How to Transition Your Baby to a Sleep Sack
- The Involved Dad
- Aug 11, 2018
- 3 min read
Adventure: Finally Ditching the Swaddle
Update! We are finally out of the swaddle and have successfully been sleeping in a sleep sack for the past couple of weeks. The transition went very well and I just wanted to share how we did it.
So after tons of searching of the various sleep sacks out there, The Mrs. finally found the one we would end up using. The Zipadee-zip by Sleeping Baby. Full disclosure, I am not sponsored in any way by Sleeping Baby, but if they'd like to send me another zipadee-zip I'd be happy to accept. Anyway, the zipadee-zip basically looks like a pillow case with a hole on one end, for the baby's neck, and a zipper running down the center. The baby's feet and hands extend to the corners of the zipadee-zip and according to their website, this is really where the magic happens.
The zipadee-zip is designed to limit the range of motion of the baby's limbs just slightly. This enclosed feel allows the baby to feel cozy and safe, especially in the case of a startle. Now, wether this is scientifically backed or not, I'm not sure, all I know is that it works. This wearable blanket, or sleep sack has gotten my daughter out of her swaddle and to a point where she can freely and safely move while she sleeps.
But how did we get there? Well, if you read this post about our swaddle struggles, you know that our transitions with unsaddling happened slowly and in stages. First the feet, then one arm out. Then that arm tucked and the other arm out. Then no arms tucked. Ugh, it was a nightmare! This time we decided that we didn't want to do any of that. We jumped in feet first. We picked a nap and made the swap. Why a nap you ask? Well, that's because The Mrs. and I have a strict rule about not trying anything new at night. No foods, no swaddles, nothing. The way we see it, its better to have a crummy nap than entire night of sleeplessness.
Although we were nervous, we went for it. As nap time came around, we ditched the swaddle and for the first time zipped our baby up in her zipadee-zip. She looked like a cute little starfish. After getting over how adorable she looked, we placed her in her dock-a-tot gave her her paci and as if nothing was any different, she was napping. To our surprise, she took right to it and from then on, no more swaddle. Into storage it went and that's where it'll stay until baby number 2 needs it.
Now since that first time, Rose has clearly discovered her new found mobility and freedom. She loves it! She sleeps on her side. She sleeps with a leg up on the side of the dock-a-tot, sometimes two. She's very comfortable the fact that she can move around freely helps The Mrs. and I feel better at night.
So if you're anything like us and are struggling to get your baby out of a swaddle, go back and read this post. Try those tips, and if that doesn't work, I'd highly recommend give the Zipadee-zip a try (I swear I'm not sponsored. Just some #honestparenting)
Tips & Lessons Learned
- Find a sleep sack you're comfortable trying. I can honestly recommend the Zipadee-zip.
- Go for it! Switching from a swaddle straight to a sleep sack went well for us. So I recommend just going for it.
- Try it out at nap time first. That way if it does go smoothly, the whole night won't be ruined.
- Continue to use the same clothing you used under the swaddle, when using the sleep sack.
- If you do get a zipadee-zip and the zipper bunches up. That's cause your little one is bit too small still. Not to worry, just take a hair tie and bundle that excess by the belly so it won't bunch toward the neck/face.
- As always have fun and enjoy it.