Best Baby Bunting Bags Perfect for Chilly Weather

The first thing to know about baby bunting bags is they’re absolutely, positively adorable. You’d be hard-pressed to find something worthier of cooing over than a baby swaddled in a tiny sleeping bag. Trust us.

Bunting bags have practical applications beyond cuteness, of course, because they’re designed to keep babies calm, cozy, and insulated from the cold without the need to dress their squirmy arms and legs.

Simply pop your slumbering baby into a bunting bag. Then, fasten the zip on the front as you would with a regular-size sleeping bag. These single-piece garments are, essentially, baby romper suits that are worn instead of an outdoor coat in strollers and with some types of car seats. Most bunting bags are fleece-lined with a hood for keeping the top of baby’s head warm.

In this article, we take a closer look at the best baby bunting bags for chilly weather and help you decide which is the right one for your child.

What Is a Bunting Bag for Baby Supposed to Do?

We hear this a lot – what is a bunting for baby? The thing that differentiates bunting baby bags from standard coats, jackets and one-piece romper suits for kids is their ‘drop-in’ design. Most bunting bags have a front or side zip instead of arm and leg holes to make getting baby inside much easier.

With one of these, parents can dress their child for the outdoors without any fuss or squirming. A sleeping newborn can be dressed for cold weather in seconds without ever disturbing their slumber.

Babies (particularly newborns) love bunting bags because they recreate that swaddling sensation that infants find so comforting and reminiscent of the womb. Their arms are safely tucked beside their body, their feet are secured and just their face is exposed to outdoor temperatures.

While most bunting bags are outdoor wear, they’re also useful for keeping baby warm inside the car or at home.

A Safety Warning About Baby Bunting Bags and Car Seats

A lot of new parents find the safety warnings about bunting bags and car seats confusing. So let’s clear things up here. Bunting bags can be combined with baby’s car seat but they must have a particular design for safety purposes. Parents must make sure that any bunting bags used in the car envelope the entire seat and not just the child’s body.

A safe bunting bag for the car gets pulled up and over the baby car seat and/or does not lie underneath the child’s back. Think of it as a sleeping bag for the entire seat structure with baby tucked inside.

This is an important distinction because the standard baby bunting bag is a single-piece garment that a child wears tightly wrapped around their body. Car seat bunting bags, on the other hand, have adjustable straps to anchor them to the seat.

Car seat manufacturers advise against using standard bunting bags in vehicles simply because not enough testing has been done on how they behave in collisions.

No matter what type of bunting bag you’re using or where you’re using it, never cover your baby’s face. Ensure your child’s airways remain unobstructed at all times.

The Best Baby Bunting Bags – Reviews

Best 2-in-1 Baby Bunting Bag – Yinuoday Baby Swaddle (0 to 12 months)

Yinuoday’s beautifully designed Baby Swaddle looks just like a warm sleeping bag for baby to curl up in and be carried around in while he or she sleeps.

It has a zip down its front which allows the bunting bag to be opened out and used as a regular blanket just as easily as a contained swaddling space.

The Yinuoday’s versatile design and delicately patterned fabric make it one of the most stylish baby bunting bags on the market.
Advantages

• Very stylish knitted-effect design
• 2-in-1 functionality (bunting bag & blanket)
• Padding on one side + soft knit on the other
• Quick-release zip for secure swaddling

Disadvantages

• Maybe a little short for some longer babies
• Material is hand wash only

Best Fleece-Lined Baby Bunting Bag – Burley Solstice Bunting Bag (0 to 2 years)

The Burley Solstice Bunting Bag is worthy of a mention on our list even though it’s designed to fit a specific brand of stroller. If you don’t already own a Burley stroller, this one might not interest you so much but, for fans of the brand, it’s a stylish addition to baby’s routine.

This bunting bag is fleece-lined with a plush interior that’s always soft on bare skin and great at retaining a child’s body heat. The velcro straps on its back mean this bag can be securely attached to a Burley buggy and used as stroller bunting.
Advantages

• Velcro straps DO fit some other strollers
• Suitable for toddlers as well
• Works with most 5-pt harness systems & lap belts
• Super soft plush interior

Disadvantages

• Only fully compatible with Burley strollers
• Hood/head section is a little short

Best Wrap Style Baby Bunting Bag – SWADDYL Baby Bunting Bag (0 to 2 years)

SWADDYL’S brightly colored super-plush Baby Bunting Bag is a little bit different to the products that look like baby sleeping bags for winter.

Instead of being a zippable, contained pouch, this bunting bag is more like a traditional swaddle wrap. The product has no front zip. Instead, the baby sits with their legs inside an interior pocket. Then, the sides of the wrap get folded tightly around their torso. The Velcro squares on each corner allow the fabric to be secured or released in an instant.
Advantages

• Traditional swaddle wrap style (no zips)
• Hood is adjustable
• Velcro fasteners for quick release
• Can be used as a fold-out playmat

Disadvantages

• Velcro may become looser over time
• No zip means more movement from baby

Best Weighted Baby Bunting Bag – Dreamland Weighted Sack

Dreamland’s Weighted Sac baby bunting bag gives parents the added benefit of a slightly weighted chest section. Studies have shown small amounts of pressure during sleep can improve a baby’s sleep quality, reduce the number of disruptive reflex movements they experience and even soothe a fussy tummy.

Parents’ use of weighted bunting bags should be limited to prevent developmental issues with the bones and joints. They are safe but can interfere with growth if used incessantly outside of a baby’s regular sleep schedule.
Advantages

• Gently weighted design for calm sleep
• Front zip for quick release
• Lightweight & breathable (good for hot climates)
• Reversible neckline/2 way zipper system

Disadvantages

• White color is prone to staining
• Not suitable for use as an outdoor coat

Best Baby Bunting Bag for Strollers – JJ Cole Canopy Style Bunting Bag (0 to 2 years)

JJ Cole’s Canopy Style Bunting Bag is easily one of the most stylish bunting bags on the market.

It looks like a designer product but happens to be excellent value for money. It’s available in five different patterns including red buffalo and a canvas green that resembles a teeny tiny survival sleeping bag.

What’s more, it fits a huge variety of strollers and has a removable back panel to make it safe for use on car seats.

The fleece-lined interior ensures baby stays snug even outdoors in the chilliest weather.
Advantages

• Very chic and stylish design
• Straps are compatible with many stroller brands
• Fleece shearling interior for max. warmth
• Weather-resistant nylon exterior

Disadvantages

• May not fit some slimline car seats
• Can get TOO warm for some babies

Best Baby Bunting Bag for Bigger Kids – Orzbow Warm Bunting Bag (6 to 36 months)

Orzbow’s Warm Bunting Bag is our top pick for longer babies and slightly larger toddlers who need extra room. The product comes in two sizes with the bigger being better suited to fast-growing children and babies who’d rather fidget than sleep in their swaddling space.

It’s a fantastic bunting bag for strollers because it opens in three directions for easy access and release.

Plus, it has a removable footmuff that can be detached to free baby’s feet if they’re getting too warm. An anti-slip coating on the back of the bag aids comfort and security by limiting the amount it can move around in a seat or stroller.
Advantages

• Comes in a larger size for toddlers
• Fits most 3 & 5 pt stroller belts
• Three-way zipper for quick release
• Removable footmuff for temp. control

Disadvantages

• Lacks a hood/head protection
• Can be tricky to figure out the straps at first

Frequently Asked Questions About Baby Bunting Bags

We’ve answered some common questions about baby bunting bags and their applications to help you figure out if they’re the right choice for your family:

Q – What does the term ‘bunting’ actually mean and where did it come from?

A – The term ‘bunting’ has been used to refer to hooded sleeping bags for infants since the 1920s so it’s not a new concept.

Traditionally, a bunting bag for a newborn would have swaddling features designed to hold a baby’s arms and legs close to their body. Today, bunting bags are still used to swaddle newborns but they come in a greater variety of sizes and the larger bags for toddlers tend to be less restrictive.

Q – What are the benefits of using baby bunting bags? Does my child really need one?

A – Baby bunting bags are a useful alternative to outdoor jackets for newborns and younger babies. In their first few months of life, babies are wriggly creatures who seem to only sleep when their parents least expect it.

Trying to dress them in a jacket can be disruptive and frustrating for both parties. With a bunting bag, all you need to do is open up the front or side and place your baby inside.

They’re not essential but lots of parents use bunting bags for outdoor trips and some continue to use them as cold weather wear well into their child’s toddlerhood.

Q – What features should I look for when shopping for a baby bunting bag?

A – Firstly, the bunting bag that you choose must be a good fit for your child. It’s important to strike the right balance between closeness and comfort and your baby’s safety.

Newborns should be swaddled tightly but leave enough room to slide a hand between their body and the fabric. Older children should be less restricted and have plenty of space to wriggle and adjust their bodies. Make sure the baby bunting bag isn’t so large there’s a risk of your child’s head slipping beneath the hood.

Some bunting bags come with buttons or snaps but zippers are generally the best option. They are the fastest way to get your baby in and out which is useful when you’re shopping at the grocery store or unloading the car.

Lastly, consider the quality of the materials. If you can afford to splash out, go for all-natural fabrics because they’ll be the softest option for your child’s skin. Manmade materials can be high quality too; just make sure the interior of the bunting bag is padded and/or fleece-lined to keep baby warm in chilly weather.

Final Thoughts

Baby bunting bags are a stylish, affordable way to keep babies and toddlers warm while they’re adventuring outdoors. But you’re going to want to shop around to find the perfect miniature sleeping bag for your miniature monster.

Make safety and comfort your tip-top priorities but leave room for a funky design and a luxury lining that your baby won’t want to leave.