Do you remember your first sleeping bag? I have vivid memories of the sleeping bag I had as a kid. It was a scary faded shade of orange, ugly as sin, and heavier than I was, but I loved it.
My daughter just turned two, and we got her a cute purple kids sleeping bag from our local outdoor shop (OK, not so local, we had to drive two hours to find one, but that's a story for another time!). As I watch her get to know her brand new sleeping bag, I'm struck by all the childhood needs a sleeping bag can meet.
Multipurpose gear. Kids have immense talent for turning a sleeping bag into a jacket, fort, tunnel, cape, or whatever else the moment requires.
A bed away from home. Lots of kids don't sleep as well when they're not in their own bed. A sleeping bag is a nice, portable way to take "their" bed to gramma's house, on vacation, for a sleepover, off to camp…
A pleasant memory. Remember my ugly childhood sleeping bag? It evoked memories (and smells!) of good family times – backyard tent sleepovers, campfires, and giggly moments with a flashlight.
A cover that works. Preschoolers and toddlers in particular seem to have a serious aversion to covers. A sleeping bag is a lot harder to kick off than the average quilt, and most children like the snuggly feeling of being wrapped up in a sleeping bag.
A soft landing. Being a child involves lots of tumbles, many of them on purpose. Sleeping bags are fun to jump on (and even more fun to jump in).
Something that's theirs. Kids like to be in charge of something on a camping trip, even if it's just their sleeping bag. Even quite a young child can lay out their sleeping pad, pull their sleeping bag out of a stuff sack, and arrange their "bed" for the night.
A sleeping bag is just one of those delightful parts of being a kid. And watching your child find laughter, pride, or a cozy place to snuggle in their sleeping bag is just one of the delightful parts of being a parent.
