The first criterion is the size of the sleeping bag. You want one that is not too small and not too big. On one hand, if it is too loose, your baby may kick it off during the night and he or she would end up cold and unprotected, which defeats the purpose to use a baby sleeping bag in the first place (as supposed to a sheet cover). An even more terrifying scenario is that a baby’s head can slip through the neck hole of a sleeping bag that is too loose and suffocate inside – SID related deaths.

On the other hand, a sleeping bag that is too tight would lead to discomfort and restless sleep for both the baby and the entire family. The sleeping bag should be long enough for the baby to move his or her legs around. Baby sleeping bags should have designations indicating the age range, weight and length of the baby for which they are appropriate. So know your baby’s height and weight before going shopping for a sleeping bag. Better yet, bring your baby along.

Another contributing factor to health and comfort is the material from which the baby sleeping bag is made. Firstly, be aware of any allergic reactions that your baby might have to certain cloth materials. Most baby sleeping bags are made from cotton, fleece and quilted materials.

Next, you want to consider the temperature at which your baby would be comfortable. The sleeping bags generally have what is called a TOG rating. It is simply a unit of measurement for the level of warmth that a material provides. The higher the number, the warmer the material. Again, analogous to choosing the right size, you want the appropriate level of warmth for your baby. You don’t want your baby to be too cold and end up catch a cold, but you also don’t want your baby to overheat. You’ll need to regularly check your baby to ensure the material you’re using and the clothing he or she is wearing underneath is the right combination for comfort.

Remember that your baby’s health is important so choosing the right baby bedding should be done carefully.