Our pick for most familiesFrom around 3 months (once arms are out) to about 2 years
ergoPouch Sleeping Bag (1.0 and 2.5 TOG)
A fitted, hoodless arms-free sleeping bag in clear TOG ratings, from an Australian sleep brand.
Sleepwear, swaddles & sleeping bags
A well-fitted sleeping bag replaces loose blankets and can't be kicked over a baby's face. Red Nose recommends a bag with a fitted neck and armholes, no hood, sized to your baby's weight and length. TOG tells you warmth: choose by room temperature and layer underneath, rather than adding blankets. Wrapping or a swaddle bag can help newborns settle, but stop as soon as your baby shows signs of rolling and move to arms-free sleep; swaddles should leave room for the hips to bend. Children's nightwear sold in Australia must carry a fire hazard label under a mandatory standard. Two-way zips make 3 am changes easier.
Also goodNewborn until signs of rolling, then arms-free
Love To Dream Swaddle Up 2-in-1 Transition Bag (1.0 TOG)
An arms-up swaddle whose wings zip off one at a time, easing the move to arms-free sleep.
Things we don’t recommend, and why
- Weighted sleeping bags, weighted swaddles or weighted blankets. Red Nose advises against weighted products for infant sleep. Source: Red Nose: How to choose a safe sleeping bag
- Hooded sleeping bags or putting a wrapped baby inside a sleeping bag. Hoods can cover the face, and layering a wrap inside a bag can cause overheating. Source: Red Nose: How to choose a safe sleeping bag, Red Nose: Wrapping or swaddling babies
- Continuing to swaddle with arms in once a baby starts showing signs of rolling. Source: Red Nose: When should we stop wrapping?, Red Nose: Wrapping or swaddling babies
- Tight swaddling that straightens the legs. Hips need room to bend and fall apart in a frog-leg position. Source: International Hip Dysplasia Institute: Hip-healthy swaddling
Price bands for this category: $ < $30 · $$ $30–60 · $$$ $60–100 · $$$$ > $100. Prices change — check the retailer.