To put it simply: sleep with a newborn is an interesting adventure. This is probably why baby products in the ‘sleep category’ are a top priority when shopping for your new arrival. We all want to invest in some precious Zzzzz, especially when bub comes along!
When it comes to sleep there are the bigger ticket items, including a cot or bassinet, but there are smaller products that can also help soothe your little one, including white noise machines and sleeping swaddles, bags and pouches. If you’re interested in the latter, you’ve landed in the right place.
What is the Moro reflex?
When babies are born they are super sensitive to noise and movement, meaning they are prone to waking up easily if their natural startle reflex is triggered (also known as the Moro reflex). The startle reflex usually disappears when your baby is 2-3 months old. A method to help protect your baby from their startle reflex is swaddling, as it prevents your baby from moving their arms or legs and accidentally waking themselves up.
What types of swaddles are on the market?
There are three types of swaddles available on the market, including traditional swaddling blankets, swaddling bags and swaddling pouches. Swaddling blankets are usually large, muslin or cotton cloths specifically designed for swaddling. Red Nose has an excellent instructional video that explains how to safely swaddle your baby, which you can watch here.
However, if you’re looking for the benefits of baby swaddling without any baby wrapping required you may be interested in baby swaddling bags or pouches. Instead, zips, snap buttons and Velcro are used to secure the product so your little one can’t wriggle free and help keep them sleeping on their back throughout the night.
When we surveyed thousands of Australian families about the swaddling bags or pouches they used, loved and would recommend there was one particular brand that came out on top and for good reason. This product is the Love to Dream Swaddle Up Original 1.0. You can read about our shopping and product guide to baby swaddles, bags and pouches here.
Key takeaways after testing this product
The Love to Dream Swaddle Up is suitable for newborns up until 6 months (or until your baby starts to shows signs of being able to roll). The Swaddle Up has been designed specifically for babies who prefer to be swaddled with their arms up and has a two-way zipper to make nappy changes a breeze.
When Mimi was a fresh newborn I used a muslin cloth swaddle as I felt many of the swaddle bags and pouches on the market were a little too big for her. However, when we transitioned to swaddle bags this was one of the first that I tested, especially after analysing all of the survey data and feedback we received on this product.
The Love to Dream Swaddle Up is for babies who prefer to be swaddled with their arms up. To be honest, I’m not sure if Mimi had a preference – this was just the first baby swaddle bag we used and she seemed to naturally be okay in the arms up position.
Despite testing multiple swaddle bags, once she grew out of her initial arms in swaddle bags, I did continue buying Love to Dream Swaddle Up bags. Something just felt right about her having her hands up and close to her face, she would sometimes suckle on the ends to comfort herself too. The top section of the bag was made from a stretch fabric which meant she did have some movement rather than being 100% restricted.
As a new mother, I really liked that swaddle bags take all the guesswork out of baby swaddling. You simply put bub inside the bag and zip it up. Using a swaddle bag gave me peace of mind that I was doing everything I could to ensure Mimi slept on her back throughout the night. She couldn’t wriggle out of a bag like she sometimes did when I wrapped her in a traditional baby swaddle.
You’ll also see a lot of baby swaddles and pouches come with a TOG rating. We explain all things TOG rating here but simply these guides tell you what your bub should wear underneath the bag/pouch in comparison to the temperature of the swaddle bag itself and the room your bub is sleeping in. Understanding the TOG rating and what they should be wearing underneath helps moderate your little one’s temperature so they do not overheat.
I found TOG guides sometimes tricky to navigate so used the Groegg from Tomee Tipee, which is a nursery room thermometer lamp. Once I had an accurate insight into the room’s temperature I could then work out how best to dress Mimi safely while she slept.
If you’re considering buying a sleeping swaddle bag or pouch, I would recommend you try one swaddle bag style first on your bub instead of buying multiples at once. As every bub is different, it’s hard to know if they will prefer arms up or arms down until they sleep in one. Once you know their preference, I would then recommend buying three swaddle bags or pouches: one for wearing, one spare when one is in the wash, and a third backup for those ‘just in case’ moments.
The Love to Dream Swaddle Up Original 1.0 swaddle bag was tested by Emily and her daughter Mimi (from 0 to 6 months in various sizes as Mimi grew). To find out which baby sleeping swaddles, bags and pouches ranked highest according to the thousands of Australian families we surveyed click here.
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.