In partnership with Happiest Baby. Editor’s Note: We only select and work with partners that meet our quality standards, so you can rest assured we only endorse products we believe in.
One thing I did not expect about becoming a parent is that nurses literally have to teach you how to swaddle your baby in the hospital. I know it’s important for their safety, but… shouldn’t tucking your baby in for bed be easier than that? It made me wonder if swaddling is actually safe the way it’s taught – and what one little tired mistake would cost my family. Happiest Baby thought swaddles should be simpler and safer, too, so they created the Sleepea® 5-Second Baby Swaddle ($29.95) for tired parents everywhere. As proud curators of all things parenting, we decided to give it a try to see if it’s worth your time and money.
We like
- Designed by a pediatrician with your baby’s safety in mind
- Super easy to use – much more so than attempting to swaddle in a blanket
- Available in many colors and patterns
- Great price for a premium product
- Allows for safe arms-out swaddling, as well as arms-in, making it a great transitional swaddle
- Machine-washable, super-soft organic cotton material
We don't like
- The fit is meant to mimic being in the womb, so it can feel a little snug to parents not familiar with swaddling
- Wish they came in more plain colors (I’m not a big pattern gal)
All About Happiest Baby
Happiest Baby was founded in 2015 by pediatrician Dr. Harvey Karp and his wife/business partner, Nina Montée-Karp. On a mission to give babies (and parents!) a better night’s sleep, Dr. Karp developed a groundbreaking method for infant soothing with the 5 S’s: swaddling, shushing, swinging, sucking, and side/stomach position (which is only for soothing, never for sleep). This is now standard practice for pediatricians assisting parents in comforting upset babies – wow! By taking the 5 S’s to the next level, SNOO helps to naturally sleep train babies and prevent accidental, dangerous roll-overs. And, SNOO is the first—and only—medical device to receive De Novo authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its ability to keep sleeping babies safely on their backs (important safety info here).
SNOO is so effective (as in, most babies sleep 9 hours by 2-3 months of age) that the brand decided to expand into other smart sleep solutions , such as white noise machines, and even modifying SNOO’s famous SNOO sacks to create Sleepea swaddle to make parenting a bit easier.
The Sleepea on Our Sweet Peas
If you don’t know about the SNOO’s sacks, they connect to the bassinet to ensure that baby does not roll over accidentally, which can be dangerous. SNOO Sacks are notoriously easy to use, but for a while, they were really only compatible with the bassinet itself. . Happiest Baby heard us loud and clear and created a separate swaddle that can be used outside of SNOO: the Sleepea® 5-Second Baby Swaddle.
We utilize a standard, bedside bassinet for our babies. It’s not fancy, but it does the job! So naturally, hearing I could get a part of the SNOO experience at a fraction of the cost ($30 for the swaddle), I was so excited. The Sleepea 5-Second Baby Swaddle comes in two “weights”: the standard, 100% organic cotton material and there is a Sleepea Comforter Swaddle made of a super-soft 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton shell that’s filled with 100% recycled insulation to give babies an extra warm swaddle when they need it. In addition to the two different weights, the brand offers 4 different sizes by baby’s weight, as well as 18 (!) different patterns to suit any style. Admittedly, I really am not a pattern gal, so I do wish there were non-patterned options. Still, though, you are bound to find at least one of eighteen that you like! My favorite is the Ivory Pines print – it is just in time for the holidays.
The actual process of swaddling your baby in the Sleepea can be done in one of two ways. First, the arms can be tucked in for newborn swaddling. This should be done until the baby shows signs of rolling over. After that point, you will need to use the second method: the arms-out method. The Sleepea Swaddle supports both, which is super nice for your wallet and frankly, for minimizing all the baby stuff around your home. To put your baby in the swaddle, you follow 3 “5-second” steps:
- Place baby in the swaddle so that their shoulders are two inches above the neckline
- Pull the bands across the chest, securing snugly with the Velcro. Bring the leg flap up and attach it to the arm bands
- Zip it up and you’re good to go!
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The 5-Second Test
This is truly revolutionary – it is so much faster than doing the burrito-roll with a blanket and hoping your little Houdini stays in it. With babies, there’s no room in your mental capacity to hope – only to know they are totally safe and secure. Luckily, Happiest Baby took the guesswork out of this for you. Created by Dr. Harvey Karp, this swaddle is the brain-child of the world’s leading swaddling expert.
If there’s one thing I know about parenting, it’s that whatever you’re doing between the hours of midnight and five a.m., you want it to be absolutely silent and as minimally disruptive to everyone as possible. Velcro is often a great option used to make changes fast and furious, but it can disturb the baby and cause unnecessary wake ups. Happiest Baby has worked incredibly hard to create quiet, virtually noise-free velcro in this swaddle that won’t startle baby. Combine this with the speediness you’ve worked yourself up to with those midnight diaper changes and you’re golden to get yourself back to sleep ASAP.
They Lost Sleep So You Don’t Have To
Beyond the comfy fabric and fun designs, I just can’t get over the fact how hard the makers of this swaddle worked to make it just like mama’s womb. If you think about it, being born is probably pretty wild on your baby’s end, too, and they might just want to be back in their safe, warm place. Happiest Baby worked their hardest to make that possible with this Sleepea Swaddle, keeping your baby snug and cozy while helping them transition to the “real world”.
There’s no sense in taking risks when it comes to your baby – and there’s no sense in working harder than you need to in the wee hours of the morning. Make your baby’s nights and your mornings easier with the Sleepea 5-Second Swaddle. The guesswork just isn’t worth it – and your baby absolutely is.
TRY THE AWARD-WINNING 5-SECOND SWADDLE TODAY.
