Baby sleep sacks have been an essential parenting item ever since the American Academy of Pediatrics cautioned against leaving loose blankets in your baby's crib. To make sure you know everything about keeping your little one safe while slumbering, we spoke to the expert on baby sleep health, Dr. Harvey Karp, M.D., author of The Happiest Baby on the Block.
He tells Best Products that “there’s nothing wrong with using a blanket to swaddle your baby — parents have been swaddling from scratch for centuries! But using a simple, zip-up sleep sack can make the origami-like task of baby-wrapping a whole lot easier for sleep-deprived parents.”
He adds, “Like blankets, sleep sacks are designed to hold the arms nice and snug, while still allowing the baby’s hips enough room for full motion,” and that “this is important because if parents inadvertently wrap the blanket too tightly, it can actually hurt the baby’s developing hip joint.”
Karp also notes that “sacks add a little extra parental peace of mind, since they can’t unravel and accidentally get wrapped around the baby’s face.”
This guide to the best baby sleep sacks covers products that are all designed with safety, comfort, and ease of opening in mind. Read on to learn more about each one.
Designed by Dr. Karp himself, this lightweight sleep sack swaddles your child in just 5 seconds. It's made with 100% organic cotton, and it can be used with the arms tucked inside or with the arms free, making it the perfect transitional piece.
Also, it cleans up so easily. Our parenting editor, Cat Bowen, has tested this swaddle herself and notes that you can get even the gnarliest spit-up off of the swaddle.
Treat your babe's delicate skin to this 100% organic cotton sleep sack from Burt's Bees. The inverted zipper, accessible from both the top and the bottom of the sack, means quick-and-easy diaper changes.
Adorned with sweet little bees, the insulated sack will keep the chill out and the warmth in for a comfortable, blanket-free night's rest.
Your baby will be absolutely obsessed with the plush softness of this merino wool-lined sleeping sack from Woolino.
Breathable and designed to be worn all the way up to 2 years old, the Woolino sleeping sack keeps your babe's temperature regulated throughout the seasons without the hassle of blankets. Your babe can move from the crib to the car and back again with the easy-to-use seatbelt slots on the front.
The Halo SleepSack is made of cozy micro-fleece, and it's the only swaddle that adjusts three ways to fit your baby as they grow.
Your baby can keep their arms in or out, so it will never feel too constricting. Then, when your baby gets bigger, it can be used as a wearable blanket.
Made of lightweight cotton, these adorable sleep sacks make resting safe and comfortable. With enough room for your baby to kick their feet around without restrictions, these sleep sacks will keep them comfy all the way up to their first birthday.
When your little one is beyond the swaddling stage but still has the startling reflex (also known as the Moro reflex) between 2 and 4 months, the HALO Easy Transition SleepSack is a sanity saver that helps prevent them from jolting out of peaceful sleep.
The stretchy cotton allows your baby to comfortably move their limbs while the snug arm sleeves help to control their startle reflex so that your babe can rest easy.
Some babies like to sleep with their hands up in the air and near their face. The Love to Dream Swaddle Up allows your baby to safely place their hands and arms in a comfortable position while limiting their Moro reflex.
As your newborn is getting used to sleeping outside of the womb, this swaddle sleep sack encourages them to embrace self-soothing by giving their tiny hands free rein.
This extra-roomy sleep sack is the perfect blanket replacement for a baby who’s totally anti-swaddle. Made of soft and breathable micro-fleece material, your little angel will feel cozy from summer to winter.
Your baby isn't old enough for sleepovers just yet, so for now, zip her up in this quilted sleep nest that looks just like a sleeping bag. The handy shoulder snaps make getting her into the bag a total snap.
Weighted blankets are all the rage for adults, and now there's even one that's safe for baby to use. The Nested Bean Zen Sack uses that same relaxing feature of added weight in their sleep sack for babies.
The amount of weight added varies with each size, offering the perfect amount of comfort for your little one. Your warm embrace will be felt long after you've put your tot down.
This quilted sleep sack is so soft and cozy that your baby will feel like they're being held by a cloud all night long. Despite the cozy warmth, the fabric is surprisingly breathable and gentle on baby's sensitive skin.
Cat BowenParenting EditorCat Bowen is the parenting editor at BestProducts.com where she researches all of the best products for families from pre-conception through their teen years, focusing on matching scientific evidence with real-life needs.
Latifah MilesParenting EditorLatifah is the former parenting editor at BestProducts.com where she spent her time researching and testing the latest, greatest, and coolest products created to make parenting a breeze; her work has been featured on Cosmopolitan, Romper, and Elite Daily.
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