We live in the land of down comforters and flannel pajamas. A place where concerned parents bundle their babies beyond recognition, stuff them into their infant carriers, zip up the micro fleece covers, and then flip up the little vents in case their sweaty infants should decide to breath. You would think we lived in igloos and traveled from ice house to ice house on a dog sled.
So when the American Pediatric Association issued their safety recommendation to keep all warm, cozy blankets out of cribs, a collected gasp went up from the northern fringes of this great country. The thought of putting a child to bed in her pajamas alone was too dreadful to bear.
Sure we have automatic thermostats that can keep 70 degree warmth pumping into the nursery all night long even when icicles form on our eyelashes the moment we open our doors. And we the parents sleep under fleece and fur, so how could we leave our babies so open and exposed? Out of this fierce, primal fear of exposure to air (and Scandinavian ingenuity) the sleep sack was born.
A sleep sack is basically a blanket with two arm holes and a zipper. And they have been dominating bassinets, cribs, and craft shows ever since.
We were faithful sleep sack users for the first two years of Ava’s live, the point at which we were confident that she would be able to push away any sheet or blanket that should come in contact with her face. For me and many other moms the sleep sack served a purpose far greater than basic warmth: the undeniable signal that it was time to sleep. Like a pacifier or lovie, the sleep sack is an enveloping comfort that lures babies to the land of nod. And Ava loved her’s. Winter, summer, naptime or nighttime, Ava loved to sleep in her sleep sack.
It has been a good long year since we buried Ava’s sleep sack in the basement of goodies awaiting our next babe. And in that span of time Ava has more than doubled her number of sleep aids: two pillows, two Bubbas, two blankies and two dozen animals are required for any and all activities involving sleep.
In fact, when we were making our long trek to New Mexico, seven lovies were necessary for in-van sleeping. One for each of Heather’s three girls and four for my one girl. What I lacked in children, I made up for in paraphernalia.
With her bounty of sleeping companions, one would think that Ava had forgotten the sleep sack.
Look closely:
Yes, Ava’s pillows are naked and she is now clad in her own version of the sleep sack. You can chalk that up to more Scandinavian ingenuity (or fear of air).
You never cease to amaze me Rachel! You can make a post about sleep sacks read like a page turner!
I’m a huge fan of sleep sacks and am happy to report that halosleep.com now sells them for bigger kids. They have holes at the bottom to slip your feet through.
Yes, you had me on the edge of my seat (er, bed) with that tale, Rachel. Very ingenious, Ava! Are her feet IN the pillowcase? It would seem…
I have to say I had never heard of a sleep sack until Ava was born and I still giggle every time I hear that word for some reason. Must work though! shanel
We were never sleep sackers although we probably should have been. Allison was a swaddle junkie until she began to roll and Roman was afraid she would strangle herself.
Heather had told me about Ava’s passion for her sleep sack so I too now associate any mention of sleep sacks with Ava.
Oh, Sara, we were avid swaddlers too! We gave it up Ava outgrew the swaddling blankets (she was a long baby). It seemed to be at this precise time that her grandma happened upon a sleep sack at the local retired teachers craft fair. At first, I though the thing was ridiculous, but Ava loved it!
And yes, Jennifer, her feet, legs, and body were most certainly in the pillowcase.
Very good! I must say that I have never even seen a sleep sack, though it sounds like they are great, safe ideas. I threw safety out the window (or at least, I put it safely in the corner) and gave my babies a blanket to sleep with. I just couldn’t get past the, “but they NEED a blanket” thing. So, no sleep sacks for us, but “sleep sack” is really fun to say, though, isn’t it!?
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