Why Wool Helps Baby Sleep

Wool Helps Babies Sleep

Wool! Does it make you think of bulky, itchy jumpers that your mother made you wear when you were a child? Well, things have come a long way since then. The wool manufactured today is beautifully soft and versatile, easy to wear, easy to care for.  It’s a fact, wool helps babies sleep!

Wool breathes with you when you need it to.

Did you know that babies fall asleep quicker in wool?  Let’s discuss why wool helps baby sleep…

Wool is magic stuff – often referred to as ‘the miracle fibre’. We want to help demystify the preconceptions of wool and educate you on the benefits for your baby’s sleep.

What is Merino Wool?

Merino wool comes from the Merino sheep and is known for its exceptional properties. Merino wool is finer and more sensitive than other wools and therefore is highly sought after. Wool has a rich heritage but these days it is at the cutting edge of fashion and modern life. Modern technological advances have produced a strong yet fine yarn that can then be used in many of today’s fashions and bedding. We use Australian wool as a padding in our 1.5TOG and 2.5TOG baby sleeping bags.

The best attribute of Merino wool is the exceptionally fine fibres which are able to bend more easily than other thicker fibres. This produces an exceptionally soft garment. In addition, wool a higher elasticity which helps it to maintain its shape, especially after washing.

What’s all the fuss about wool?

Wool has many sought after characteristics that make it a stand out when compared to other textiles. Wool is:

– Natural
– Breathable
– Temperature Regulation
– Moisture Wicking
– Hypo-Allergenic/Antibacterial
– Renewable
– Safe

Breathability & Temperature Regulation

Wool is amazingly breathable and a natural insulator providing excellent temperature regulation. The fibres of wool have a crimp and scale pattern allowing air to circulate freely, this helps naturally regulate body temperature keeping your little one at the optimum temperature throughout the night. Our wool padded Platinum Baby Sleeping Bag will continue to work in this way despite changing seasons, warm in winter and cool in summer. Part of wool’s breathability comes from its power to draw moisture away from the skin and release it through evaporation. This moisture-wicking property is key to a good night’s sleep.

A study published in the Journal of Textile Science and Technology found that wool bedding significantly reduced thermal discomfort in babies compared to synthetic bedding materials. The study concluded that wool bedding is an effective way to regulate infants’ temperature and improve their sleep quality.

Moisture Wicking

Another benefit of wool bedding for babies is its moisture-wicking properties. Wool can absorb up to 30% of its weight in moisture without feeling wet or clammy, which helps keep babies dry and comfortable all night long.

Hypo-Allergenic/Antibacterial

Wool is naturally hypoallergenic and antibacterial. Wool also has natural antibacterial properties that can help prevent the growth of bacteria and other harmful microorganisms, reducing the risk of skin irritation and infection.  It is also mould, mildew and odour resistant and has a natural resistance to dust mites making it asthma and allergy friendly.

The wool of the Australian merino is the most anti-allergenic in the world. It is formed of keratin, a protein similar to human hair so it is extremely difficult to be allergic to it. No wonder it’s considered a ‘miracle fibre’ – it can do everything!

Image courtesy of Woolmark

Renewable

As a natural fibre, wool is able to regrow and renew itself. The growth of wool requires a simple blend of water, air, sunshine and grass – not fossils fuels like those used in the production of synthetic fabrics. Wool is eco-friendly and self replenishing after shearing once a year. Wool is actually made of keratin so it will break down after use, making it completely biodegradable – much like human hair. Australian wool is grown year-round. Wool is a renewable fibre source that is biodegradable once disposed of at the end of its lifespan. The wool will decompose giving nutrients back to the soil. Merino wool is also extremely beneficial to the Australian economy with around 80% of Merino wool grown right here Down Under.

Safety

There are a number of reasons why wool is a safe choice for your baby. Thanks to mother nature, wool is naturally fire retardant. It has a much higher flame retardancy than other fabrics due to the lanolin content. No harmful chemicals are required to be added to reduce fire risk.  In fact we subject our products to rigorous voluntary testing to ensure there are no harmful substances.  Both our 1.5TOG and 2.5TOG have a Low Fire Danger rating in accordance with Australian Standard AS 1249:2003. According to the International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO), the structure of the wool fibres means that “wool requires more oxygen than is available in the air to become flammable. Wool is an excellent fibre when it comes to fire safety. Furthermore, it does not melt, drip or stick to the skin when it burns”.

Wool helps baby sleep

Wool is a superstar at regulating body temperature. This means that both babies and adults can sleep better in wool. If baby sleeps better, then the parents can sleep better too!

The IWTO states the following benefits of sleeping in wool:

-Wool is a natural insulator helping body temperatures to stay at a comfortable level at night irrespective of summer or winter time.
-Wool’s moisture management properties absorb moisture away from the body and release it as vapour into the air without any wet feeling.
-Dust mites thrive in hot humid conditions, which wool does not provide, making wool bedding ideal for allergy and asthma sufferers.
-Sleeping in wool is also safer due to wool’s fire retardant properties.

Bubbaroo Wool

Our latest Platinum range 2.5TOG and 1.5TOG Joey Swag Sleeping Bags are padded with Australian wool. The exterior and lining is made from organic 500 thread-count cotton sateen.
All of these natural materials help baby to regulate their temperature and promote better sleep. Wool is a natural insulator – the “crimp” of the wool enables air to become trapped in the fibers and therefore serves to keep warmth in during winter and out in the summer. Wool’s unique advantage is its breathability, it has the ability to absorb and release moisture from the surrounding air, without compromising its thermal efficiency.

We recommend that you always dress your baby in natural fabrics underneath our Bubbaroo sleeping bags to help reduce the chance of overheating. Choose natural cotton onesies or pyjamas not polyester.

The incidence of wool allergies is extremely low. In addition, our sleeping bags are lined with organic cotton, the wool is not in direct contact with baby’s skin to cause irritation. Our Platinum Joey Swags (1.5TOG & 2.5TOG) have been subjected to Woolmark testing and therefore carry the Woolmark logo so you know that they are a quality product.

Easy Care Wool

In the past, consumers were reluctant to purchase wool because it was difficult to wash and dry. These days modern wool processing methods make it far easier to wash. Our Platinum Joey Swag Baby Sleeping Bags can be machine washed. Dry them by simply placing on a coat hanger and allowing them to dry, quickly and naturally. My philosophy has always been to create products that stand the test of time.  That’s why all of our Joey Swag Baby Sleeping Bags will retain their shape and condition over many years and will be passed on for many more babies to come.

Studies Show That Wool Helps Sleep Patterns – wool helps baby sleep

A study by Woolmark has found that in cold conditions (17 degrees Celsius) a combination of wool sleepwear and bedding resulted in participants falling asleep more quickly and having a more efficient sleep compared to when tested using petroleum based products such as polyester sleepwear and bedding. The Woolmark Company Group Manager for Market Intelligence and Reporting Dr Paul Swan says “Lack of sleep negatively impacts on many areas of human function such as mental and physical performance, growth and repair as well as metabolic functions, and the ability to fall asleep and stay asleep is crucial to acquiring a healthy quantity and quality of sleep. We are now developing a very solid body of contemporary evidence which supports claims that wool bedding is beneficial to a good night’s sleep, which is in turn central to a person’s health and well-being.”

Why wouldn’t you choose wool to help your baby sleep?

If you want baby to sleep in the safest sleep environment, try our Platinum Joey Swags this winter. Our Bubbaroo Platinum Range Joey Swag Baby Sleeping Bags contain the best of nature – organic cotton and premium Australian wool. Why would you choose anything else to send baby off to gentle slumber?

Wool helps baby sleep – Bubbaroo Reviews

You don’t need to take our word for it – below are some recent unsolicited testimonials we have received from our customers.