Toddler Unzipping the Sleep Sack? 7 Genius Tactics To Try

Is your toddler unzipping the sleep sack? Use these tried and tested tactics to keep your toddler warm and cozy during sleep time.

A sleep sack is an amazing invention. It keeps your little one warm, cozy and snuggly all night. It recreates the feeling of being in the womb for a little one. For many kids it becomes a form of a lovey which they get attached to. Also, it doesnt require much skill (unlike swading) to get your child all cozily tucked into their sleep sack.

But then your child hits the toddler years.

And the sleepful, peaceful nights are replaced with uninterrupted sleep and cold awakenings.

Alas your toddler has learnt that the sleep sack he wears has a zip. And that zip can be pulled down! He’s also learnt to squirm his way out of the sleep sack and keeps waking up feeling cold.

This post is all about a toddler unzipping the sleep sack

Toddler Unzipping the Sleep Sack – Why?

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As with any baffling toddler behavior you are trying to tackle, it’s always best to first understand why that behavior is happening.

So why do toddlers unzip their sleep sacks? There could be several different reasons why this is happening.

1. Zippers are fun

Zips, buttons, laces and buckles – toddlers love playing and experimenting with these. It’s super exciting for a toddler to grab a zipper and pull it up and down, up and down.

2. Learning about cause and effect

Your toddler learns that as he pulls the zipper up, the sleeping sack becomes tighter around his body. And as he pulls the zipper down, the sleep sack opens up and he can squirm his way out. Again, this is really exciting stuff for a toddler!

3. Development of fine motor skills

Belive it or not, but the fact that your toddler can unzip his sleep sack is actually a sign of development of fine motor skills on his part.

Fine motor skill activities involve manual dexterity and often require coordinating movements of the hands and fingers with the eyes, which is known as hand-eye coordination
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He is able to grasp the zipper with his forefinger and pull it in the downward direction. That requires a certain amount of dexterity which your little one has acquired. He’s also developing hand eye coordination and increased focus levels while unzipping.

4. Exerting Control

Toddlers are all about exerting control. The fact that they can take a piece of clothing off themselves is a real achievement for them. And they want to relish in that victory, even if it means being naked and cold at night!

5. Practicing and mastering a new skill

Unzipping is a skill and now that they’ve experienced doing it once, they want to repeatedly practice that skill again and again.

“Repetition is your toddler’s way of reminding herself of what she knows. She enjoys the excitement of getting it right each time.” Baby Centre

6. Feeling too hot

A real reason for taking off the sleep sack could be that your little one is trying to tell you he feels too hot.

“Studies have shown that thick clothing, too many layers and high room temperatures increase the risk of SIDS. While it may seem counterintuitive, infants are at higher risk of SIDS during the winter months. That’s because parents worry their baby may get cold and they try to prevent that by overdressing them or cranking up the heat” says Dr. Harvey Karp over at the happiestbaby.com.

7. Getting a reaction from you

There are a lot of times when toddlers do things simply to get a reaction from you.

Perhaps you tend to exclaim in dismay or sigh in distress every time your toddler unzips the sleep sack. Try not to show your toddler that you are getting bugged with this behavior. Instead, opt for a neutral expression and calm voice.

8. Outgrown the sleep sack

It may very well be that your toddler has outgrown the sleep sack. She needs more room to wriggle about and is ready to transition out of the sleep sack.

Now that you’ve figured out WHY your toddler is unzipping the sleep sack, it’s time to implement strategies on HOW to deal with it.

Toddler Unzipping the Sleep Sack – 7 Brilliant Tactics To Try

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1. Turn It Inside Out

Turn the sleep sack inside out and then make your toddler wear it. This will ensure that the zipper is not visible to your little one.

2. Put the Sleep Sack on Backwards

Many mamas out there swear by this tactic! Simply put the sleep sack on your toddler backwards. That way the zipper is on their back, far away from little hands to grab at.

3. Turn it inside out and backwards

If you have a super wiggly toddler whose also super smart and is still managing to unzip the sleep sack, try using both tactic above together.

So turn the sleep sack inside out and then put it on your toddler backwards.

4. Use a safety pin

Got an extra active toddler? Put the sleep sack on backwards. Then use a kid safety pin to secure the zipper to the top of the sleep sack (around the place of the back of your child’s neck).

5. Give sensory objects with zips to play with

Let your toddler play with sensory toys that have zippers. That way, they can practice their zipping and unzipping skills on something other than their sleep sack.

This is a wildly popular sensory book for toddlers that lets kids fiddle around with buckles, buttons and zippers. Parents particularly love that this activity book teaches kids basic montessori skills and it’s perfect for taking along on car rides.

Bonus: playing with such objects also helps kids develop the fine motor skills that they will need to be able to zip up their own jackets, button up their clothes and tie their own shoe laces.

6. Check your child’s body temperature

If your child is continuously taking off the sleep sack, it could be that they’re feeling too hot. Check their body temperature when they’re sleeping to assess if this is the case.

Luckily, there’s an easy way to tell if your baby is too hot. Touch her ears and neck. If her ears are red and hot and her neck is sweaty, your baby is too warm. Dress her more lightly or cool the room.
happiestbaby.com

It could be that you need a sleep sack made of a lighter, more breathable material like this one. This will allow your child’s body temperature to self regulate.

Note: It’s also EQUALLY important to make sure that your child is sleeping on an organic crib mattress that is free of all toxins and harmful chemicals.

As alarming as it is to know, most mattresses for kids are full of chemicals like polyurethane foam and flame retardants. These have long term seriously harmful implications on a child’s health. So if you haven’t done so already, make the switch from a regular crib mattress to an organic one.

This Organic Breathable Baby Crib Mattress by Naturepedic has raving reviews from parents and has won the Good Housekeeping 2022 Parents Award. That’s because it’s one of the only mattresses out there that’s breathable, organic PLUS WATERPROOF (this will make your life so much easier when potty training!)

You can check out more Naturepedic products here and see for yourself why it’s a go to brand for every parent looking for safer sleep solutions.

7. Find Alternative Night Wear

Lastly, it’s time to assess if your child has outgrown the sleep sack. Perhaps they’ve grown in height and need more room to wriggle about. In that case you could get a bigger sized sleep sack to allow them more room for wriggling.

Also, most toddlers prefer their feet to be uncovered during sleep time so you could transition them to footless sleep sacks. You can always put some socks on them if it’s cold.

It may also be that your child is ready to transition out of the sleep sack. They may be old enough for regular pjs and a blanket. Read my post on how to make that trasition as smooth as possible: 5 Expert Hacks on How to Transition Your Toddler to a Blanket

Read this post if your toddler has started using the blanket and keeps kicking it off at night time.

Side note: are you struggling with bedtime stalling? Does your toddler find a 101 excuses to not do their pre bedtime tasks like finish dinner, brush their teeth and wear pjs?

Bedtime Routine Charts are going to be your absolute best friend. Your child will be able to visually see everything they need to get done and in what order. Without you yelling, nagging or even reminding!

Check out the Toddler Bedtime Routine Charts for boys and girls!

FAQs About Toddler Unzipping the Sleep Sack

How do I keep my toddler from unzipping the sleep sack?

The best way to keep a toddler from unzipping the sleep sack is to put it on backwards. Another tactic is to turn the sleep sack inside out and then put it on your child. If you have an extra squirmy toddler, try both tactics together.

When should a toddler stop using a sleep sack?

A sleep sack is meant to be snug but not constricting. So a toddler should stop using a sleep sack once it becomes too small in terms of length and also room to wriggle about. Your toddler may be ready to transition to regular pjs and a blanket.

How do I keep my toddler warm at night?

Layering is a great way to ensure that your toddler stays warm at night. You can start with a layer of cotton pjs and put a sleep sack on top. You can also opt for fleece pajamas and a pair of socks. Many toddlers are also old enough to sleep with a blanket.