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Overheating isn't only making your child uncomfortable, experts like Pampers also agree it's also one factor when it comes to dangers such as SIDS. It's why overheating jolts more babies awake than outside noises, and why breathable bamboo and a cotton sleep sack dominate the market. However, were you aware that the moisture control of sleepwear such as this can be dramatically different?
Choosing the right fabric protects your baby's delicate skin and can save you from potential midnight outfit changes due to sweat or other issues. So, this guide will help you understand the fiber science behind the two fabrics. Learn more about typical parent experiences and how The Sleep Theory's Theta Pouch can help you and your baby achieve much drier nights.
Damp Sleep Disruptions Every Parent Understands
As your baby sleeps, they will sweat much like they do during the day. At night, however, there isn't as much opportunity to remove the humidity from their immediate proximity as when they wear a sleep sack. The extra moisture can double the weight of garments within only a few hours, making them very uncomfortable, extending the time they are awake, and draining their energy.
And of course, an uncomfortable baby will let you know, draining everyone else's energy too.
On top of this, damp fabric can cause several health issues, inviting rashes, rises in core temperatures, and many other problems. Moisture control sleepwear may thus be the simplest way for parents to help their child and themselves have a much more restful night.
Bamboo vs Cotton Sleep Sack Science
The geometry of the different fibers in sleep sacks is what dictates how moisture acts when it interacts with the sleepwear. For example, bamboo boasts long channels that run along the fibers. These channels act as capillaries, empowering sleep sack moisture wicking.
Drawing massive amounts of sweat along the fabric and allowing it to evaporate on the outside means it dries much faster under identical humidity.
Cotton, on the other hand, has a structure that causes its cellulose to swell when water remains inside it, making it feel more damp. Therefore, the physics behind this makes a much more comfortable experience with a bamboo fabric as this is much more breathable and offers an antibacterial action.
Bamboo fibers are even hollow. As such, the sleepwear is much lighter and easier on your child's growing joints without any drop in the material's strength.
Outside the bedroom, you can feel much better about your purchase by investing in a bamboo fabric. Bamboo needs far less irrigation than cotton, causing significant problems in many areas of the world by diverting up to 97% of the water for cotton cultivation, according to the WWF.
Other Parent Sleep Sack Findings
In addition to the green benefits of bamboo and the help it gives your child when they try to sleep, many parents have also reported other minor benefits.
Bamboo sacks, for example, do not need washing as often as cotton. Unless there is a secondary reason for cleaning, cotton usually develops a more pungent odor, leading to it needing two washes per week instead of only one with bamboo. The fewer loads then lead to much less agitation of the fabric, helping it remain strong even after significant use.
The natural antibacterial action of bamboo helps avoid this odor by stopping the strong smells you often find with a bacterial flare on cotton. So, expect smaller utility bills and less work to keep sleepwear clean.
Thin and Comfortable Layers
Here at The Sleep Theory, we take the science very seriously. While many parents might opt for extremely thick sleepwear or add other layers to comfort younger children, it is essential to note that this can be very dangerous.
The CDC even says that using many layers or other objects in crib can potentially boost the risk of suffocation in infants by up to sixteen times. So, trust in The Sleep Theory to create a sleepwear solution that offers the comfort your baby needs without creating excessive cushioning that only increases the risks.
Durability and Care Checklist
Our moisture control means nothing if the fabric in a sleep sack of bamboo fails early in its life. Nobody wants to find holes or other problems in their baby's sleepwear.
It's forgivable if you're not sure whether bamboo has the durability that you need, compared to a reliable cotton, but the truth is that you don't need to worry. So long as you perform basic care, your baby bamboo sleeping bag will last long enough for your child to outgrow it long before you need to worry about it.
While cotton can withstand even high-heat washes without suffering from any noticeable loss in strength, it's important to note that bamboo is much better at resisting pilling. Combined with The Sleep Theory's SmartKnit weaving technology, the sleep sack's tight bamboo loops significantly boost the fabric's durability.
As such, the interior of the sack will be almost silky-smooth for a much greater portion of its life. A child's sensitive skin will respond to your chosen fabric, but avoiding those little fuzz balls is also essential.
Finally, both fabrics benefit from you using gentle detergents to wash them. However, it's not necessarily the water you must worry about, but the sun. Bamboo is also much more robust at resisting exposure to UV rays, and you will tend to find that the colors last much longer than in cotton sleep sacks.
Final Verdict: Bamboo Wins the Moisture Battle
Combining fiber science and real trials leads to one clear winner in the fight between a bamboo and cotton sleep sack: Bamboo is the clear winner. While cotton has a strong legacy, and not everyone will accept the switch, bamboo offers a clear dryness and comfort value that is hard to ignore.
Here at The Sleep Theory, our Theta Pouch amplifies the strengths inherent in bamboo by focusing on developing our products using this fabric. So, if you are ready for your child to enjoy drier nights, check out what we offer to find something for your loved one today.
