Sleeping bag, until what age?

Categories: Advice

The sleeping bag, also called "turbulette" or "angel nest", is one of the essential baby care items for newborns. It's a kind of duvet with straps, allowing you to keep baby warm while sleeping while maintaining their safety during their first months.

When you're new parents, it's not always easy to know if your little one is too hot or too cold during sleep. This small sleeping bag is perfect for offering comfort and serenity. But until when? Discover below the roles of the sleeping bag and at what age it should be replaced with a duvet or bedding set.

What is a baby sleeping bag for?

The sleeping bag or turbulette is an essential element to ensure the well-being and safety of the infant. It allows them to sleep comfortably thanks to its strap or sleeve design, while protecting them against cold during sleep. Using a baby sleeping bag has many advantages.

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Preventing the risk of sudden infant death

We often hear about the risks of sudden death in infants during their first months. Death most often occurs during their sleep. The causes can be diverse, but generally it's due to suffocation. Wrapped under a sheet, blanket, or duvet, the little one can no longer breathe. They are very vulnerable while sleeping.

Unlike sheets, blankets, pillows, or crib bumpers, the newborn sleeping bag presents no danger to the baby's health. Recommended in maternity wards, it helps limit the newborn's movements and doesn't risk suffocating their airways.

This is complemented by a firm mattress like a carrycot and a baby room temperature around 18 to 20°C. When using a sleeping bag, there's no need for other sleeping equipment. This sleeping bag is sufficient to keep baby warm without lacking oxygen.

Ensuring baby's safety during sleep

You wonder how to dress or cover your infant during the night. A sleeping bag therefore allows you to safely keep your baby when they sleep. It's like a kind of duvet to keep them warm.

A zip closure system or snap buttons prevent your little one from turning over to sleep on their stomach. This way, they will have more peaceful nights.

Different models are available on the market. Sleeveless or sleeved sleeping bag, travel sleeping bag... ? Cotton, velvet, or polyester? It's up to you to choose the most suitable one for your baby.

Providing undeniable comfort to the child

In addition to preventing the risk of suffocation, a sleeping bag also provides real comfort for the baby, regardless of the season. Worn over pajamas, it provides more freedom of movement during baby's sleep or nap.

You now understand that a sleeping bag allows the baby to have peaceful nights. This essential accessory provides an environment conducive to falling asleep. But many parents still don't know when is the right time to replace this mini sleeping bag with a pillow and duvet.

At what age should you switch from sleeping bag to duvet?

Generally, sleeping bags are used to keep newborns warm from birth. They accompany your little one during their first months, or even their first years.

What do professionals say?

Pediatricians and early childhood professionals recommend using a sleeping bag before the age of 18 months, including for premature babies. Some models are designed to accommodate children up to about 2 or 3 years old, if they still feel comfortable inside.

Otherwise, this equipment might hinder their motor skills and freedom of movement. A wide variety of sizes, ranging from 55 to 110 cm, is available on the market. Everyone can choose what corresponds to their newborn's morphology.

Growing children also tend to stand up immediately once awake. It will therefore be very dangerous for them to be enclosed in a sleeping bag.

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Signs indicating it's time to replace their bedding

Sometimes, the child themselves shows signs that it's time to change their mini sleeping bag. This happens when they can finally open the zippers by themselves or remove the snap buttons.

Your baby feels cramped inside and tries to break free. They become irritated and easily angry when you try to cover them. Stay aware and vigilant, as this situation can disrupt their sleep.

The transition can also be linked to moving from the cradle, carrycot, or baby crib to a big bed. From now on, the little one will sleep in a convertible bed or a big bed. At this point, a duvet or bedding set proves more practical during summer nights.

Also at a certain age, your child becomes potty trained and able to get up to use the bathroom during the night or nap. In this case, it's better to abandon the sleeping bag, as it will certainly hinder them when going to the toilet.

How to make the transition peacefully?

Regardless of age, leaving the cocoon for a sheet or a baby bedding set is an essential step in a child's life. The little one needs time to adapt. It's therefore preferable to act under the best conditions. Choose among others a lighter baby duvet or a pure cotton baby blanket, which provide real comfort and more freedom, despite their nighttime movements.

Some parents also offer their child a soft and fluffy blanket, preferably easy to maintain, to help them quickly forget their old bedding. Don't forget to put a comfortable pillow of the right size, perfectly respecting fundamental safety rules.

To optimize baby's sleep, you can complete the set with a crib bumper. This helps ensure more safety against the bars.