benefits of sleep sack

  The baby sleep sack is a kind of protective, soothing sleep sack that babies can use for sleep. Many parents have not used sleep sacks before and have the corresponding confusion. Is it necessary to buy a baby sleep sack? And what are the benefits of the sleep sack? What kinds of sleep sacks for babies to wear are good?

A night of good sleep is important

  The slogan and theme of World Sleep Day 2022 is "Quality Sleep, Sound Mind, Happy World.", which is reminding the whole society to pay attention to sleep, rest habits and sleep health issues. Sleep helps to enhance babies’ brain development and memory. High-quality sleep helps their physical growth and intellectual development. And if babies sleep well, they will be in a better mood and have better concentration, as well as enhanced memory and learning ability. Frequent lack of sleep can lower your baby’s immunity and resistance, affect his vision and cause obesity.

Benefits of the sleep sack

Newborn babies have the physical and environmental need for sleep

  The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommends that healthy infants should lie on their backs as much as possible. Because sleeping on the back is effective in reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), which is the leading cause of death in the United States for infants under one year of age.

  In addition to ensuring that the baby sleeps in a safe position, avoid placing the infant on soft objects, such as pillows, quilts, stuffed toys, etc. because the baby’s face can be buried in these objects. And it may impede the smooth flow of your baby’s breathing from the mouth and nose, which is very dangerous. Babies may have a potential risk of suffocation. In addition to the bedding requirements, the AAP also has certain requirements for the temperature of the nursery during sleep. And they also recommend that infants should preferably wear pyjamas and rompers when sleeping. 

  A baby sleep sack is an ideal item that can meet all the above needs for newborns.　

Soothe newborns’ Moro reflex

  The Moro reflex is a type of infant reflex, which is also known as the startle reflex. It is a body reflex that is often seen when the infant is lying on his or her back. When a sudden stimulus occurs, the infant's arms and back will be extended, his fingers will be spread, and his legs will be straight. You don’t need to worry. Moro reflex of a newborn is a common physiological reaction that will disappear within 3-6 months. In simple terms, the baby’s actions and movement will be limited when he is in his mother's womb. And after the baby is born, he will be free from the womb environment. The Moro reflex is easy to wake a baby up.

  So in the first six months of a baby, he needs to get security by being swaddled. Swaddling a baby with a quilt or a blanket is easy. You can check the below blog to get more information.

How to swaddle a baby?

  Of course, parents also have the other choice. They can get a swaddling sleep sack for their baby directly. The swaddling sleep sack is helpful to help your baby maintain a better quality of sleep and make it easier to develop regular sleep.

Cold prevention for older babies

  As babies grow, they have relatively strong autonomy and become motor. The use of quilts and The possibility of choking hazards when babies are using quilts or blankets will also be reduced. 

  But on the other hand, most babies in this period can turn over and crawl by themselves. They can easily kick the quilts off and catch a cold. Baby sleep sacks not only can keep your baby warm but also can liberate parents, which can improve the quality of sleep for both babies and parents.

Help babies build good sleep habits

  A suitable sleep sack is a good item that can help babies fall asleep easily. The sleep sack also can establish and develop a regular sleep routine for your baby. A regular sleep routine is a basis for solving a baby’s sleep problems and helps him to have a healthy sleep.

  If you want to let the baby form good sleep habits, you should start helping babies to establish a regular routine after birth. From 0 to 3 months, the baby's biological clock and sleep rhythm have not been fully formed, so before three months of age is not recommended to do any sleep training. At this time, parents need to do is to teach the baby to recognize day and night.

Can be divided by different TOG ratings

  Newborns have a fast metabolism, and their thermoregulatory centres are not fully developed. They have weak adaptability to changes in external temperature. Newborns always have high heat production but low heat removal, which can be easier to lead the newborn to catch a high fever. So we recommend parents adjust the appropriate room temperature and do not wrap or wear too thick.   

  Also, you can choose sleep sacks with different TOG ratings according to the different temperatures. The colder the temperature is, the higher the tog rating you need to choose.

  There are four different TOG ratings in Kaiya Baby: 0.5 TOG, 1.0 TOG, 2.5 TOG, and 3.5 TOG. Sleep sacks in 0.5 TOG are breathable and lightweight, which are suitable for babies to wear in summer. Sleep sacks in 1.0 TOG are suitable to wear for four seasons. Sleep sacks in 2.5 TOG and 3.5 TOG are good for wearing on cold winter days.

How to choose a suitable sleep sack?

Newborn sleep sacks

  Firstly, a qualified newborn sleep sack needs to be tight at the top and loose at the bottom. Why does the top of the newborn sleep sack need to be tight? It is beneficial to create a function of anti-Moro reflex for your baby. On the other hand, the bottom of the sleep sack needs to be loose. Then babies can feel free and relaxed. Usually, the sleeves of a swaddling sleep sack are closed. But some newborns do not like this design. So parents can decide to choose a newborn sleep sack with detachable sleeves. Then parents can change the sleeves at any time, based on their baby’s response.

  Secondly, every newborn sleep sack needs to have a fit neckline design. If the neckline is too tight, newborns will feel uncomfortable. If the neckline is too loose, the sleep sacks may slide up to cover your baby’s mouth and nose, which is dangerous and may increase the risk of suffocation.

  Thirdly, the sleep sacks for your newborns can not have buttons, snaps, strings, etc. Once the buttons or snaps come off the sleep sack, babies may eat them by mistake. Parents have to pay special attention to preventing babies from eating. And the strings also have the risk of looping over your baby’s neck.

  Last but not least, parents also need to check the fabrics before buying a sleep sack. In the first six months of a baby’s life, many organs of him are not fully developed. So you should make sure that all clothes and sleep sacks for your baby are safe. What kinds of fabrics are safe? The fabrics need to be natural and organic, like organic cotton and bamboo fiber.

Toddler Sleep Sack

  Different from newborns, toddlers are motor and can turn over or even walk by themselves. So the sleep sacks need to be loose and free for toddlers to move. Usually, the one-piece sleep sacks and split-leg sleep sacks are good choices.

  The sleep sack needs to have a simple design which is easy to use. Parents can take it on and off for their babies and help their babies change diapers conveniently.

  Some sleep sacks add mesh cotton on the back of sleep sacks, which is good for letting the heat out. Babies can feel cooler on hot summer days.

Sleep Sack With Sleeves vs Sleeveless sleep sacks

  Usually, there is no good or bad between sleeved sleep sacks and sleeveless sleep sacks. In fact, this issue is related to different seasons and surroundings. For example, in winter, you should let your baby wear a sleep sack with sleeves. If the baby wears a sleeveless sleep sack under cold weather conditions, he is likely to catch a cold. But In summer, sleeved sleep sacks are prone to overheating hazards when the baby's body temperature is too high. On the other hand, sleeveless sleep sacks allow the baby's arms to move freely and can reduce the sense of restraint. Toddlers can easily self-soothe by wearing a sleeveless sleep sack.