Sleeping bags or swaddle

[Laura1348]

Really need help. Trying to get ready for my first baby and I don't understand what I should put him in at night.
Any advice would be so very helpful. Thanks in advance.
Laura

Sleeping bags have a minimum weight so probably wouldn't fit a newborn anyway.

Go for a sleeping bag.

Swaddling can cause overheating in warm weather, so definitely avoid if it's a summer baby.

It can also cause problems for their hips.

Sleeping bags last longer, whereas swaddle is only suitable for the first few weeks/months. Also some babies hate to be swaddled whereas I've never heard of one disliking a sleeping bag.

Sleeping bags have a minimum weight of 4kg, so for the first few weeks we used cellular blankets. If you're expecting a summer baby you probably would just use light blankets to begin with anyway, so they don't get too hot.

I swaddled DS for a few weeks until he was big enough for a sleeping bag.

Id have thought just a vest and light blanket with the very warm weather.

Sleeping bag from day one at home for all three of mine

Sleeping bag as long as they are over the weight limit.

It just depends on the weight of your baby. DS was in blankets in the hospital but kept kicking them off. When he came home we were able to put him straight into sleeping bags. The minimum weight is 8lbs 13oz I think.

Thanks everyone. All being well it's a September baby. I liked the idea of the bag but did she weight restrictions.
Is swaddle one item you wrap round or just any blanket?
Thanks - I'm so confused. Tried the mumsnet reviews but any brands etc from people who have used them would be nice.
Thank you

www.tommeetippee.com/en-gb/shop/swaddling looks like these are suitable from birth and combine grobag with swaddle

@dementedpixie thanks. I will take a look. I've got this brand of bottle and steriliser on recommendation. Thank you.
Have you used them?
Thanks

OP I have one of these I bought for DS but he never used it, he was just too big. If you want it I'll stick it in the post for you just PM me your address. It's been washed but never used.

gro.co.uk/product/groswaddle/

We just used blankets and the coverlet from the bedding sets. (Don't like swaddling or sleeping bags. And ds would not have liked it at all. He was in hospital for 12 days and the nurses kept swaddling him and he kept trying to move and get the blankets away). H hi e was born early September

There's a grobag that's made specifically for newborns; we used that. Late August baby here and anything more would have been too hot and I couldn't stand faffing around with blankets when he was up and down so often in the night.

I used a gro swaddle so had the best of both worlds. It allows you to do either and also has a zip along the bottom for easy nappy changes. I would buy one to start with and see how you go but check the thickness/tog.

I did use a blanket in hospital but I was too worried about my DD suffocating so I used a bag once I got home. We've gradually gone up in sizes and togs as she got older as I love them so much!

@mylittlesandwich thank you very much but I'm going to do some more investigating.

@mynameiscalypso this sounds good. Could you tell me the brand so I could take a look. Thank you

I think @dementedpixie has linked to them already actually. We had this one:

www.tommeetippee.com/en-gb/product/baby-stars-grobag-easy-swaddle-0-3-months

DS was pretty small when he was born and it was fine for him.

Sleeping bags are the best. They keep baby safe and not too warm or cold. You can also find guides online to know what sleeping bag to use + clothing depending on the weather.
If your wee one is too small for a bag when she's born you can always wrap a cellular breathable blanket around her making sure that it's tight under her arms but loose around her hips. When she starts putting weigh on I'd recommend a supermarket brand first, because they tend to be a bit smaller. After that I'd just get a couple of Grobags (they are the best in my opinion), a 1.0 for cooler months and a 2.5 for the rest of the year.
I wasted a fair bit of money on cheaper bags and swaddles that I ended up using for a very short amount of time or non at all and wish I would I've known what I know now!
Good luck, OP!

I love sleeping bags! You can get the thin ones for summer too

Neither mine liked being swaddled or in a sleeping bag. We used blankets/sheets. They still hate sleeping bags and sleep with them unzipped when we're camping

My dd was born in the middle of heatwave (it was hell) so we just used a cellular blanket and a vest for most nights. We tried swaddling but she hated it. As she got older and it got chillier we transitioned to sleeping bags and she loved them. Ds was born in the middle of winter and was a big baby so he was straight in to sleeping bags and he loved them. He's now 5 months and kicks off any and all blankets but happily settles for the night in a sleeping bag.

I had a september baby, midwifes swaddled him in his blanket at the hospital, so I continued that at home. He loved it, we then transitioned to sleeping bag when he was bigger.
He was only 6lb 14oz when born.

It's fine as long as the swaddle isn't too tight.

Grobag once baby is at the correct weight for one. Prior to that we used a cellular blanket, moses basket size with their Sleepsuit. I found lots of information from baby magazines. Grobags are Fantastic they come in different togs and sizes. My babies loved theirs.

Just to point out, the gro bag swaddles linked above can be used from 5 lbs. It's the standard gro bags that have a higher weight limit.