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Original poster

Sleeping bags

34 replies

MrsAlbie · 30/12/2017 17:13

First baby due in two weeks (January). He will be sleeping in our bedroom in a wooden gliding crib, positioned close to the side of our bed but about a metre away from a draughty window. Hoping to BF.

I was planning on buying a GroSnug Cosy as reviews were good and it said they were suitable for newborns.

However, the advice at my NCT classes was to not use a sleeping bag for a newborn and also not to swaddle (the GroSnug swaddles their arms in) as apparently the swaddling can make their sleep cycles longer, causing them to become confused about feeding (i.e. not wake up for a feed when it's due, they lose weight blah blah blah) Hmm. The teacher said to just use cellular blankets on top of a normal sleep outfit.

The thought of putting a little newborn baby in a vest, sleepsuit and a couple of blankets next to a draughty window just doesn't seem enough. I'm cold under a thick duvet!

Do I need a sleeping bag? Are they safe for newborns? Is swaddling in a GroSnug as terrible as the NCT teacher made out?

Thank you.

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ew1990 · 30/12/2017 17:20

With sleeping bags you have to make sure that their head cannot fit through the neck hole,

ew1990 · 30/12/2017 17:20

As In they won't slip/wiggle down into the sleeping bag

ButtMuncher · 30/12/2017 17:21

You can't use sleepbags for newborns under a certain weight - I think it's 11lbs, so for that your baby would need to be a few weeks old at the very least before you can introduce. I think my DS was about 2 months before we tried one and still do.

Not sure where this non swaddle thing has come in as DS is 15 months old and I was advised to swaddle Confused He woke up reliably for feeds too!

mindutopia · 30/12/2017 17:23

I don't know about swaddling, but I can't see how a normal sleeping bag is any different than a cellular blanket, except it keeps the covers on and prevents it from going over their faces. If you are concerned, I would get a normal sleeping bag. We have a Grobag one we used with our dd and will use again this time (arms are out though). Just be sure that it fits well as they can be awfully big to start on tiny babies.

Realistically though, I think your NCT teacher is overthinking it. If baby has any weight gain issues, you'll be advised to feed on a schedule anyway, meaning you'll be setting your alarm every 3 hours and waking baby for a feed. You don't need to rely on them to wake themselves and show feeding cues. I had to do this for the first month with my dd as she had a poor latch and wasn't eating enough. If baby is putting on weight just fine, then it doesn't really matter how long they sleep. So sounds like a bit of panic over nothing to me. I would just be smart about it and do what you think seems right for your baby and your situation.

ThaiRedCurry · 30/12/2017 17:26

I loved the swaddle method it was the only thing that soothed my colic baby! Trust me if they are hungry they will wake up lol

Candyfloss1122 · 30/12/2017 17:30

I would ignore the ignorant swaddling comment from your nct leader, swaddling is invaluable to many new mum's and babies. It helps them settle, relax, and most importantly SLEEP!

Id recommend a miracle blanket, easy to learn. Once lo has stopped being swaddled, usually when they start to roll, something like a grobag is a great place to start.

Honestly, they change the "rules" all the time, I've never heard such nonsense about swaddling and my DD is only 11months!

ThaiRedCurry · 30/12/2017 17:31

Candyfloss couldn't agree more! Amen!

Mummyh2016 · 30/12/2017 17:33

Sleeping bags are a must for us, DD won’t keep a blanket on. I’m sure our sleeping bags (mamas and papas) were from 9lb, I’m sure we started using them from around 6 weeks.

Original poster
MrsAlbie · 30/12/2017 17:40

Thanks, everyone. Yes, I was quite surprised about the anti-swaddling too, as I'd only read positive things about it.

mindutopia, you make some really good points about if there are weight gain issues, one wouldn't just leave it to baby to decide when to feed! Not thought about it like that Smile.

I'll have a look at weight guidelines for a couple of different brands of bags and stock up on a few more cellulars. Need to also get a room thermometer, which I think will help for peace of mind!

I think I'm also overthinking Blush. I keep reminding myself I'm in a normal house with double glazing in the UK, not a wooden shack in the middle of the North Sea!

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Original poster
MrsAlbie · 30/12/2017 17:40

Cheers, mummyh, I'll take a look at their website!

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MagicFajita · 30/12/2017 17:46

I can't advise on the swaddle/not to swaddle issue op but I think grosnugs are excellent.

My son was very comfortable his until he got too big for it. I didn't use it as a swaddle though as he hated it! You just open up the sleeve holes with the poppers and it's a regular sleeping bag. We'll worth the cash.

TonicAndTonic · 30/12/2017 17:50

Interesting, I finished NCT classes last week and our teacher was very pro-swaddling!

MagicFajita · 30/12/2017 17:55

Also op , the grosnugs are for 5-12lb so actually pretty perfect for most newborns.

HandbagFan · 30/12/2017 19:40

I’ve never heard that nonsense about not swaddling before. DS was in cellular blankets for the first few weeks - he was 6lb 15oz at birth, below the recommended weight for a sleeping bag - and then once he was big enough we started using them. Still do today at 22m.

bonzo77 · 30/12/2017 19:55

Bit dependent on the baby. Mine hated swaddling. With sleeping bags you need to be sure they can’t wiggle their head down through the head opening as previously said. Personally never used cellular blankets just thin fleece ones (wash and dry faster, Ikea do them for about £4 and I cut them to size, they don’t fray). Then sleeping bags as soon as they were big enough until they went into a bed at about 3 or so.

Bit of a draught won’t do any harm. You could try to block it a bit with a curtain or those foam strips. Loads of layers of clothing are a pita for middle of the night poo explosions. Just a vest + sleep suit (or bundler if you can get them, and then to layer the blankets instead, and remove if required. Correct temperature the back of neck and chest should feel warm, but tip of nose and hands cool but not icy.

HoneyWheeler · 30/12/2017 20:42

My baby is 5 weeks old and we heard the same from NCT - we've just muddled through and tried to work out what suited all of us. We tried sleepsuits with cellular blankets, sleeping bags (he's a big'un so can use one), swaddling with muslins and a groSnug.

My husband feels anxious about the groSnug as it is snug around his neck (not tight but looks it) and even though our DS was fine the anxiety was keeping DH awake.

DS has a strong startle reflex and kicks off the cellular blanket and wakes himself up if his arms aren't restrained. But in the early days this is what we used, and it worked well. I woke him up four hourly for the first two weeks for feeds and from then on I didn't need to.

The sleeping bag is good because he can't kick it off but his arms still move so he still wakes himself up.

Five weeks in we're swaddling with a big muslin. It keeps his arms in while he gets into deep sleep but he can work his arms out eventually if he needs to. He still wakes up for feeds four hourly if not more frequently. Because there are so many layers from the folding, he just sleeps in a vest underneath.

Our bedroom is about 22/23 degrees so I'm a bit paranoid about him being too hot so our current option keeps him happy and both DH and I relaxed enough to actually get some sleep instead of worrying about him all night!

My advice would be to try a few different options - your LO might hate being swaddled! But they night love it or (more likely) a combination of both. NCT practitioners always advocate caution but you will work out what works for you and your baby and be the expert before too long.

greendale17 · 30/12/2017 20:54

I wouldn’t use a sleeping bag for a newborn either

Original poster
MrsAlbie · 30/12/2017 21:33

Honey, that post was really helpful, thank you.

OP posts:
spugzbunny · 30/12/2017 21:37

I've also been told no swaddling at NCT today! Her reasoning being that the baby may be too warm and can't wiggle out if they are. I'm now in a right panic wondering if we have enough blankets until baby is big enough for the bag!

Original poster
MrsAlbie · 30/12/2017 21:55

Ah, really, spugz? Glad it's not just my NCT leader!
What blankets have you got so far? I've got two small cellulars and a solid knitted one I reckon is too big for a crib. A muslin would be another layer too I suppose.

OP posts:
NymeriaStark · 30/12/2017 22:01

Absolute nonsense about swaddling from the NCT there. Either your baby will like it or they won’t and the only way to know is to try when they’re born. Some babies absolutely love being swaddled and find it very comforting, others don’t. My DD loved being swaddled but with her hands out. You’ll just need to suck it and see. If swaddling really made newborns sleep longer everyone would be doing it!

Only thing to be aware of with sleeping bags etc is minimum weight requirements.

Babies don’t need to be as warm as we think- in fact it’s safer to air on the side of cool. Invest in a good room thermometer as a guide and then you can adjust clothing and bedding as you see fit.

Good luck and enjoy your newborn.

NymeriaStark · 30/12/2017 22:10

Also second what PP said about feeling babies back/chest for a sense of their temp

winterwonderlandy · 30/12/2017 22:13

I tried swaddling/blankets with my first, didn't really work well for us, they'd wriggle about, maybe I didn't do it properly. Moved to the grosnug after a few weeks and found it so much better, baby was more settled and I wasn't worried about blankets moving about and covering their face.

With the second one I used the grosnug from birth and would definitely recommend it.

MoreSleepPlease6 · 30/12/2017 22:14

Grobags have a minimum weight of 8lb13oz. DS was in them from about 2 weeks and they are literally the best invention ever.
We've just bought a travel one for holiday too Grin

ThaiRedCurry · 31/12/2017 09:31

You can get the ready made swaddles which are amazing so easy to use. I used Jojo maman Bebe ones