Can babies use blankets?

miriam228

miriam228

Registered User
Hi,

My baby is now 4 months old, and the weather in HK is becoming cooler. Winter in Sai Kung is especially colder than the city, so I am considering in buying a blanket.

My questions, can babies use blankets? Or must it be the sleeping bags? Why are most of the sleeping bags sleeveless? I found a sleeping bag with long sleeves. Is that not good?

Hope you can help me!

Thanks!
 
I think 4 months may be a little young for a blanket for fear that it would cover her face and she could suffocate. I was wondering myself the other day why most sleeping bags are sleeveless and wondering myself, what my baby (7.5 months) should wear to bed in the winter. I have found that there are some brands (i.e. Hallmark, which can be found in Sogo and Ocean Terminal, and Enfant, which can be found in Wing On) have really thick one piece outfits that babies could wear to bed. I was thinking of putting my baby in one of those outfits and then a sleeping bag if it gets really cold.
 
Thanks futurehkmom. I saw those thick one piece outfits in the baby shops too (costing about $100). Those + sleeping bags.... would it be too bulky?? How about this, "sleeping bag/jacket:
BIBIDADA ???????
 
I think you would want to stay away from hoods. If your baby turns over, then they would risk suffocating themselves.
My son was born in January when it was freeeeezing. I dressed him in a long sleeved onesie, a warm sleeper, and then swaddled him in one (or sometimes 2) fleece blankets, but careful not to cover his face.
He now sleeps in a jumper and light sleeping bag, and I too wonder what he should be wearing in the cold season. I think the sleeping bags are sleeveless so the baby has movement that doesn`t get them all tangeled up.
I`m curious whether most mothers swear by the Grobag, which is pretty expensive, or a generic version is ok.
Anyway, since I have started using a sleeping bag with my baby, it`s been easier, as before I was always wondering if he was too hot or too cold and what to dress him in. Sleeping bags just seem to make it a no brainer.If the room gets really really cold though, I would throw a blanket on top. but my son is old enough that he can just toss is aside if he doesn`t want it.
 
Shenzhennifer - does your son have problem sleeping using the sleeping bag (hands free) after being used to swaddling (hands wrapped)?

I am currently swaddling my 3-month old and when cold, throw a blanket over the swaddle ... not so sure about the blanket but so far as she is swaddled and can't really move much, the blanket has been able to stay put without moving up to cover her face ... not sure if this is dangerous after all.
 
I use go go bags from merinokids.com - they are made from merino wool and cotton, are amazingly comfortable and have lasted two kids and counting.

Merino is a wonderful material for kids clothing and bedding, it's a natural regulator of temperature so keeps them warm in the winter and cools the body in the summer.

I do sometimes use a couple of .05 tog gro-bags during summer.
 
Many might disagree with me but I dont think a light but warm blanket if tucked tightly under the arms and on the sides of the crib will suffocate a baby.
My daughter cried even as a 1 month old if we put her in a Grobag, so stopped doing it after a few tries. She was alright with blankets for a while but then she started kicking them off with vengence when she was able to move her legs. So we made her wear a warm onsie and made the room warm through out the night. Even now at 20 months she will not take a blanket, even in the middle of the night if I put a blanket on her she kicks it off in less than 5 mins :)
 
Blankets are hard to keep on once the child can toss and turn in bed. Since the sleeping bags are sleeveless, I dress my child (21mths) in a short sleeve thermal, long sleeve PJs and 2.5tog sleeping bag during the coldest days of winter and that seems to be OK for him. He sometimes wakes up in the sleeping bag because it gets all twisted so I might look for another brand. The Merino one that LeahH mentioned sounds good so might look into that. Thanks LeahH.
 
I have a gro bag and it sucks cause the neck opening is too small for my daughter since she was 3 months old. I got another one from the organic store in ocean terminal. It is good for most weathers but we live in clear water bay and it gets pretty chilly in winter. Blankets are no use since my 6 month old daughter seem to twist herself out of tucked in blankets. Will consider buying a down sleeper. I have seen really nice ones in Toronto. anyone has ideas where I can find them in Hk,
 
Obiwan said:
Shenzhennifer - does your son have problem sleeping using the sleeping bag (hands free) after being used to swaddling (hands wrapped)?

I am currently swaddling my 3-month old and when cold, throw a blanket over the swaddle ... not so sure about the blanket but so far as she is swaddled and can't really move much, the blanket has been able to stay put without moving up to cover her face ... not sure if this is dangerous after all.
Click to expand...

Actually, swaddling only really worked for the first couple of weeks. My son struggled to get out of it as much as I struggled to keep him in it:)
I started using a sleeping bag on him only from about 7 months.
If your daughter can`t move, then I wouldn`t think it dangerous to use a blanket. But she`ll be able to move soon, so I would just watch her more.
I still use a blanket for my son`s naps though. Sometimes he kicks it off, but that`s ok. But nighttime sleeping bag use is something I would like to continue. I`ll just have to find the appropriate one for winter.
 
Thanks!! I think I'll try letting her sleep without the swaddling blanket. Haven't tried that, not sure if the hand movement will startle her and wake her up mid sleep.

She was struggling out of the blanket until we got the Kiddopotamus swaddling blanket with the velcro. That kept her in snug and happy :)
 
miriam228 - I ended up buying a long sleep sleeping bag from Hallmark Babies in Ocean Terminal this weekend for my son for when it gets really cold. He really likes sleeping in his sleeveless sleeping bag so I hope he likes his long sleeve sleeping bag!
 
Hi LeahH, am looking into the merinokids site, and am keen to get a couple for my daughter too. This is our first winter in Hong Kong, I wonder if you manage the Jan/Feb nights with a standard (recommended for 18-30 degree celsius) or a duvet (recommended for 18 and below)? I do notice that apartments in HK get rather chilly in the night, and I intend to go without the heater if possible as it dries up the air so badly! Thanks! Your advice would be appreciated. =)
 
Kyojee - last winter we used a humidifier when my son was sleeping to help with the dryness.
The winter nights are cold cold cold in these apartments. well below 18C. You might want to reconsider using a heater.
The only problem with the heater for us is that my baby is now crawling and loves trying to pull himself up on appliances. Might be a very cold winter for us indeed!
 
The grobag website has a very helpful temperature guide for what clothing the baby should wear depending on the temperature of the room and the "tog" rating of the bag. The other brands (other than grobag) use the same tog rating so the grobag clothing guide is helpful even if you are using another brand.

See below under the Question "What should my baby wear under a Grobag Baby Sleep Bag?"

Frequently asked questions

We used the swaddle and an aircell (spelling?) blanket from Mothercare when our baby was first born (Feb/March in Hong Kong) then just a swaddle until he was 6 months then moved to a grobag sleeping bag. The aircell blankets have holes in them so are supposed to be safer if they end up over the face of a little baby.

We go by the grobag guide for clothing and in winter used a 2.5 tog bag (still sleeveless). If you feel the back of their neck then that is a good guide of temperature - not hands. My son is now 21 months and is all over his cot, sideways with legs up the side, upside down, on tummy, on back, on side. A blanket would be no good for him at the moment and we'll keep using the grobag type sleeping bags until he moves to a big bed.

SB2
 
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Hi Kyojee

I use the standard weight go go bag for summer and the duvet weight for winter. In Jan and Feb on really cold nights I usually have a heater on low in the room as well (with a bowl of water but might get a humidifier this year).

Shenzhennifer is so right, the apartments here have zero insulation so even though the temperature is not as cold as home, it feels freezing inside!

The kids wear one piece, long sleeve, footed cotton suits inside the duvet bag in winter.

Short sleeve, no legs suits in the summer and long sleeve no legs suits in spring and autumn in the standard bag.
 
Hi LeahH & Shenzhennifer,

Thank you for sharing your experience! Seems like a heater would be quite essential! We are managing with a bodysuit + sleepsuit now without a sleeping bag. Maybe she's been waking at night a little chilled. I have a 1 tog which I use on some cooler nights, but it definitely won't be enough for the colder months ahead. Was a little undecided between a 2.5tog sleeping bag or the merino ones, will give the woolie ones a shot. =)

Cheers!
 
Would strongly suggest that you check the grobag website for the clothing suggestions for the different tog rated bags for various room temperatures. We never used a heater in the baby's room but instead put more clothes on. Nothing worse for a baby (especially a little baby) than being too hot.
 
I have found that there are some brands (i.e. Hallmark, which can be found in Sogo and Ocean Terminal, and Enfant, which can be found in Wing On) have really thick one piece outfits that babies could wear to bed. I was thinking of putting my baby in one of those outfits and then a sleeping bag if it gets really cold.
 
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