Are Sleep Sacks Safe?

Sleep sacks are safer for babies than conventional bedding.

Sleep sacks are among the recommended measures for keeping babies safe while sleeping. The sacks can't smother a child like traditional bedding. They keep a baby's legs and torso warm while keeping the space around baby's face and arms free.

Suffocation

Sleep sacks are like overalls with a sack on the bottom instead of legs, allowing baby to have a full range of motion. Unlike traditional bedding, sleep sacks do not wind up on a baby's face, causing suffocation or rebreathing of carbon dioxide.

Overheating

The 100-percent cotton fabric used in many sleep sacks allows air circulation, preventing overheating, which is a contributing factor to SIDS, according to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. However, some parents may prefer a flame-retardant material for safety.

Considerations

Sleep sacks only help prevent overheating and smothering. Parents still need to follow other precautions, such as having babies sleep on their backs and removing soft items such as stuffed toys from the crib.

References

• Consumer Reports: Safer Sleeping
• National Institute of Child Health and Human Development: Targeting SIDS