I am buying my DD a sleeping bag for slumber parties. I found an Eddie Bauer one at Target down to $7.00 from $30.00. It's rated for 40 to 60 degrees. At first I had my hands on a Coleman one rated for 20 degrees, but I thought she would get too hot sleeping in it as she will only be using this in other people's houses, NOT camping with it. What rating would you buy for this purpose?? I'm worried she'll be too cold now, with the 40-60 degree one. I know boots are always rated and I always freeze in them no matter how low they go. Do you think the Eddie Bauer one is overly optimistic in its promise of being comfy in temps of 40 to 60? Should I buy the one rated for 20 degrees?

By Crystal915 on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 10:03 pm:

Go with the Eddie Bauer one, that's perfectly fine for indoor use. Do you REALLY think she'll be in bleow 60 temps in people's houses? Besides, she can always take a small blanket to use with it.

By Mrsheidi on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 10:23 pm:

Kate, I just think it's cute that you're worried about your DD being cold in a sleeping bag indoors!!
Mom of the year!!

By Mommmie on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 11:27 pm:

I'd go for an indoor sleeping bag.

By Tink on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 12:07 am:

The Eddie Bauer one sounds fine to me, too.

By Kaye on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 04:33 am:

I 'd go for the eddie bauer two. What that rating has to do with is party the amount of "down" in the bag. But also how the zippers are designed, how much overlap in them. Once you've sleep when it is below 30 outside you realize just how much heat that zipper can let out, and how much cold it can let in!

By Kate on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 08:38 am:

You don't think the Eddie Bauer one is being overly optimistic in its claims of warmth? It's only a three pound weight bag and it has a thin fleece blanket and then the outer shell. They claim in weather over 60 you REMOVE the outer shell top and just use the thin fleece blanket!! Who here sleeps with just a thin fleece blanket?? And below 60 you use the shell, too. There's only one review of it and the woman froze to death in it in 50 degree weather with tons of clothes on inside the bag. I'm always always always cold so I'm highly suspicious. The 20 degree bag was a five pound weight. One little girl slept here at my house which was about 68 at night and she froze in her sleeping bag. It seemed nice and heavy....yet she froze...in my 68 degree house.... Does anyone know if Eddie Bauer has warmer bags in general?? Or am I just paying for a designer name, not a warmer bag?

Okay, now I have to go post on airbeds.

By Kaye on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 09:22 am:

Weight has very little to do with how well the bag works, it really is what it is made out of. Both bags seem like good brands, I would buy the cheaper of the two. For sleepovers, my children had "sleep bags" which aren't rated. Being cold in a sleeping bag camping out is very different that being inside with no wind. When kids sleep on the floor it is colder than in a bed. My kids don't seem to have an issue. I don't know what their bags are rated now, but last time we camped and it hit 30 (big deal in houston), we cuddled together because we were all cold! Typically my kids do just sleep with their polar fleece blanket ontop of their sleeping bag

By Happynerdmom on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 09:54 am:

If it is for indoor use, go for the cheaper one. If they're cold in a sleeping bag, inside someones house, they need warmer pj's!LOL

By Breann on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 10:01 am:

My dd has a strawberry shortcake sleeping bag, for sleepovers. I don't think it's rated at all, lol. But, it sure is cute!

We have coleman sleeping bags for camping. They are nice and warm. But, they aren't that great for sleepovers. Especially when all the other kids show up with character/froo froo sleeping bags.

By Kate on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 08:40 pm:

Thanks everyone. I think *I* would freeze in this bag, but she has already seen it and thus it cannot be returned. It could be a hideous thing that she secretly hates, but if I've already bought it, she can't bear to part with it. Oh well. It's hopefully a nice one and she'll be on an air mattress which will keep her from being directly on the floor. She's almost ten, so she is (sadly) past wanting the character bags.

By Karen~moderator on Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 12:24 pm:

You can send an extra blanket to put underneath the sleeping bag, on top of the air matress, to add warmth.

Jen and Jules had tons of sleepovers. The kids slept on the carpeted floor in sleeping bags, or on the furniture with blankets and pillows. Most moms have extra blankets/sheets lying around to hand out at sleepovers if kids are not comfortable. I'm not going to tell you that you're worrying too much - you've being a very conscientious mom!

And often, at sleepovers, the kids are so crowded together, they are practically snuggled against each other, so body warmth comes into play here too.