You want your baby to sleep through the night. As an exhausted new parent, you’ve tried everything – rocking, shushing, swaddling. Then you heard about the Merlin Sleep Suit Safety.
It sounds like a miracle product, a puffy little suit of armor that helps babies sleep for longer stretches. But before you rush out to buy one, you should know a few safety things.
The Merlin Sleep Suit isn’t regulated as a medical device, so safety standards are more lax. And while the puffy suit can be comforting for babies, it also means they can’t move around freely like usual.
We’ll walk you through what pediatricians and safety experts recommend based on the latest research to help you make the best choice for your baby’s sleep and well-being. Sweet dreams!
How the Merlin Sleep Suit Works
The Merlin Sleep Suit works by providing gentle pressure and warmth to soothe your baby to sleep.
Made of soft, breathable cotton, it gives the snug feeling of the womb to lull your little one to dreamland.
When you first put the Merlin suit on your baby, you’ll notice how cozy and relaxed they become. T
he lightweight but secure fabric surrounds their body to create a calming effect. At the same time, it allows for plenty of movement and stretching.
Your baby can roll over, kick, and flail their arms, all while staying securely swaddled.
The Merlin suit is designed for babies 3-6 months who can roll over independently. Swaddling arms can be unsafe at this stage, but the Merlin suit gives them the snugness they crave without restricting movement.
The case comes in two thicknesses: cozy for warmer weather and toasty for cooler temperatures. Sizing is based on your baby’s weight and height.
Place your baby’s legs in the openings and zip or Velcro up the front to use the Merlin suit.
Make sure their face remains uncovered, and they can breathe easily. The suit should feel snug but still allow your baby to move freely. As with any sleep product, always place your baby on their back to sleep and check frequently.
With its unique design and snug yet spacious feel, the Merlin suit helps soothe your baby to sleep in those early months when swaddling is no longer an option, but they still need that cozy comfort to drift off to dreamland.
Using the suit, many parents report longer stretches of sleep and a calmer bedtime routine.
Merlin Sleep Suit Safety: What Parents Need to Know
The Merlin Sleep Suit is designed to be a safe sleep option for infants, but parents should keep a few essential things in mind.
First, always place your baby to sleep on their back. The Merlin Suit is not meant to replace safe sleep practices. Once your little one can roll over, continue putting them to bed on their back, but let them find their sleeping position.
Second, make sure the suit fits properly. The neckline should be snug, but allow two adult fingers between it and your baby’s neck.
The rest of the suit should also have a snug but not tight fit. Loose or ill-fitting suits can be a hazard.
Third, do not overheat your baby. Even though the Merlin Suit provides padding, the room temperature should still be comfortable for an adult.
A good rule of thumb is to dress your baby in one more layer than you’re wearing.
Finally, always follow the care instructions. Only machine wash and dry the suit on low heat. Tumble drying helps the case maintain its shape. Remove any stains before washing to avoid setting them in.
By following safe sleep guidelines, ensuring proper fit and not overheating, and adequately caring for the suit, the Merlin Sleep Suit can be a safe and effective tool to help your little one sleep through the night during those early months.
Keep in Mind
As with any infant sleep product, the Merlin Sleep Suit has potential pros and cons regarding safety that you’ll want to consider carefully based on your baby’s age, size, and sleep habits.
Many succeed with the suit if appropriately used according to the guidelines and your pediatrician’s recommendation. However, it may pose risks or delay certain developmental milestones for some babies.
The most important thing is choosing what you feel comfortable with and keeping your baby’s safety, health, and well-being in mind.
Conclusion
So there you have it, the lowdown on the Merlin sleep suit and what you, as parents, need to know to keep your little one safe and sleeping soundly.
While the suit is designed for comfort and to aid sleep, it’s not without risks that you need to be aware of.
Follow the guidelines, watch your baby closely, especially when first using the suit and when they start rolling over, keep the suit snug but still able to slide two fingers under the neckline, a
nd always place your baby to sleep on their back. With the proper precautions taken, the Merlin suit can be a great tool to help your baby (and you!) get longer sleep during those early months. Sweet dreams!
