The Best Sleep Sacks to Keep Your Baby Cozy—and Safe

Pros:

• Cotton material is soft and suitable for most climates
• Affordable
• Easy diaper changes

Cons:

• Reverse zipper can be frustrating
• Some parents say material wears out quickly

Like Goldilocks’ porridge, some baby products get it “just right”—and the Halo SleepSack is one of them. This reliable, straightforward sleep sack is “so easy to use and helps my baby fall asleep,” says one Babylist parent. It’s also well-priced, soft and available in a wide range of sizes and colors. I’ve tried a lot of sleep sacks over the last ten years, but there’s always a Halo in rotation at my house.

The Halo SleepSack is made from cotton, so it’s just the right amount of cozy; it will keep your baby warm, but not too warm, across a range of temps. The hip-healthy design allows freedom of movement for your baby’s legs and it’s available in smaller sizes for younger babies all the way up through an XL size for toddlers to about two years old.

The zipper on this sleep sack opens from the bottom. While this does make diaper changes easier, some parents note (myself included) that this can make getting a wriggly larger baby or toddler into the sack a bit of a challenge. Others say these sleep sacks don’t hold up well over time, but I haven’t found that to be the case. If you live in a cooler climate, or if your winters get chilly, Halo makes a just as affordable fleece option to keep your little one extra cozy.

Real Parent Reviews

“We love our Halo sleep sacks! Our son has almost grown out of the small and [we] decided to order a different brand for the next size up but the material and quality just doesn’t compare. Will be going back to Halo and not using these other sleep sacks I bought from different brands.” — Alyssa T.

“Absolutely love the soft lightweight and 100% cotton fabric, durable zipper, and cute patterns. We will buy again and again! They are so easy to use and we love that they zip up from the bottom to make diaper changes easier. 10/10 recommend.” — Kelsey G.

“This is a quality product. Appropriate weight, sturdy construction, and a cute pattern. It could be improved by having a double zipper so that it could be opened from either the top or the bottom, which would be very convenient for diaper changes in the case of blow-outs.” — Cameron F.

Pros:

• Sleep sack + swaddle hybrid
• Mimics newborn arms-up sleep position
• Easy on and off

Cons:

• Not all babies love arms-up position
• Short lifespan (can’t use once baby starts rolling)

Most newborns like to be swaddled, but not all. If that’s the case with your baby, as it was with one of my boys—or if you’d simply prefer to skip the traditional swaddle and try something else—the Love to Dream Swaddle Up is an ideal option. Part sleep sack and part swaddle, this creative hybrid is a great option for babies who may not like the tightness of a traditional swaddle blanket but aren’t quite ready for the freedom of a sleep sack. The Swaddle Up lets your little one sleep with their arms up, a natural position that also gives them access to their hands for self-soothing.

“We tried all sorts of swaddles: traditional, Velcro, zip, and all presented their own set of issues—baby getting free, loud Velcro rip during late night diaper changes, etc,” one parent shared in the Best Baby Products Survey. “We tried Love to Dream and our girl finally started those long overnight stretches of sleep. It was a game-changer. It kept her snug without restricting her movement.”

This sleep sack swaddle is easy to use, soft and breathable, and goes on (and off) in seconds thanks to the two-way zipper. Just keep in mind that, unlike traditional arms-out sleep sacks that can be used well into toddlerhood, you’ll need to ditch this one as soon as baby starts showing any signs of rolling over. You’ll also want to pay attention to sizing. Because it’s designed to be used with baby’s arms up, you need a snug fit, especially around the neck, to ensure there isn’t any fabric making its way up over your baby’s mouth or face.

Real Parent Reviews

“If baby likes arms up, this is the best swaddle! They feel nice and snug but arms can stay up for self-soothing. Love it.” — Hanna A.

“This helped our newborn relax into sleep without getting tangled or to tighten in too many layers. I put him in a onesie and then zipped him up without a struggle. The baby calmed down once putting it on, and had enough room to stretch but be cozy inside.” — Ash D.

“Great quality material, but our baby hated having her arms zipped up. The newborn size is very small and she quickly didn’t fit in it so I wish we had gotten a bigger size.” — Lauren K.

Pros:

• Made from super soft bamboo
• Available in a range of TOGs
• Fun prints and colors

Cons:

• Expensive
• Hang to dry only
• Runs large

If there’s ever been a baby product that I wish came in adult sizes, this is the one. Kyte Baby’s sleep sacks are THE softest around; I’ve tried them all, and nothing else compares. Parents agree, consistently calling them out in our survey as “very soft” and “so comfortable.” “My son absolutely loves his Kyte sleep sack,” one mom told us. “It has truly become his comfort item.” My toddler would concur. He’s three and sleeps in a bed, but still eschews his blankets in favor of his tried and true Kyte Baby sleep sack.

Kyte Baby’s soft factor comes from their sustainable bamboo fabric with just a touch of stretch. And speaking of material, the sleep sacks come in a range of TOGs, from a very thin 0.5 all the way up to a thick 2.5. (TOG = Thermal Overall Grade, which indicates how much heat the fabric retains. You’ll want a lower TOG in a warmer sleeping environment and a higher TOG for a chillier one.) Babylist parents said they like the option of different TOGs based on the season or the sleeping environment, and appreciate the peace of mind of knowing their baby is sleeping comfortably regardless of the temperature.

The biggest downside to Kyte Baby’s sleep sacks is price: they’re expensive. They’re also on the delicate side. While they do hold up in the wash, I wouldn’t recommend putting them through a heavy-duty cycle multiple times a week. They’re also air-dry only, so you’ll want more than one on hand if this is going to be your day-to-day sleep sack as they take about a full day to dry.

Real Parent Reviews

“I love this sleep bag, and more importantly, my boy loves it!! It is SO soft, and seems to keep him plenty warm even in our cooler home. We keep our temp around 67-68°, and he usually wears a tee shirt with a thin pair of pajama pants, and hasn’t had a single problem with this sleep bag yet. He hasn’t woken up sweaty once, which he has with other sleep bags or sleep sacks that we have used.” — Sarah N.

“I waited 10 months before finally getting a Kyte Baby sleep sack. It is absolutely worth the money. I wish I got one sooner. My daughter sleeps amazing and I have peace of mind knowing it’s the perfect temperature for her bedroom.” — Natalie D.

“I really love this sleep sack! I love that it is a tighter fit so there isn’t a lot of loose material when baby rolls over. The neck hole is also the perfect size—I don’t worry about it going over her face. It’s also so soft! I took a star off because what kind of baby product can’t go in the dryer?! They are so expensive, it’s not really realistic to be able to purchase 2 so that you always have one clean when you need to.” — Robyn M.

Pros:

• Organic cotton
• Affordable
• Two-way zipper

Cons:

• Thin material
• 0-6 mos size only

If you value sustainability and organic materials, this wearable blanket from Tiny Kind is for you. It’s made from 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton. The inks are organic and non-toxic, and the factory’s boxes are made from recycled fabric straps converted to paper pulp.

This sleep sack features a two-way zipper for easy on and off, and there’s plenty of room in the lower half for your little one to kick and move their legs around freely. Just note that the material is pretty thin (it has a 0.3 TOG rating), so it works best in warmer sleeping climates. You’ll also need to find a new option once your baby grows, as the Tiny Kind wearable blanket maxes out at about six months for most babies.

Pros:

• Ideal for cold sleeping temps
• Organic cotton
• Includes helpful “what to wear underneath” guide

Cons:

• Cold-weather specific
• Air dry only
• Expensive

If you live somewhere with cold winters, or you’re just a big fan of Arctic-like sleeping conditions (🙋🏻‍♀️), you’ll want an extra-warm sleep sack to keep your little one comfortable. The ergoPouch is as close as you can get to a baby-safe luxury down comforter. It’s made from thick, stretchy organic cotton and has a TOG of 2.5, so it’s suitable for rooms between 61-71°F. It’s by far my favorite sleep sack for those long, cold winter nights. While it works well through toddlerhood, I especially like it for younger babies due to the slim, stretchy fit up top that mimics the security of a traditional swaddle.

Like Kyte Baby sleep sacks, this one is also air dry only, and since it’s very thick, it takes a while to dry completely—so keep that in mind when deciding how many you’ll need. It’s also pretty pricey. If you need something just as warm but that offers more mobility for older toddlers, the ergoPouch Winter Romper 2.5 TOG is a good choice.

Real Parent Reviews

“This has been great for our little one to be able to roll in his crib safely without blankets and also to keep him warm during those colder months!” — Hannah M.

“I ordered this for my baby to use for colder nights. He sleeps very well in it and is able to roll and move around in it as he needs.” — Dana

“This is a great product. I love the TOG ratings. The material is organic cotton and quality made. It is soft and thick; great softness. They are gender neutral. I would recommend and buy again. My only suggestion is to have an option of having the zipper go down the back, now that my toddler has found out how to take off the sack, I have to put it on her inside out.” — Kathryn H.

Pros:

• Merino wool + organic cotton
• Works in any season
• Universal sizing, fits 2 mos to 2 yrs

Cons:

• Roomy fit on younger/smaller babies
• Expensive

You don’t need to own a different swaddle for every season; it’s possible to be one-and-done. The Woolino sleep bag works across a huge range of room temps, from 63° up to 77°F. That’s because it’s lined with Merino wool, a material that naturally regulates body temperature. It’s warm in winter, cool in summer and can be your go-to sleep sack all year long.

Unlike other sleep bags, the Woolino is universally sized and can be used from about two months through two years old. It’s also known for its durability, since Merino wool is machine washable and holds up well over time. So while it’s expensive—it’s the priciest sleep sack on our list by far—it’s worth it, according to many parents. “It’s been in constant use for three+ years with our two kids and is still in great shape,” one parent noted in the Best Baby Products survey. “I give all my friends one as [a] baby gift now.”

The one thing to note about the Woolino is while the top adjusts to fit babies as they grow (there are snaps on the underarm area of the sleep sack to adjust the fit), the bottom portion remains the same size. This means that on a smaller baby, all of that fabric can look and feel a bit overwhelming. It’s still a safe fit, but something to know so it doesn’t catch you by surprise.

Real Parent Reviews

“Absolutely love our Woolino sleep sack—it takes the worry out of dressing our child appropriately for the weather! It washes well and spit-up stains come out easily. Woolino sleep sacks have become my default gift for everyone I know who’s having a baby!” — Rachael S.

“This is expensive BUT it feels amazing. The zipper is super high quality. Baby sleeps super comfortably in all sorts of temperatures. I love how it grows with baby so we can use it longer than traditional sleep sacks. It equalizes cost over time and is so much better quality. We get by with 2.” — Lisbeth B.

“My baby sleeps well in this sleeper! My only complaint is that he loves to play with the zipper and often we find him with one leg out because he’s unzipped the side.” — Michelle H.