The Zipadee Zip vs Love To Dream – both the Zipadee Zip Swaddle Transition sleep sack and the Love To Dream Swaddle are great products to help your baby get to dreamland. But, do you need both? Is one better than the other for your baby’s sleep?
In this blog post, you’ll learn about both products and which we recommend!
Zipadee Zip Swaddle Transition Sleep Sack
We have been recommending the Zipadee Zip for a long time even before they were on the Shark Tank. The Zipadee Zip, created by a company named Sleeping Baby, is a really great invention to help your baby sleep better when it’s time to stop swaddling.
The “wings” of the Zipadee Zip stop your baby from feeling like they are falling when the Moro reflex is still strong. Many babies are ready to transition away from the swaddle before the Moro reflex has gone away, which is where the Zipadee Zip shines. It is safe for sleeping especially when a baby is rolling over and otherwise can’t be swaddled. And, it’s also good for when your baby doesn’t like to be swaddled, yet can’t seem to stay asleep without it.
If your baby has eczema or otherwise scratches herself, the Zipadee Zip will protect the skin. I was always terrible at keeping baby’s fingernails clipped!
There are many different styles to choose from for the Zipadee Zip. And, although you won’t need the wings as your baby gets older, so many babies like this sleep sack that they make toddler sizes as well!
Love To Dream Swaddle
The Love To Dream Swaddle is another great product to help your baby sleep better. But, unlike the Zipadee Zip, this is a swaddling product. It is meant to capitalize on all the benefits of swaddling but make it easy to swaddle your baby. It also makes it hard for your baby to break out! Breaking out of the swaddle is a safety hazard.
In addition, the Love To Dream is designed to help you swaddle your baby with their arms up rather than down by their sides. This is typically more comfortable for your baby which can lead to longer stretches of sleep.
The Love To Dream Swaddle also has dual zippers, one at the top and one at the bottom, to make diaper changes easier and faster.
The really cool design of the Love To Dream Swaddle is that it has “wings” too. But, these wings are meant to zip off when your baby is ready to be unswaddled. This will allow your baby to find his or her hands for self-soothing and allow them to push up if they roll onto their tummy.
Zipadee Zip vs Love To Dream – Which is Better?
Both the Zipadee Zip and the Love To Dream are great products. But, which is better for your baby’s sleep?
We have worked with families who have used both and clients love both products. As a sleep consultant for over 15 years, I can tell you that either product would be a good choice. However, the age of your baby may influence what you buy.
Newborns, Pregnant Moms, or a Baby Shower Gift
If you have a newborn, you’re pregnant and doing research, or if you’re buying as a gift, I recommend you purchase the Love To Dream Swaddle UP which is appropriate for newborns. The newborn size does not have zip-off wings but you don’t need them. Once your newborn weighs 13+ pounds, I recommend the Love To Dream Swaddle Up Transition Sleep Sack with Zip-Off Wings.
The benefits of swaddling are clear and your baby will most likely appreciate the snug feeling of being swaddled. The Love To Dream is much snugger than the Zipadee Zip. And, your baby will likely be in the swaddle for at least 2-3 months, if not longer. So, your purchase will be well worth the added hours of sleep you will likely get!
And, when your baby is ready to move away from swaddling, you can zip off one or both wings for an easier transition to a sleep sack. Voila!
However, some babies don’t sleep well once their arms are free, of course! Try giving your baby a week or so to get used to it. If your baby struggles with having their hands completely free, you can then consider adding a Zipadee Zip to your toolbox. For some families, having both is perfectly reasonable! The products really address two different time periods in a baby’s life.
4+ Month Olds and/or Baby is Rolling
If your baby is nearing, or older than 4 months old, we recommend you transition to a sleep sack with hands out. Once your baby is rolling from back to tummy, it is no longer safe to swaddle.
But, do you use a Zipadee Zip?
We highly recommend the Zipadee Zip for many babies, but there are a few things to consider:
- Does your baby use a pacifier?
- Does your baby like to suck on their thumb, fingers, or hands?
- Does your baby like to crawl around while self-settling to sleep?
If you answered no to all of these questions, the Zipadee Zip is an excellent choice!
However, if you answered yes to any of these questions, the Zipadee Zip may or may not be the best sleep sack for your baby.
Baby Likes to Suck on Thumb, Fingers, or Hands
If your baby likes to suck on their thumb, fingers, or hands, it may work out fine. Some babies will simply suck their hands through the cloth of the wings. But, if your baby likes to really feel their fingers or thumb inside their mouth mimicking a nipple, this might not work out very well. Some babies will adapt while others will struggle. This can lead to excessive crying during sleep training.
Baby Has a Pacifier
Some babies suck on their pacifier as they fall asleep but then don’t need it again. That would make using the Zipadee Zip work out just fine.
You can use the Love To Dream sleep sack with the wings zipped off, but if you don’t already have it, there’s not much use for the wings. It defeats the purpose and it doesn’t make much sense to buy the Love To Dream, in my opinion. If you’re planning to have more babies, however, you can consider it an investment!
Baby Likes to Crawl Around or Stand Up
If your baby likes to crawl around or stand in the crib, it can be a little harder with the Zipadee Zip but we don’t hear too many complaints about it so it would be a more minor issue. If your baby is good at playing independently, they may prefer to have their hands free.
Zipadee Zip vs Love To Dream – Which to Buy?
If you still don’t know which product to buy and can’t afford to try both, I highly recommend you start with the Zipadee Zip. This is based on 15+ years of working with families and getting reports about which products their babies love. I know based on the experience of many families that your baby is most likely going to LOVE it!
Of course, your baby’s sleepwear is only one variable that impacts your baby’s sleep. And, that’s what we do here at The Baby Sleep Site!
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