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Kaylee Thompson is the editor of Health, Fitness, Babies and Kids. She has personally tested a dozen tents and a dozen hair dryers.
We included the REI Co-op Down Time 25 as another great option for camping and hiking. This product has been discontinued and we have moved it to the Competitors category.
Whether you’re planning a family camping trip, packing for summer camp, or preparing for a kid’s slumber party, the right sleeping bag will help your baby sleep soundly in an unfamiliar place.
We’ve compared 16 kids’ bags over the past seven years and think most kids will love laying in the REI Co-op Kindercone 25. This bag is durable and warm, and comes with a great storage bag. This bag will last from toddlerhood through adolescence.
Of all the kids’ sleeping bags we’ve tried, this is our favorite: warm, soft, and durable. Plus, it’s one of our camper kids’ favorite activities.
This rectangular sleeping bag is just as strong and durable, but not as warm as our favorite. Once zipped, the sleeping bag folds flat, so it can be used as a compact blanket at camp or at home.
The Little Red is suitable for children up to 4ft 5in and is suitable for outdoor use. There is a sleeping bag pocket on the back of the backpack for extra warmth and comfort; however, you will need to bring your own sleeping mat.
For children older than kindergarten, the Wolverine model is a better choice – it fits children up to 4 feet 8 inches tall.
For sleeping indoors, a cotton sleeping bag is fine. But for camping, a warmer, more moisture-resistant sleeping bag is better.
Sleeping bags come in two types: rectangular and mummy-shaped. A mummy-shaped sleeping bag can be warmer and more compact.
If you don’t plan on lugging things that far, the size and weight of your sleeping bag may not matter. But if you do plan on lugging things that far, the lighter the sleeping bag, the better.
We have found that the design of a duffel bag has a big impact on how easy it is for a young child to use the bag independently.
Of all the kids’ sleeping bags we’ve tried, this is our favorite: warm, soft, and durable. Plus, it’s one of our camper kids’ favorite activities.
The REI Kindercone 25 is a roomy cocoon sleeping bag that’s warm enough for most three-season backpacking trips. It’s also soft enough for the hard floors of school gyms. And it’s durable enough that parents won’t have to worry if it occasionally turns into a fortress or becomes a means of sliding down stairs. Parent and child testers especially liked the sleeping bag’s built-in storage pocket, which is easy to access and impossible to lose.
This rectangular sleeping bag is just as strong and durable, but not as warm as our favorite. Once zipped, the sleeping bag folds flat, so it can be used as a compact blanket at camp or at home.
The REI Co-op Kindercamp 40 Sleeping Bag is made from the same materials (polyester fill and polyester shell) as the Kindercone 25, but this sleeping bag is rectangular in shape rather than mummy-shaped. That means the Kindercamp 40 doesn’t have a hood or conical foot, while the Kindercone 25 has a cozy cocoon shape. And it’s not as warm as the Kindercamp 40: The Kindercamp 40 is only rated for 40°F, while our favorite is rated for 25°F. The Kindercamp 40 also doesn’t have the fully attached storage pocket we love about the Kindercone 25; instead, its storage pocket ties with a small string. But because of its rectangular shape, the Kindercamp 40 will feel roomier than the Kindercone 25, and when unzipped, it can be used as a blanket.
The Little Red is suitable for children up to 4ft 5in and is suitable for outdoor use. There is a sleeping bag pocket on the back of the backpack for extra warmth and comfort; however, you will need to bring your own sleeping mat.
For children older than kindergarten, the Wolverine model is a better choice – it fits children up to 4 feet 8 inches tall.
If your typical camping weather is one where nighttime temperatures drop into the 80s or lower, then the Big Agnes Little Red or larger Wolverine are your best bet for your little one. These sleeping bags are warmer than our other models (rated to 20˚F). Like most Big Agnes sleeping bags, they come with a built-in sleeping bag cover so your little one can stay on their sleeping bag all night and stay warm. You’ll have to buy a sleeping pad separately, but you can use one you already have (most 20-inch wide sleeping pads will work). Big Agnes sleeping bags are smaller than most, but they’re also more expensive, even before you factor in the cost of the sleeping pad.
Kaylee Thompson is a senior editor at Wirecutter, covering kids. When Kaylee first worked on this guide, she was living in Southern California, where weekend camping is popular year-round. She recruited nine local families (with kids ages 9 months to 9 years) to test sleeping bags on weekend trips, including to the high desert of Joshua Tree National Park and the sycamore forests of Point Mugu State Park on the Pacific coast. After the family moved to Maine, her kids continued to try out different sleeping bags while camping on Hermit Island, near Acadia National Park, and along the Allagash Wilderness Waterway.
To put this guide together, we relied on expert advice gleaned from Wirecutter’s adult sleeping bag reviews, pored over existing online reviews, and gathered insights from parents who’ve camped in places from Alaska to New Hampshire. We also turned to Helen Olsson, whose Simple Guide to Camping with Kids is a fun and practical guide for parents looking to make the transition to family car camping smoothly.
Are sleeping bags really necessary for children? Many people keep one or two adult sleeping bags in the attic or garage, but are they really as effective?
“Ideally, people with small children should use small sleeping bags,” camping expert Helen Olsen tells us. “The air pockets around your body in a sleeping bag keep you warm. Put a baby in a large adult sleeping bag and they’ll freeze.”
But kids quickly outgrow their little sleeping bags, and many get too hot to sleep in, taking them off in almost any weather. Olson’s kids started using older adult sleeping bags when they were 6 and 7, she says, but they often got too hot to sleep in. If you already have a senior sleeping bag in good condition, by all means, try it out before buying a new one (we’ll give you advice if it needs cleaning). You can reduce this air pocket yourself by tightening the bottom of the sleeping bag (under your baby’s feet) with a drawstring on the storage bag or a large elastic band.
The baby sleeping bags featured in this guide are suitable for children aged 2 to 12 years. However, depending on the size of your child, some sleeping bags may last a long time. Once your child turns 12, it is often more practical to buy them an adult-sized sleeping bag that they can use for many years; in our guide, we offer recommendations for the best sleeping bags.
For a slumber party in the living room, almost any sleeping bag will do. But if you want a kids’ sleeping bag that’s suitable for both camping and outdoor adventures, you’ll want one that can withstand cold, wet climates and that your child can easily put on and take off on their own. When evaluating kids’ sleeping bags, we considered the following factors:
Sleeping bag shape: We tested both cocoon-style sleeping bags and rectangular sleeping bags. The snug-fitting cocoon-style sleeping bags tend to provide more warmth while being lighter, while rectangular sleeping bags can feel roomier and have the advantage of being able to be unzipped and used as a blanket.
Weight and Height: We knew the perfect sleeping bag would be lightweight and portable enough for even a toddler to carry on their own. All of the sleeping bags we seriously considered weighed 3.5 pounds or less and came with their own carry bag. Depending on your destination, the overall size of your sleeping bag may also matter.
Materials and Temperature Rating: We needed a sleeping bag that would be warm enough for three-season camping. Many inexpensive sleeping bags are rated for temperatures between 40˚F and 55˚F, which means your baby could get cold on a spring or fall trip. Most cheap sleeping bags are also made of cotton, which doesn’t do a great job of repelling moisture, whether it’s from morning dew or a leaky water bottle. Unlike synthetic materials, cotton doesn’t retain heat when wet. We needed a warm sleeping bag that wouldn’t get wet if we got wet, so we mostly looked at sleeping bags that were at least partially made of synthetic materials.
Standout Features: We found the storage pockets on some bags particularly useful. We also noted the quality of the zippers and the practicality of the drawstrings around the head and shoulders.
Lifespan: Kids grow fast. We looked at bags that looked the most durable and comfortable for years of use.
Over the past seven years, we’ve taken more than a dozen different kids’ sleeping bags on camping, overnight trips, and glamping trips. Each time, we’ve noted how easy it is to fill and unpack the bag, zip and unzip it, and we’ve also recorded which sleeping bag the kids preferred when presented with several options.
Of all the kids’ sleeping bags we’ve tried, this is our favorite: warm, soft, and durable. Plus, it’s one of our camper kids’ favorite activities.
The REI Co-op Kindercone 25 Mummy Cone has a lot of great features at a reasonable price. It fits everyone from toddlers to teens, so the average child can curl up in it comfortably throughout their childhood.
It’s fluffy and warm. The Kindercone 25 is fluffier than similar kids’ sleeping bags. We found that it really kept kids comfortable while camping in cold weather, as it’s rated for temperatures as low as -25˚F. A storage pocket is built into the base of the sleeping bag, and the straps that secure the sleeping bag also shorten it, creating a smaller bubble that can trap heat and keep little ones warm.
It’s both protective and durable. The Kindercone 25′s polyester shell is durable and treated to repel moisture. The synthetic polyester filling keeps you warm even when wet. In many seasons of using this bag, we’ve never had any issues with rips or zippers.
It has a long lifespan. You can buy this bag for a one-year-old and expect him to use it well into elementary school. Using the buckles, we were able to fit our 13-month-old into this bag. Even without the buckle, it fits the average fifth-grader comfortably. Even shorter adults can squeeze into this bag if necessary: ​​On our Pacific Coast camping trip, one 5-foot-5 mom did just that when her two-year-old insisted on climbing into his parents’ double bag in the middle of the night.
It has the best storage bag. Even if you never use the tie-down feature, the included storage bag is a nice touch. When five families were packing up after a group car trip to Joshua Tree National Park, there was a lot of confusion about which camping chair, sleeping pad, and sleeping bag went with which bag. It’s easy to see why the Kindercone 25’s included storage bag is so popular: You won’t have to worry about things getting lost, and the kids will have one less excuse not to pack their own bags.
REI has been making the Kindercone 25 since at least 2008, and we’ve tested three generations of the bag. Colors and patterns change every year or two, and we’ve seen subtle design improvements over time. For example, the current Kindercone has a fabric strap on one end and a loop on the other; both options make it easy to hang the bag to dry and carry.
REI has a one-year, no-questions-asked return policy, but it only applies to REI members. Non-members can return items within 90 days.
The Kindercone 25 is designed specifically for backpackers. However, reviewers have complained that this backpack is too bulky for backpacking and is better suited for car camping and overnight stays, and we agree. If your child is going on a hike, they’ll probably want a lighter, more compact backpack, like this one from Big Agnes (two of our top picks).
This rectangular sleeping bag is just as strong and durable, but not as warm as our favorite. Once zipped, the sleeping bag folds flat, so it can be used as a compact blanket at camp or at home.
If your family isn’t into camping in cold weather, or if you want a colorful, durable sleeping bag that’s primarily used for sleepovers or camping, consider the REI Co-op Kindercamp 40 Sleeping Bag. This sleeping bag has a similar price and feel to our favorite, the Kindercone 25, and it also uses polyester in the shell and fill. The Kindercamp 40 isn’t as warm, but that may not matter to you. Some kids just prefer the roomier, rectangular sleeping bag.
Unzips into a blanket. Like many (but not all) rectangular sleeping bags, the Kindercamp 40 easily unzips into a flat rectangle. This means your child can use it as a fitted sheet on a bunk or single bed, then unzip it back into a sleeping bag for extra warmth when needed.
But overall, it’s not that warm. The Kindercamp 40 is rated at 40˚F, so your baby won’t be as warm as our other models. It also doesn’t have a hood, while the Kindercone 25 and many other bags do. However, the Kindercamp 40 does have a strap at the top, so you can wrap your baby in it if they want.
The storage pockets are attached to the bag, but they can be torn off. The shape of the Kindercamp 40 doesn’t allow for a fully attached storage bag, making it easy to tuck the Kindercone 25 back into the carry case. Instead, the Kindercamp 40’s storage bag is attached to the bag with a small drawstring. It’s still convenient and keeps the stuff sack from getting lost—unless it gets ripped off somehow, which is certainly what happened when we took this bag camping with a particularly energetic 8-year-old tester.
The Little Red is suitable for children up to 4ft 5in and is suitable for outdoor use. There is a sleeping bag pocket on the back of the backpack for extra warmth and comfort; however, you will need to bring your own sleeping mat.
For children older than kindergarten, the Wolverine model is a better choice – it fits children up to 4 feet 8 inches tall.
If your family often goes camping in cold weather, you may want to consider investing in a Big Agnes sleeping bag for your baby. Both sleeping bags come with a built-in sleeping pad cover, allowing your baby to sleep on it all night for extra warmth and comfort.