I get it, shopping a for a newborn can feel overwhelming! I felt this way and I have worked in the baby industry for years. While some baby products are straightforward and you feel confident adding them to cart, others require a lot more research. Researching and testing baby products related to safe sleeping is a big priority for me.
The two most common sleeping options for your newborn are a cot or bassinet. Red Nose recommends cots as there are mandatory Australian Safety Standards in place for cots. Bassinets and other sleep aids do not have Australian Safety Standards, so if you’re considering any of these I strongly recommend doing thorough due diligence about the product and see how it aligns with Red Nose and INPAA’s safe sleeping guides.
I tested multiple sleep products for The Baby Edit but my daughter Mimi always slept in a bassinet or cot during the night and largely for daytime naps too. However, I did test the Cocoonababy by Red Castle with Mimi as a comfortable place to put her down during the day or during day naps (always under supervision and when I was closeby).
Key takeaways after testing this product
The Cocoonababy is an ergonomic cocoon designed for use in the cot during bub’s first months (until they are around 3 months old). The shape of this product is a semi-fetal position that reminds babies of the safe, soothing and cosy feeling of the womb.
I didn’t know what to expect when I first tested this product. At face value, it looks pretty simple and I wasn’t sure how or if it would help soothe Mimi. But Mimi took to it like a duck in water and I was surprised by its versatility.
It is pretty straightforward to use, you simply pop bub in it and secure them with Velcro straps. This helps bub stay on their back, limit gastric reflex and prevents triggering their startle reflex. Mimi looked really cosy and snug when she was in the Cocoonababy and it was a great alternative during the day when I needed some hands-free time.
The product itself weighs next to nothing so I moved it all over the house. I used it for daytime naps in the living room, put it in the bathroom when I was having a shower, took it to friends’ houses and even took it to the park. Considering the lifespan of the Cocoonababy is around three months (approx the age when you bub starts showing signs of being able to roll), I still felt I got a lot of use out of this product. Also as you only use the product for a shorter period of time, it remains in really good condition, so you can definitely use it for multiple kids or pass onto friends or family with newborns.
I found a big difference when I put Mimi in the Cocoonababy versus when I put her on the floor on a padded mat or flat baby nest product. She just didn’t enjoy being flat on her back and I could see how much more comfortable and snug she looked in the Cocoonababy, it seemed to make sense.
Another thing I liked about this product was the machine washable cover. I only washed it once but it was comforting to know that it was washable if the unexpected blowout did occur! While in the wash just threw a muslin cloth over the top rather than buying another cover as they retail for around $70.
I would recommend the Cocoonababy as a comfortable place to put bub down during the day to anyone who can afford it. It’s not an essential item and there are other options available. I personally found that Mimi was more settled when put down in this product versus other options that I was testing or a flat padded surface. I didn’t use the product for overnight sleeping, only during the day when Mimi was being supervised.
The Cocoonababy was tested by Emily and her daughter Mimi (between newborn to 3 months). Photography by Bri Hammond, produced by The Baby Edit.
This is general information only. If you need personal, health, medical or technical advice when it comes to your growing family, please seek out a professional.