You’re not alone - one of the most frequently asked questions from parents and babywear retailers is, “Why use a baby sleeping bag?” And the next question is, “What’s the difference between a baby sleeping bag, a baby sleep sack and a wearable blanket?” We’ll share with you some questions we receive and give you a crash course on sleeping bags to help you decide the best and safest way to give your little one a good night’s sleep.
Before using a baby sleeping bag, many midwives suggest swaddling a newborn so that baby feels snug like in the womb, to help baby relax and sleep better. Keeping baby contained, can make baby feel safe and settled. This was the impetus for the design of our Newborn Swaddle Bag (see photo above) which was created to simplify swaddling a newborn in the traditional way. Baby is wrapped using the wings fastened into a bag, which is zipped up to keep baby cosy and secure. Our Newborn Swaddle Bag was put to the test in a maternity hospital, and parents reported their newborn slept better.
A baby sleeping bag is generally used during the later stage of a newborn’s development, usually around three months of age, but it is really up to the parent or carer when to transition baby to a sleeping bag. There are many types of baby sleeping bags to choose from, in size, shape, colour and fabric type. Sleeping bags are looser than swaddling a baby, allowing for movement. When baby is able to roll, which is usually at around 6 months of age, baby needs to use their arms to push themselves up if they roll onto their tummy. The risks of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) reduces for babies in sleeping bags. Our Baby Sleeping Bags come with poppers in the armholes to allow easy transitioning from being swaddled when the poppers are closed, to having their arms out when the poppers are opened (see photo below).
In America, baby sleeping bags are called baby sleep sacks and wearable blankets. The Americans describe these products as blankets that baby can wear that is a safer alternative than a blanket. Essentially, they are sleeping bags with zippers, for baby to sleep in, and are what we call a baby sleeping bag. In Australia we are adopting more and more American words in our usual speech, such as cookie (and not biscuit) and you will see the terms baby sleep sack and wearable blanket being use more and more.
In Australia, Red Nose describes a safe sleeping bag as a sleeping bag that is constructed in such a way that baby cannot slip inside the bag and become completely covered. The sleeping bag must be the correct size for baby with a fitted neck, armholes (or sleeves) and no hood. Our sleeping bags have armholes and either a zipper up the front or around the side seam and come in two sizes. (See below for baby sleeping in our toddler sleeping bag.) It is always incumbent on the carer to ensure a baby sleeping bag fits their baby and that baby is sleeping in a safe sleep environment.
Red Nose remind parents and carers that when using a sleeping bag, ensure baby is dressed according to room temperature, and not necessarily the temperature outdoors. We use merino wool for our baby sleeping bags, a natural fibre known for its thermoregulating ability, that is, its ability to help keep baby warmer in nurseries with colder temperatures, and cooler in warmer temperatures.
When selling children's nightwear in Australia, we have Australian Standards which require baby sleeping bags to be tested for their fire safety. This is a mandatory test and the standards require the garment to meet a list of requirements to ensure fire safety and they are rated accordingly. Our baby sleeping bags and toddler sleeping bags have been tested at a laboratory in Melbourne and have the lowest fire rating, mainly due to merino wool being naturally fire resistant.
Sleeping bags come in different fabrics and different weights and Thermal Overall Grade (TOG) ratings to help baby maintain their body temperature in view of the nursery temperature. The advantage of a merino wool baby sleeping bag is that merino wool is the miracle fibre making it perfect to use for baby sleeping bags. The challenge all merino wool brands face is explaining that TOG is not a true measure of a baby sleeping bag's ability to keep baby warm and comfortable. TOG is a measure of how well a fabric insulates, whereas merino wool is also thermoregulating making it more superior and more comfortable for a baby to sleep in
Always consider the nursery temperature where you baby sleeps, and not the outside weather. Many of our customers live in Darwin and Far North Queensland, and baby sleeps in an air conditioned nursery. You can layer your baby’s sleep clothing to ensure the right temperature for your baby. We recommend using sleepwear made from nature fibres, as they breathe better reducing the risk of your baby feeling clammy and uncomfortable. We have a layering guide for parents and carers to refer to when dressing their baby for sleep.
Research has shown the benefits of using a safe baby sleeping bag are that:
Many parents have several baby sleeping bags for varying nursery temperatures and seasons, especially those that don’t use central heating or air conditioning in their homes. Parents say that sleeping bags are a great choice because they keep baby warm and cosy whilst in the safety of their sleep sack and they are an excellent alternative or addition to using blankets.
The answer is, yes. Red Nose say, “If additional warmth is needed, use a single lightweight blanket over the sleeping bag, ensuring baby’s feet are at the end of the cot and the blanket can only reach as far as baby’s chest and is tucked in firmly so it cannot ride up and cover baby’s head during sleep.” Our merino baby blankets are lightweight and measure 110cm x 120cm, making them suitable to use in most cribs and bassinets.
After your baby has outgrown our Newborn Swaddle Bag, you will want to consider how to transition your baby to a sleeping bag. Our baby sleeping bags are designed to easily transition baby from swaddling to a sleeping bag because the design of the armholes includes press studs so you can swaddle baby and then open the armholes as baby becomes more mobile and thread baby's arms through the armholes. Some parents skip straight to our toddler bags, because they also have just one popper in the armhole to reduce the size of the armholes. Although our toddler bags are sized for 6-24 month olds, we know of parents who sleep their 3 month old babies in them.
Our Merino baby sleeping bags come with two way zippers for easy nappy changes during the night when you don’t want to wake baby up. Our toddler sleeping bags have a zipper than opens at the bottom, to make nappy changing easier during the night.
Your nursery temperature, and the season will always be part of your decision. Lighter weight sleeping bags with a lower TOG are best for the warmer temperatures. Our classic pastel collection are 0.4 TOG and we have our double layer sleepy animal prints for the cooler temperatures. Combined with a lightweight merino wool blanket, this combination can work all year round.
We have designed sleeping bags in various colours and prints, made from pure merino wool. Our double layer bags are made with a layer of organic cotton on the outside with a cute print of a sleepy animal.
Research recommends using a baby sleeping bag because it reduces the risk of SIDS, and Red Nose recommend the bag have a fitted neck and armholes.
Picking the right option for you and your baby is easy at Merineo. We have dropdowns at the top of our website, separating our sleep products into categories to make your choice easier. You can select the right sleeping bag according to size, temperature or style. You can be assured of quality given our sleeping bags are all certified as Made in Australia. If you have any further questions, please use our chat box, which links directly to our founder Claire's mobile phone so you can receive a response as soon as possible.
]]>Our Merino Toddler Sleeping Bag has been recognised as the top product in the baby sleeping bag category in the Clean and Conscious Awards 2022, and the feedback provided by the judges helps us better understand what matters most to you when you choose a sleeping bag for your baby.
Clean + Conscious Awards Celebrate Best Products on the Market
The awards are independent and celebrate the very best clean and conscious products available to buy in Australia. The way the process unfolded for us, was that earlier this year we sent sample toddler sleeping bags to a team of judges who inspected our products and tried them on their toddlers. We answered a series of questions about the source of our fabrics, where and how our products are ethically made, and we described in detail how we embrace sustainability and how we act in a socially responsible way. So all in all, a huge amount of work to submit our beautiful toddler bags into the mix, and by the Clean + Conscious Team to assess each product.
“We are so excited our Merino Toddler Sleeping Bag has been awarded GOLD! Made from a double lawyer of natural fibres, these bags are designed for baby to sleep in throughout all seasons or nursery temperatures,” says our founder Claire, who designed the bag which was launched in 2021.
The inner lining is a layer of 100% soft, superfine merino fabric, known for its ability to help keep baby warmer in winter and cooler in summer, and the outer layer is organic cotton.
What did the Judges say?
To demonstrate the independence of the Awards, the judges have published their comments about our Merino Toddler Sleeping Bags on the Clean + Conscious website which we want to share with you here.
“Made from the softest, ethically sourced natural fabrics, this beautiful sleeping bag is cosy enough for winter and cool enough for the transition seasons. Due to its breathable natural fibres, you can be sure that your little one will be comfortable in a range of temperatures, which makes bedtime so much easier!” says Emily Fletcher founder and judge of the Clean + Conscious Awards.
Watch our short video with a summary of the judges' feedback.
Sleepy Animal print
Our signature sleepy animals are printed onto the toddler bag's outer layer. A local illustrator drew a sheep and 3 Australian animals: a kangaroo, platypus and koala, for us. Our brief was along the lines of animals needing to be sleepy.... to encourage babies go to go sleep, right?! After several iterations, our sleepy animals were born, and later printed on the unbleached organic cotton.
The sleepy animals have been popular, with one of the judges Samantha Gilmore, making this comment -
“This sleeping bag is by far my favourite design! I really LOVE the animal design! It is super comfortable and the softest sleeping bag I have felt! It also has a nice stretch to it.”
Reducing Nasties
We strive to avoid the use of chemicals in our textile supply chain, which is why we choose unbleached organic cotton. Often when you touch and smell a cotton product, the use of chemicals is quite apparent, as the fabrics feel starchy and have an odour. The organic cotton we use feels lovely and soft.
To further reduce the use of chemicals, we use a local screen printer to print our animals onto the fabric using non-toxic water based dyes. The result is a soft and luxurious outer layer of fabric for our toddler bags, complementing the premium superfine merino wool inner lining.
Easy Wash and Dry
Having had a child who used only one sleeping bag, we wanted a product that could be washed and would dry quickly for continued use. In having a side seam zipper plus press studs on the shoulders, it means the bag can be opened flat, allowing it to dry quicker.
Another reason for having press studs on the shoulders is to make it easier to put baby into and zip up.
“I love how the bag opens up completely flat, making it so much easier to put my baby in. I also love the extra snaps on the arm holes to make them smaller & the zip at the bottom for easy nappy changes,” says Claire Karlson who judged the bag.
Sized to Grow with your Baby
In order to gain maximum longevity of use by a child, we designed the toddler bag with a press stud in each armhole. When toddler is little, the press stud is closed to reduce the size of the armhole, and as baby grows, the press stud is opened to increase the armhole size. This means baby can use the product from the age of 6 months up to 2 years, something recognised by the judges as a good investment.
“Having a sleeping bag that can grow with your child is a huge plus as you can invest more in one quality product. I also love that there is room to grow over time so it’s not limited to one year of use,” says Samantha Gilmore.
“I love how the bags can be used for many years and aren’t seasonal or restricted to one size,” says Claire Karlson.
We're pleased our customers are recognising the value of a trans-seasonal sleeping bag, that can be used by baby from 6 months to 2 years of age, and still have more life to give to other babies to use.
Something to Help you Remove Marks from Wool
Our double layer toddler bags are machine washable, but as everyone knows, it’s normal for baby’s nappy to leak. To alleviate any worries about these leaks turning into permanent stains, we’ve developed a Wool Care Guide with the help of Woolmark for carers to refer to to remove baby excrement and the like.
Made locally. Made in Australia
We are proud to have our baby sleeping bags made locally in Australia and have been assessed by the Made in Australia Campaign and approved to carry the kangaroo logo.
“I love that they are supporting Aussie farmers and buying 100% Aussie Merino wool/supporting local, which is vitally important,” says Samantha Gilmore.
“I love that it is made in Melbourne and that the founder is a wool farmer in Victoria who provides the wool direct to the mill where the fabric is purchased from,” says Emily Fletcher.
We say "No" to Fast Fashion
When we create our products, we use the very best fibres and fabrics to make a premium product that will hopefully be used by baby’s siblings and friends. It’s wonderful to have one of the judges acknowledge our mission not to create fast fashion collections -
“I am all about ‘slow’ fashion and getting the most use out of everything before passing it on to siblings or friends so this product is perfect for me,” says Claire Karlson.
Thank you
A huge thank you to the Clean + Conscious team for hosting these awards to celebrate the very best products available to buy in Australia. We are grateful for her thorough your process are, and the transparency of the judging. We can now proudly say that our Merino Toddler Sleeping Bags really are tried and tested as the best as the best available in the Australian marketplace!
]]>In this article, we’ll help you remove the 7 most common baby stains with remedies provided to us by Woolmark, and give you a free Wool Care Guide. Please note every fabric is different so please treat this as a guide only.
General Care Instructions
Before cleaning any garment, always check the care instructions. Our Merineo garments are all machine washable on a gentle wool wash using a wool detergent, but if you’re using products made by other brands, check the care instructions.
Always remember not to soak or wring dry merino wool clothing. Otherwise, the colours may run or the fabric may deteriorate under the stress of wringing.
When stains occur, deal with them immediately. So, pop these items on your shopping list if you don’t already have them in your pantry or laundry –
Cleaning Products Shopping List
Now, let's start with the most baby common stains and how to clean them. The first step with all stains, is not to panic!
Milk Vomit
Babies love burping after a big drink of milk, and sometimes baby might have a tiny milk vomit. Firstly remove the vomit with a damp sponge, and then gently dab the area using undiluted white vinegar followed by cold water.
Baby Urine
Yep, wee-wee is the next most common stain because nappies often leak onto baby’s clothing and their swaddle bag or sleeping bag. Dab the urine gently with clean warm water, and then wash in the washing machine using a gentle wool detergent.
Baby Poo
Excrement escaping baby’s nappy is a normal occurrence. Scrape the poo off the wool clothing with a spoon or knife. Then, in a large container, mix:
Dip the corner of a cloth into the mixture, and gently dab the affected area until it’s clean.
Milk from Baby’s Bottle
Sometimes accidents happen and baby’s milk bottle leaks onto their clothing. Removing pure milk is a little different to removing milk vomit. The first step is to use a lint free cloth soaked in white spirit and dab the affected area gently. Then repeat with a cloth soaked in white vinegar diluted in water.
Black Coffee Drips
You won’t be the first person to drip your coffee on baby’s clothing. In a cup, mix:
Then, with a lint free cloth, dip the corner of it into the mixture, and gently dab the stained area. Then gently press the area with an absorbent cloth to remove the coffee marks.
Tea & White Coffee Drips
If you’re not drinking black coffee, you might be drinking tea or white coffee and accidently drip a couple of droplets onto baby’s wool clothing. Firstly, dab the area with a cloth soaked in white spirit. Then follow the above instructions for black coffee drips.
Pen Marks
Parents often have to multi-task, which might mean writing out your baby gift thank you cards whilst cradling baby to sleep. Pen marks just happen. Firstly, soak a lint free cloth in white spirit, then dab the stain. Then soak a second cloth or an opposite corner of the cloth in white vinegar, and dab the area until the stain is removed.
Long Lasting & Stain Free
Treating your baby’s merino wool garments to remove stains is easy if you have the right cleaning ingredients handy. Wool clothing and sleepwear make wonderful keepsakes for you to one day show your child how little they once were, or who gifted their wool product to them, so keeping the garment clean is important.
Download our free Wool Care Guide we developed in collaboration with Woolmark, containing guidance to remove not just baby stains, but red wine and greasy food stains from your favourite woolly garment.
]]>Our Newborn Baby Swaddle Bag won the Gold Award and the Editor's Choice Award in the Baby Sleep Category. We are so humbled to receive these awards amongst hundreds of nominees, and we are delighted to share the judges' feedback with you in this journal article. (We are writing a separate article about the third award relating to our Merino Toddler Bag.)
The Clean + Conscious Awards celebrate exceptional products that work in perfect harmony with our bodies, our environment, and our society. Now running in their third year, the Awards celebrate safe, non-toxic, ethical, sustainable, and socially responsible products.
All finalist products were scientifically researched and scrutinised by Awards Founder and Head of Research and Education, Emily Fletcher, and each product was hands-on reviewed by a panel of 45 industry experts made up of eco-leaders, editors, changemakers and ethical fashion advocates, including Sarah Berry of the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, environmentalist Kathryn Nelson, and writer and stylist Amy Starr.
What did the panel say about our Newborn Swaddle Bag?
Amongst those assessing our Merineo newborn swaddle bag were Samantha Gilmore, blogger and mother of 3 in New South Wales, Shannon Rafaelli, blogger and mother based in West Australia, and Emily Fletcher, founder of the Clean + Conscious Awards.
We designed our flagship product 5 years ago with input from experienced hospital midwives and the newborn swaddle bag was later successfully hospital trialed. The product is unique with wings inside the bag to swaddle the newborn baby, keeping her snug like in the womb to help her sleep better. We sent samples of our newborn swaddle bag to panel members for their newborns to sleep in. Their feedback was humbling.
Soft merino fabric
What the panel had to say about our soft merino fabric was overwhelming, making us feel positive about our vision to deliver a product made from the best quality merino wool, with the hope consumers become repeat purchasers of merino wool clothing.
“This is by far the softest sleep swaddle I have ever had in my life! It feels so, so soft! This would be my top pick in swaddles! Super soft, nice stretch to it.” – Samantha Gilmore
“The fabric is buttery soft and stretchy over my larger-than-life newborn.” - Shannon Rafaelli
"Made from the softest merino I’ve ever felt." – Emily Fletcher, founder of the Awards
The feedback about the quality of the merino wool fabrics we use has encouraged us to continue sourcing pure superfine merino wool hand selected from the best parts of the fleece. It has kept us focussed on merino wool, rather than being enticed into cutting costs by using inferior fabrics. Thank you judges for your feedback!
Swaddle bag design quick to learn
The judges commended us on the easy to use swaddle design and fit –
“The mechanism of the swaddle itself was quick to learn and secured my wriggly newborn down tightly. I love that the fabric is comprised of natural and ethically grown fibres, which meant that our newborn would not be irritated or overheat.” – Shannon Rafaelli
“I love the colour and it fits the little babe perfectly.” – Samantha Gilmore
“As a new mother, we have so much to learn and worry about! This incredible swaddle bag takes away a lot of the stress I know I experienced in those early days. Gently and easily keeping little hands tucked in and also providing a beautifully thermoregulated sleep environment, bub will be comfortable and safe, even with fluctuations in temperature. Even if you have a little Houdini, this will keep arms tucked close. – Emily Fletcher
It's pleasing to receive this feedback about the fit and functionality of our flagship product.
Supporting local Australian farmers and suppliers
Being an Australian made product, did not go unnoticed by the panel.
“I love that [Merineo] are supporting Aussie farmers and buying 100% Aussie merino wool and supporting local as it is so important to support Aussie made where we can." - Samantha Gilmore
"I also value their support for local Australian farmers and businesses." - Shannon Rafaelli
"I love that this bag is made in Australia" - Emily Fletcher
It was great to be recognised for our efforts in using local suppliers, as often it is difficult when our competitors are at a cost advantage in sourcing from overseas. All our products are made locally and we are officially licensed to use the Made in Australia logo on each product.
Minimal packaging
As a way of keeping the Recommended Retail Price of each product as low as possible, we use as least packaging as possible, whilst keeping in mind we sell premium products, so some packing is required both to protect the product and to give a positive customer experience when the package arrives in the hands of the recipient. The panel had this to say about our packaging -
"Minimal packaging when it arrived." - Samantha Gilmore
In using minimal packaging, we are also reducing our carbon footprint.
Thank you
A huge thank you to the panel members for their valuable and encouraging feedback. We are absolutely thrilled to have won not only the Gold Award but also the Editor's Choice award for our flagship product, the newborn swaddle bag, also known as "the Merineo".
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Liz's tips will help you better understand a newborn's challenges when entering the world, and what might help baby and the whole family sleep better during those first few days and weeks of your newborn's life.
]]>Sleep is the perennial issue
According to Liz, sleep is the perennial issue for new parents. Newborn sleeping patterns vary dramatically but rarely do new families find that they have hit the sweet spot in terms of everyone getting enough sleep. It is great to think and prepare for the ways you can help your loved one to maximise quality (and quantity) of sleep as this helps with the wellbeing of the whole family.
Starting simply, newborns in the first two weeks of life are adjusting to life outside the uterus. Often the second night after birth is a time where everyone is tearing their hair out wishing for an hour or two in bed. Newborns are subject to many changes and challenges during this period – for the first time they are breathing, eating, sleeping alone and being expected to be happy alone in a bed. The key to this early period is a low level of expectation as to how much sleep you can expect and to try to get short bursts of sleep rather than expecting longer sleep cycles. Preparation to maximise comfort is a great strategy.
Wool is beneficial for sleep
Before baby is born, Liz suggests considering baby’s comfort in sleeping by using natural fibres. Merino wool in particular is breathable and enables your newborn to more easily thermoregulate. The small pockets of air that sit within the wool fibres assist to cool or warm baby depending on the climate. This has been found to be beneficial in terms of sleep.
It has been clearly demonstrated that wool provides a really beneficial sleep strategy. The options are that baby can be in a wool sleeping bag, sleeping on wool or a range of other strategies. Read more at Why is Merino Wool Good for my Baby? Families often resist using wool as they are concerned about the impact on baby’s skin but merino wool, with its specific and unique fibre make up, has the added benefit of reducing eczema and skin irritation, also adding to the amazing ability for baby to have a sound and restful sleep. Merino wool also absorbs moisture which allows baby to be less clammy aiding with comfort during the sleep period.
Establishing a circadian rhythm
Of course, the environment alone is not going to be sufficient to resolve sleep related issues. Families can expect that baby will have a period of transition over a period of weeks and months to a circadian rhythm that supports better sleep at night and more awake periods during the day. Breastfeeding also supports this with substances in breastmilk promoting night sleep. For the first weeks and months night feeding is necessary – baby has a small stomach that does not hold a large amount of milk, and the hormones that make breastfeeding successful also are produced most fulsomely at night. However once baby has fed, it is so important to get everyone in the household back to sleep. This, says Liz, is where using a merino based sleeping bag or sheets can assist.
Using natural fibres, particularly merino wool, is such a beneficial way to assist baby and mum into sleeping patterns. In Australia we are lucky to have sustainable natural products to use and we should make the most of this as part of getting ready for baby.
My Midwives
Liz and her team would be happy to hear from you if you need further help and support during those first few days of your new baby’s life. Liz’s team are based in Toowoomba, Brisbane, Melbourne, Shepparton and Echuca.
Thank you to Liz for taking the time out of her busy schedule to write this article. Together with our followers and subscribers, we are grateful to you for sharing your newborn sleep tips and for suggesting parents consider a merino baby sleeping bag!
]]>Did you know up to 1 in 3 infants are diagnosed with eczema?
Recent studies have shown 17.5 micron merino wool helps reduce the symptoms of child eczema.
We're excited to announce the Eczema Association of Australasia has published a child product review of our 17.5 micron 'cool mesh' child clothing!
Eliza, who is 2 1/2 years old, has suffered eczema since she was a newborn. She trialed our clothing and her mother reported how nice the pale grey lilac clothing looked, how soft it felt and that Eliza didn't scratch herself whilst wearing our clothing. She also noted it was lightweight and perfect for (hot and humid) Brisbane weather.
We receive lots of feedback about how soft and luxurious our Australian grown merino wool products feel. Our clothing range is made from a fine mesh fabric knitted in Italy. You too will love how soft our clothing, swaddle bags and baby sleeping bags feel!
A huge thank you to Eliza, her mother and the Eczema Association of Australasia.
Read the article:
]]>Why do babies and children get hotter than adults?
Babies and children can feel clammy, and become irritable through lack of sleep during the hotter temperatures in summer. Not able to sweat as much as adults, their ability to cool down is reduced. When exercising, they generate more heat than adults, which is why children often look hot and flushed even during light exercise.
Being vigilant
Parents and carers show extra vigilance over summer, keeping a close eye on their baby's and young children's water intake and clothing. A baby's body temperature is normal at 36.5 degrees to 38 degrees Celsius.
In considering baby's temperature, also take into account the room temperature, baby's general health, any breeze, the fibre composition of the clothing baby is dressed in and if it’s a loose or tight fit, what baby is lying in, on or under, and whether baby is relaxed or agitated.
A quick method of checking baby's temperature often used by parents and carers is to place your hand around the back of baby’s neck to feel whether baby is clammy, which is an indicator that baby might be too warm, and to remove a layer of clothing.
Sleeping on wool to keep cool
Many parents like using a plastic mattress cover to protect the cot or crib mattress from nappy leaks, but the plastic cover causes baby to feel clammy and uncomfortable, because moisture vapour cannot escape, and builds up next to baby's skin.
To address this problem, using a machine washable wool underlay and a fitted cotton sheet over the top of the mattress protector creates a breathable layer for baby to lie on. This breathable layer helps move moisture away from baby’s skin, resulting in baby feeling less clammy, more comfortable, and more likely to sleep better. Even better, some underlays absorb leakages, doing away with the need for a plastic mattress protector.
Dressing baby in lightweight wool clothing
Choosing cool clothing in summer is important and textile innovation now means the availability of lightweight, breathable and soft wools. Merino wool activewear fabric is particularly breathable, soft and lightweight, and scientific research supports using this fabric when exercising to keep cool, making merino activewear fabrics perfect for using also in baby clothing.
Our "cool mesh" fabric (right) ticks these boxes, made from 100% merino wool, soft to touch, in a breathable beehive knit.
Wool is cooler to touch than synthetic wear
Research shows that in warm environments, wool fabric is up to twice as cool to touch compared to synthetic fabrics like polyester. Wool has a unique ability to conduct heat away from the skin, making merino wool a preferable option to use to keep your baby cooler in summer. At Merineo we don't use synthetic fibres in our merino wool baby sleeping bags and kids clothing. We're all wool!
Moisture wicking
The reason wool is cool to wear in warmer temperatures is its ability to move moisture vapour away from the skin, forcing it to evaporate into the air. Wool fabrics can move 25% more moisture away from the skin compared to polyester fabrics, equivalent to a temperature drop of up to four degrees Celsius.
This feature is commonly described as “moisture wicking”, and in moving the clamminess away from baby’s skin, it helps keep baby comfortable, safe and happy, particularly during the hot weather.
The top 4 things to remember when choosing the right wool to keep baby cool
So, now you understand why Merino wool is able to keep your baby cool in summer, but the tricky part is knowing which Merino wool products to buy. It's easy if you follow these 4 tips!
In following these tips, choosing cool wool for your child to wear or sleep in, on or under during summer will be easier. If buying online, you can always contact the seller and ask these questions.
Merino wool is cool!
Keeping baby cool in summer is easier with lightweight Merino wool clothing and a wool underlay for baby to sleep on. Merino is a natural, breathable fibre, and with its moisture wicking ability, it's perfect for summer clothing and bedding for your child. To learn more, watch this short video by Woolmark: Merino - The Baby Wool
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Open fires and bar heaters
The fire testing and labelling standard originated in Australia in 1969, and thankfully reduced the number of hospital admissions of children suffering burns. Prior to then, parents were less aware of the risk of children huddling up close to an open fire in their nightwear to keep warm, or playing in the kitchen too close to a hot oven, or warming themselves next to an electric bar heater and getting too close. As synthetic textiles increased in usage, parents were also unaware of the risk of these fabrics melting at lower temperatures and causing skin burns.
Consumer Goods (Children's Nightwear and Limited Daywear and Paper Patterns for Children's Nightwear) Safety Standard 2017
The Safety Standard adopts the Australian Standard “AS/NZS 1249:2014 Children’s nightwear and limited daywear having reduced fire hazard”, a 64 page standard developed jointly with New Zealand, and is overseen by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. It sets out which sleepwear and limited daywear fall within the standard, the technical details for testing, and the labelling requirements.
The standard is mandatory, meaning if you manufacture and sell children’s sleepwear and limited daywear in Australia, then you must have the garment fire tested, and the garment just be labelled with the relevant fire risk. There are some fabrics and sleepwear designs prohibited from being sold because of the high risk of flammability.
Nightwear and baby sleeping bags
Baby sleeping bags with sleeves or arm openings, pyjamas, bath robes, boxer shorts and nighties, up to size 14, sold in Australia, must be tested and have a fire warning label attached. There are two labels, as shown below. The red label means the garment is more hazardous than a garment with the white label. It can ignite or melt at a lower temperature, posing a greater risk to the child. Merineo’s garments have the white label affixed, because of our use of 100% merino wool, which is less flammable as shown by the testing conducted by the AWTA.
Laboratory testing
In the laboratory, the technicians have a mini-clothesline type structure set up over a Bunsen burner in a glass cage (there is probably a scientific description for what I am trying to describe!). The temperature at which the fabric melts or ignites is measured, together with how long it takes for the garment to burn and how wide the flame spreads. If you follow us on social @Merineobaby we will be posting these videos over the coming weeks.
Wool never melts
As you can see below from this list of common sleepwear fibres and their ignition and melting temperatures, wool ignites at a temperature between 576 - 600 degrees Celsius, making it safer to use in clothing. Synthetics are dangerous in fires because of their low melting points, causing a garment to melt and stick to the skin at temperatures as low as 160 degrees Celsius.
Wool ignites at: |
576-600 C |
Cotton ignites at: |
255 C |
Polyester melts at: |
252 – 292 C |
Nylon melts at: |
160 – 260 C |
Wool is self-extinguishing
The reason wool is safer is because wool is naturally high in nitrogen and water content, and requires a high level of oxygen from the environment to sustain combustion, known in technical terms as a high Limiting Oxygen Index, and when it burns, it has a low heat of combustion, which is the amount of heat energy released. Wool is therefore often described as self-extinguishing because it can’t keep itself burning. It quickly burns out.
So why does wool put itself out? Wool’s cell membrane structure swells when heated, forming an insulating layer preventing the spread of flame.
Wool provides protection
Wool is preferred as clothing, due to it being naturally flame resistant, and it also increases fire safety in the home when used in soft furnishings including bedding, carpets, drapes, soft coverings and cushions, and in public areas like hotels, airports and picture theatres (and also because it wears well and absorbs noise). Smoke inhalation is sometimes the cause of injury or worse in a fire. Wool produces less smoke and toxic gas than synthetic fibres. It is the fibre of choice in furnishings when it comes to fire safety.
Labels remind parents of the risks of fire
Some parents dislike labels on necklines for fear of causing discomfort to their children, but they serve a useful purpose in warning parents of the dangers of fire and keeping children safer. Most baby sleeping bag manufacturers use labels, instead of printing the label onto the fabric, because the colours and wording of the labels described above must be strictly complied with, otherwise the garment will fail the standard. The labels may also be printed onto the fabric, but must pass rigorous washing tests to ensure the labelling remains visible for the life of the garment.
Where children's nightwear is for sale in a package that obscures the label on the garment, the fire hazard information must be prominently marked on the package. Many baby sleeping bags are sold in boxes, and you will see the fire label printed on the box.
With the growth of online shopping, the standards have evolved over the years to require clear and legible fire hazard information as part of the digital image and product description.
Buying a second hand baby sleeping bag
The sale of second hand garments at op shops and markets do not need to comply with the labelling requirements, the rationale being that it’s too much to expect re-sellers to be aware of these requirements, and it would disadvantage those purchasers seeking low-cost garments if the compliance costs were to be passed on.
A wool sleeping bag is a safer choice for your baby to sleep in
When choosing a baby sleeping bag or sleepwear for your child, as part of your decision also consider the fire risk of the fabric of the garment. Be aware of the risks of your child wearing different fabrics near heat sources, and always watch your child playing near heaters and ovens. Pyjamas and nighties that fit snuggly are recommended, rather than loose fitting sleepwear. Letting your toddler walk around in their sleeping bag is not a good idea either in case they trip over.
Wool’s performance when it comes to sleepwear for children means it is a safer option, and combined with it's attributes as a natural and sustainable fibre, a merino wool sleeping bag is the preferred option to keep your child safe and healthy, whilst helping them sleep better.
]]>Singlets for newborns to 7 year olds are the latest addition to our superfine merino collection. These lovely, soft garments can help treat eczema, and our thoughtful design gives your child extended wearability.
Made from 100% merino activewear fabric, Merineo's child singlets are a world first. Highly breathable and robust, soft and luxurious, they’re perfect for next to skin wear and helping child eczema.
What is eczema?
Around 30% of children are affected by eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis. Itchiness, sleeplessness and irritability are just some of the symptoms. Babies often require medical attention, having inflamed and dried skin, sometimes leading to cracked skin and bacterial infection, creating much anxiety for parents.
How to treat eczema
Wearing merino has recently been proven a natural treatment. Dermatological trials (more information below) have shown that adult and child eczema sufferers wearing superfine merino garments next to the skin had reduced symptoms. Antibiotics, topical steroids and moisturisers are other remedies.
What’s the magic in merino?
Merino garments are more breathable than other common apparels because of wool’s ability to absorb and release moisture vapour. Merino wool helps stabilise humidity levels, reducing the risk of clamminess, helping regulate the temperature of the micro-climate next to the skin. These benefits help reduce eczema, making merino the go-to wear for infants.
Research trials
Four recent dermatology trials concluded superfine merino helps infant, adolescent and adult eczema patients. Participants wore 17.5 micron merino wool garments for at least 6 hours a day for 6 weeks.
Better than cotton
In one study led by Professor John Su at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, 40 children aged 4 weeks to 3 years with mild to moderate eczema were selected for the trial. They switched from wearing cotton to superfine merino wool, and their symptoms eased significantly. You can read the published findings.
When these children returned to wearing cotton, their symptoms increased again - A compelling reason to dress your child in superfine merino.
Parents of children in the trial reported they were stunned by the results as you can learn in this short video of Channel 9's news report.
These outcomes challenge long held views that wool should not be worn by children with eczema. Professor John Su has formally recommended that historical management guidelines be modified to include superfine merino wool as a recommended clothing choice in treating childhood atopic dermatitis.
Merineo’s singlets designed for extended wear
In addition to the health benefits, we’ve designed our singlets for extended wearability. We know babies outgrow singlets quickly so we've designed a solution. Our singlets are slightly longer than singlets you'll find at major retail outlets, giving your child a singlet that will last longer, because children typically outgrow clothing in the length (not the width).
Our singlets fit comfortably around the waist and chest because our fabric, a lightweight, premium mesh knit, is highly elastic, always returning to the original shape.
We also use natural cotton care labels because we love being eco-friendly and we love how soft they feel!
Washability
Our merino singlets are machine washable at 40c, and to achieve a long lasting garment, we encourage you to turn your singlet inside out, wash on a wool cycle and use a wool detergent.
We love our superfine merino singlets and we’re sure you and your child will too!!
]]>Victoria - the 4th biggest wool growing country in the world!
Merineo’s ethos stems from the owner’s passion for merino wool, having grown up on a wool growing property in country Victoria, Australia’s second biggest wool growing state. Victorian farmers make a huge contribution to global wool supply - if Victoria were a country, it would be the 4th largest wool growing country in the world! It's a privilege to acknowledge the work of this hardworking group: 16,919 farmers in number (plus their family members).
Over 90% of the world's finest apparel wool is grown in Australia
Merineo uses superfine merino wool to make its newborn swaddling bags, baby and toddler sleeping bags. Prized for it's luxurious next-to-skin comfort and naturally healthy attributes, it's perfect for babywear. Australia is renowned for producing over 90% of the world's fine apparel wool, so it’s great to promote and support not just Victorian farmers, but Australian farmers also! (Photo on left: Newborn baby sleeping in Merineo. Photo credit: Kiddy Kats Photography, freelance photographer based in Ferntree Gully.)
Unfortunately Australia no longer has the capability to process wool, so after farmers press their wool into 200 kilogram bales and auction it at the Australian Wool Centre, it’s shipped overseas. Merineo purchases its fabric from a woollen mill in Europe, where it's turned into fabric, and flown back to Melbourne to Merineo HQ.
Arrival of fabric into Melbourne
Upon arrival into Melbourne, we pay customs duties and fees to freight forwarding services so we can take delivery of the fabric. Then it’s cut by a local cutter and sewn into baby sleeping bags by local sewing machinists or ‘makers’. Our designs include coloured binding around the edge of the products, also made from merino wool. This fabric is cut by a special binding service located locally in Thomastown. We buy our thread and zippers from suppliers in Richmond.
Each garment has a size and care label attached, and proudly we use a local service, Cash’s in Hawthorn, who make them for us at their factory in Leongatha. Our brochures and hang tags are printed by printers in Tullarmarine, Port Melbourne and Burwood.
Once the garments are made, they are ironed in-house and packaged into boxes made by a Melbourne box making business, and posted to our wonderful on-line customers using another Australian service: Australia Post.
To comply with AS/NZS 1249:2014 (the Australian Standard relating to the labelling of children's nightwear and limited daywear having reduced fire hazard) our products are fire tested at the Australian Wool Testing Authority in Kensington.
Local I.T. services
Our website was created by an Aussie designer and graphic designer, and we use other Australian services including Go-Daddy website hosting service and Canva, to create amazing graphics.
Flying the kangaroo logo
Merineo is proudly a licensee of the Made in Australia campaign. This means our products are listed on their website, and we are licensed to use the kangaroo logo. We pay an annual fee, which is used by the Campaign to promote Australian made products.
So, when you purchase a product from Merineo, your money is paid to local businesses, and the funds paid to the European woollen mill are, of course, invested in buying Australian wool.
Cotton products manufactured overseas do not support Victoria
Compare this to other baby sleeping bags, the majority of which are sadly made overseas, and made from cotton or from a synthetic textile. To start with, cotton is not commercially grown in Victoria, so you are not supporting local primary production. Secondly, the fabric is made overseas, cut, sewn, quality control checked, ironed, packaged – all overseas, and into boxes also printed and made overseas creating no benefit for locals.
For every $1 you spent, 48 cents is recirculated locally
We've had a hunt around for research about the multiplier effect of buying from local businesses, and found research showing that for every $100 you spend on a local independent business, 48 cents is recirculated locally, whereas if you spend your $100 at a larger chain store, it’s less than 14 cents.[1] That 48 cents passes through many local hands; don't underestimate the financial and non-financial benefits this has on your neighbours and their families. We take pride in supporting locals and we encourage you to too!
If you're searching for a go-to shop to buy Australian made products, try Endangered Australian Made in Woodend. This family run business only sell Aussie made products and deserve accolades for their advocacy work!
Look after future generations
When buy your next baby sleeping bag, or you’re about to buy a baby shower gift, or a gift for your newly born grandchild, niece or nephew or your special friend’s baby, pay special attention to whose local economy your hard earned money is supporting. Don’t underestimate the power of your purchase in supporting local business. You too can support anyone from wool growers to website creators!
When choosing the word of 2018, Collins Dictionary described it as the year of the eco-warrior. Supermarkets have introduced plastic bag bans, café’s re-usable coffee cups and fashion houses sustainability web pages, so it was no surprise “single-use” was selected as the #CollinsWOTY 2018.
Single-use
Single-use means “made to be used only once” and generally refers to plastic products thrown away after their first and only use.
Since 2013, the word single-use has seen a global four-fold increase in use reflecting the world’s increasing awareness of the perils of plastic pollution, consequent damage to the environment and affect on the food chain.
Plastic is everywhere
From politics to textiles single-use is prominent. Although some countries have introduced bans on plastic shopping bags, there's still much to be done in the fashion industry as single-use clothing increases in our throw-away society - Think special occasion, need a new dress but don’t want to spend much, buy a cheap polyester fashion dress, wear once because the next special occasion warrants a new look requiring a fresh dress. There you have a single-use piece of plastic.
Is Merino wool single-use?
One of the joys of merino wool is our natural disinclination to refer to it as a single-use product. Sustainability is inherent in the production of merino wool and the resultant quality so luxurious and user-friendly, that the likelihood of it being used once is unlikely, if not rare.
Merino wool’s eco-friendliness begins with the ethical way in which millions of sheep across Australia are farmed to grow wool. Green pastures, fresh water and sunshine with no single-use plastic to be seen makes sheep country an eco-warrior’s paradise.
Wool is eco-friendly
Wool’s eco-friendliness doesn’t stop there! Merino garments don’t need to be washed near as frequently as synthetic garments and can be washed at lower temperatures - The perfect wardrobe for the eco-warrior!
Infant eco-warrior
Merineo prides itself on sustainable babywear. (Although we don’t have a dedicated sustainability web page, we do have a section on our home page displayed from time to time about the many qualities of superfine merino which include its eco-friendliness.) Using 100% superfine merino, we create newborn swaddling bags and baby sleeping bags for the infant eco-warrior. Even the binding or edging used as a design feature is 100% merino wool.
Photo credit: Chantel Renae Photography
Many department stores sell baby sleeping bags made with synthetic fabrics and filled with polyester wadding, making them less environmentally friendly both to produce and to biodegrade. Synthetics (like polyester) and plastics take years and years to break down in the soil and are therefore described as landfill. Merino wool on the other hand will be well on the path to biodegrading within 6 months after being buried in the soil – just ask Prince Charles who conducted an experiment in his backyard about 2 years ago.
The plogger
Another shortlisted 2018 word is “plogging” which means picking up litter whilst jogging, to improve your health and the environment, originating in Scandinavia and also reflecting the attitudes towards litter. Other words included var (the abbreviation for video assisted referee), floss (a dance style) and gammon (a white middle-aged person).
Although using the word single-use has been significant in 2018, the world has a long way to go in reducing single-use items and slowing the impact on the environment. Plastic packaging is an example, creating tonnes and tonnes of landfill. Recently, Merineo introduced premium recyclable packaging for our baby sleeping bags in the form of a re-usable cardboard box (which is incidentally made in Australia). Why not use our box to store baby congratulatory cards and other trinkets.
We want to be eco-fabulous!
Merineo is continuing the journey as a sustainable business supporting the global winding down of single-use products and garments. In 2019 will use “single-use” as our guiding principle and we’re looking forward to interacting (or should we say flossing?) with our eco-friends – from woolgrowers to suppliers to consumers! Let's be eco-fabulous! Happy New Year!
]]>Photo: Merineo 'mesh' style newborn swaddling bag in the display cabinet at Milano Unica.
Milano Unica displays innovative samples
The show featured many of the worlds most innovative textile samples produced by leading manufacturers for the world’s top end fashion market. It’s a futuristic styled event, and the July show in Milan presented the autumn / winter 2019-2020 collections.
Milano Unica began in 2005, when 5 textile trade shows became united into one, contributing to the international success of the now well-known ‘Made in Italy’ brand. Sponsored by the likes of the Italian Ministry for Economic Development, attended by journalists of international fashion magazines, and featuring guest speakers such as the president of the International Chamber of Fashion, Milano Unica is a key event in the whirlwind of trade and fashion.
Merineo’s product on display was a sample of the Merineo newborn swaddling bag supplied to Knox Private Hospital and given to all newborn babies born at the hospital last summer. The mesh fabric is lightweight and breathable – a great solution to sleep babies in in the warmer weather.
Photo Credit: Kiddy Kats Photography.
Consumers are demanding sustainability
Taking centre stage in Milan was product and process sustainability; or the future of our planet and how future generations will live. This growing consumer demand has created a race to develop new ways to reduce social and environmental impacts. The demand is being distinguished from a fashion trend, and is seen as a change in consumer behaviour requiring suppliers to redefine their end-to-end processes.
Italy is the world’s second largest exporter of clothing items, so to have this message emanating from Italy is a powerful message about the direction of the textile trade.
Pleasingly, textile makers are responding to the demand for sustainability - the number of businesses showing sustainable samples at the show tripled as compared to the previous year!
Photo: "Is our future sustainable?" was the focus at Milano Unica.
Wool’s significance to the Italian textile trade
Wool is an important part of the show. Wool is so important to Italy that in 2017 it equated to almost half (41.6%) of Italy’s total textile trade. To put this in context, half again (19.6%) was made up of cotton fabrics.
Italian wool fabric exports are growing which is great news for Australian woolgrowers. Italy reported an increase in wool fabric exports of 2.8% for the first quarter of 2018, showing an increased consumer demand for wool as a sustainable textile.
Wool is one of the most recycled fibres
Wool is a highly sustainable fabric – it’s grown on sheep which are part of the natural carbon cycle, has a longer lifespan than other textiles, tends to be washed less frequently at lower temperatures, is one of the most recycled fibres, and at the end of its lifespan biodegrades readily. It’s easy to see why wool is becoming the fabric of choice.
Photo: Freshly shorn pure superfine merino fleece wool.
Merineo is innovative and sustainable
Merineo has created a swaddling bag for newborn babies which is innovative in design and fabric construction. The unique design of the swaddle inside the bag, made using premium superfine merino wool, gives newborns a healthy, safe and sustainable garment to sleep in.
Our new Merineo mesh style garments will be available for sale at our on-line store merineo.com early Spring, in time for the warmer weather. Sign up on our Home page to be amongst the first to know when the product is launched!
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Read Offspring Magazine or find a copy at your local IGA.
]]>Read what "Merineo" means and more in December 2017's edition of "Beyond the Bale".
]]>Our little girl was premmie and weighed only 2.3kgs when she came home so as you can imagine none of the sleep bags we had fit her as she was quite little. This sleep bag however, fits her perfectly.
It was snug and the internal swaddling wings make it especially so. Our girl is a little wriggler too- and there is no way she can wriggle out of this bag!
We would definitely recommend the Merineo newborn sleeping bag to other parents (particularly this size for premmie babies)."
Merineo is grateful to Barb of Albury Wodonga Midwifery for her curiosity and interest in new, innovative, healthy and environmentally friendly products for the benefit of her clients. Thank you!
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"My baby settles better in a Merineo compared to similar products," is what the majority of parents reported. We believe the reason is the swaddling effect of the product (which is consistent with midwives feedback that babies sleep better swaddled) combined with the fabric used to make the product: natural, breathable premium superfine merino wool.
100% of parents reported the fabric felt soft and luxurious, also after machine washing the garment. Merineo conducted a global search to source the very best quality wool to use on newborns.
Keep reading Merineo's news to find out what happened next at Knox Private Hospital....
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