Grow bags/sleeping bags

[1990fran]

Hi all

I am 25 weeks tomorrow i am holding off buying to much until nearer Christmas but I need advice this is first baby and so much info out there so apologies if I sound a little naive all new to me

We will be buying a moses basket for next to bed, saw grow bags online, do you just put the baby in one of these in the moses basket do you also need a blanket with this?! Or do do you just use a blanket to start off with and a sleeping bag at later stage? Read onlime about blankets causing suffocation although I am sure i will be so paranoid and watching it sleep throughout the night! Haha what type of vest does the baby need with a sleep bag? Any help would be really appreciated thank you x

Hello congratulations on your impending arrival

I use sleeping bags/grow bags all year round there's different togs for time of year. Right now using 2.5tog. No blankets needed so you can sleep knowing they won't pull blankets over their heads etc.

If you google how to dress baby for bed etc it will give you what they should have on under sleeping bag depending on room temp. Xx

Vest babygrow and then sleeping bag. If it's really hot in summer just one layer of clothing etc x if it's cold you could put little scratch mittens on so their hands don't get cold x

I've been given some by my sister in law, so I'll be using them. Still haven't gotten my head around the tog system and temperature but I've got time to do that.

Does anyone else just think of the compost bags you grow tomatoes in when people talk about grow bags for babies?

We didn't use them for DC1 but this time around we have used a Love to Dream swaddle for DC2. You can get different thicknesses. Assuming you're due around late Feb (if I've worked it out right) then 1 tog would probably be fine. You would usually dress baby in a vest and sleepsuit as well. No blanket on top.

IIRC I think grobags are not suitable for tiny newborns as they have to be big enough not to be able to wriggle through the head and arm holes. Your best bet is a cellular blanket as they're breathable.

My advice is to get a cellular blanket (they are handy for car seat / pram even if you don't use it at night) plus a swaddle blanket or gro bag.

@1990fran I remember being confused about this even after babs was at home and boy did we overdress that poor baby!

Grow bags are the way to go, especially the ones that unzip from the bottom as you'll often need to change bumbs in the middle of the night. We had one that was a grow swaddle, so it kept him nice and secure and toasty.

You can get grow snugs for little new borns, and grow bags (grow bag or tomee tippee has some etc). All come in different togs.

Currently DD 4m in a long sleeved vest and a 2.5 tog bag in room that is 16.5-19 degrees. She sleeps great

I got a couple of sleeping bags but my little one was born at just over 6lbs so none are suitable just yet. I am just having to use breathable blankets until she's big enough

Following with interest! DS is 4 months, we have a couple of sleeping bags but haven’t used them yet. When he was a newborn we used a light cellular blanket plus a crocheted wool blanket, with a very open weave so no danger of suffocation. He’ll be moving from a Moses basket to a cot bed very soon so we’ll be using the sleeping bags then as he’s a very wriggly sleeper so the blankets won’t stay on him.

IIRC baby needs to be >4kg before you can use sleep bags. So you'll most likely need to use some cellular blankets to start out with, before moving on to the sleep bags.

Once you do move onto the sleep bags, if you search for "what should my baby wear to sleep", plenty of guides come up indicating what baby should wear depending on the temperature of the room. Atm we have the thermostat set to 20. So DD is wearing a vest (short or long sleeved, it doesn't matter. My personal preference is short sleeved), sleep suit, and a 2.5 tog sleep bag. In the spring, it was usually about 24, so a vest OR sleep suit and a 1 tog sleep bag. In the summer, it was regularly 30+ and she slept in just a nappy.

An important thing to remember is that the guides are just that. Guides. You'll find what's best for your baby. Some babies like wearing a bit more than what the guides suggest. IME, they soon let you know if they're cold!

My baby is due early February and I've also been doing homework on this.

I've learned that Grosnugs are great for newborns because it keeps their arms by their side (I think) but allows for natural movement of their legs. Apparently, newborns arm movement can cause them to wake up.
Grobags are not suitable for newborns but will be after a couple of weeks when they grow a bit bigger.

I'm looking for a swaddle gro bag, in 2.5 tog. There are not too many options, but can anyone recommend one to start me off?
I've looked at grosnug and the scandiborn brand so far.

Yes Love to Dream (as I already mentioned), it's called swaddle up and it comes in different togs

I never used them as I don't like them. We just used cellular blankets tucked in, never bothered swaddling either. And the coverlet that came with the bedding sets. Did the same in the crib and the cot, never had a Moses basket as I hate them

And didn't need one

I tried faffing around with blankets with my first and won’t bother with my second. First always kicked them off which was fine in summer but this baby will be a spring one. We used the love2dream swaddle and thought it was great; I’ve also bought a groswaddle to try. The gro bags can be used once they meet the weight requirement which I think is 8lbs, but I had a teeny 5lbs with my first so it took a while for her to grow big enough!

PS I’m another one who doesn’t see the point in Moses baskets. We bought a travel cot for our room that was the same size and mattress as her big cot -way cheaper, no transition to worry about and now she’s a toddler we have a useful travel cot!

Gro bags are brilliant. DS slept in them until he could no longer fit, just before 3. I have got newborn ones for my baby due in a few weeks which I can swaddle him in. No need for a blanket, which can be a suffocation risk.

I will dress him in a vest, babygrow and then the sleeping bag. Like a pp mentioned, they have different togs or 'thinkness' so can use all year round.

I love them!

@FilthyforFirth which newborn swaddle bag did you buy and what tog?

Check this image out.

Hi @bubblesforlife, I got the attached. Suitable from birth (7lbs and my baby is on 96th centile so no drama there!). You can swaddle them or have their arms out.

I got it in Smyths.

Oh and the tog is 1 but with a vest and a babygrow on I think he should be ok. Will obviously add more layers if he seems cold. But our room is quite warm.