why I choose fleece sleep sacks
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As a parent, ensuring your little one sleeps soundly is a top priority. Many new parents spend a lot of time researching and optimizing their baby’s sleep environment, which can include everything from what they wear to sleep, what’s in their crib or bassinet, temperature in the room, amount of light in the room, use of a sound machine or not, and the list goes on!
In this article, we’ll share the benefits of a fleece sleep sack, features to consider, recommendations for choosing the right one for your baby, and tips for what to wear underneath the sleep sack to ensure baby’s comfort. I’ll also share my personal favorite fleece sleep sack styles and brands that I’ve come to prefer having used fleece sleep sacks with all four of my kids.
My 11 month old in his Carter’s fleece sleep sack
The magic of fleece sleep sacks
Warmth and Comfort - We use fleece sleep sacks year-round in my house, and we’re especially enjoying them now that it’s winter here in the northern US where I live because…well, they’re just cozy! Fleece is known for its softness and warmth and keeps your baby warm all night (or nap) long. Some of my very favorite moments with my babies have been reading them stories or singing lullabies while snuggling them in their fleece sleep sack!
Safe Sleep - Fleece sleep sacks provide warmth to your baby without the risks associated with loose blankets or bedding in their crib and thus adhere to safe sleep practices recommended by pediatricians.
Year-Round Versatility - I already shared that I use fleece sleep sacks year round for my babies, but it’s worth noting that fleece is both breathable and insulating. There are various thicknesses available as well which can allow you to ensure your baby’s comfort no matter which season or temperature in baby’s sleep space.
Ease of Use - Most sleep sacks available today have features such as an inverted zipper or a double dipper that make nighttime diaper changes very easy. You don’t have to completely remove the sleep sack in order to access the diaper area, so your little one can get back to sleep more quickly and seamlessly.
choosing the perfect fleece sleep sack
Size Matters - Be sure to select the right size to ensure a proper fit. Although fleece has many benefits, it is not a particularly stretchy fabric. A sleep sack that is too small can cause your baby discomfort, and one that is too large results in excess fabric around baby’s body and is not ideal for safe sleep. If you are making a baby registry or a second baby registry, I recommend adding 2-3 sleep sacks per size in multiple sizes to ensure you have the right size as baby grows and to allow for a quick change in the event a mess occurs.
Invest In Quality - Your baby’s fleece sleep sack will definitely be undergoing many washes due to all sorts of messes, and you’ll want it to stay soft for your baby. I will share more about my favorite two brands of fleece sleep sacks below that I’ve found to withstand lots of use (even multiple kids) and many washes. I also consider zipper quality important.
Consider the Temperature - While you can definitely use a fleece sleep sack year round, as I do, there are two key factors to consider when it comes to temperature: the thickness of the fleece and also whether or not the fleece sleep sack has sleeves. Some fleece sleep sacks are sleeveless, which may be a better choice for a warmer climate or warmer house temperature.
what to wear under a fleece sleep sack
This is a very common question! Here are some tips:
My favorite combination is a lightweight long-sleeved cotton or muslin sleeper onesie underneath a fleece sleep sack. This works great for us in our home that we keep at 67 degrees year-round, for reference.
If your home or climate is warmer, a short-sleeved cotton or muslin onesie underneath a fleece sleep sack might be a great choice (remember that you can use either a long-sleeved or sleeveless fleece sleep sack as well).
Unless baby’s room temperature is very cold, you likely do not want to have a fleece sleep sack on top of a fleece sleeper onesie as that may cause baby to become too hot.
Keep in mind that you can adjust either the temperature in the room or what baby is wearing to ensure a comfortable, safe sleep environment for your baby.
Halo Sleepsack
halo sleepsack and carter’s fleece sleep sacks
I’ve tried several different brands of fleece sleep sacks over my 8 years (and counting) with babies and toddlers, and two have risen to the top. Halo Sleepsack makes excellent fleece wearable blankets that you can purchase from Amazon or directly from their website. Additionally, Carter’s fleece sleep sacks have been a staple for us, are slightly more affordable, and can also be purchased on Amazon as well as a variety of other large retailers such as Target, Kohl’s, and others. In addition to staying soft after many washes and having both long-sleeved and sleeveless options, both of these brands offer a large variety of fun prints to help you choose a pattern that you love. They are both available in many different sizes for newborns all the way up through toddlers, so you’ll have plenty of options as your little one grows.
Wishing you and your baby plenty of sweet dreams!
