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As a sleep consultant, baby sleep and safety is a common concern for many families I work with, and as a mom myself, this is something that is top priority for me too. 

When it comes to safe sleep for a newborn and young babies, we use the phrase ‘back to sleep.’ Studies have shown that laying your baby on their back to sleep on a firm flat surface, with no loose items in the crib, is the safest way for sleep and SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) prevention. 

We can follow all of the recommended sleep safety tips, but we are still human, and we worry. To be able to have something else to help give us that peace of mind while our little ones sleep can be so reassuring. Plus, as babies grow, so do their physical skills. This includes rolling, crawling, pulling to stand, and the eventual introduction of a comfort item such as a lovey, small blanket, or stuffed animal. All of these things can add another layer of worry when it comes to their sleep. 

There are a variety of different products on the market for monitoring baby sleep and safety. Many of these are camera only and many that track sleep and your baby’s safety, involve an item for baby to wear such as a sock, special type of sleep sack, or even clips onto the baby’s clothes. There are many things to consider when it comes to adding something to a baby to wear from baby not liking it due to it being uncomfortable, the item falling off and becoming loose in the crib, or baby outgrowing it depending on what type of wearable item it is. 

Having something that could be used long term, tracks sleep, provides an accurate reading for safety, and is comfortable for my baby was key in what I was looking for in the right monitoring system. The Cubo Ai Sleep Safety Bundle was the right choice for us! 

The Cubo Ai uses artificial intelligence, and the camera will provide you sleep analytics, danger zone detection, cry detection, auto photo capture, covered face and roll over detection, 2 way audio, and the picture quality is so clear! When combined with the Sleep Sensor Pad, it just increases the accuracy of sleep tracking and baby’s safety.

The Sleep Sensor Pad is unique because it does not have to be attached to your baby or touch your baby whatsoever. Their natural, comfortable, and safe sleep space will not be disrupted in any way, as the pad goes under the crib mattress. It detects your baby’s micro motion with 4 sensors that are able to cover the entire crib. You can select AI mode, which will work hand in hand with the camera, so if the camera detects your baby is in the crib, but the sensor does not detect those micro motions, it will send you an alert. 

One of my other favourite things about this, is how easy it is to install. I’m so used to having to wait for my husband to get home from work to help me install or put together most things. With the Cubo Ai Sleep Sensor Pad, all it took was me popping some batteries in and placing it under the crib mattress on the slats below. That was it! 

I highly recommend this monitor for so many reasons. Not only does it provide me that peace of mind as a parent and sleep consultant, knowing my baby is safe, but I’m able to check on my baby and know they are safe from anywhere. I was on a mountain snowboarding, and was able to talk through the monitor to reassure my little guy with my voice while he fell asleep for his nap that my mom put him down for. Being able to reassure my little one, know he is safe, and track sleep while I’m not even home makes me more comfortable to get out of the house and have that ME time, which we all know as parents can be hard to get sometimes. 

Overall, after working with so many families and having two children of my own, I think this is the ultimate baby must have gear for parents to bring that peace of mind! Cubo Ai Sleep Safety Bundle helps you to KNOW your baby is safe 

Get your Sleep Safety Bundle here! https://bit.ly/3uSFXK1 and use the code CHARLEY2022 to save! 

One of the most common questions I receive and a common hurdle for parents to get over, is the transition from swaddling your baby with their arms in, to a sleep sack.

So, before we jump in, lets talk briefly about swaddling. Why do we swaddle newborn babies? Well…for multiple reasons. One, is to mimic the womb. When you think about what a baby is used to, it is a warm, crammed space, tucked up in a ball. Second, babies are born with, what is known as the Moro Reflex, or “Startle Reflex.”

Have you ever been watching your baby sleep, and then suddenly their arms fly up over their head? This is that reflex. Swaddling helps prevent themselves from waking up prematurely due to this reflex. Babies usually grow out of this reflex anywhere between 3-6 months; however, we cannot swaddle babies that long, due to safety reasons.

When it comes to swaddling and safety, there are a few things to consider. Ensure that when you are swaddling your baby you are laying them on their back, on a flat surface, with nothing in their crib or bassinet, and do not swaddle if you are bed sharing. When it comes to the swaddling process itself, you want it be snug enough around the arms to create that comforting feeling, while still being able to easily fit a hand in the chest portion. Ensuring your baby also has movement in the hips when swaddled, is also key.

Now, when we talk safety and swaddling, a huge component in this, is knowing when to begin unswaddling your baby. As mentioned above, we cannot swaddle as long as babies have the Moro Reflex, and this often leaves many caregivers dreading taking their baby out of the swaddle, or caregivers end up swaddling longer than considered safe, as they worry about the disruptions this could cause in sleep. It is recommended for safety reasons to discontinue use of the swaddle around 8 weeks, or first signs of rolling. Whichever comes first.

Rather than trying to break the swaddle cold turkey, or risk leaving your baby swaddled too long, there are actually some fantastic transitional items, made particularly for the purpose of transitioning your baby out of the swaddle safely, while still giving your child that comforting feeling they are used to.

I am going to talk about 3 popular transitional items we often see used during the period from swaddling arms in, to use of a regular sleep sack: Magic Merlin, Zipadee Zip, and Swaddle Sleeves Sleep Sack.

Magic Merlin Sleep Suit

Pictured above: Magic Merlin Sleep Suit www.magicsleepsuit.com

The Magic Merlin Sleep Suit is a sleep suit your baby wears to help during this transition from swaddle to regular sleep sack. The sleep suit has a polyfil between the layers of fabric to help provide babies with that cozy secure feeling, essentially mimicking a hug. This helps in preventing that startle reflex from waking your baby.

When dressing your baby in it, they sort of look like an adorable stuffed marshmallow, and you might wonder “Is this safe for sleep?” Yes, absolutely! But it must be used properly. The Magic Merlin Sleep Suit is intended for back sleep only. You must always lay your baby on their back to sleep in it, on their own separate sleep space, in the right temperature for safe sleep, with no positional items in their crib or bassinet. It is also not recommended to use this in bed sharing situations either.

Once your baby can roll with the sleep suit on, it is important to transition them out of it as this is not intended for long-term wearing, but just that transition period from swaddle to sleep sack. With that said, Magic Merlin does provide sleep sacks for longer term use, once your baby can no longer wear the sleep suit safely, which are made of the same fabric, but with the freedom of movement for your baby.

What I love about this!

While wearing this sleep suit, it helps baby feel secure and comforted with that feeling of a warm hug as they adapt to their arms no longer tucked in. Another great thing about this, is it goes on just like a sleeper would, with double zippers to make diaper changes easy!

Things to keep in mind

As mentioned, this sleep suit is intended for back sleep only and must be transitioned out of once your baby can roll with it on. This just means that you would need to purchase a new item for sleeping, as we commonly do, at that time, or have one readily available. This company provides sleep sacks as well.

Another thing to consider, is the sleep suit and temperature. Depending on wear you live, if it’s hot, or if it is summer, this might not be the item for you. If it is warm, but not overly hot you can consider just dressing your baby in a just diaper or bodysuit underneath. If it is excessively hot however, I personally wouldn’t recommend putting your baby in this for sleeping. Unless of course you have air conditioning!

Always check your baby’s temperature by feeling their chest or back to make sure they feel comfortable, and if you’d be too hot in something, chances are they could be too.

Pictured above: Magic Dream Sack Walker & Sleep Sack www.magicsleepsuit.com

Zipadee-Zip

Pictured above: Classic Zipadee-Zip www.sleepingbaby.com

The Zipadee Zip is another transitional item from swaddle to sleep sack. Similar to other transitional items, it is intended to soothe your baby’s startle reflex from premature wakings. The Zipadee Zip is shaped like a star, with pointed sleeves. The way your baby’s hands touch these points, and the way the sack is shaped, offers a gentle resistance from that startle reflex, but also allows babies to move freely in it.

While they have the freedom to move in this sleep sack, because it is enclosed, it still can offer that cozy comfortable feeling, that we aim for when swaddling. Plus, it keeps your babies’ hands nice and warm all night! Since there is so much movement in this sleep sack, it is actually safe if your baby is rolling, even while wearing it, so it can be used for long term use, as you size up – even into those toddler years!

Once baby is a little older, also available from this company is known as their Flying Squirrel item, made from the same breathable fabric for your older toddler.

What I love about this!

The light fabric of the Zipadee Zip makes it easy to regulate your baby’s temperature, and dress accordingly underneath. While wearing the Zipadee Zip item to transition, your baby’s hands also stay warm all night. Now temperature of hands isn’t a main indicator in how comfortable your baby is, but you probably find that your little one’s hands do get cold easily so this offers that peace of mind. Not only do the hands being enclosed keep them warm, help in softening that startle reflex, but also can help prevent scratching from those sharp baby nails. With the Zipadee Zip, you can also get long term use out of it, as babies can safely roll in it, so no need to transition to another item, until your little one is simply too big for it, which would happen with any sleep item for babies. Different sizes are available in the same product, so your baby can feel familiar with what they wear to bed long term, into those toddler years.

Things to keep in mind

If your baby takes a pacifier, and ultimately your goal is for them to have it insert it themselves during the night, which often can begin happening around 5 months, the Zipadee Zip can inhibit this. Therefore, if you are wanting to keep your little one’s hands contained, for the ease of the swaddle transition, but also want that independence of them inserting the pacifier on their own, this might not be the item for you. As mentioned above, there are other items from this company for older babies with the option for hands free, but those ones in particular are not technically transitional items from swaddling.  

Pictured above: Flying Squirrel Sleep Sack, with mitten cuffs for option for hands in or out www.sleepingbaby.com

Swaddle Sleeves Sleep Sack

Pictured above: Swaddle Sleeves Sleep Sack with weighted arms. Second set of non weighted arms shown http://www.swaddlesleeves.com

The Swaddle Sleeves Sleep Sack is another item for transitioning from swaddling with arms in, to a sleep sack. The unique thing about this sleep sack, is the gently and evenly distributed, weighted arms that help to dampen the startle reflex when asleep, while still allowing baby the freedom to move their arms and reach their mouth for self settling. Once your baby can roll with this sleep sack on, it is important to transition out of the weighted arms, but this sleep sack comes with two sets of arms. One set of weighted arms and one non weighted. Both sets of sleeves have a mitten cuff to put over baby’s hands for warmth and to prevent scratching. When baby can roll in the sleep sack with weighted arms, it is recommended using one mitten sleeve and one weighted sleeve for safety. Then you can transition to using the 2 mitten sleeves, or remove the sleeves completely to use as a basic sleep sack.

Just as any sleep sack, as baby outgrows it you can transition to other items that are available in the size that fits your little one. Swaddle sleeves provides these sleep sacks in different sizes, a footie sleeper, a bodysuit which is great for warmer months, and a convertible swaddle for your younger baby if you are in the market for your newborn as well.

What I love about this!

The ability to gently dampen the startle reflex, while allowing free movement in the arms and access to the hands is great. This works well for pacifier babies too who are working on inserting it independently. Swaddle Sleeves can also be used in replace of a swaddle altogether, for those babies who don’t like to be cocooned, but still are impacted by that startle reflex.

Once your baby no longer requires the weighted sleeves, they can continue wearing the same sleep sack too! This helps with that familiarity and consistency that babies thrive on for sleeping, by being able to remain in the same sleep sack. As baby outgrows it, available sleep sacks up until the age of 24 months are available to grow with your baby as well.

Keep in mind

The weighted arms are breathable, but if you live in a hot climate or it is summer, and you do not have air conditioning, you may just want to go with the bodysuit version vs. the full sleep sack to prevent your little one from getting too warm while sleeping.

Pictured above: Swaddle Sleeves Footie, Swaddle Sleeves Bodysuit, & Swaddle Sleeves Bodysuit: http://www.swaddlesleeves.com

I am so excited to welcome you to my blog! I hope I am able to help you and your family get some rest, whether it be through my eBooks, sleep packages, or even just helpful tips on my Instagram and eventually tips right here on my blog!

Like many new parents, my husband and I were worried about the newborn phase and the exhaustion it would bring. Everyone’s experience might be different leading up to parenthood, but it seemed that people gave us the impression that once you passed the newborn phase, sleep struggles stopped too. I know this isn’t the case for most parents, but this is something that needs to be a more open conversation between parents, moms, and moms to be.

Remember that it does not make you a failure if your baby is not sleeping through the night from an early age. Every baby is different, and every baby responds to sleep training differently too. With the lack of information and open conversation regarding sleep, I went into parenthood thinking “okay my baby will eat every 2-3 hours at night the first month or so, and then sleep will get better because they can stay full longer.” I was so wrong.

Not only was I wrong about my expectations, but I simply was doing everything “wrong” when it came to sleep from the start. Now I’m not saying you sleep train your newborn baby, because you definitely should not do that, but you can set them up for sleep success with other tools and healthy sleep habits. I didn’t know any of these initially. I really just thought that newborns just slept when they wanted, because any interaction I had with newborns prior to my own, they always seemed to be sleeping no matter the sleep environment. However, I wasn’t there overnight to see how it REALLY was going.

So after months of struggles and hours of research on infant sleep, I found myself completely wrapped up in it. I was letting my friends know what I learned, and wanting so badly to help other moms and parents avoid the exhaustion I was feeling. I decided to become a certified infant sleep consultant to keep this journey going, and continue to help other families with baby sleep.

Overall, I want to help families get sleep whether they want to formally sleep train or not. There can be a huge misconception with sleep consultants in general, and that we may tell you to lay your baby down in their crib, let them cry until they ‘self soothe,’ and they are sleeping through the night. Firstly, I’ll say that none of the methods I offer are the ‘cry it out’ method. Second, I don’t like the term ‘self soothe.’ What I want to help you with is to teach your little one healthy sleep habits, and to learn independent sleep skills.

The majority of my content provided in the packages I offer will include details on sleep environment, tired cues, infant sleep behaviors, safe sleep, and lots more regarding healthy sleep habits to help set you up for success before we even get to the sleep training steps. Knowledge about infant sleep and healthy sleep habits can be beneficial whether you choose to sleep train your baby or not. Whatever you decide, make sure it is the right decision for you and your family!

If you have any questions, or not sure what route to take with my packages or eBooks feel free to contact me at info@goodnightcharley.com