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Top 5 Sleep Sacks For Your Tall Toddler & Big Kid
Is your toddler at the top of the growth chart or off the chart? Have you been thinking your toddler may be outgrowing their sleep sack because they are tall? Many families I work with as a child sleep consultant find themselves in this situation. I’m assuming that since you landed here, you may be experiencing this too. So let’s explore the benefits of sleep sacks and my recommendations for tall toddlers.
IN THIS POST:
- What are the benefits of a sleep sack for toddlers?
- Is it safe to use a sleep sack once my toddler is walking?
- How do I choose the right sleep sack for my toddler?
- What should my toddler wear for pajamas with a sleep sack?
- Sleep sack recommendations for your tall toddlers & big kid
- At what age should I stop using a sleep sack?
What are the benefits of a sleep sack for toddlers?
Many times, parents think that sleep sacks are just for babies and once a toddler can safely have a blanket (12+ months), that they should move their little one out of their sleep sack. I recommend that you hold up! There are many benefits of your toddler wearing a sleep sack. Let explore:
Keeps toddlers cozy
If you’ve ever watched your toddler sleep, you likely noticed that your little one is an active sleeper. All of this moving and grooving will make it difficult for toddlers to keep their blanket on. Until children are around 2.5-ish, they won’t really grasp the concept of covering themselves back up. So if your little one’s blanket falls off and they wake up cold and don’t know how to recover themself, this could result in night wakings. Using a sleep sack will keep your little one cozy no matter how much they move around, promoting better sleep.
Keeps toddlers in the crib longer
Many little daredevils will try to climb out of their crib by putting their leg up on the side of the crib and using momentum to launch themselves out of the crib. This isn’t usually a graceful experience. It can be downright scary for parents, who are concerned their little one will get hurt. Using a sleep sack discourages climbing. It makes it harder to get a leg up if a child is wearing a non-walker sleep sack. This will help to keep your child in their crib until they are much closer to 3+, when the transition to a big kid bed will be much easier. Check out this post: Avoid These Crib to Bed Transition Mistakes.
Powerful cue that sleep is coming
Our toddlers thrive on routine and consistency and the specific actions that we take before sleep can be powerful cues to our children’s bodies that sleep is coming. Putting on a sleep sack sends a message of your little one’s brain that it is time for sleep, which can make it easier for your child to fall asleep.
Is it safe to use a sleep sack once my toddler is walking?
YES! Ideally the sleep sack is only for when your toddler is in the crib and we don’t want to encourage a lot of walking around the crib. If you are concerned that your toddler may trip over their sleep sack when they are walking outside of the crib, take it off of your child when getting them up in the morning or from nap and leave it in the crib.
You may be tempted to get a walker sleep sack if you have a tall toddler and if your little one isn’t adventurous (aka captain crib climber), that may work perfectly for inside the crib and out. My favorite is the Snuggy Buddy Toddler Walker Sleep Sack (10% OFF CODE: BELLALUNA10). But if you are concerned that your little one may try to climb, I recommend a closed bottom sleep sack, like the ones suggested below, to dissuade them.
How do I choose the right sleep sack for my toddler?
The primary criteria that I would recommend assessing when choosing a sleep sacks is:
- The size and dimensions. You want to make sure that the sleep sack will be long enough for your little one and that they will be able to get comfortable (aka it isn’t too tight).
- Your climate, house and room temperature. Sleep sacks are given a TOG rating (TOG = thermal overall grade, a common term in the textile industry) which indicates how warm the sleep sack will be. You can learn all about TOG here. You want to consider the climate where you live and your child’s room temperature when you are choosing a sleep sack. Making sure that the room temperature and sleep sack are in alignment will help to ensure that your little one won’t be too hot or too cold. See the “Dressing Your Baby for Sleep” chart below.
- Your child’s internal furnace. We’ve all got that one friend that is always cold (or maybe it’s you!) and the friend that is always steamy, no matter the temperature. Our children are all different and some run hotter or colder. Knowing your baby’s internal furnace will also help to guide you in choosing a sleep sack. If your toddler runs hot, you may want to use a lighter weight sleep sack and/or keep the room cooler.
What should my toddler wear for pajamas with a sleep sack?
I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I spent a lot of time worrying about my twins being too hot or too cold when they were little! I was always second guessing myself. I didn’t know all of the stuff that I know now and I’m sharing this with you so you don’t have to worry as much as I did!
To help put your mind at ease and make the right choices for your child, I recommend that you evaluate the factors mentioned above and make decisions based on that.
Another tool to put in your toolbox is to assess your child’s temperature with these factors in mind:
- TOO COLD: If your child appears too cold, try a sleep sack with a higher TOG rating, warmer pajamas or another layer of clothing.
- TOO HOT: If your child appears too hot, switch to a lighter sleep sack, lighter weight pajamas or remove a layer from under the sleep sack.
Sleep sack recommendations for tall toddlers
Now my “babies” are in elementary school so we’ve aged out of sleep sacks so I’m using parent recommendations and Amazon reviews to provide you with sleep sack recommendations for tall toddlers. Here are some of the top rated:
Best Splurge/4 Season Option: Woolino 4 Season® Ultimate Toddler & Big Kid Sleep Bags
- Amazon Rating: 4.7-4.9 stars
- Length: 34-42″ for size 2-4 years; 40-47″ for 4-6 years
- Weight: 26-42 lbs for size 2-4 years; 34-48.5 lbs for 4-6 years
- TOG Weight: n/a. Can be used year-round. It’s suitable for room temperature 63-75F (17-24C). Because of merinos unique ability to regulate body temperature, it helps keep your baby warm when it’s cold and cool when it’s hot.
- Price: $129 for 2-4 years; $149 for 4-6 years
- Pros: supremely soft, breathable, temperature regulating, adjustable, 2-way zipper for easy on and off, seatbelt opening for traveling and transferring from stroller/car seat to crib
- Cons: High price point. Snaps at the shoulder can make it easy for escape artists to get out, although the snaps at the shoulders could be sewn so they don’t open. Can be tumble dried on No Heat or Air Dry setting, hang to dry whenever possible.
Buy Directly From Woolino – 10% off discount code: BELLALUNA10
Buy Woolino Toddler Sleep Sack on Amazon
Buy Directly From Woolino – 10% off discount code: BELLALUNA10
Buy Big Kid Sleep Sack on Amazon
Best Mid-Range Option: Kyte Sleep Bag
- Amazon Rating: 4.7 stars
- Length: 33-40″ for size large; 37-47″ for size XL
- Weight: 28-42 lbs for size large; 38-50 lbs for size XL
- TOG Weight: 0.5, 1.0 and 2.5 options
- Price: $53 for 0.5 TOG; $58 for 1.0 TOG; $63 for 2.5 TOG
- Pros: made of bamboo so it is buttery soft & hypoallergenic, diaper change friendly, temperature regulating, dual zipper
- Cons: recommended air drying; stains easily; some reported pilling; some say it is too long.
Explore All Kyte Baby Options on Amazon
Best Organic Option: Woolino Adjustable Ecolino Organic Cotton Sleep Sack
- Amazon Rating: 4.7 stars
- Length: 34-42″ for size 18-36 months
- Weight: 26-42 lbs for size 18-36 months
- TOG Weight: 1.0; suitable for room temperature of 69-76F (20-25c)
- Price is right – $40
- Pros: certified organic cotton that is incredibly soft; 2 way zipper for easy on and off; seatbelt opening for traveling and transferring from stroller/car seat to crib
- Cons: some say it is too long in length and the arm holes are too large.
Buy Directly From Woolino – 10% off discount code: BELLALUNA10
Best Organic Value Option: TADO Muslin Organic Cotton Sleep Sack
- Amazon Rating: 4.7 stars
- Length: 39 inches for size 2-4 years
- TOG Weight: 0.5
- Price is right – $29
- Pros: two way zipper, organic cotton, structured so harder to lift foot over the side of the crib
- Cons: only summer weight
Best Value Option: baby deedee Sleep Nest
- Amazon Rating: 4.5-4.7 stars
- Length: 39-41 inches for size large
- TOG Weight: 0.6, 1.2, 2.5 and 3.5
- Price is right – $25 for lighter summer weights and $48 for heavier winter weights
- Pros: Washes well, snaps on shoulders for easy on and off
- Cons: snaps on the shoulders may be easy to unsnap if you have a little Houdini, but they could be sewn shut.
Explore All Sleep Nest Options on Amazon
At what age should I stop using a sleep sack?
Now once you’ve purchased your sleep sack for tall toddlers, you may be wondering “how long can I use the sleep sack?”
My recommendation is to continue using a sleep sack until your toddler is ready to transition into a toddler bed, which is usually 3 years old or older. If you’ve got questions about this major milestone check out: Successfully Transitioning from a Crib to a Bed. At this age, your child will be able to cover themselves up if their blanket falls off.
But honestly, if your toddler LOVES their sleep sack, there is no reason to rush them out of it, even if they are in a bed!
I hope this helps!
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