Article #3

Sleep Sack

A sleep sack is essentially a sack made of blanket material that a baby can wear to sleep. It keeps the baby warm like a blanket, but the baby can't lose it in the crib. Sleep sacks are like sleeping bags for babies; they zip or fasten just like a sleeping bag, but usually come with arm holes that help the baby comfortably fit into the sack. Sleep sacks come in various designs and colors and may be made of various fabrics appropriate to blankets.

Sleep sacks are in some ways safer than blankets. The baby cannot suffocate itself in a sleep sack, while this is a possibility with a blanket. Sleep sacks are believed to reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) for this reason. The baby can roll about in the crib and stay warm at all times without any danger of the blanket covering its head.
 

Sleep Sack Dangers

Although sleep sacks are generally safer than blankets, there have been some safety concerns involving the fastenings of some sleep sacks, which have resulted in the sacks being recalled. Sleep sacks that fasten with snaps or whose zippers have eyelets at the top carry risks that other designs do not. Snaps can become detached from the sleep sack and pose a choking hazard. A zip-up sleep sack by Halo on at least two occasions caused toddlers -- a ten-month-old boy and a 14-month-old girl -- to pull their own teeth; in each case the tooth became caught in the zipper's eyelet while the child slept and in its struggle to disentangle itself, the child pulled the tooth out . A safer zipper design or, better yet, Velcro fastenings are considered preferable for safe sleeping.

Another potential danger with sleep sacks involves overheating. This is more likely to occur if the baby is wearing heavily padded or insulated sleepwear as well as the sleep sack itself. Sleep sacks come in various designs and are made of varying materials, as are baby sleepwear; overheating can occur if both sleepwear and sleep sack are made of thick fleece. If the sleep sack is fleece, use a lighter cotton or polyester sleep suit, and vice-versa, to minimize the danger of overheating.
 

Sleep Sack Recall

An investigation by the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is under way to over the tooth-pulling incidents with the Halo sleep sack. This action may result in a recall of the products, but as of this time they remain on the market. Another sleep sack with the brand name My First Blankie has been recalled over incidents of snap fastenings coming detached and presenting a danger of choking.

"Early Walker" Sleep Sack

A variation on the sleep sack design includes feet like a blanket-pajama. This design allows a toddler to stand up and walk about while still wearing the sleep sack. It is recommended for older babies who are able to pull themselves into a standing position in the crib and who are learning how to walk. A toddler that age may find the standard no-feet sleep sack frustrating.
 

Sleep Sack Sizes

Standard sleep sacks come in several sizes. Generally, a "newborn" size is appropriate for babies from birth to three months, 19 to 23 inches in height, and weighing six to twelve pounds. A "small" size is appropriate for babies from three to six months after birth, 23 to 26 inches in height, and weighing 13 to 18 pounds. Larger sizes are available for larger toddlers, including the early walker design of sleep sack.

Sleep Sack Pattern

A sleep sack is pretty easy to make at home on a sewing machine if a parent is so inclined. Patterns are available from McCall's and online at sleepingbaby.net.