Best Sleeping Bags For Kids 2024 - Forbes Vetted

Nov 09, 2024

A sleeping bag is a wise investment weather your child needs a temporary spot to sleep during family visits, is headed to a friend’s house for a sleepover or shipping off to sleepaway camp. When looking at the best sleeping bags for kids, I evaluated each sleeping bag's size, materials, weight and temperature rating. I also considered the bag’s stuff sack and how easy (or hard) it was for kids to pack it up and carry it, and ultimately picked the REI Kids Kindercone Sleeping Bag as the best overall choice.

The best sleeping bags for kids should be warm and cozy, but also washable and easy for kids to roll ... [+] up themselves.

To find the best sleeping bags for kids, I consulted two experts: Andrew Bowman, cofounder and chief innovation and operations officer at Veer Gear; and Preeti Arya, Ph.D., textile scientist and assistant professor at Fashion Institute of Technology. I also spoke with parents and kids who have used sleeping bags for camp, school trips and sleepovers to understand their insights and what they liked (or didn’t like) about certain sleeping bags. Finally, I considered my own family’s experience with sleeping bags.

REI

Size: 60 x 50 inches | Material: Recycled polyester | Weight: 3.2 pounds | Temperature rating: 25 degrees Fahrenheit

Our best overall pick for countless reasons, this affordable kids' sleeping bag provides cozy comfort for kids. We love how parents can easily adjust the length of the sleeping bag to grow with their child. Cinch the bag when they’re small for more efficient insulation and simply let out the cinching as they get taller. At full length, the sleeping bag can fit kids up to 5 feet tall, making this a wise, long-term investment.

The mummy-shaped sleeping bag is warm and cozy, and the roomy hood includes an adjustable cord that can hold your kiddo’s pillow in place, making for less tossing and turning through the night.

The shell has a durable water-repellent coating that allows moisture to bead up on the fabric rather than being absorbed. The bag is made of recycled polyester lining and rated for 25 degrees Fahrenheit. Parents will appreciate that the stuff sack is built into the sleeping bag, making it a snap to use and virtually impossible to lose on a camping trip. The only drawback to this sturdy, comfortable sleeping bag is the limited selection of colorways.

Amazon

Size: 60 x 26 inches | Material: Polyester | Weight: 2.4 pounds | Temperature rating: 50 degrees Fahrenheit

If adding a sleeping bag to your household feels expensive, look no further than this wallet-friendly pick from Coleman. At under $35, this colorful sleeping bag won’t break the bank—but don’t plan to use it on frigid nights at outdoor campgrounds. Rated for 50 degrees Fahrenheit, this sleeping bag is best for warmer climates, summertime sleep-outs or indoor sleepovers.

A classic rectangular shape, the sleeping bag is made from polyester and includes glow-in-the-dark designs—a fun bonus feature for camping kids. I love that zipping together two of the same sleeping bags doubles the room, and an interior “tuck” pocket holds a flashlight, book, stuffie or other essential item. The rectangular sleeping back is easy to roll and has a stuff sack for easy storage.

Wayfair

Size: 29 x 68 inches | Material: Polyester | Weight: 4 pounds | Temperature rating: 37 degrees Fahrenheit

A terrific way for kids to carry all their sleepover gear, this stow-and-go sleeping bag arrives as a backpack. When it’s time for bed, simply unbuckle the backpack, release the toggle and roll out the sleeping bag. To pack up, merely fold the sleeping bag in half, roll it up, stuff it back into the backpack pouch, cinch the straps and go.

It doesn’t pack up super-small like other sleeping bags on our list, though, so I like it for sleepovers. The backpack has storage pockets and plenty of room for pajamas, an extra set of clothes and a toothbrush—but there’s not enough room for a week’s worth of clothes. We have one of these, and my son enjoyed using it for a sleepover and a one-night school camping trip. I loved that he could easily carry his gear and sleeping bag in one bag, all on his back. There is also a smaller version (20 x 50 inches) for younger kids.

Amazon

Size: 54 x 60 inches | Material: Polyester | Weight: 2.3 pounds | Temperature rating: 20 degrees Fahrenheit

This mummy-shaped sleeping bag is pricey but perfect for proper camping, especially if your kids move around all night. The sleeping bag is designed with a half-pad sleeve in the back of the sleeping bag, which helps keep a sleeping bag secure under your kiddo. Bowman says this is his top pick for a kids’ sleeping bag, because it has “great quality, but not over-the-top in terms of performance and specifications. It comes with a nice design to keep it attached to a sleeping pad, which comes in handy with wiggly sleepers.” The pad is not cheap and sold separately, but if you’re taking kids on a camping adventure, this investment could be worth it for some good sleep.

The sculpted mummy shape makes your kiddo cozy, and the contoured hood snuggles around their face. Lightweight and packable, this sleeping bag comes with a stuff and storage sack. The bright color is bold, but we wish more colors were available.

Amazon

Size: 75 x 33 inches | Material: Polyester | Weight: 5.5 pounds | Temperature rating: 30 degrees Fahrenheit

This sleeping bag is made from polyester with a 30-degree temperature rating, and is roomy and cozy. One of our tween testers shared that she loved the generous size of this one, and for one person, it’s almost as big as a double sleeping bag. The size “came in handy when hanging out with a group at late-night outings,” and the “super-soft interior” is a bonus. Parents love that it’s machine washable, so after this pick is put through the wringer at camp, it’s a cinch to clean at home.

Other excellent features about this sleeping bag are that it’s easy to pack up—the bag has a “roll control” to keep the edges straight while rolling, a cord to keep the rolled bag in the right shape and an included stuff bag.

Pottery Barn Kids

Size: 55 x 42 inches | Material: Nylon with down-alternative filling | Weight: 0.7 pounds | Temperature rating: Not listed

While not quite a sleeping bag, this adventure blanket is so useful I wanted to include it in this list. The lightweight blanket comes in two sizes (adult and child). The nylon material is filled with a super-soft and insulating down-alternative filling, making it feel like a sleeping bag. What’s genius is that you can use it like a standard blanket, but it also comes with two snaps, interior pockets and a fully zipped safety pocket. It can turn into a cozy cape/wrap/stay-put cover in seconds. When not used, the blanket easily packs into the included stuff bag.

This blanket has been a lifesaver at a cold, all-day fall soccer tournament—I never would have thought to bring a sleeping bag to a soccer game, but having this bag allowed my daughter to stay warm and cozy while still cheering on her brother’s team.

REI

Size: 2 to 4 years old | Material: Fleece and synthetic fiber | Weight: 1 pound | Temperature rating: 20 degrees Fahrenheit

Toddlers and sleeping bags can be a tricky situation—you want your kiddo to stay warm, but don’t want them slipping around the inside of an oversize sleeping bag. This pick from Morrison Outdoors is designed as a safe option for young kids. The fitted shape and attached sleeves ensure your little camper stays warm and covered without any harm from slipping around in a standard sleeping bag.

The attached sleeves have open and closed cuffs, so little hands stay warm all night. The two-way zipper makes diaper changes easy and draft control a cinch. Super-comfy, the hybrid between a sleeping bag and a sleep sack is sized for kids between 2 and 4 years old. Each one comes with a stuff sack that packs the bag to the size of a water bottle.

STATE Bags

Size: 29.5 x 66.9 inches | Material: Polyester | Weight: 3.4 pounds | Temperature rating: 23 degrees Fahrenheit

This recently released sleeping bag from State—which tops our list of the best kids luggage—is already a hit with parents and kids alike. It comes in five cool designs, including a lighting bolt, bold chevrons and the pretty tropical scene shown here.

Forbes Vetted contributor Elizabeth Mitchell Kadar says she got one for her 6-year-old daughter’s first sleepover and it was a hit. “I love the cool designs,” says Margaret Badore, the baby and kids gear editor, who also got one to test. “I also found it super easy to roll up and secure with the attached straps.” We also appreciate that this sleeping bag is machine washable, and coordinating duffle bags and backpacks are also available.

We take product picks, safety and sleep seriously at Forbes Vetted, and our dozens of researched kids and baby gear stories can attest to this. We’ve personally tried some of the best kids' sleeping bags on the market and can speak firsthand to their performance.

To choose the best sleeping bags for kids, we combined personal experience from adults and kids, input from experts and market research.

Here are the most important things to consider when shopping for a child’s sleeping bag.

Look for material that fits your needs and whether your kiddos will truly be camping in the elements or sleeping on a living room floor. Bowman breaks down the difference between water-resistant material versus repellent materials. “The best way to look at it is that water-resistant materials on a sleeping bag will resist the absorption of water primarily due to the nature of the fabric. This provides a minimal level of protection from water infiltration, but is limited to very light, misty, dew-type situations. These types of sleeping bags are often used indoors or in campers or other enclosures isolated from the environment. These can be used in tents, but usually in very dry conditions.”

He explains, “Water repellency usually utilizes a DWR (Durable Water Resistant) coating and provides far more protection from water and covers the majority of typical outdoor camping type experiences.”

For most sleeping bags, the temperature rating relates to the air temperature at which a person can comfortably sleep through the night. This is a somewhat subjective number and not an exact science, so use the ratings as a helpful guide. It’s also essential to weigh the temperature rating against you or your child’s natural state (hot sleeper, cold sleeper, etc.), the climate you live in and will use the sleeping bag in, and how you plan to use the sleeping bag (overnight camping in a tent versus a sleepover in a bedroom).

Whether the sleeping bag gets covered in dirt, sticky s’mores remains or something else, easily washing the sleeping bag is essential to its cleanliness and longevity. Bowman shares that sleeping bag “materials are fairly easy to clean provided you follow whatever the manufacturer’s recommendations are (which usually are hand wash or machine wash gentle).” He does note that “particular care should be paid to the fill material, as natural down does have some additional handling and care requirements to keep the down spread evenly throughout the sleeping bag.”

Follow all of the brand's washing and drying instructions to ensure the sleeping bag remains evenly stuffed. Dry it completely before storing the bag in its stuff sack.

The best sleeping bag for kids is one your kiddo likes to use and is safe, cozy, comfortable and easy to pack up. Our best overall kids sleeping bag, the REI Kids Kindercone Sleeping Bag, is warm, lightweight, easy to pack, and affordable, making it an ideal option for most needs.

A good night’s sleep is essential, especially on a camping trip, at sleepaway camp, or at a sleepover. If you have any of these activities in your future, a good sleeping bag is worth it. For the occasional sleepovers at a friend's house, a super pricey sleeping bag may not be worth the investment. Still, sleeping bags are handy, even for backyard camping or chilly nights outdoors. A kid’s sized sleeping bag is safer and will keep your kiddo warmer and cozier. Choose one that can grow with your child–it's not worth the price if they quickly outgrow the sleeping bag you’ve purchased.

No. A sleep sack is a product designed for infants to use after they’ve outgrown a swaddle. These products may also be called wearable blankets, and allow a baby’s arms to be free.

A sleeping bag is a portable alternative to a bed—the roll-up bedding most people are familiar with taking camping or on sleepovers. They’re safe for use starting at age 1, and may be designed for either indoor or outdoor use.

In this update, we answered frequently asked questions about sleeping bags for kids, and added a new pick for the most stylish sleeping bag for kids.