Merino Kids™ Toddler Sleeping Bags - A Great Alternative to Synthetic Options

When it comes to sleep, making sure your little one is comfortable, warm but doesn’t overheat is of utmost importance. We seem to be a generation of “sleep bag” addicts rather than using the sheets and blankets former generations favoured. At least with sleep bags we can rest assured that our little ones aren’t going to get themselves lost under a mountain of sheets and blankets risking suffocation and won’t be kicking off the sheets making them cold and uncomfortable in the night. But which type of sleep sack is best.

There are those of us who will always favour the natural, breathable option and then there will also be a synthetic fabric equivalent to run alongside it. I’ve used both and would definitely recommend you go the natural, breathable option if you can afford to. Yes they are normally more expensive but you get what you pay for in my mind and from a perspective of allowing the body to breath and regulate itself temperature wise, this is by far the best option. If you would like to read a research report comparing merino wool with polyester baby sleep sacks by AgResearch, New Zealand’s largest national Crown Research Institute then click here:

Jess recently had a growth spurt and outgrew the sleep sack we had for her (they always do that at just the wrong time, don’t they?) and we didn’t have a “hand-me-down” to use as Sophia wasn’t as tall as Jess at this age and being born in July, she moved to a duvet much sooner than her sister. We have a lamb’s wool toddler duvet waiting for Jess but because she still sleeps on her front with her bottom in the air a lot of the time (even after 2 years I still can’t work out how it can be comfy!), the likelihood of her kicking off a duvet in the night is high and I can’t afford for her to be cold on these chilly winter evenings. We’ll also be heading off in our caravan in April so having a sleep sack for this purpose is also an advantage especially when regulating the heat in the caravan at night is not always easy. So it was necessary to invest in another one.

As Jess is now 2 it meant finding somewhere that sold “toddler” sized bags. My search took me to Merino Kids™ website. Their international award-winning ‘Go Go Bag™’ waved at me saying “buy me”. So I did. These bags are made from merino wool on the inside with an organic cotton outer layer. They come in two sizes; newborn to 2 years and 2 – 4 years. They have two weights; standard weight (for temperatures 17 – 27 degrees centigrade) and duvet weight (for 20 degrees centigrade and below) for colder evenings. They come in a range of fun stripey colours and have one shoulder with poppers to fasten and the other one compete, in other words you place one arm through one armhole and popper the other side closed. They zip up from the bottom, along one side of the bag giving access to your little one and have an extra popper at each arm hole allowing you to secure the bag here if you wish stopping arms escaping into the bag. The bag has two vents one at the front and one at the back. This allows you to transfer your baby / toddler from car seat or buggy to cot/ bed without taking them out of their sleep bag. Great idea.

Merino Wool has many natural attributes:

• It allows the skin to breathe and controls moisture
• It controls temperature keeping your baby/child warm when it’s cold and cool when it’s warm
• It reduces the risk of skin allergies
• It improves sleep – Medical studies carried out by Scott & Richards at the Cambridge Maternity Hospital in 1979 found that merino wool helps to improve the sleep patterns of babies. They settled quicker, cried less, fed better and also gained weight faster
• The same studies found that premature and low birth weight babies gained an extra 10g per day in weight in comparison to those who weren’t sleeping on Merino wool.
• Merino wool is comfortable and easily cared for
• Merino contains natural fire retardants making it fire resistant. The Merino Kids Go Go Bag™ has also passed rigorous fire safety testing

Our sleep bag has washed up well. They are washed on a 30 degree C cycle and you dry them naturally. I did sneak mine into the tumble dryer on a low temp for about 10-20 minutes as it was a little damp when I needed it urgently and it didn’t shrink. This isn’t to say that if you put it in the tumble dryer for longer and on a higher temperature it wouldn’t shrink. I think as it’s wool it’s fair to say that it would. So don’t try this at home !

As the weather seems to be intent on getting chillier I think I’ll be investing in the duvet weight option as well. I’m impressed with it so far and Jess has slept well in it. She has plenty of room to kick about in the bag, doesn’t seem to get too twisted up in it which can sometimes happen, so I’m pleased with my purchase. These sleep bags come recommended.

********

“Merino Kids™ is an internationally award winning textile company from New Zealand that specialises in using 100% natural fibres, for the design of newborn, baby, infant and toddler sleepwear. The company was founded by Amie Nilsson, in 2003 and since that time has grown significantly to now become one of the global leaders and commentators of using natural fibres for young children.”

If you would like to find out more about Merino Kids™ then they have a great website with lots of information to help you in your decision. They also sell clothes/sleepwear and bedding too. Take a look at www.merinokids.co.uk.

You will also find them on Facebook and Twitter @MerinoKids @MerinoKidsUK and @MerinoKidsNZ.