Best Kids Sleeping Bags: Top Picks for Toddlers and Teens
When you’re packing for a camping trip with young kids, you might wonder, “Does my toddler need their own sleeping bag?”
The answer according to me, is yes, it’s best to get a youth or toddler sleeping bag for your kids.
It’s important to choose sleeping bags designed for your child’s size, rather than just having them use your old adult bag.
Best Sleeping Bag for Kids
The adjustable Big Agnes sleeping bag is an amazing sleeping bag. It starts as a toddler sleeping bag and can be adjusted up to a youth sleeping bag with ease.
Adjustable Toddler Sleeping Bags
Adjustable sleeping bags for kids are a camping revelation. They extend the life of your child’s sleeping bag by growing with them.
One of my favorite bags for this purpose is:
Big Agnes
Big Agnes is a mummy-style sleeping bag for campers 4’5” to 5’6”. It includes a no-draft collar, zipper, and wedge, and is suitable for temperatures as low as 15°F.
I love Big Agnes because it not only grows with your little camper but includes an integrated half-sleep mat sleeve. This keeps the upper portion of the sleeping pad in place but lets your kids move their feet easily. This is a great sleeping bag.
Pros: Mummy-style bag for added warmth. Adjustable inner drawstring to extend. Includes stuff sack.
Cons: Some reviewers felt the sleeve wasn’t long enough.
Weight: 2 lb 14 oz
Height of Child: 4’5” to 5’6”
Temperature Rating: 15° F
REI Kindercone
The REI Kindercone is a great backpacking kids sleeping bag. It’s rated for 25°F and weighs 3 lb 3 oz. The bag is made from recycled polyester and includes a right zipper enclosure. It has a maximum extended length of 5’ or 60”.
I like that the REI Kindercone uses the mummy style and has a roomy hood with an adjustable cord. The cord helps keep little pillows from slipping around at night while maintaining plenty of breathing space.
Pros: Recycled shell for a reduced carbon footprint. Anti-snag zip. Water repellant shell.
Cons: A little heavier than the Big Agnes. Some reviewers found the REI Kindercone bulky to pack.
Weight: 3 lb 3 oz
Height of Child: 5’ (60”)
Temperature Rating: 25° F
Rectangular Sleeping Bags for Kids
Rectangle kids sleeping bags are nice for hot nights. They’re also best suited to older kids who can regulate temperature and readjust the sleeping bag through the night.
Some of my top choices for rectangle sleeping bags are:
Kelty Callisto
The Kelty Calisto rectangle sleeping bag is made from polyester and taffeta and filled with down. This is a great warm weather camping sleeping bag because it unzips completely into a blanket.
I like this sleeping bag for older kids, as it stretches out to 5’ (60”). It’s suitable for temperatures of 30° F and weighs 2 lbs 9 oz. This makes it a bit better for hiking than the REI Kindercone above.
Pros: Unzips completely to form a camp blanket. Great for older kids.
Cons: Some reviewers felt the 30 °F temperature rating was too generous.
Weight: 2 lbs 9 oz
Height of Child: 5’ (60”)
Temperature Rating: 30° F
REI Kindercamp
Another REI Kindercamp product. This time, a rectangle kids sleeping bag suited to 40 °F. The temperature rating change could be due in part to the style. It’s good for kiddos up to 5’ (60”), and again, has a recycled polyester shell.
This is a great bag for kids who like the extra leg room while camping. I’d stick to summer camping with this bag, but I like that it includes a water-resistant shell and carrying bag.
Pros: Extra leg room. Made from recycled polyester for a greener camp experience.
Cons: A bit bulky and heaver for backpackers. Better suited to car camping with kids.
Weight: 3 lbs 1 oz
Height of Child: 5’ (60”)
Temperature Rating: 40 °F
Mummy Sleeping Bags for Kids
Mummy sleeping bags the best for cold weather camping and are among my favorite styles for young campers. They help keep campers cozy all night long and are great for cool nights.
Here are some of my top mummy sleeping bag picks:
Kelty Mistral
The Kelty Mistral bag uses offset quilting to reduce cold spots throughout the sleeping bag. The mummy fit hugs the sleeper through the body but includes a large foot box. The natural shape lets fidgety sleepers wiggle their feet and toes comfortably.
This is a good choice for older kids. It’s suitable for those 5’8” (68”). I like this option as a 3-season sleeping bag. It has a temperature rating of 20 °F, and weighs 2.65 lbs.
Pros: Large foot area for extra wiggle room. Offset quilting to reduce cold spots. 3-season sleeping bag.
Cons: A bit long for smaller campers.
Weight: 2.65 lbs
Height of Child: 5’8” (68”)
Temperature Rating: 20 °F
Marmot Trestles
This Marmot kids sleeping bag is the one we bought for our son now that he’s 5. He loves having his own sleeping bag and we trust Marmot for a lot of our camping gear.
It has a water-resistant polyester shell and anatomically shaped foot box. Like the Kelty, it offers extra foot wiggle room for fussy sleepers. Marmot sleeping bags also have a small stash pocket, perfect for keeping your headlamp close.
The Marmot is a quality backpacking sleeping bag weighing 2 lbs 9 oz. It packs snuggly into the included sack and has a temperature rating of 30°F. It has high loft insulation for an even temperature throughout and suits sleepers of 5’ (60”).
Pros: Anatomical foot area for wiggle room. Nice weight for backpacking.
Cons: Some reviewers found the bag too cold for the 30°F and recommend it as better suited to 50°F.
Weight: 2 lbs 9 oz
Height of Child: 5’ (60”)
Temperature Rating: 30 °F
Mummy Sleeping Bags for Toddlers
The mummy sleeping bag style benefits extend to toddlers as well as children. Little sleepers tend to squirm at night, and mummy sleeping bags ensure blankets stay in place.
I only have one recommendation for toddler-sized mummy-style bags.
Big Agnes Little Red
Like my first Big Agnes recommendation above, the Little Red has a synthetic shell with a down filling. The mummy-style sleeper is designed for young children up to 4’5” and has a temperature rating of 15°F.
Unlink the Big Agnes for older kids, this toddler-sized version has an integrated full sleeping pad sleeve. No worrying about your child rolling off the pad at night. The full sleeve offers more security than the half sleeve.
Pros: Full sleeping mat sleeve. Small design for toddlers. Cozy hood with external cord lock.
Cons: Some reviewers felt the bag should be better insulated along the bottom.
Weight: 1 lb 12 oz
Height of Child: Up to 4’5”
Temperature Rating: 15 °F
Wearable Sleeping Bags for Toddlers
For the extra small and extra squirmy sleepers in our lives, wearable sleeping bags are an amazing innovation. Much like sleep sacks for infants, these sleeping bags are worn, rather than simply slept in.
I love wearable sleeping bags for toddlers. They’re warm, effective, and fill a large gap in the children’s sleeping bag niche. Here are some of my top recommendations.
Morrison Outdoors Big Mo
At first glance, The Big Mo 20 looks like a long puffy jacket. On closer inspection, you’ll see the bottom is sewn shut. The bag has a temperature rating of 20 °F and is best suited to children ages two to four. It includes attached mitts to keep fingers warm.
I like that Big Mo uses fleece and down-filling with internal baffles. This keeps kiddos cozy and retains an even temperature throughout. This sleeping bag is also ridiculously light at only 13 oz and rolls up small.
Pros: About the size of a water bottle when tightly rolled. Lightweight and warm. Contained foot box for maximum temperature control.
Cons: Some reviewers suggested removing the mitts so children could drink while wearing the sleeping bag.
Weight: 13 oz
Height of Child: 42” (ages 2-4)
Temperature Rating: 20 °F
Morrison Outdoors Little Mo
Another winning design by Morrison Outdoors. The Morrison Little Mo is a baby sleeping bag suited to children 6 months to 24 months old. It has a length of 32”, and a temperature rating of 40 °F.
Like Big Mo, Little Mo rolls up tightly into a bundle about the size of a water bottle. At only 16 oz, it’s a backpacker’s dream in terms of weight. This sleeping bag zips from the bottom for easy access during diaper changes. It’s also machine washable and filled with a synthetic down.
Pros: Machine washable. Bottom zip for easy diaper changes. Meets AAP recommendations for infant sleep safety.
Cons: Some reviewers found the arms a bit long for tiny campers.
Weight: 16 oz
Height of Child: Up to 32”
Temperature Rating: 40 °F
How to Make Your Kids’ Sleeping Bag Shorter
For safety reasons, I recommend using sleeping bags designed for children whenever possible. However, in a pinch, there are a few hacks I’ve used to remedy the situation.
- Hack 1: Shorten an adult bag by tying up the end of the bag and securing it with paracord or a shoelace.
- Hack 2: Stuff the bottom end of the sleeping bag into the stuff sack and pull the drawstrings tight.
- Hack 3: Stuff a pillow or extra clothes into the bottom of the bag to take up empty space.
Sleeping Bags for Toddlers FAQs:
I hope you find the perfect sleeping bag for your child! Stay safe and have fun out there!
Happy Camping!
I’m Molly Foss, aka Momma Critter. I’ve been camping since I was 9 years old and I always wanted to be Robin Hood and live in the forest when I grew up. I’m excited to share my love of camping with my son as he grows up. My favorite thing to do while camping is roast marshmallows over the fire.
