Every baby is different, but for us (with both my boys) swaddling was a key ingredient to success in the first couple months when it came to sleep (which equals sanity). They were both born a bit early, and loved the tight secure feeling (especially for the first month when they theoretically should have still been in the womb). The "4th trimester" aka the first weeks of a babies life are all about feeling comfort & security. While I loved my aden & anais muslin swaddle blankets by day, at night I always preferred a pre-made swaddle, both for ease of use (especially in the middle of the night), and for security (while I can do a fairly decent swaddle, I like the fact that baby really can't completely squirm out of these easy swaddles..i.e. no blanket will be loose in the crib). I love that we're seeing some new brands and products, and I love that brands are continuously redesigning and pushing each other to be more innovative! I thought it would be helpful to put together a list of some of the awesome easy swaddles that are out there and to see them side by side: 1. The Easy Swaddle Wrap from aden + anais- the same cotton muslin fabric we all know and love in a simple and truly easy swaddle that keeps your baby secure with a few easy steps and snaps. This is an especially great breathable option for the summer months or warmer climates. 2 The Ollie Swaddle- is made of a lightweight jersey material (8% spandex) that wraps your baby tight in 3 easy steps, cinching in at the bottom. This is newer and getting rave reviews, I wish it was around when my boys were tiny. 3. The Woombie- signature bebeflex™ fabric comforts, softly confines arms, hugs the tummy (great for gas) and gently cocoons baby's unique curves, preventing startling issues, face scratching, and also preventing loose unraveled blankets from covering baby's face. The Woombie zips up bottom to top, so you do have to unzip and open up to change baby's diaper. I used this a bit with my second son, and it worked great in the beginning but he didn't the level of tightness after that. 4. Halo Sleepsack Swaddle- this is a great affordable and versatile option and is the only 2-in-1 adjustable swaddle that allows for swaddling arms in or arms out for baby’s comfort and to ensure an easy and gentle transition to the SleepSack wearable blanket when it is time to stop swaddling. The Halo is also a zip front, and you have to open to change a diaper. I used these after the first month or so with great success, but my boys liked their legs a bit more snug in the very beginning. 5. Love to Dream Love to Swaddle Up- soft t-shirt like fabric, this design combines the benefits of swaddles and sleeping bags, giving your baby the gentle pressure of a swaddler and keeping her arms and legs completely contained, while allowing her to bring her hands up to suck on them through the fabric 6. The Miracle Blanket- Uses a unique, patented design that combines classic swaddling and the lateral belly wrap. Though in my experience it takes a few tries to master the wrapping, not having any loud velcro is snapping is really helpful to keep a baby calm and sleeping. 7. Ergo Baby Swaddler- keeps the top and bottom halves of your baby's body swaddled separately, you can change your baby’s diaper without unwrapping her arms, saving you the trouble of re-swaddling her, and avoiding waking her fully. The leg pouch also keep baby's legs in a frog-leg position, replicating the position in the woomb. 8. The Nested Bean Zen Swaddle- offers a unique design, with a lightly weighted areas on either side and at the center to provide the sense of security a baby would get being held Every baby is different, and navigating which one will work best for your little one is sometimes trial and error, but hopefully you'll find something that keeps you're little one feeling secure in the early days and gets you an extra few minutes of rest! As always, remember to practice safe swaddling and discontinue using them when your baby can roll. I am not a Dr. or an expert just a mom talking about personal experience. Thanks as always for stopping by! xx |
About RebeccaI'm Rebecca, a Maine mom of three energetic young boys and wife of a lobsterman, living in my favorite place, the coast of Maine. You'll find me here talking about my parenting journey, mom style, recipes, running and exercise, travel, stories from our life in Maine and so much more! Most days I'm just figuring it out as I go - Thanks so much for stopping by! Top CategoriesKeyword SearchPopular PostsOn Instagram |