopops · 21/06/2014 21:37

Hiya, first time mum to be here :)
I'm looking for advice on gro bags or other baby sleeping things.

My little one is due 21st September.

So I know she will be in her Moses basket for a fair few months when she arrives but what do I put her in to sleep? I've seen gro bags? Do I just use those over her baby gro?

Do these replace bedding for cots later on?

If I do get a baby sleeping bag for my newborn September baby what tog shall I get?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated :)

-----------------------

Hi there,

This thread is quite old and some of the products mentioned here aren't available any more. For advice and recommendations on baby sleeping bags, take a look at our round up of the best baby sleeping bags available in the UK.

Hope that helps,

MNHQ Flowers

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neversleepagain · 21/06/2014 21:51

Most sleeping bags are for babies who are 8lb8 and heavier. My DTs were born at the end of September, initially they were too light for sleeping bags so I used light cotton blankets to swaddle. When they were over the recommended weight we put them in 2.5 tog bags. We use 2.5 tog bags all year round apart from May-Mid September.

You can get newborn bags but I haven't used them.

Good luck.

onceipopicantstop · 21/06/2014 21:54

Hi congratulations!
I would highly recommend a sleeping bag as it takes away any worry about sheets and blankets getting over the babies face. We didn't use one for dc1 as we didn't realise they could be used from birth - he was swaddled instead. With dc2 we found a sleeping bag by Babasac (from John Lewis) which was ok from 3.4kg - grobags are from 4kg I think. (As it happened we could have used a grobag as dc2 was nearly 10lb!!)

Anyway dc2 has slept brilliantly in his sleeping bag. He usually wears a vest and babygro underneath, unless its especially warm when I'd just put him in one layer. For a September baby you would need a 2.5 tog - if you decide on a babasac they have a lining that can be removed to make it a 1 tog as well. In hotter weather a 1 tog may be useful.

If your baby is below the recommended weight for the sleeping bag you may need to use sheets and blankets for a few weeks.

dc1 went into sleeping bags from around 4 months, and we used them until he was nearly 3. There's no issues with the child becoming uncovered overnight, and it also means they can't climb over the cot rails!!

Hope that all makes sense and helps!!

Scoobsmam13 · 21/06/2014 22:26

My DD hated being swaddled from day 1. She has always (nearly 6 now) slept like a starfish. Grobags were great and I used them from birth. She is September too, pretty sure I never bought anything but 2.5 tog.

Sweetpea86 · 21/06/2014 22:49

Hi Hun I'm a new mum my little boy is 9 weeks today. We have swaddled him from waist as he hates his arms covered up from day 1. I did try the grow bags and he is not to fussed lol. He's been in his cot for a week now as he got to big for basket.

I find he will only settle if he's swaddled but later in sleep he breaks him self free and star fishes the cot lol. Looking at him now star fished out lol

NuzzleandScratch · 21/06/2014 22:57

We used this for dd2, it was brilliant. It's great for when they're tiny, until they're big enough for a normal sleeping bag.

Heatherbell1978 · 21/06/2014 22:58

I'm due mid August and I've bought a few swaddle wraps for the first wee while and have 3 gro-bags for when he's bigger. I bought two 2.5 tog and one 1.5 tog but in reality shouldn't have bothered with the 1.5 tog. I might buy a few cheaper ones in Ikea too so I have enough spare.

MrsHerculePoirot · 21/06/2014 23:01

This chart gives guidance on what tog and what to wear underneath, it will depend on your room temperature, but you can always lower the tog and up the clothes underneath. DS (11 weeks) has been in one from nearly the start, we do have two of each tog though as the temperature is so variable and most are hand me downs from DD.

icklekid · 22/06/2014 04:55

Am 38 weeks- we've got these gro.co.uk/grobag-swaddle and large muslins for birth (0-3months) - very warm at moment! Then gro bags for later... they come with recommendations for how many layers underneath regarding temp etc!

PetaPipa · 22/06/2014 05:33

I always found sheets/blankets a nightmare, as however well I tucked them in my baby would kick them off! I swaddled for the first few weeks, then used sleeping bags. Grobags are great when they are still quite small, as they have the underarm peppers to keep the bag secure (but they do still need to be 4kg). I used sleeping bags with DD until she was early 3 and was moving into a bed. I love them! I have a couple of 2.5 tog and a couple of 1tog. We use both frequently. I find the 1tog essential in the summer, and have even thought a 0.5 tog would be useful sometimes (our house gets VERY hot in summer. If you are due in September you'll probably be ok with just a 2.5, if you are planning to swaddle/use blankets for the first few weeks. Grobags come with a temperature guide chart indicating which bag and what clothes are suitable for which temperature. They need to wear less than you think!

Bellyrub1980 · 22/06/2014 08:09

Does anyone have a link for the sleeping bags?

bevbennett100 · 22/06/2014 09:39

A lot of the baby sleeping bags have a minimum weight on them, so if you have a tiny baby you may fine they are too small for a sleeping bag. Plus they don't fit in a Moses basket that well, so depends if you are using them or a cot.
We used bankers to start with but the 'holey' ones, so even if he did manage to pull them over his face (he didn't was more likely to kick them off) he wouldn't be smothered.
Best wishes with the new arrival

Snowflake27 · 22/06/2014 20:02

Have heard great things about there merino wool sleeping bags. 0-2 years so no need for all the many sizes and also merino wool so no need for all the different togs as it self regulates so although expensive to start cheaper in the long run,
Merino Kids Go Go Bag Baby Sleeping Bag for Babies 0-2 years, French Navy
Merino Kids (6)

MrsPatMustard · 22/06/2014 21:00

We started with grobags but quickly switched to a swaddle because DS had a startle reflex, which meant his arms would jerk suddenly and he constantly woke himself up. The swaddle saved our sanity.

If you find you get wriggly/jerky baby, you may find it's worth investing in a swaddle - you'll all get more sleep. Mothercare do a good one...

amy83firsttimer · 22/06/2014 23:02

Grobag are a brand name and own label ones are available at roughly a half or a third of the price. Just saying....

PunkyPod · 23/06/2014 13:11

DD needed to be swaddled to sleep soundly. Literally cried her little heart out when her arms could fling around. We got zip up swaddle pods which transformed her sleep. At about 5-6 weeks she went into sleeping bags and they're just fantastic. Will give this routine a go with DC2 and see how we go. May turn out that it hates being swaddled and we'll have to figure something else out!

Inbl00m · 23/06/2014 20:13

So this might be a stupid question but do you still need bedding if you use a sleeping bag/gro bag type thing? Confused

strawberryjam · 23/06/2014 20:26

Swaddled for first 5 weeks and then gro bag. No other bedding needed except bottom sheets. Will be seeing what weather is like for this one but gave bought some large muslin clothes to swaddle this one as he is due in a couple of weeks

Talisawasnotsupposedtobethere · 23/06/2014 21:31

Grobags are the best thing ever, they can be used very nearly from birth if your little one isnt tiny and just takes all the hassle/worry out of blankets.

I definitely prefer the branded 'grobag' ones, IMO they are the best quality and the ones I trusted the most. But whatever you do do NOT pay full price for one! You can get them half price at TK Maxx and also get reduced ones
here

They are just not 'this seasons' designs - but who cares?!

Talisawasnotsupposedtobethere · 23/06/2014 21:35

We did also get a zip up swaddle pod for DS as his startle reflex kept disturbing him for his first few nights but it didn't really help him and a dummy was much better at settling him

He looked so cute in the pod though!

perfectstorm · 23/06/2014 21:37

Grobags are amazing. So useful. No worries about suffocation, and they can't throw the covers off at night and get cold and wake up as a result. But I'd buy the first set, to 6 months, second hand on Ebay. Better for the environment as well as your wallet, and they're used a relatively short time so should be in decent condition. They'll look used so fast anyway.

The other amazing sleep gadget is the Cocoonababy. Use it on my second, and she sleeps 6-8 hours a night and has done from 6 weeks. My first never slept at all - it was hellish. Could just be coincidence, but if you read the reviews on here, and Amazon, and johnlewis.co.uk and jojomanabebe.co.uk.... well, those are an awful lot of coincidences. Our local JL told me they only sell online now because the stores can't keep pace with demand, as nor can the manufacturers. There was a wait of a month with JoJoMaman when DD was due. The things do seem to work for the majority of babies.

Droflove · 23/06/2014 21:39

Grobags are great but not for newborn. You will need a nice, breathable blanket for your newborn, maybe 2 so you can layer if its very cold. But when they are tiny, they won't fit in a grobag and don't wriggle and roll over so much so blankets stay on fine for the first while. (Also they wake you so often they are never long without a check!).

Just get a couple of nice soft wool blankets, like cellular blankets but softer and stretchier. I got an amazing handknit one from MIL's friend that is just brilliant as it stretches, breathes and falls softly around baby. Will use it for my next one due end of Aug.

Leave worrying about grobags till baby is a few months old and you are in the mood for a bit of fun shopping again. Don't buy everything now, you will find your taste, opinions, knowledge is different a few months in so will enjoy buying your grobags more then than now.

crankypants · 23/06/2014 21:42

Yes, yes to the merino wool sleeping bags. We bought two from Bambino Merino for our first and our third is now using them. They are brilliant. We've used them in both Australia and the UK so they're great for all weather.

We swaddled each of ours for the first eight or ten weeks, swapped them into the sleeping bags and never looked back. All three are terrific little sleepers.

AMI88 · 23/06/2014 21:45

As I'm expecting baby #1 it's quite confusing to hear all this conflicting advice...I'm due January so I know it will be cold...I haven't reached 12week mark yet so I've not brought anything, although do like the sound of a grow bag, no loose cloths, no hassle to swaddle at 4am in the morning after latest feed...oh god is that lazy parenting already!?! Haha

Droflove · 23/06/2014 22:34

AMI my first was a Jan baby. Honestly, just blankets till they are big enough for a grobag is fine. Have some good long sleeve vests and babygros!

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