As a safety measure against sudden infant deaths, sleepsacks have been very effective. They have been a favorite in Europe for years. Sleepsacks have recently taken the U.S. by storm because parents are now more concerned about SIDS since news is filtering in about how the incidence of SIDS has increased. A sleepsack is a blanket that the baby wears. It is closed like a sack from the shoulders to the end and leaves enough space for the baby to move his legs. Sleepsacks are now available in a series of styles, designs and patterns. Marketers would have you believe that their product is the best and that your baby would benefit from buying their brand. As with all products, you need to assess sleepsacks on your own to decide what is best for you and your baby.

The design or pattern that appears on the fabric used for a sleepsack depends largely on individual preference. You could choose cartoon characters or flowers or alphabets that may have been printed, appliquéd or embroidered on the sleepsacks. Although the designs on the sleepsack do attract infants and toddlers may have their own preferences, they are not as important as the size, style and material that you choose.

Synthetic fabrics are known to trap air and emit harmful formaldehyde emissions. This is not conducive to the health of a growing baby. It is recommended that you look for a sleepsack made from organic materials like cotton and wool. It will also help to ensure that cotton and wool are not treated with chemicals to give them a softer feel.

Sleepsacks are primarily meant for the safety of your child. They are also designed to provide warmth to the baby. The type of sleepsack that you may need depends upon the climatic conditions in the place that you live in. You may want to get more than one if the climate conditions vary greatly during the year.

• In extremely cold climates, use a full-sleeved, quilted and preferably wool or flannel sleep sack.
• In moderate climates, use a quilted lightweight flannel, silk or un-quilted heavyweight flannel sleepsack which is preferably full-sleeved.
• In mild climates, choose quilted lightweight silk, untreated cotton or lightweight flannel or a crochet sleepsack, preferably without sleeves.

The importance of exact fitting is limited in the case of a sleepsack. As long as you have ensured that the chest fits well and that the length of the sleepsack is longer than the baby, the size should be okay. Generally a sleepsack about 27” would be suitable for babies from 3 to 11 months, weighing 10 to 22 lbs. A medium size would normally be 35” for babies between 10 to 24 months, weighing 22 to 30 lbs. The 42” size is meant for toddlers weighing between 28 to 40 lbs.

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