I want to start off this post by saying what shouldn’t need to be said but does: every baby is different. They all grow and develop and discover their own likes and dislikes at their own pace. With that being said, I understand now why sleep can be a touchy parenting topic. It can quickly and unintentionally become a comparison game, and someone always ends up feeling a little crappy or worried afterwards.
Sleep and rest have entirely new meanings in our lives now, so today I’m sharing the 3 different sleep-related products Mike and I have tried and had success* with with Will in hopes that it gives a parent out there a helpful starting point in their own journey. *A disclaimer: “success” means something different day by day. Mike is always reminding me that Will is a little human being: he’s going to have off days and weeks.
I don’t know where people are going to learn how to swaddle babies like perfect little poopy burritos but we never found the place. I personally fumbled around so much with those beautiful gauzy muslin swaddles so many times that I think Will was just sick of it. He’d become agitated, we were already exhausted, and it just did not work for him or us. Despite being a tiny helpless newborn, Will still found ways to wriggle his arms free, leaving this heap of useless fabric that we were then afraid would suffocate him in his sleep…
I folded them up and never used them again.
But the SwaddleMe Swaddles are the perfect amount of thick, soft cotton with stretch and a little pouch for baby’s feet and legs so they can’t kick out. The Velcro adhesive changed everything for us and Will finally slept soundly while swaddled. It held him in even when he tried to wiggle around and eventually calmed him. Here’s a quick video tutorial of how to use the SwaddleMe.
This sleep suit is honestly ridiculous looking and turned Will into a puffy marshmallow Michelin Man, but it worked for us. I think what Will liked was the compression in the arms, torso, and legs. He could still lift his limbs but the suit feels like a close hug and helps resist the Moro reflex. The only downsides are that the suit doesn’t regulate a baby’s body temp, so keeping the room cool year round is important and that once a baby can roll, it’s time to move on to something else.
- 15% off when you buy 2
- Available in cotton and microfleece (we used cotton)
- Available for 3-6 and 6-9 months
- Intended for back sleeping in crib only
We needed something transitional for Will once he could roll over and summer in New Hampshire arrived. We like this sleep suit because Will can move freely but the fabric still provides enough resistance against him arms, legs, hands, and feet that he doesn’t feel completely exposed. Transitioning to this from the Merlin was a little bumpy (but that could also be sleep regression + teething so who really knows) because he loved it so much. Putting him into something unweighted probably made him feel a little insecure at first. After a couple days and nights in it, he’s adjusted pretty well!
- Free domestic shipping over $75
- $5 off when you buy 2
- Available in sizes XS (3-6 months)-XL (3T)
- Many different patterns and designs
- Machine washes well
- Light-weight
- Unweighted
This looks like the same material and style as the previous, but little hands and feet are free and is meant for babies starting at 1 year old. I just noticed a few in particular are a light-weight design. Will really likes sticking his hands in his mouth especially as he teethes, and I think this one will be soothing for him.
I hope this post helps any other parent out there who might be overwhelmed by this entire world of babies and sleep. Thanks for reading!
Cobble & Brick 