There are many reasons why you might need to know how to make a baby sleeping bag. There are some situations where you may not have the funds for one, or it is too late at night, and stores are closed.
If you find yourself in this situation, there’s no need to worry! Just follow these instructions on how to make an emergency sleeping bag for your little one.
Sleeping bags are easy to make, can be custom tailored for your child’s specific needs, and are perfect for winter babies!
This tutorial will show you how to sew up this simple project in no time.
How To Make A Baby Sleeping Bag?
You will need:
• Fabric. 1 yard of cotton fabric is all you’ll need for this tutorial, but you can use fleece or flannel if that’s what you have on hand. You can also recycle an old blanket into a sleeping bag by sewing up the sides. Just keep in mind that fleece and flannel are very warm, so you don’t want to swaddle your baby with these fabrics because they can be too hot.
• A sewing machine or needle and thread. If you are using a sewing machine, make sure you have some extra needles because they will likely break at least once while doing this project. Also, practice makes perfect!
18 Steps To Make A Baby Sleeping Bag
1. Turn your fabric, so it is long-ways with the two narrow ends on either end. This will be the front of your sleeping bag, and you can use a pen or ruler to mark the middle of the top edge of your fabric (the edge that will be closed).
2. Once you have your center point marked out, determine how wide you would like the bag to be. You can take a measuring tape, add about 12 inches to your desired width, and mark it out at either end of the center point.
The top edge should remain the same length as the bottom edge, so it meets in a straight line when you fold over the fabric.
3. Continue this process for 4 more even lines until you have the desired width of your sleeping bag.
4. Take a quilting ruler and put it on its side so that the 45-degree angle is pointing towards the top edge of the fabric, with the wide edge of the ruler even with one of the new lines you’ve drawn (you can compare by holding them up side by side).
Place one hand on top of the ruler with your fingers touching the bottom edge, and use your other hand to hold the quilting ruler firmly in place.
Use a rotary cutter or seam ripper to trim off the corner diagonally (this will prevent any fabric from bunching up inside the bag).
5. Repeat step 4 on the remaining lines. Be sure to keep each of your 45-degree angles lining up with each other so that they are even. And consistent throughout the length of your sleeping bag!
6. Now, you will have a rectangle shape with sloping sides, which forms a ‘V’ at one end. Fold this fabric in half so that your rectangles match from corner to corner. Keep this folded edge even with the top of one end of your fabric.
7. You can now sew a straight line along the side and bottom edges, starting at the folded edge and ending at the opposite end of where you began sewing. This method is called ‘sewing in a tube’.
8. Turn this newly sewn section inside out and undo the folded end (inside out). Now you should have a giant sleeping bag with an open-end!
9. You can flip your sleeping bag right side out again and mark where to put any buttons or fasteners that are needed for your child’s safety when in use.
Measure where you would like to position your fastener and mark it with a pen so that the top edge of your button is even where you need it to be.
10. Sew on your fastener by hand or machine. If you are using buttons, make sure they are securely attached because this will be where the weight of your baby’s head will be. You can also make a flap for this end if you are not using buttons, or do both!
11. Now it’s time to sew up the sides of your bag! Fold one of the longer ends of your rectangular shape towards the middle line you created when measuring, so it forms two even lines on either side of that center point. You can use a ruler or measuring tape to ensure that all four folded edges are even with each other.
12. Sew along the top edge of this fold, starting at one end and ending at the other, so it creates a straight line going down the center of your bag. Then you will have a rectangle shape open on one end and closed on the other.
13. Now, you can repeat steps 9 through 12 for the second side of your bag!
14. Time to make a flap to go over the open/closed end of your sleeping bag! Measure out a long rectangle that is 2x as wide as your sleeping bag will be when it’s opened up and about 12 inches long.
Make sure that its width will be the same as the length of your backpack straps (so if you used 1 inch wide fabric, use two strips that are 2 inches wide) since this flap will act as an extension of your straps once it is all sewn together.
15. Fold one end of this rectangle upwards so that its edge is flush with the top of your sleeping bag. Sew along this fold to secure it in place.
16. Fold up the other end, overlapping the first stitching line by about an inch or two (this will make more sense when using it on your backpack).
Sew this edge down as well. You can also stitch along the sides of this flap to make sure it doesn’t come apart.
17. Sew on a button or any other fastener onto the center of your flap, and fold the flap over the open end of your backpack. It should overlap a little bit on either side, and you can use two buttons if needed to secure it. Repeat for both sides.
18. Voila! You have a completed sleeping bag that will fit into your child’s backpack and can fold flat when not in use.
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Special Tips
- You can always use an old backpack lying around the house or purchase one at a thrift store if you are on a budget. You can also make your own with some scrap fabric and a few sewing tools!
- I would not recommend using this sleeping bag until your child is around three years of age, as their necks are not strong enough until then to handle the weight of their head. You can also purchase shoulder straps or sew your own onto the bag if you want more support for your child.
- You can use this bag on its own by folding it into a pillow and putting it on top of any blankets you have on hand! Just make sure that your child isn’t too hot and their necks are supported.
- This sleeping bag can also be used in a car seat if you need to transport your baby when they can’t walk on their own yet. Just make sure to secure it tightly before moving the car seat!
- If you find that this sleeping bag gives your child too much room to wiggle around in, you can always cut a piece of fabric so that it lines the entire inside space. This will keep them from moving around freely.
- The pattern I have created is very basic and can be altered in any way you choose! Be creative, and have fun with it!
I hope this tutorial was clear, and you can feel free to ask me any questions!
What Are Baby Sleeping Bags Made Of?
Baby sleeping bags are typically made of cotton or polyester, perfect for keeping your baby warm in cold climates.
They also come with built-in blankets (you can find the best baby sleeping bags here), so you never have to worry about bundling up your child before putting them into their bag! They are worn over pajamas, just like a onesie would be.
When Should I Start Using A Baby Sleeping Bag?
Baby sleeping bags are typically not used until your baby reaches the age of three months old. You can even wait until they reach six or seven months, as long as they have good head control and you feel confident that they won’t roll over.
Always make sure that the inside of the sleeping bag is lined with a blanket, and never use it without!
Is There Anything Else I Should Know?
Yes! A baby sleeping bag can look like any other type of outfit your child wears. You may want to purchase one that looks more like a regular piece of clothing, so you aren’t pulling out a sleeping bag every time you need to keep your baby warm.
You may also want to consider choosing a lightweight fabric so that their body temperature doesn’t get too hot inside the bag! Always check the temperature before putting your child in, and take precautions if it is too cold outside.
Please make sure they always have good head support, and the fabric does not squish their necks. I would also recommend researching baby sleeping bags if you are unsure about which style to choose!
Can You Put A Newborn In A Sleeping Bag?
No. A newborn will not have good head control until around five months old, so you should never place them in a sleeping bag before then! This is the perfect age to start using a baby sleeping bag, and your child will be safely bundled up while they sleep soundly inside their new bedding.
What TOG Should A Baby Sleeping Bag Be?
A baby sleeping bag should be a 1.5 TOG, which means that it is the equivalent of having one and a half blankets over your child while they sleep. This is perfect for keeping them warm no matter what climate you live in!
What Size Sleeping Bag Do I Need?
Most common baby sleeping bags are 18 inches wide, which is perfect for keeping your child snuggly and warm at night!
You can adjust the length of these bags, but anything over 21 inches will most likely be too long for it to be safe. When you are ready to purchase a baby sleeping bag, check out this list of top-selling brands!
Conclusion
I hope this post helped answer some of your questions and concerns about sleeping bags and babies! Please feel free to leave a comment and let me know anything else that was left unanswered!
