With arms and a central zipper, Morrison Outdoors' Big Mo is a fun alternative to the traditional zippered-tube sleeping bag shape that's ideal for young kids who might be ready for camping but not a real sleeping bag. It's high-quality, too—the sleeping bag has a water-resistant nylon shell and super soft 650-fill duck down insulation that keeps it nice and packable. Morrison Outdoors also makes a version called the Little Mo ($160) for babies and the larger Mighty Mo ($200) for bigger kids aged 4-6.
Temperature Rating: 20°F
Length: 54"
Material: nylon shell and lining, 650-fill down insulation
Price: $180
SHOP From REI
The 3 Most Important Features of a Kid's Sleeping Bag
There are various features to look for when choosing the right sleeping bag for young campers. Kids' sleeping bags come in different shapes and sizes and provide varying degrees of warmth for colder nights.
Temperature Rating
Also as with adult sleeping bags, kid's sleeping bags come with temperature ratings that designate their optimal comfortable range of heat retention. These ratings could differ between models and brands and usually state the lowest temperature in which the bag will keep an average person warm. The temperature rating you go for greatly depends on the conditions in which you will be camping–and your child's preference. Some children naturally get hot during the night, while others may need some extra warmth, even in mild weather.
Generally, summer sleeping bags can keep your child comfortable in temperatures of 30°F and up. Three-season sleeping bags are best suited for temperatures between 10 and 40°F. Winter sleeping bags are designed to keep your kid warm when the weather drops to 15°F or lower.
A true winter sleeping bag will likely be too warm for your child to use during summer camping trips. Likewise, a summer sleeping bag would probably not provide enough warmth if you plan on going camping in the winter or late fall. When looking for a youth sleeping bag, consider one that suits the weather that your child will use it in the most.
Size
Yeah, it's obvious, but adult sleeping bags are not made for little people. The air pocket around your body inside the sleeping bag is what keeps you warm. However, if the sleeping bag is too big, larger volumes of air move in and out of the bag. This means more ventilation inside the sleeping bag. The movement of air draws away body heat, and each time air flows into the sleeping bag, your kid's body needs to heat up that air. This ends up doing the opposite of what the sleeping bag is supposed to do–keep your kiddo nice and toasty out in the tent.
Kids' sleeping bags come in limited sizes, generally. Kids or youth sleeping bags fit children up to five feet tall in most cases. Some youth sleeping bags could accommodate people up to 64-66 inches tall. Some sleeping bag manufacturers make smaller toddler sleeping bags for children up to around four or five years old. These bags are often labeled as "girl's" or "boy's" sleeping bags and can accommodate toddlers of any gender up to 42 inches tall.
It's possible to use an adult-size sleeping bag for your child, too, with one nifty hack: stuff the bottom with a pillow or clothing, or close it off by tying a drawstring or a large elastic band around the excess part at the bottom of the sleeping bag.
Materials
Steer clear of cheap Amazon brands and look for a kid's sleeping bag made from the same high-quality materials as an adult version. A water-resistant outer layer of polyester or nylon, a polyester-taffeta blend interior, a two-way zipper, down or synthetic insulation.
Down filling makes for the lightest, warmest, and most packable sleeping bags, but down-filled sleeping bags are more expensive and get cold and heavy when wet (down kid's sleeping bags are also a bit harder to come by). The other (more readily available) option is sleeping bags that use synthetic insulation. Sleeping bags with synthetic insulation are a bit heavier but work well in the cold and when they get wet. They are also more affordable–perfect for growing little campers.
Other Features
Kids sleeping bag manufacturers often include added features to their products to make your child even more comfortable. These features include hoods, pockets, pack straps, and stuff sacks. Hoods and pillow pockets are great because they provide some extra warmth around the head area. They also keep pillows in place, especially if your child will be sleeping on a mattress or a sleeping pad.
Pack straps and stuff sacks or compression sacks make it easy to pack away and carry the sleeping bag. This is especially handy if your child will be carrying their own sleeping bag when hiking, backpacking, or making their way to a campsite.
Another feature to consider is the zipper. Zippers that prevent the lining from catching are crucial for a kids' sleeping bag. They will make it easier for your child to get in and out of their sleeping bag by themselves. This kind of zipper also avoids panic during urgent midnight nature calls.
How to Clean a Kids Sleeping Bag
Your child's sleeping bag doesn't necessarily have to be washed after every use. In fact, washing a sleeping bag in the washing machine too often could deteriorate the quality of the materials and lead to a loss of insulation, especially if not done properly.
Instead, you can spot clean dirty areas with a toothbrush, soap, and water. Clean any obviously dirty areas and marks off the sleeping bag without immersing it in water. Baby wipes can also work. Try not to get the insulating material wet while you clean and rinse these areas, and allow the sleeping bag to air-dry afterward.
If you do need to wash your kid's sleeping bag in the washing machine, don't use a machine with an agitator, and don't use fabric softener. Instead, use a technical fabric soap like Nikwax's Down Wash Direct for down-filled bags and Nikwax's Tech Wash for synthetic ones. Use your machine's delicate setting, or wash the sleeping bag by hand.
Sleeping bags, check. Lightweight chairs and stools for camping? Check here.
