There were zero baby sleeping bags for camping when my first child was born. I got lucky with my second child, though. When she was four months old (right after we took her on her first camping trip), two brands came out with baby sleeping bags specifically designed for camping.
I don’t believe in buying a lot of gear for camping (I don’t usually even take chairs!), but having a good sleeping bag was a game-changer. It was easier than bundling her in several layers plus a sleep sack and hoping she was comfortable. And, guess what? When your baby is comfortable, they sleep better, which means you sleep better. 🙂
Unfortunately, no more brands have come out with baby sleeping bags since then. So, there are still only two options. I’ve listed them here, as well as some good sleep sacks that can work for camping in warm weather. If you are confused about options, like how warm the bag needs to be, scroll down for the buying guide.
Need more advice? Read:
Quick Picks:
If you will camp in very cold temperatures, the Morrison Little Mo down bag 20F is the only option. For mild weather, the Little Mo 40F is a good pick. For warmer weather, the budget-friendly BabyDeeDee bag is best. If you want something to use at home and occassional camping, the ErgoBaby or Woolino sleep sacks are good enough for mild weather.
Best Baby Sleeping Bags for Camping
1. Morrison Little Mo 20F Sleeping Bag
Best For: Camping or backpacking, even in cold weather
Where to buy: Available here
I love this brand: It is a small, local company which was started and is still run by outdoorsy parents. When they couldn’t find a suitable baby sleeping bag for backpacking, they decided to design their own. They started on Kickstarter and have since grown into a company with a huge following.
Their “Little Mo 20F” is their lighterweight, warmer baby sleeping bag. It’s made out of high-quality down. It weighs just 9oz so is suitable for backpacking with your baby. It’s also very compact; once in the stuff sack, it’s about the size of a water bottle.
Currently, the Little Mo 20F is the only baby sleeping bag suitable for cold weather. It even has an insulated draft tube so no cold air can get in through the zipper. There’s a footbox and the hands area is closed so your baby’s hands stay warm too. As of 2024, all Morrison down sleeping bags have fold-back cuffs, so you can have the hands be open or closed. The older versions of the down bags only had closed cuffs, so your baby couldn’t use their hands. I’m glad they updated this.
The only real downsides of this sleeping bag is that it might be a little “too serious” for some parents. It’s best used for backcountry camping. There’s no hole for stroller straps, so you can’t use it as a stroller sleeping bag.
If you want to learn more, read my full review of Morrison sleeping bags here.
The Morrison baby sleeping bag is adjustable to fit babies from 6 to 24 months. Note that, as of 2024, all of the down bags have the fold-back cuff feature. Buy it here
Pros:
- Suitable for temps down to 20F
- Fits babies 6-24 months
- Machine washable
- 800 fill power down
- Water-resistant ripstop nylon outer
- Open or closed hand cuffs options
- Built-in footbox to keep your baby’s toes warm
- Comes with stuff sack
- Weighs just 9oz
- Bottom-opening zipper for easy diaper changes
Cons:
- Not stroller or car seat compatible
- A bit pricy
*Morrison now has a trade-in program: When your baby outgrows the Little Mo sleeping bag, you can get cash-back for it plus a discount on the toddler size bag. The used Little Mo bags will be cleaned and sold at a discount with a portion of every sale going to HikeItBaby.
Get It Here
***Use discount code Momgoescamping at checkout to get 10% off!***
2. Morrison Little Mo 40F Sleeping Bag
Best For: Car camping in warm and somewhat colder temperatures
Where to Buy: Available here
Here’s another baby sleeping bag by Morrison (disclosure: the brand sent me one for free to test!). The difference with the 20F and 40F version is that the 40F is made from synthetic filling instead of down. Because of that, the sleeping bag is cheaper. However, synthetic insulation means the sleeping bag is not as warm, compact, or lightweight as the down version.
Personally, I also don’t like the stuff sack that it comes in. It’s long and thin (like a hot dog), so I have to squish it to get it to fit in my backpack. I’d prefer if it had a shorter but wider stuff sack (like a marshmallow).
Pros:
- Suitable for temps down to 40F
- Fits 6-24 months
- Machine washable
- Polyester synthetic fill
- Water-resistant ripstop nylon outer
- Open or closed hand cuffs options
- Weighs 15.1oz
- Bottom-opening zipper for easy diaper changes
Cons:
- Not stroller or car seat compatible
Get It Here
***Remember to use discount code Momgoescamping at checkout to get 10% off!***
3. BabyDeeDee Sleep Nest Travel
Best For: Camping in mild and warm weather
Where to Buy: Get it here
The brand BabyDeeDee has made baby sleep sacks for a long time, including this which is suitable made specifically for camping and outdoors. Full disclosure: the company sent me a free one to test out.
The bag is TOG 3.5, which means it’s good down to about 50F. I’ve used it to camp in slightly colder weather, but had to put my baby in multiple layers to make it work.
While this is not be the warmest baby sleeping bag for camping, it is IMO the easiest to use. I love that it has removable sleeves – which is good if you are camping in hot weather.
I also love that there are shoulder snaps. These make it possible for me to get my baby in/out while she’s sleeping without waking her. Here’s how it works: I fully open up the sleeping bag, including the shoulder snaps, before bedtime. Then I rock her to sleep. Once asleep, I lay her on top of the open sleeping bag and zip/snap her inside.
The sleeping bag comes in three sizes from 0 to 36 months. Note that many people complain that the sleeves are a bit narrow and short. I asked for a larger size so I’d get more use out of it.
*Read my full review of the BabyDeeDee sleeping bag here.
Here’s my girl (at 13 months) in the BabyDeeDee sleeping bag.
Pros:
- Removable sleeves
- Stroller-compatible
- Bottom-opening zipper for easy diaper changes
- Shoulder snaps for easily getting baby in/out
- Affordable
- Machine washable
- Water-resistant outer fabric
Cons:
- Not adjustable
- Only good to 50F
- Doesn’t come with stuff sack
4. Ergo Pouch 3.5 Tog Sleeping Bag
Best For: An everyday sleep sack that can works decently for camping too
Where to Buy: Get it here
While this sleep suit by Ergo Pouch might not be made for camping, it can still work for camping trips in mild weather. The bag is 3.5 TOG, which means that it will keep your baby warm down to around 50F. You’ll need to put 2+ layers on your baby for for camping in colder weather.
The reason that this sleep suit is so popular is that it lets you zip the middle to create legs. This features means you can use the sleep sack in baby carriers or strollers too. The downside of the zip legs is that the zipper doesn’t go all the way down the front, meaning it’s harder to get your baby in/out.
Since this sleeping bag isn’t made for camping, it isn’t even slightly waterproof or water-resistant. If your baby has a diaper blowout, the cotton will take a while to dry. Make sure you have a backup plan!
Note: ErgoPouch used to make a 3-12 month size of this. It’s been out of stock for a while. Now, the only infant sized bag they have is 2.5 tog (good to about 60F; see it here). The 3.5 TOG bag is 35 inches long, so best for babies 8 months old.
Pros:
- Zips to create legs
- TOG 3.5
- Available in lots of cute designs and colors
- Machine washable cold; tumble dry
Cons:
- Cotton is not water-resistant and takes forever to dry!
- Not suitable for cold weather camping
- Currently no infant size in warmer version
5. Woolino Baby Sleep Sack
Best For: When you want a breathable sleeping bag for warm-weather camping
Where to Buy: Get it here
Woolino is a really popular brand of baby sleeping bags and pajamas. While this sleep sack isn’t made for camping, it is a lot better than most other sleep suits because it’s made from wool.
Compared to other materials, wool is very warm but still breathable, which makes it easier to regulate body temperature. Wool is also naturally water-resistant, so if your baby has a diaper leak, then the sleep sack will dry much faster than cotton sleep suits.
The sleep sack is rated for 4-season/winter use, but that’s obviously for indoors. To make this sleeping bag work for camping, you’ll need to: put your baby in warm jammies, put a wool or fleece jacket on, and then put them in the sleep sack. With these layers, the baby sleeping bag should be good for most summer camping trips down to 45-55F at night.
Alternatively, you could use the Woolino in combination with one of the other sleeping bags here (like the Little Mo 40 or Baby Dee Dee) to create a combo suitable for colder temps.
Pros:
- Made from Merino wool and organic cotton
- Naturally water-resistant and fast-drying
- Available in sizes 0 to 18 months
- Two way zipper for easy diaper changes
- Zipper design makes it easy to get baby in/out, even while sleeping
- Machine washable cold, hang to dry
Cons:
- No sleeves
- Not suitable for cold-weather camping
- Expensive
Can My Baby Sleep in My Sleeping Bag?
I do not recommend sharing a sleeping bag with your baby. Aside from the potential safety hazards, it is incredibly inconvenient. And good luck getting in/out of the sleeping bag without waking your child! If you aren’t convinced, read this article on co-sleeping with a baby while camping.
Choosing a Baby Sleeping Bag for Camping
Not sure which baby sleeping bag for camping to get? Here’s some advice about how to choose the right one.
Sleep Sacks vs. Camping Sleeping Bags
When I first took my baby camping, I didn’t have a proper sleeping bag. So I used a sleep sack (aka wearable blanket). These are not made for camping. They are meant to be used indoors in fairly warm temperatures.
To make the sleep sack work for camping, I had to put my baby in multiple layers. This made it really difficult to regulate her body temperature. I was constantly worried she was cold. And nighttime diaper changes were difficult because of all of those layers. Her diaper leaked on one trip. Luckily it was sunny outside so the sleep sack dried before bedtime.
By contrast, baby sleeping bags designed for camping (which are currently only Morrison and BabyDeeDee) are much easier to use outdoors. They are made from a water-resistant material which also does a good job of keeping dirt away. The material fast if it does get wet. And, in the case of the Morrison sleeping bag, it is actually made for camping in cold-weather. It even has an option for keeping your baby’s hands covered at night.
In short: you can get by with a sleep sack when camping, but sleeping will be much easier with a real camping sleeping bag for your baby.
Caming with my baby at 4 months (yes, she’s huge :D). We didn’t have a proper sleeping bag then so put her in layers plus a fleece sleep sack.
How Warm Does the Baby Sleeping Bag Need to Be?
Almost every parent I’ve talked to was worried that their baby would be too cold at night in the tent. It’s a legitimate concern — especially if you are trying to get by with a sleep sack instead of a real camping sleeping bag. To ensure your baby stays warm:
1. First Check the Actual Nighttime Temperatures
If you are camping anywhere with high elevation, the temperatures can drop unexpectedly low at night. It’s important that you understand what low nighttime temperatures to expect. Don’t just rely on the local weather forecast: You might have to do some math to figure out the actual forecast. Then make sure your baby’s sleeping bag is warm enough for these temperatures.
2. Check the Sleeping Bag Temperature Ratings
Only the Morrison Little Mo sleeping bags have temperature ratings (40F or 20F, depending on the version). Other sleeping bags and sleep sacks use the TOG rating system. This rating tells what room temperature the sleep sack is suitable for.
The warmest TOG rating is 3.5, which is still only good for down to around 50F. If you want to use a TOG 3.5 sleeping bag for camping in colder weather, you’ll have to put your baby in multiple layers of warm jammies.
3. Make Sure Your Baby Doesn’t Sweat
It’s really important that your baby doesn’t get sweaty if you want her to stay warm in the sleeping bag.
Sweat = wet = evaporation = cold.
To prevent sweating, make sure you use breathable pajamas (preferably with a Merino wool base layer and fleece layer on top). Also don’t over-bundle your baby. Your baby only needs as many layers are you are wearing to stay warm.
Still worried your baby will get cold? Read this guide to sleeping in a tent with a baby.
Features to Look For in Camping Baby Sleeping Bags
Below are some of the features of baby camping sleeping bags which you may want:
- Reverse zipper: This feature is mandatory IMO. It means you can unzip the sleeping bag from the bottom to do diaper changes without removing your baby from the sleeping bag.
- Water–resistant material: Avoid cotton as this absorbs water like a sponge.
- Removable sleeves: These are nice if you will mostly be camping in warmer weather.
- Fold back hand covers: This feature is great for camping in colder weather so you don’t have to worry about putting gloves on your baby.
- Stroller compatible: Some baby sleeping bags have a hole in the back for stroller straps to go through. This will let some cold air in though, so they might not be as warm.
- Zippable legs: Sometimes there is a zipper so you can turn the bottom of the sleeping bag into legs. I don’t find this useful for sleeping but it is useful if you want to use the sleeping bag in a baby carrier or stroller.
- Machine washable: Who wants to hand wash their baby’s sleeping bag?
Other Baby Sleeping Gear for Camping
Your baby can have the warmest sleeping bag in the world. But, if she doesn’t have a good sleeping pad, the she will not be warm. The ground will literally suck the heat out of her body. I personally like the Therm-A-Rest RidgeRest. Also see my picks for best baby sleeping pads for camping.
If your baby rolls around a lot in her sleep (or you are worried about rolling over on your baby), then you might also want a portable baby camping bed.
And don’t forget about good pajamas. They need to be breathable and worn in layers. I like a Merino wool baby base layer with fleece jammies on top.
Baby DeeDee makes these cute fleece jammies which are great for camping (available in sizes from 3 to 24 months)
12 Comments
Robin Akers
April 12, 2020 at 6:23 pmWe have a 20 month old who prefers to sleep on her stomach. Any recommendations for using a sleeping bag for a tummy sleeper?
For our firsts trips out we will be using a pack-n-play for her bed inside a tent. Towards the end of summer we hope to bring her on our back country overnight hikes.
Thank you
Robin
Diane
April 13, 2020 at 12:59 pmWhether she is a tummy or back sleeper shouldn’t matter much since the (good) sleeping bags don’t have hoods. Just make sure you have a good pad to put under her so her face stays warm (if it gets cold, you’ll need a pad even in the Pack and Play; those mattresses don’t have much R-value).
I generally just use diapers as a pillow for my kid. For a tummy sleeper though, I’d at least put a towel (or shirt, fleece jacket…) under her face so her face isn’t right on the pad. You could even slip the pad inside of a fleece jacket so it doesn’t move around.
Fred Hoffman
February 3, 2021 at 1:39 pmThank you for the tips!! I bought the baby deedee! Mo is a bit over budget for me! I appreciate this!
Diane
February 4, 2021 at 11:20 amI let my girl play in the sleeping bag before our first trip so she was used to it. Have fun camping with the little one!
Taylor
August 10, 2023 at 12:47 pmHi Diane! This article is so helpful, but I’m still at a loss. We are taking our 4 month old camping soon and I so badly want to make sure he’s warm and safe. It’s ok NorCal by the coast do night temperatures are in the 52-56° range. He’s rolling over constantly now, so I need him to have his arms out. Would a long sleeve footie under a 3.5 TOG be enough? Does he need a hat as well or gloves?
Diane
August 14, 2023 at 8:55 amThe Morrison 40 degree bag would be perfect. It’s worth the investment if you plan on going camping often. If you want to use the 3.5 TOG bag that you already have, then you can probably get by with a warm footie underneath. Bring several extras! A hat is good to have, but it will probably fall off. For under the head, you can put zipped fleece over the top of the sleeping pad. Gloves might be necessary, but I never used them with my baby (even in cold weather) since she sucked on her fingers and the gloves would just end up wet. If it gets really cold, you can zip your fleece/puffy around your baby’s sleep sack.
Honestly, your bigger problem will probably be your baby being too WARM and not cold. Then they end up all sweaty and wet, which in turn makes them feel cold. I’ve recently become a Merino wool snob and can definitely attest that it’s more comfortable to wear through multiple temperature ranges. Plus, it doesn’t trap water against your skin like cotton does so you stay warm in wool even if you sweat a bit. So, if you have wool jamies for your baby, use those! I found all my kids’ Merino clothing in secondhand stores.
L
August 30, 2021 at 4:23 pmI’m surprised you don’t have any of the options from Reima here. Huge variety of temperature options available, convertible to legs for strollers/backpacks, designed in Finland where weather doesn’t stop families from being outsides. Highly suggest.
Diane
August 30, 2021 at 5:34 pmI hadn’t heard of Reima until you mentioned it. I’ll look into them. It doesn’t surprise me though that a Finish brand would have warm stroller bunting bags. 🙂
Haleigh
September 30, 2022 at 4:33 amIs it safe for baby to sleep in a hooded sleeping bag or a hat? Our low is going to be in the 40’s at night and I’m worried about his little bald head!
Diane
September 30, 2022 at 8:09 amGo with a hat. Hats always came off my squirmy baby though, so I used a hoodie as pajamas. The hood stayed in place better. You don’t want to use a hooded sleeping bag though (there’s a reason the Morrison and BabyDeeDee bags don’t have hoods). If your baby rolls over onto his tummy, the hood will definitely roll off and his head can get cold! It might be a SIDS hazard too.
*I used a couple diapers wrapped in a shirt as a baby pillow. You can also slide a t-shirt over the top of the matt so his face doesn’t end up directly on it.
Jackie
February 21, 2023 at 3:11 pmHello! We camp a lot on the Catskills, our baby is due in April and we intend on taking her out when she is 3 months. Any locations you suggest anywhere in the northeast? Also do you ever worry about over heating baby?
Diane
February 22, 2023 at 12:47 pmIt’s been a long time since I was in the Catskills, so I unfortunately can’t recommend any place. If you already know the area, then maybe stick to someplace you’ve already been so you don’t get surprised by terrible facilities or something.
Yes, overheating a baby is a big concern. I did that to my daughter on one of our first trips. It ended up being miserable since she overheated, got all sweaty, and then was cold from being wet. She woke up every 15 minutes. Needless to say, I was exhausted the next day. But that was before I got a good sleeping bag for her. She was over-bundled in multiple sleep sacks and didn’t have a good base layer pajama either.
My advice: invest in some nice Merino wool pajamas for your baby. Then, if your baby overheats, at least she won’t be drenched in sweat and will still be comfortable. Make sure she tries out the pajamas a few times before the camping trip so you are sure they aren’t itchy on her skin or cause any redness.