The Best Sleep Sacks, Tested by Parents and Approved by Babies

This 100 percent cotton sleep sack was rated the #1 swaddle by the New York Times. Rightfully so, since it features seasoned-parent hacks like a two-way zipper for easy diaper changes and super quiet velcro to keep those squirmy little ones swaddled tight. The medium and large sizes even have snap buttons on the arm holes so you can swaddle baby’s arms in or out depending on their preference and stage. Icing on the cake—it was designed by a pediatrician and baby whisperer Dr. Harvey Karp.

“I didn't even own the fancy Harvey Karp bassinet, but I found his sleep sacks to be the absolute best and most dummy-proof for me with my son,” says PureWow Senior Director of Special Projects, Rachel Bowie. “The zipper setup was a cinch (and quiet), but I also really liked the mesh panels, which made me stress less about overheating. He could escape almost every other swaddle, but this one was a winner for us!”

Fast Facts:

• Sizes available: newborn, small, medium, large
• Material: organic cotton
• Closure: zipper

PureWow's VP of Editorial Candace Davison raves about this sleep sack because of how affordable and easy to use it is, and Dr. Mysore used it for both her boys as well. The large extended wings can be used three ways: arms in to reduce the startle reflex, hand-to-face for self-soothing, or one or both arms out for when your baby is ready to transition out of a swaddle and into a pure sleep sack. It comes in several patterns and sizes, is made of 100 percent cotton and unzips from the bottom to make diaper changes extra easy. The biggest downside is that the large Velcro panel isn’t exactly quiet when you undo it, so keep that in mind for those middle-of-the-night changes.

Fast Facts:

• Size range: preemie, newborn, small, medium
• Material: cotton
• Closure: zipper

Burt’s Bees is pretty much synonymous with cool baby gear. This lightweight option (0.5 TOG) is made of 100 percent cotton that allows baby to move around comfortably and safely. It has a zipper that opens from the bottom for easy diaper changes and comes in super cute colors. It’s a great option for travel because it folds up easily and would work well for warmer temps.

“I have used Burt's Bees exclusively since my son was four months old,” says Operations Director of Branded Content Rachel Gulmi. “He runs warm so I like that its only 0.5 TOG and the cotton is so comfortable. And they hold up extremely well to washing.”

Another PureWow editor and mom-of-two also loves this pick, telling us that she has the 1.5 TOG wearable blankets “and they’re just the perfect mid weight.”

Fast Facts:

• Size range: small, medium, large, 18 months
• Material: cotton
• Closure: zipper

This may well be the dreamiest sleep sack out there, thanks to whimsical designs like Luna Dawn and Secret Garden and the 100 percent organic cotton exterior (the interior is hypoallergenic polyester fiberfill). It’s pricier than some of the other options available, but happy customers report that airy yet plush design is worth the cost. Available in two sizes (0 to 9 months and 9 to 18 months), the smaller size has under-arm snaps to keep up with your growing baby, and both options unzip side to bottom for easy diaper changes.

Senior Food Editor Katherine Gillen is a big fan: “I have the 1.7 tog and plan on buying the 1 tog for warmer weather months. I love that these are muslin cotton. The 1.7 tog has a light layer of fluffy filling between the cotton and it's warm without being too hot, so I don't worry about my gal overheating. I also like that there are snaps on the sides to make it bigger or smaller and stretch out the length of time you can use it, since it is pretty price.”

Fast Facts:

• Size range: 0 to 9 months, 9 to 18 months
• Material: cotton and polyester
• Closure: none

We debated whether or not to include this option due to the recent Kyte controversy where it was revealed that the company denied a new mom’s request to work remotely while she cared for her premature newborn in the NICU. Many formerly loyal customers have since taken to social media to voice their outrage and decision to now boycott the company. And we can’t say we blame them.

However, when asking moms about their favorite sleep sack, multiple parents told us that they were obsessed with the Kyte version. And so we’ll leave the decision up to you. What our moms love is the super duper soft bamboo rayon fabric that feels like butter and the J-shape double zipper for easy diaper changes. There are also a lot of color options available and the sleep sacks holds up well after multiple washes.

Fast Facts:

• Size range: XS, S, M and L
• Material: bamboo viscose and spandex
• Closure: zipper

This sleep sack reminds us of the KYTE version, above, but with a few notable differences. It is lined with merino wool, making it super luxe and cozy, no matter the season. However, even though it’s fancy, it’s not high maintenance. Throw this bad boy in the washing machine with your other laundry and it will be good to go. It also features shoulder straps and a bottom zip closure, so regardless of what Baby has gotten himself into, there’s always a convenient and clean way to get him changed (IYKYK).

“I found the Woolino sleep sack through a friend's endorsement of it — the age ranges are broad: 2 months to 2 years for example; 2 to 4 years, etc.” says Bowie. “What I love is that it's seasonless. Your kid can sleep in it in the winter, but also the summer due to the fact that it's made from merino wool, which helps keep baby warm when it's cold and cool when it's warm. (It also comes with a handy how to dress your baby guide based on the temp.) But it's basically the definition of a wearable blanket — and TBH, my son always looked so cute when he woke up in it. You can also keep the shoulders snapped, but unzip the bottom, so that your kid can toddle around with it still on.” (It's also a favorite of Dr. Mysore who calls it "cozy, warm and safe!")

Fast Facts:

• Size range: 2 months to 2 years, 2 years to 4 years
• Material: 100 percent merino wool lining, 100 percent organic cotton outer
• Closure: double shoulder snaps and two-way zipper 

Just when your kid starts sleeping more than two hours at a time, they learn how to roll over. And so it’s time to say goodbye to the swaddle and introduce a sleep sack. Except your previously constrained kid doesn’t know what to with all that freedom. Suddenly, they’re awake at 3 a.m. playing with their hands because, well, they haven’t been able to do that before! And if you don’t like trimming those fingernails (guilty), expect a lot of scratches in the morning. Enter: The Zipadee.

Executive Editor Alexia Dellner raves about it: “I loved this sleep sack for my son when he transitioned out of the swaddle. It's soft and cozy, and mimicked some of that snugness of the swaddle but still allowed for plenty of movement (seriously—he wore these for months and could crawl, stand and walk around in it!). It's lightweight but because it offers full coverage, we were able to use it throughout the seasons. The only downside was that I tried to use them for my daughter too but her daycare wouldn’t allow them (something about not having her hands free?) so that was a bummer.”

Fast Facts:

• Size range: 3 to 6 months, 4 to 8 months, 6 to 12 months, 12 to 24 months, 2 to 3 years
• Material: polyester and spandex
• Closure: zipper

When temperatures drop, you want a sleep sack that will keep your kid nice and cozy. Enter: the microfleece sleep sack from Carter’s. It’s super soft and warm, features a zipper for quick diaper changes (plus a safety tab to keep the zipper away from baby's chin) and comes in a variety of cute prints.

“I've used a fleece Carter's sleep bag on realllly cold nights and it's great,” says Gillen. “It has sleeves for extra warmth and the most essential of all, a two way zipper! (Plus, it's less than 20 bucks and you can't beat that.)”

Fast Facts:

• Size range: 0 to 3 months, 3 to 6 months, 6 to 9 months
• Material: polyester
• Closure: zipper