When to Stop Using a Sleep Sack for Your Baby

Wondering when to stop using a sleep sack for your little one? If they’re happy, you can keep going until they’re just too tall.
You might never have heard of a baby sleep sack before your little one arrived.

But once you discovered them, you were probably jealous of your baby’s cozy toes!

Sleep sacks are a great way to keep your baby warm and help them to drift off to sleep.

What’s more, there are no hard and fast rules for when to stop using a sleep sack.

In this article: 📝

What is a sleep sack?

When we say ‘sleep sack’, we mean a wearable blanket for your baby to snuggle up in while they’re getting their all-important sleep.

It zips up, and has holes for your little one’s arms and head.

While they’re wearing it, your baby can kick around as much as they like inside the bag, but they can’t kick it off.

Baby sleep sacks come in different sizes and weights – from quilted ones with sleeves for the winter to muslin ones for a heatwave.

Are sleep sacks safe? Yes, as long as they fit properly and they’re not too heavy for the temperature of the room.

Just remember, a sleep sack is not the same as a swaddling blanket, which is specifically designed so that a newborn can’t move their arms around and startle themselves awake.

Doctors advise that you should stop using a swaddling blanket as soon as your baby starts to roll over, which can be from 2–3 months.

When should babies stop wearing sleep sacks?

There’s no rule about when to stop using a sleep sack for your little one.

You might choose to keep using it until your little one gets so tall that they don’t have space to stretch their legs out anymore – but even then, there are lots of options for wearable blankets that fit up to the age of three.

Or you might keep using it until your little one learns how to unzip the sleep sack themselves.

(But we hear that lots of parents thwart these particular escape attempts by putting the sleep sack on backward so that the zip is out of reach.)

You could also keep going until your little one graduates to a big-kid bed that they can get into and out of themselves.

If they’re tripping over the sleep sack when they come to find you in the morning, it might be time to upgrade.

Having said that, some companies do make footless wearable blankets, so that your toddler can have the security of a sleep sack while still being able to, well, toddle.

So how long do babies use sleep sacks? It’s up to your family, and you have a lot of flexibility here.

Unlike getting rid of the swaddle, it’s really not a transition that you have to rush.

When to transition from sleep sack to blanket

According to the AAP, it’s safe for a toddler to sleep with a blanket once they turn one, as long as they’re tucked in and the blanket isn’t too big for their bed.

When not to use a sleep sack

Sleep sacks can be a part of your life for your first few years as a parent. There are just a couple of safety tips to bear in mind.

Don’t use a sleep sack if your baby has a fever

If your baby is sick and has a fever, it’s best not to use their regular sleep sack, because they won’t be able to kick it off if they get too hot.

While they’re unwell, they’ll be fine in just their pajamas.

Choose a sleep sack or a blanket

It’s best not to use a sleep sack and a blanket together.

One or the other is enough to keep your baby warm.

Use a sleep sack that fits

Sleep sacks exist so that you don’t have to put loose items in your little one’s crib or bassinet.

But if the sleep sack is too big and they can wriggle down inside while they’re sleeping, it can become a suffocation risk.

So make sure you go for one that’s the right size.

😴 More on baby sleep from The 411:
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10 Best Baby’s Bassinets of 2022 Chosen By Real Moms
How Many Swaddles Do I Need?
How to Dress Baby For Sleep
Baby Sleep Training 101
How Much Do Newborns Sleep? A Rough Guide
The Bedtime Routine: The Foundation for a Good Night’s Sleep
All About the Baby Sleep Cycle
5 Things I Wish I Knew About Baby Sleep as a First-Time Mama
Newborn Sleep Schedule: Rough Patterns and Timings
How Safe Is Co-Sleeping?
Can Babies Sleep on Their Stomach?
Can Newborns Sleep on Their Side?