We received this blanket as a gift from a great-grandmother and I didn’t realize at the time how thankful I would be for it. This product is a must have and a fantastic idea for a baby shower gift.
Why Swaddle
Many newborns like to be swaddled, and mine is no exception to that. He sleeps best when he’s not distracted by things like motor coordination…. He has been known to punch himself in the face while sleeping and thus wake himself up.
How It Works
First lay out the Swaddle Blanket and then lay the baby on top so his neck is lined up with the top. Then slip his legs into the bag and flip up the Velcro tag at the top of the bag. Tuck in the left arm and wrap the left side snugly so the Velcro sticks to the appropriate place. Then tuck the right arm and wrap and stick the final two tabs. With a little bit of practice, the swaddling process can be done in just about any position with minimal effort.
Details about the Product
The Swaddle Me Swaddle Blanket is made of 100% polyester microfleece. It’s super-soft to the touch and the edges are finished nicely with another strip of fleece folded over and sewn on. Where the Velcro is meant to stick there are special fuzzy Velcro pads sewn on, but they blend very nicely with the fleece both in color and texture so they don’t attract attention. The not so fuzzy parts of the Velcro can be conveniently tucked away and stuck to pads right where they are when not in use. The two Velcro tabs that end up visible when the baby is swaddled have an embroidered sheep face on the top that is really cute. (We own powder blue to match our nursery, but different colors have different animal faces.) If I just want to keep my baby warm and not so confined, I just hook the Velcro with everything set a little lower around his chest, and under his arms and that seems to do the trick. The blanket stays in place and he’s able to move all he wants while remaining warm and toasty.
Size
We have a small one, which is for 7-14 lbs and perfect for most newborns. My little guy was born on the larger end at 9lbs 2.2oz, and this fits him beautifully with plenty of kicking room. When he outgrows this, they do make a larger size too. We’ll see if he’s still cool with the swaddling when we get there.
Better than a Blanket
One of the times he doesn’t like to be swaddled is when he’s nursing. For some reason, eating requires use of both hands as far as he’s concerned. The ease with which this swaddling device works makes it easy to nurse him to sleep and then wrap him up without waking him. The few times I’ve tried using a blanket, the swaddling process was so long and drawn out that it would wake him up after eating and that would make him cranky. It’s also more secure than a plain blanket, and my strong little guy is less likely to work himself loose while sleeping, which also means he’s more likely to stay asleep longer.
SIDS Prevention
Nowadays there are all sorts of things we aren’t supposed to do if we want to avoid SIDS. No loose bedding is one of the big rules, and the Swaddle Me allows for the warmth of a blanket without the dangers of a blanket. Additionally, my little guy was born with the strength and ability to roll over if not swaddled, and stomach sleeping is another no-no. Using this secure form of swaddling keeps him on his back while sleeping, at least for now.
Other Features
There is a two inch slit of a hole in the back at waist level so that you can stick a finger or a nose in and check the diaper. I have found this feature very helpful, especially if he’s not wearing a onesie.
Washability
The directions start by saying to close the three Velcro fasteners before washing. This step is extremely important or, as I learned the hard way, the Velcro will stick to other items in your load of wash. It also says to wash in cold water on the gentle cycle and to let it air dry. I wash it with the rest of my laundry on the normal cycle and I dry it in the drier because I don’t have time of patience for special care laundry. The only down side that I see is that, like all fleece items, when dried in the drier the soft velvety texture of the fabric becomes that slightly less soft, inside of sweatpants texture. It still feels soft and is still warm and very functional.
Final Conclusions
I love this product. I wish I had two… and at about $10 each I’ve been thinking of buying a second but haven’t been leaving the house much since giving birth, so it just hasn’t happened. In the meantime, I just do some extra loads of laundry to make sure this is clean for use every night. This product is an absolute must have for any baby that likes to be swaddled.
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