Kids design features. sleeping bags for cold weather

[Moondog55]

So a friend said she wants to come and join us at Pretty Valley for an expended W/E and she offered to bring the youngest tadpole up with here. While I won't be doing that this year, it has got me thinking about the DIY aspect of the "Ultimate" winter SB for the younger kids.
I have a few thoughts myself
6YO to about 12YO? So totally toilet trained and all that
Baffled down on top but synthetic on the bottom
Built in mattress pad
Then I remembered Steve Jamiesons wonderful little J&H kids bag from around 1985 which had a full length zipper all around the top half so the down top could be removed for cleaning
Said tadpoles already have sleeping bags that are warm enough for the snow but simply too big and heavy to make them practical for winter bushwalking
So a single warm SB or a system approach to maximise versatility?
Won't happen this year but time will be needed to plan and pre-purchase the filling needed etc

[Moondog55]

Few kids experts here?
From my own experience as a parent of toddlers and younger/restless sleepers, my main comment is keeping the sleeping mat securely under the bag is the main issue
Sleeping warmly enough should never be an issue as modern sleeping bags are so efficient and even synthetic bags should be light enough to bushwalk with.
My take on this is that the Gerry/Big Agnes approach is the most sensible.
The outer shell doesn't need to be insulated, all it needs to do is keep the child on the sleeping mat although a light insulation layer added to the outer shell would help with those kids who always tend to strip off during the night.
Also while down is the lightest, synthetics make a good sense choice for younger kids and a mix of down with a second synthetic shell is what I would use for older kids until they become experienced enough and able to make their own choices.

[neilmny]

Interesting topic MD..........but a serious can of worms I feel.

Are you familair with a "Swaddle" a kind of little tackers sleeping bag for indoors instead of blankets and so on.
Perhaps an arms out version would be a start as the inner element of the system. Something they will be covered by even if they toss and turn a lot.

[Moondog55]

"Can of Worms" ?' ROFL
I'm going to take the Systems approach myself as then she can use that UL down halfbag made for me by Underclingmike as the inner layer and depending on how fast gets tall between now and then perhaps the Kathmandu ORB mummy with 120GSM polyester insulation as the middle layer
I'd already decided on making a shell outer to hold the mattress and and keep a bubble of warmer air around her; the weight won't matter too much for such a short walk especially if I'm the one carrying it all for her
As it happens I have a Thermarest 3/4 mat spare so the shell will get sized for that plus a CCF pad for insurance

[Moondog55]

As discussed in the DIY half bag thread one of the other purposes was the use as a booster for cold temperatures
These are pix of the Kathmandu ORB mummy kids bag and Mikes custom half bag