Baby Blanket Vs. Sleep Sack
We all love snuggling under the blankets and sleeping like babies. Ironically, babies can't do this. Their nighttime movements mean they often end up uncovered and cold. Keeping a baby covered and warm at night is possible with a sleep sack.
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Types
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Sleep sacks are "wearable blankets." The baby's legs are enclosed in a pouch of blanket, while her arms come out the top, through armholes, and are free of the blanket. The sack zips, buttons or snaps up the front or back. Some types of sleep sacks for older infants have leg openings for mobility.
Materials
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Sleep sacks are typically manufactured using 100 percent cotton or merino wool, and they may be quilted or flannel. The thickness of the material varies: thicker for winter sleeping and thinner for summer sleeping. The baby wears short- or long-sleeved clothing under the sleep sack, depending on room temperature.
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Sizes
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Sleep sacks come in "swaddlers" for very small infants. Larger babies and toddlers up to 6 years of age can wear sleep sacks, with larger sizes often having openings for the feet so that the child can be mobile.
Benefits
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Blankets are fine when Mommy is holding the baby. Sleep sacks cannot be kicked off at night when the baby moves around in his sleep, so he doesn't wake up cold. Unlike blankets, they cannot accidentally cover the baby's face, restricting his breathing. Sleep sacks can be tailored to the warmth or coldness of the season by adding or subtracting the clothing worn underneath the sack.
SIDS Risk
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The Spring For SIDS website recommends that parents put nothing in a baby's crib, including toys, pillows or blankets. These items have been found to contribute to SIDS deaths. A sleep sack is acceptable because it is considered clothing and is safe in the crib.
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References
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Paul Sapiano Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Hamed Saber
