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Original poster

Love to dream swaddle - any feedback?

14 replies

EmW1987 · 12/01/2017 17:23

Hi everyone,

I have a 9 week old daughter who has a strong startle reflex. Up until recently my husband has been tucking her in her Moses basket tightly with a blanket with her arms by her side. It's worked well in terms of sleep as she often goes 10-3 without waking up. However I don't like using a blanket particularly and am keen to use a sleeping bag. Last night we tried her in a sleeping bag but her arms kept waking her up, she slept for an hour or so but as soon as she moves into a lighter sleep her arms go out and wake her up, hence we've had a grumpy baby all day. I've brought a love to dream swaddle but still unsure how I feel, I've read so many mixed reviews on how these can be bad for the baby and also I dont want to rely on this. I wondered if anyone else has feedback on the love to dream swaddle? Has anyone else come across a strong startle reflex and what can I do to stop it? I don't want to use a blanket in the cot as I'm paranoid it will come undone and go over her face so ultimately the sleeping bag is what I want to use but she's just not getting any sleep because her reflex. Any tips gratefully received! Xxx

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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Pirandello24 · 12/01/2017 20:17

We have one of these (the 50/50 version with the unzippable arms) and really rate it. DS is 6 months and as it's stretchy it gives him room to move his arms without being too constricted, but stops his arms from moving about too much and waking him up. And as the bottom half is essentially just a sleeping bag, he can move his legs about just fine. We're going to start unzipping the arms soon and really hope it doesn't affect his sleep!

Tabitha1983 · 12/01/2017 20:18

Hi! I used zippedee zip with DD1 very successfully and weaned from it no probs. I currently have a woombie for 11 week old baby which is gr8 and was actually thinking of moving onto a love to dream swaddle in a few weeks when he outgrows woombie. I personally think these swaddle type sleeping bags are gr8! Babies feel nice and cosy and they are so safe compared to a blanket. I would go for it! Lucky you with a sleeping baby too! Enjoy 😘

LadyNymeriaGhost · 12/01/2017 20:26

We used something called SleepyWings, which is effectively like a bolero, but it gently holds their hands up in their natural sleep position. Means you can still use a sleeping bag and adjust layers etc depending on temp easily. They look bloody ridiculous but I really rated ours.

minniebear · 12/01/2017 20:30

We loved our Love to Dream-used them for both girls and they were great!

PugwallsSummer · 12/01/2017 20:30

I bought one for DD but it turns out she doesn't like her hands enclosed, so not a successful purchase for us!

Squaffle · 12/01/2017 20:37

We used a Love to Dream Swaddle Up with our DD and it was brilliant. We had the same prob as you with a strong startle reflex and her arms/hands waking her up, and she quickly learnt how to bust at least one arm out of traditional swaddles. We used it until she grew too big for it and by that time she had more control over her arms/hands and was ready for sleeping bags. The bottom half of the swaddle allows the baby to sleep with 'froggy legs' so it's not bad for them. If your DD is a sicky baby I'd consider buying two so you've always got a clean one ready. Good luck!

Original poster
EmW1987 · 13/01/2017 08:35

Thanks guys good to know the success stories. My concern was how small they are, my baby is a bit of a chunk (13lb 4oz at 9 weeks) so it looks quite small compared to the usual sleeping bag types.
@ladynymeria where did you get sleepy wings from? Seems you can't get them in the U.K. From anywhere other than amazon?

OP posts:
FATEdestiny · 13/01/2017 09:53

Have you actually put baby in it, if you are worried about size?

Swaddles are meant to be tight, that's the point of them

I used a cot sheet cut in half along the short edge, to make two very long, thin rectangular swaddle sheets.

Original poster
EmW1987 · 13/01/2017 16:59

Hi @FATEdestiny I know swaddles are meant to be tight but I don't want to rely on her being swaddled to sleep as I'm conscious they have a limited shelf life before they can roll etc. I also wanted to know that it's not going to damage her hips.
For me I brought the love to dream because of the wings and the hope that it will help stop her startle reflex but ultimately I'd love to have her straight in the sleeping bag if her arms didn't keep waking her up!

OP posts:
LadyNymeriaGhost · 14/01/2017 17:01

I'm pretty sure we got it from Amazon. I struggle to remember much about those days, though, sorry!

L8forTea · 14/01/2017 21:17

My DS is the same weight as yours, and also 9 weeks... We sent back the small one and got a medium which fits nicely now and has a bit of life in it yet. We have the 2.5 tog one - it's taken a bit of getting used to for him. Wasn't the magic bullet we were hoping for but it's easy to put on and better option than the arms by side swaddle we used with DD which makes him really angry! I sort of zip his arms down across his chest and they gradually work upwards as he sleeps, but he finds it hard going to sleep with them up to start with because he can still wave them around too much.

Kariana · 15/01/2017 13:02

I love the Love to Dream swaddle. My ds giggles madly every time we put it on him so I think he likes it too!

mummummy2 · 10/10/2025 05:47

EmW1987 · 12/01/2017 17:23

Hi everyone,

I have a 9 week old daughter who has a strong startle reflex. Up until recently my husband has been tucking her in her Moses basket tightly with a blanket with her arms by her side. It's worked well in terms of sleep as she often goes 10-3 without waking up. However I don't like using a blanket particularly and am keen to use a sleeping bag. Last night we tried her in a sleeping bag but her arms kept waking her up, she slept for an hour or so but as soon as she moves into a lighter sleep her arms go out and wake her up, hence we've had a grumpy baby all day. I've brought a love to dream swaddle but still unsure how I feel, I've read so many mixed reviews on how these can be bad for the baby and also I dont want to rely on this. I wondered if anyone else has feedback on the love to dream swaddle? Has anyone else come across a strong startle reflex and what can I do to stop it? I don't want to use a blanket in the cot as I'm paranoid it will come undone and go over her face so ultimately the sleeping bag is what I want to use but she's just not getting any sleep because her reflex. Any tips gratefully received! Xxx

Our little one had quite a strong startle reflex too, and while the Love to Dream works well for some babies, it just didn’t suit ours. We switched to the ergopouch cocoon swaddle with the butterfly cardi and found it so much better. It still gives that snug, secure feeling but lets the arms move more naturally, which really helped with those startles. Swaddling’s absolutely fine as long as it’s done safely, just make sure it’s nice and fitted around the chest with plenty of room for the hips.

AmberM223 · 12/10/2025 21:48

100% recommend the love to dream bags, we used the arms up ones, and then moved on the transition stage 2 ones with the zip off arms. Just done 9 days with one arm unzipped, and tonight is the 2nd night with both arms out and it’s been fine! they are well worth the money. Vinted usually have lots too!

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