Does your child throw off a blanket in his sleep? The baby wakes himself up with pens? In this case, a sleeping bag will be a good help. It is suitable for both a newborn and an older child. It’s not at all difficult to sew a children's sleeping bag with your own hands. In this article, we offer patterns and sewing instructions.
Advantages and disadvantages of a baby sleeping bag: reviews
Having studied the experience of many mothers who used sleeping bags for babies, you can understand in advance whether you need a sleeping bag.
Pros:
- Keeps warm thanks to the fact that the child does not wrap up in a dream.
- Helps the smallest children fall asleep faster and stronger, especially if the sleeping bag model allows you to fix the handles. This replaces traditional swaddling, being much easier to use.
- It is safer than an ordinary blanket, because it does not cover the child with his head.
- The baby can be fed at night without getting out of the sleeping bag.
- It is convenient for walking, as it is quickly put on and does not slip in the stroller.
- It takes up less space when folded in comparison with a blanket, therefore it is convenient on trips.
Minuses:
- If the baby drenched a sleeping bag, peed, then the product does not dry out so quickly, unlike a diaper or blanket.
- Changing a baby's diaper can be problematic, as you have to get the baby out of the bag. Although there are models in which it is more convenient to do.
Requirements for a sleeping bag for a child
It is very important that the product is sewn from natural or hypoallergenic fabrics, especially if it is used at home and comes in contact with the baby’s skin. The sleeping bag should fit the size of the child. On some models, legs and handles are free to move. In other handles are comfortably fixed. Check that the sleeping bag matches the ambient temperature: the child should not overheat, this is no less harmful than hypothermia. The fastener should be safe, not scratch or pinch the baby’s skin.
Varieties of sleeping bags
- An envelope bag, for example, for discharge from a maternity hospital. Convenient for walking. Among such models there are transformers, which with the growth of the child turn into overalls.
- Cocoon - a knitted bag that fits snugly and fixes the baby's handles. Great for newborns, replaces the diaper, promotes faster falling asleep and a better sleep, can grow with the baby.
A bag that leaves the baby's hands free. It is suitable for older children who do not wake themselves by raising them. A sleeping bag with sleeves is a warmer version of such a product.
Children's sleeping bags for sleeping can differ in the type of fastener: zipper, Velcro, buttons, buttons, ties. What to choose?
The zipper is convenient to use, it can be quickly and easily fastened and unfastened. She is silent, does not wake a child. Securely fixes the sleeping bag so that the baby does not unfasten. There are also disadvantages. It is quite difficult to sew a zipper if there is no experience. It can break, seize the fabric, so you need to choose a quality mechanism. There is a risk that lightning can pinch the skin of the child - protection must be provided.
Velcro is easy to sew, even an inexperienced seamstress will cope with it. Easy to fasten and unfasten, allow you to adjust the volume of the sleeping bag and use it for growth. However, when unbuttoning, they make a sharp sound that can wake a sensitive baby. The hard part of the Velcro can scratch the delicate skin of the baby, you need to be careful.
Buttons are available, reliable, safe, and also allow you to adjust the size of the product. Of the disadvantages - they are not applicable to all models of sleeping bags. For example, they cannot be used on a cocoon.
Buttons combine the advantages of zipper and Velcro, one “but” - they are difficult to attach to the product, you need special equipment. Simple sewn ones are not so beautiful and reliable.
Patterns of a children's sleeping bag for a dream
It is not necessary to spend money on the purchase of finished goods. It’s not difficult to sew a children's sleeping bag with your own hands. First you need to decide on the model and fabric.
To build a pattern for a sleeping bag with clasps on the shoulders, you can use the baby's existing clothes: a blouse, romper, jumpsuit. Attach them to the paper, add 15-20 cm to the length of the legs and draw a bottom rectangle. And add 5-7 cm to the width of the top for freedom of movement. The most difficult parts to cut out - the neck and armholes - circle around the clothes of the child.
You can also use ready-made templates and sizes.
The pattern of the cocoon bag differs from the model with fasteners, but it will not be difficult to build it either. You can circle the baby’s panties by adding 10-20 cm to their length and 5-10 cm to the width. This is necessary for the comfort of the baby. Draw rectangles on the sides of the same width as the previous part, and equal in height to the length from the knees to the shoulders of the child. This is shown in the pattern below. If you want to make a bag with a hood, then on top of the rectangles you need to connect a large semicircle so that it fits the child’s head.
Instructions for sewing a warmed children's sleeping bag with a zipper
The principles for creating different models are similar. The differences will be primarily in the presence or absence of a lining. And also in the method of sewing on the fastener. A lined product is more difficult to manufacture, but more comfortable to wear.
To sew a baby sleeping bag for sleeping you will need:
- Cotton fabric for the top and for lining.
- Rolled synthetic winterizer or other insulation (e.g. batting).
- Cotton slanting inlay.
- Zipper. The length will depend on the age of the child: 50 cm - for 9-12 months, 60 cm - for 1.5-2 years, 70 cm - for 3-4 years, 80 cm - for 5-6 years.
- Buttons (Velcro or buttons can be used).
- Pins, threads, scissors.
Sequencing:
- First draw a pattern on paper. You should get a one-piece back and two front parts.
- Transfer the pattern from paper to fabric - outer, lining and insulation. Do it as shown in the picture. The fabric with the print is the outside of the bag, the light green material is the lining, and brown is the insulation. Do not forget to add allowances for the seams: to the side - 2 cm, to all others - 1 cm. On the front lining part, draw a cut line under the zipper. For clarity, it is indicated on the pattern.
- Cut out all the details. Do not forget about seam allowances.
- Take the front parts of the outer fabric. Fold them with the front parts with each other, sew along the line of the central seam, leaving the top along the length of the zipper not sewn up - a fastener will be inserted there. Excess fabric in stocks can be cut. The same must be done with parts of the front of the insulation.
- Take the lining part. Make a cut in the center along the marked line.
- Sew the front and rear parts along the side seams and the bottom. You should get 3 blanks sleeping bag.
- Place the lining inside the insulation with the wrong sides facing each other.
- Then place the resulting bag inside the outer one. It is easy to do.
- Sew the zipper into the central incision, placing it so that it is unfastened from the bottom up - then the child will not be able to open it on her own.
- Sew a slanting inlay over the remaining open sections: neck, armholes and neckline. She will fasten all three bags together.
- Fasten buttons or buttons on the shoulders, capturing all three layers of fabric.
Baby sleeping bag for sleeping is ready!
Judging by the reviews, this convenient item has helped many mothers to establish the sleep of their babies. Try it and you!