On my website you can purchase the Gro Bag sleep sacs in both the leightweight 1.0 tog warmth for summer months and the 2.5 tog weight for the rest of the year, if you're looking to invest in a convertible sleep sac for year-round use or expected travel between climates, you can check out the Silkberry Baby Sleeping Sack with Removable Silk Filling.
The cotton fabric outer can be filled with silk floss to make the sleep sack warmer in colder times. This converts the sack from 1.0 tog to 2.5 tog. The sack comes in 2 sizes for NB - 6m and 6 - 36 months, which is quite flexible. The silk filling is hypoallergenic, which is great for sensitive babies.
Silkberry Baby also sells a great lovey, a cuddly bunny pillow also with removable silk filling. The pillow is great to snuggle with and is chemical-free and hypoallergenic. I've been using the little pillow with Hendrix as part of his sleep routine.
If you want to buy the sleep sack or the pillow, you can use the following coupon code (in capitals) for 15% off!
One of the most classic gender-neutral designs of the Gro Bag is the Bobble Bear - great if you're planning on having a second child! I'm offering a 1-week 10% discount on this design in both the 0-6m and 6-18m sizes in both tog ratings.
What is a Tog Rating? Which should I buy?
A tog weight represents the warmth of the Gro Bags. Health professionals recommend that sleep bags be leightweight, and to that end are available in two tog weights:
1.0 togs Gro Bags are recommended for nursery temperatures above 20°C
2.5 togs Gro Bags are ideal for nursery temperatures of 16°C and 20°C (good for year-round use, unless particularly hot)
A Baby Sleep Bag surrounds the baby, providing insulation from both below and above, and also a warm pocket of air around the baby. Because of the low tog rating, Grobag Baby Sleep Bags also provide great versatility throughout the year, simply by adjusting the level of your baby’s nightwear. When the weather is very cold, simply add more clothing (this could include a sleepsuit, socks and even a cardigan). When the weather is warmer, or perhaps if your child is unwell, you can remove layers of clothing while still keeping your baby at the right temperature.
To purchase the Gro Bag Bobble Bear design, add it here in your desired size and weight with code is BBSS0311 at check-out.
This summer, I talked about how fans can help babies sleep. Fans and other machines that create consistent noise will drown out noises from inside the house and without - like sirens! - and will keep baby's sleep environment peaceful. Not only that, white noise may help cut down on sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). While you won't be employing a fan in winter, you can keep up these benefits with a white noise machine.
The white noise machine I use with my children, and sell on my website, is the Sound Sleeper. The Sound Sleeper has 34 sound combinations, including womb sounds and the sound of the rain. Unlike certain other sound products on the market, including the much-popular teddy bear sound makers, the Sound Sleeper will keep going all night. Sounds going on and off may disrupt sleep and not be there to cover external noises that may wake baby.
If you search online, you'll see nothing but rave reviews about the Sound Sleeper and how it has helped contribute to babies, toddlers and children who continue to sleep well!
You can purchase the Sound Sleeper anytime from my website, but from 4th March 2011 to 18th March 2011, receive 10% off at checkout with coupon code fpdexwnm0311.
We've written several times in the past about various sleep products - swaddling, the Guardian Sleeper for babies with reflux or as a transition/alternative from swaddling, or wearable blankets, known sometimes as sleep bags or sacs. I'm happy to soon be offering one such wearable blanket, the popular sleep bags from Grobag. Indeed, as you know from my Newborn Sleep Guide, my newborn son Hendrix wears one to sleep!
Grobags are blankets that are worn instead of loose blankets or sheets, which are a hazard in the crib. Because arms are free, baby can easily move around and body temperature is better regulated. The Grobag can't be kicked off or tangled and can't be slipped out of. In addition to these benefits, putting your baby in the Grobag can be a great trigger for sleep as a part of your bedtime and nap routines.
You can use a Grobag right up until your baby moves to a bigger bed, and even then you can use Grobag's special duvets to keep toddler tucked in.
I've written in the past about using sleep bags and the Guardian Sleeper for babies who are not swaddled, though I know many parents who love and use the swaddle for the first few months. One of the most commonly successful swaddle blankets is the Miracle Blanket - a swaddling blanket that is designed with a series of flaps that prevents baby from unswaddling himself. Here's a video demo of how it works:
There are many benefits to swaddling - sleep being one of them! - though I have heard clients mention that their baby outgrows the Miracle Blanket too early (before the 14 weeks when it's recommended to cap swaddling at). However, we have word from the manufacturer that this is probably a misconception or due to incorrect wrapping. They say:
A common misconception is that the blanket is too small if the baby can't straighten their legs all the way out without touching the bottom of the foot pouch. The fact is that babies never sleep with their legs straightened all the way out. The natural tendency is for them to have their knees bent and their legs in a sort of "frog leg" position. Basically, this is what happens when anybody (including an adult) tries to assume the fetal position while laying on their back - gravity unbends the hips and the feet touching the sleeping surface allow the knees to stay bent, but gravity pulls the knees down to the sides. They'd sleep in this position with or without any blanket, but when they do it in the blanket some people take it to mean the blanket is forcing their legs into this position. Instead, it's just the natural position.
Apparent early outgrowing of the blanket can also seem to happen if the blanket isn't being wrapped low enough on the body. Remember that the top edge should be well below the shoulder line. This prevents the blanket from riding up with the baby's motions and touching the chin. As soon as anything touches a baby's chin, it triggers the rooting response, which leads to a lot more movement and unwanted arousal. Keeping the top edge well below the shoulder line prevents this, which not only leads to better sleep but also provides some extra inches at the bottom of the foot pouch.
Because babies at 14+ weeks will soon be rolling to their tummies, you'll want to stop swaddling before this time in order to avoid increasing your risk for SIDS. If you are having trouble transitioning away from the swaddling, I can help!
wn on sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). While you won't be employing a fan in winter, you can keep up these benefits with a white noise machine.
Comments
Kim
Posted 11 months ago
I couldn't live without these and the new ones I just purchased from Dawnn's site are beautiful and soft. So worth the money.